CeramicSpeed UFO chain coating

CeramicSpeed caught our eye with this new chain coating. The friction-reducing specialists have done some serious research on this new lube, which ideally needs to be applied the night before and allowed to dry before use. CeramicSpeed says it’s good for 200km of riding between applications, and the dry nature of the coating (it turns ‘solid’ within half an hour of application) means it won’t attract dirt, boosting component life as well as reducing drivetrain friction.

According to CeramicSpeed’s testing, the UFO Drip has a friction level of 3.78w, with the closest competitor (Squirt) at 4.51w. On top of that, the friction level apparently drops after 90 minutes of riding, whereas the competition see it rise.

Why not just pair a jersey and gilet, as riders have done for years? Sportful say the Strato’s design improves airflow and helps the rider maintain a warm, sweat-free core, as well as increasing range of movement and still offering easy access to the jersey’s rear pockets. On that note, the wind resistant fabric only covers the chest and shoulders, leaving the rear of the jersey free to breath (you’ll also find two zipped vents on the front). Given the mild winters we’ve experienced of late, we’re looking forward to seeing how the Strato copes with the British winter.

You’ll also find the £160 R&D Strato bib tights in the forthcoming range. This is another innovative design, essentially pairing thermal tights with a separate wind blocking fabric on the thighs. The idea is that you get additional protection on the top half of the tights, without restricting range of movement – often a problem with windproof tights.

Meanwhile, the Giara range, originally launched back in March, has been expanded to include a long sleeve thermal jersey (£85) and windproof softshell (£120). If you’re not familiar with the Giara collection, it’s specifically aimed at gravel riders but, in reality, is ideal for roadies who want a slightly more relaxed fit and stylish design, without sacrificing performance. We were impressed by the Giara short sleeve jersey and bib shorts when we reviewed them earlier this year. There’s also a Giara gilet coming for spring/summer 2018.

On that note, let’s quickly take a look at what else is coming next year. The Celsius jersey (£110) is another piece out of Sportful’s R&D department and combines an open mesh inner layer with a lightweight, stretch-woven outer. By accelerating moisture transfer (the Celsius shouldn’t be worn with a base layer), the jersey is said to keep you cool in warm conditions (by apparently improving airflow next to the skin) and warm in cooler conditions (by keeping the skin dry). As a result, Sportful say it’s a piece designed for those spring or summer rides that involve cool early-morning starts before the temperature climbs.

Otherwise, the BodyFit Pro range has been updated to include the Light (£85), Evo (£90) and Classics (£90) short-sleeve jerseys and features a new panel construction that apparently offers more flexibility across the back. The Light and Evo are designed for hot and mild summer conditions respectively, while the new Classics piece has a lightweight thermal construction.

The base frame can be removed with the bike still attached, doubling up as a mini workstand, plus there are internal pockets for kit and tools. With frame and accessories inside, the case is said to weigh shy of 14 kilograms. We’re likely to see it arrive in the UK in spring 2018.

Updated Fulcrum wheels

Fulcrum have been quietly busy over in Italy, with some standout updates to the product line. On the disc brake front there’s a new Speed 55T carbon tubular wheel that comes in at a claimed 1,395g with top-of-the-range Cult ceramic bearings. There’s also a new Racing Zero alloy wheelset with a triple-milled rim and USB ceramic bearings.

Elsewhere the 55C carbon clincher and Racing Zero Carbon wheelsets feature a refreshed rim with a proprietary lasered brake track and curved strafe pattern to improve braking performance. Meanwhile, the mid-range Racing 3 wheelset has seen an update with a 17mm internal rim diameter, milled rim and a reliable cup and cone bearing system for ‘worry-free’ riding, coming in at an impressive weight of 1,560g.

Rotor Uno groupset

Rotor’s Uno groupset made a welcome appearance at Eurobike, and we snapped it looking ready to go in a full presentation box that riders will actually receive it in. The groupset will be in stores soon costing £2,400, with rim and disc brake versions available.

It’s whet our appetite to get our hands on the hydraulic groupset, which has been long in the testing phase. Watch this space.

FSA WE groupset

Sticking with the new groupset theme, FSA’s WE was also spotted and we have to say it looks the part. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too much longer for the groupsets to arrive in the UK, with the first batch slated for delivery as early as the end of September.

Rest assured, at the first opportunity we’ll be testing this new groupset to see if it can hold a candle to the electronic offerings of the ‘big three’.

Ritchey Comp Road Logic gets new fork

Ritchey’s Comp Road Logic frame now comes with a new carbon fibre fork to offer clearance for 30c tyres. The frame itself is something of a modern classic, combining clean lines with a triple-butted, TIG-welded Ritchey Logic steel tubeset.

The short-butted sections are said to save weight (claimed weight for a size 55cm frame is 1.77kg), while the forged and machine integrated headtube uses standard drop-in bearings, which apparently saves another 80g over a standard design. This ‘skyline blue’ paintjob is new, too. The frameset will set you back £1,120, while the Shimano 105 build pictured costs £2,099.

Ritchey have also updated the WCS Apex line-up of carbon wheels to offer tubeless compatibility. The wheels are offered in two depths, 38mm and 50mm (we recently reviewed the 38mm hoops), and have a 19mm internal width. You’ll also find J-bend spokes hidden within Ritchey’s own Fantom hub.

Also new from Ritchey, the WCS Carbon Streem II handlebar offers internal cable routing for electronic groupsets. The cable ports are moulded into the design, rather than drilled, to maintain structural integrity without needing to reinforce the handlebar and add weight.

Schwalbe G-One Bite gravel tyre

Schwalbe’s range of gravel rubber has been expanded to include the G-One Bite (below), which sits alongside the existing G-One Speed and G-One AllRound tyres.

The G-One Bite has a grippier tread pattern and will be available in two sizes: 700x40c for traditional road wheels and a 27.5×2.10″ version for the 650b wheel size emerging on the gravel scene. The 700c tyre has a slightly thinner MicroSkin sidewall construction but both tyres use Schwalbe’s top-end OneStar triple compound. As an aside, the G-One AllRound (above, left) is now available with tan sidewalls and, well, that’s always a good thing.

For cyclo-cross riders, the 33c Schwalbe X-One Speed (above, right) is also new and combines a fast-rolling centre tread with a grippier outer edge. The X-One Speed is also tubeless-ready and, once again, has a triple compound construction.

You can find more of RCUK’s 2017 Eurobike coverage here.