The Best New Gear We’re Testing This Month
Each month, Bicycling’s test team—a squad of 10 full-time product testers, editors, photographers, and mechanics—tests and evaluates dozens of bikes and even more helmets, shoes, apparel, and other cool cycling gear. We do it because, like you, we’re absolutely obsessed with gear.
We test rigorously to evaluate a product’s performance, cost, tech, and value to the intended user. And we get pretty excited when something does all that and looks badass too.
Right now, our Test Zone is stuffed with new forks, lights, gravel bikes, some high-tech helmets, and one of the raddest little kids bikes we’ve seen. Below are some of the most exciting products on the bunch. We’ve only just started testing them, and have yet to publish a full review, but they’ve already impressed.
Seven Evergreen XX “Scrambler”
Over the past few months, we’ve been testing the hell out of gravel bikes—everything from the $850 Kona Rove to the ripping-fast Open U.P.P.E.R. Then we tried this one, the $15,585 custom titanium Evergreen XX “Scrambler” that rides even better than it looks. Whether or not this bike is worth the price is debatable. What’s not arguable is its performance. The Scrambler is smooth, unflinching, and capable of almost anything.—Matt Phillips, senior test editor
POC Resistance Women’s Shorts
I’ve tried a ton of mountain bike shorts, but these offer something unique: They’re made of stronger, sturdier fabric that, like armor, better protects my skin in a crash. But unlike other protective shorts, these $160 options don’t feel heavy or stiff, so you can wear them on any ride, not just at the bike park.—Taylor Rojek, associate features editor
S-Works Prevail II with ANGi
Every helmet sold in the U.S. is tested by the CPSC to verify its crashworthiness. When we evaluate helmets, we look at fit, comfort, weight, style, value, and other features. But safety features beyond impact protection are becoming more common, and we’re very intrigued by Specialized’s S-Works Prevail II with ANGi. The ANGi system pairs with a smartphone and, in the event of a substantial impact, automatically sends a notification and location info to designated contacts so you’re not stranded alone on the road—a critical lifeline that’s worth the extra cost.—M.P.
Gore C5 Windstopper Women’s Trail Pants
As good as cycling tights are, some can leave you feeling cold and exposed on blustery days. A friend of mine rocks baggy shorts over his tights on trail rides—a style he calls, not endearingly, a “jacket over my ass.” That feels too cumbersome to me, so I used to brave the cold in tights alone. But not anymore. After testing these trail pants, I know there’s a better way. These supple, stylish, and almost perfectly articulated trail pants block wind and trap in warmth while letting my legs breathe and move naturally.—Selene Yeager, contributing writer
Trust Performance Message Fork
Most suspension forks are telescopic—tubes sliding inside tubes. This wild one from suspension engineer Dave Weagle and carbon expert Jason Schiers is totally different. The Trust fork uses a linkage system similar to those found on the rear of your mountain bike. Weagle says the design improves steering, bump control, and stability. We’ve been testing those claims with back-to-back runs with this fork and standard ones. So far, this one feels very different. Is it better? Too soon to tell, but we’re fascinated by what we’ve experienced so far.—M.P.
Pearl Izumi Women’s Versa Softshell Hoodie
This winter, we’ve been awash in winter cycling jackets to test. But my favorite piece of cold-weather trail-riding gear isn’t a jacket at all. It’s this wind-blocking, lightly insulated softshell hoodie from Pearl Izumi. It keeps me comfy in howling gales and near-freezing temps, and the breathable fabric means I rarely worry about overheating when I redline on a climb. Plus, its casual, street-wear style makes it look as if I’m too cool to care about any of that. —Gloria Liu, contributing writer
Lupine Piko
During our months-long testing of mountain bike lights, the most passionate debates were over who got to test the 1,800-lumen Piko next. This absurdly bright and incredibly lightweight option earned its most-coveted rep by throwing a massive beam that makes nighttime trail riding and cyclocross racing a lot less scary. Lights keep getting brighter, their batteries are smaller, and prices keep dropping. This amazing little option is leading the way.—Dan Roe, test editor
Prevelo Zulu Two Heir
Prevelo is a new company that makes only kids’ bikes, like the $799 Zulu Two Heir above. We’ve had several in to try, including the neat little Alpha Zero balance bike. This 16-inch model might be the coolest one yet. It comes with disc brakes and the best-feeling kids’ suspension fork I’ve ever squished. It’s exactly what little rippers need to make the transition from bike paths to singletrack trails.—Louis Mazzante, test director
Expert Tips: Buying Kids' Bikes
I have two young boys and a garage full of tiny bikes. Not every kid needs a suspension fork and disc brakes, but here are the four things I believe are most important.—L.M.
1. Avoid training wheels
They are unstable and won’t teach balance. Start young kids on a balance bike; for older ones, drop the saddle on an appropriately sized bike until their feet can touch the ground, and then remove the pedals for a similar learning experience.
2. A long wheelbase
Stretching the wheels farther apart makes the bike more stable and compensates for kids’ herky-jerky steering.
3. Rim brakes
Coaster brakes (the alternative) are heavy and make it harder to teach forward pedaling. I even like rim brakes on balance bikes because they deliver more braking control than your kid’s tiny feet.
4. Wide, grippy tires
Just like on a big bike, air-filled tires offer more control and better bump absorption—exactly what developing riders need.
You Might Also Like
