Another 12 months is nearly over, and meaning it is time for our gear of the 12 months choices on the Cyclingnews tech group.
I’ve been in a position to check a lot of very succesful bikes and tools this 12 months, however my choice is an actual record of the stuff that has made the largest impression on me, the equipment that has made me go ‘wow’.
There are some costly bits on this record, and I’m not pretending I can afford them. But amongst every little thing I’ve examined this 12 months, the efficiency of these things has impressed and excited me essentially the most.
Regardless of what gear I’ve been utilizing, I’ve loved one other nice 12 months of biking. And I hope you may have too. Here’s to plenty extra biking adventures in 2025.
1. SRAM Red AXS brake levers and brakes
Image 1 of 2
SRAM hit a house run this 12 months for me with the brand new Red AXS groupset and the Hammerhead Karoo launch, each are actual successes.
SRAM Red AXS is a unbelievable groupset, which can not come as an excessive amount of of a shock, it is the top of what SRAM has ever produced for the street.
The groupset is nice, however the spotlight for me is the brake levers and braking efficiency, they’re my favorite piece of biking tech from this 12 months. I spent the summer season testing bikes with Red AXS, Dura-Ace and Super Record WR groupsets and the brakes clearly stood out, they’re that good. The gravel-specific Red XPLR group additionally makes use of the identical levers and brakes and they’re immense off-road as properly.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, evaluations and professional shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
The brake lever hood itself may be very comfy and the curved lever blade is well-shaped and offers a pleasant handhold. I really feel like SRAM has actually thought of ergonomics and rider really feel within the design.
Then there’s the braking itself, the brake lever really feel and the braking motion is gentle and easy. It’s a pleasure to make use of. There’s greater than sufficient energy and the pads hit the rotor solidly and with precision which additionally contributes to the nice really feel.
I embrace the levers and brakes on their very own as they’re backwards suitable, you may improve and retrofit them to your older tools. It’s thrilling to assume that this tech could trickle all the way down to different SRAM tools sooner or later, an thrilling prospect certainly.
2. Hammerhead Karoo
The third technology Hammerhead Karoo launched this 12 months, in tandem with the brand new SRAM Red AXS groupset and it impressed me immediately. After 10 months of use, I’m assured in calling it one of the best bike pc up up to now and undoubtedly a tech spotlight of my 12 months.
I’ve used it in a number of international locations, an incredible check for its navigation tech and mapping and used it to navigate on the Paris-Roubaix Challenge and on the Chasing Cancellara Bern-Zermatt occasion in Switzerland.
Why do I prefer it a lot? First off, it appears nice, the tapered physique and general form work very well, which at all times helps. Second, it’s a really intuitive, easy-to-use pc with an incredible format and delicate contact display. Navigating your means across the menus and settings may be very nice and there is not a lot packed in that it begins to get complicated.
Lastly, the mapping and navigation are by far my favorite of any pc I’ve used. Specifically, the colors and general format used for the map display make following a route very clear and straightforward certainly. I don’t assume I’ve missed a single flip whereas utilizing it. Hammerhead has produced a wonderful mannequin within the Karoo and I at all times get pleasure from driving with it.
3. Canyon Aeroad CFR
The Canyon Aeroad CFR is a rocket ship. I used to be in a position to check the bike for a number of months this 12 months and it solely impressed me, I used to be unhappy to see it return to Canyon and easily cherished driving it.
The Aeroad was actually put by its paces, we examined it within the wind tunnel, after which I did all method of driving on it, together with a street race. It did not miss a beat. For starters, it is a great-looking bike, aggressive and classy with out going excessive. Performance-wise, it is only a quick, stiff and agile machine with nice dealing with that made me faster throughout the board.
The bike has obtained some stick on-line for its built-in entrance finish, and I’m not deaf to that. For me, the system was faultless, straightforward to regulate and rattle-free. Tick. If I owned one I’d minimise intensive front-end washing, guarantee there may be loads of high quality grease in and across the headset bearings/meeting and periodically take away clear and refit the handlebars Torx bolt {hardware}.
The bike can be simpler to reside with, which I respect. There’s a thru-axle lever so you may at all times drop a wheel out simply, and that very same lever has a T25 Torx device to regulate almost all the important thing fasteners, seatpost, cockpit and many others. A helpful contact that can assist homeowners.
Tubeless tyres imply mucking about with tubeless valves, and should you’re becoming or swapping tubeless tyres or including sealant, every now and then you are going to must take away the valve core itself. This is required to assist improve airflow by the valve stem to assist seat the tyre, change a gunked-up core, or add sealant simply.
I’ve been utilizing the Feedback Sports Valve Core device this 12 months and it has been glorious, one of the best elimination device I’ve used thus far.
Why? The device’s dimension and form make it very straightforward to undo essentially the most resistant valve cores. The textured rubber grip is nice, and you may exert a superb quantity of power if wanted in a managed means. The device can be double-ended for Presta and Schraeder valves.
I’ve used loads of these fiddly plastic removers prior to now, the kind you get free with valves, and many others. The Feedback device eliminates the faff and works each time. It’s additionally sufficiently small to hold in a saddle bag or with you. It’s the correct device for the job, and I’m glad to have it.
5. GripGrab Waterproof Cycling cap
Waterproof biking caps have been a little bit of a revelation for me this 12 months. I’d by no means used one in years passed by however have been actually impressed with how rather more comfy they assist me really feel when driving within the rain.
I’ve used just a few completely different ones, together with an Assos mannequin that appears to have been discontinued however the GripGrab Aquashield is essentially the most comfy I’ve used.
Heading out in a single looks like a little bit of a secret weapon. Your head stays largely dry within the rain, and so they do not appear to get too sweaty. If you have already got in your rain jacket, overshoes and different waterproof gear, a water-resistant cap helps you are feeling a lot better within the rain. Money properly spent in my view, I actually charge them.
