BikeRumor.com

Fizik's new R1 Uomo road cycling shoe uses kangaroo leather and synthetics uppers with sailcloth straps, carbon buckle and three-piece carbon sole. Photo ©James Huang/BikeRadar

First Giro, and now Fizik…lots of new options for keeping your tootsies happy on the bike.

Via BikeEurope’s Press Room: Today’s philosophy of saddle maker Selle Royal (fi’zi:k, Brooks, Selle Royal) is to create solutions for all the contact zones between the rider and the bike. In that philosophy is the development of a shoe a natural step, after creating a seatpost, grips and special tape for the handlebar.

The fi’zi:k team spent two years developing the new shoe range. True to their values of quality, comfort, design and innovation, they used only the finest materials, all handmade in Italy, most famous for its fashionable shoe design.

For the insole fi’zi:k sought partnership with the famous French orthopedic brand SIDAS to create a moldable insole. The range consists of 2 models, R1 and R3. R stands for Road. The missing R2 is probably filled in next season, and fi’zi:k is going to develop also a mountainbike model for 2012.

R1 is a elite shoe just for men. R3 is a premium shoe both for men and women. Features of the fi’zi:k road shoe:

• Uppers constructed from kangaroo leather or microfiber, trimmed with sail cloth straps and topped off by a carbon fiber or aluminum buckle.
• Revolutionary moldable insole, engineered in partnership with SIDAS technologies.
• Power transfer realized by the 3D flex mobius outsole.
• Light weight, R1 270 grams, R3 274 grams, R3 women 218 grams.
• Buckle from hex mc molded carbon fiber loading lever, aluminum release lever, stainless steel base – R3 model.
• Heel skid plate.
• Sail cloth closure  straps, lightweight, extremely strong and weather resistant sail cloth for the closure straps.

Here’s a press release we just received and, while we’re all for innovation and keep a pretty open mind, there are some glaring omissions that leave a lot of questions. Lack of price notwithstanding, there’s no mention of how this works with conventional seatposts. And there’s no image showing the artwork on the saddle cover, which is disappointing. Anywhoo, we’ll update if we can get some more info. In the meantime, wrap your noodle around it for a minute:

PRESS RELEASE: The Senso OneRelo features Velo’s new patented rail-less technology. By replacing the conventional two-rail system with a single-track that runs down the middle of the saddle, Velo is introducing a new way to connect saddles to the seat tube. The saddle employs an innovative easy-to-mount system, making it sturdy, flexible and also extremely lightweight. The mounting system gives this Senso performance saddle superior adjustability – the OneRelo can be secured at different points along its track and rotated forward or backward for better fine-tuning.

The Senso OneRelo features Velo’s natural feeling imcrofiber material, which is longer lasting and keeps the saddle’s temperature consistenht rtoughout the entire ride. The saddle’s stylish, sporty design is accentuated by a colorful artistic drawing etched into the top of the saddle, giving it a unique and trendy look.

This is Velo’s first aftermarket saddle that features the new single-track technology. The Senso line provides the highest quality saddles designed to deliver optimized performance and riding comfort. Developed for cycling enthusiasts and those looking for the ultimate outdoor challenge, Senso takes technology, quality and comfort to a whole new level.

About two years in development, Giro has finally pulled the cover off their new cycling footwear line. Debuting across the pond at Eurobike, the new line includes road, mountain and women’s shoes plus their Supernatural Fit Kit, an adjustable footbed system to customize the fit.

Pro Levi Leipheimer has been running them this year in several races to test them (including the Tour de France), and Giro used input from Retul founder Todd Carver to dial in the fit.  Some models feature Easton carbon technology (Easton, Bell and Giro are all owned by the same company), and uppers include premium materials like Tejin, X-Static and custom fasteners. The last is completely designed from the ground up by Giro.

They’ll be available in January 2011 in about 500 U.S. dealers, plus dealers in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Benelux, Scandinavia and the UK.

Pricing and a photo of the top-of-the-line Prolight SLX road shoe after the break…

(more…)

Eurobike is just getting into full swing, and we’re sitting here in the the U.S. bummed that we couldn’t make the trip and trying to use the time to play catch up on a summer’s worth of press trips and miscellany (don’t worry, we have plenty of fresh content to fill the pages, and a few folks are sending in some spy photos from the big show). But, we do have the Interbike invites and things rolling in to keep us motivated for the other big show, the first of which is Lazer Helmet’s Oasiz Party at the Hardrock. Viva, baby, viva. Custom helmets and all.

You can check out the new Oasiz with its magnetic “magic buckle” right over here.

Every once in a while, manufacturers spit out some one-offs and test colors, and we were lucky enough to snag these sweet metallic orange Giro Havik2 frames with mirror blue and mirror silver lenses, none of which are currently on the market.

Truth be told, we like these better than any of the standard offerings, both for the frame color and lenses (of course, we’re a bit partial to orange and blue here…), but the important thing to Giro is what you think.  So, what do you think? Like them? Want to see them offered? Leave a comment…Giro’s listening.

Oh, and these are the Havik2 frames, meaning they’re the second generation. The original Havik frames had some folks complaining that they fit too tight and caused headaches (which we noted in our review), others said the bridge sat too close to the brow and that sweat ran down the lenses (something we didn’t notice personally). Click past the break to see side by side differences of the frames. They’re minimal, but from a comfort standpoint, the Havik2 is much, much better…

(more…)

Even the Knog cycle computer looks a little too much like a computer for any chic fixed gear bike that eschews all extraneous bits like, you know, functionally wide handlebars. But for those that simply have to know how fast they’re skinny jean painted legs can turn that 42/16 gear combo, this concept from Redfish Creative may appeal.

The leather and brushed metal finery holds a retro style dial speedometer, with an extended handle that holds an odometer and doubles as a lever to ring the (digitally recorded) bell. There’s also an analog clock inset in the speedometer’s face, and the odometer can switch between showing trip and total distance. Info comes from a wheel sensor mounted to the fork.

Via Switched.

Bontrager has unveiled a new line of road saddles called Affinity. Following their release of their new mountain bike Evoke InForm saddles at Sea Otter earlier this year, the Affinity line is geared toward the pavement crowd and runs the full range from Race, RL and RXL models. Compared to their original inForm road saddles, the Affinity line is for riders that sit slightly more upright than a super aggressive racing position, which Bontrager says is the largest segment of road riders.

We just received a black RL and white RXL in the post to test out, and they do look very nice, particularly the RXL. Each model is available in different widths with both men and women specific models. The deal with inForm technology is that it not only measures width of the sit bones to help you get the right saddle, but it takes into consideration the tilt of your pelvic bone based on the type of riding the saddle is intended for, too. That, combined with pressure relief zones, claims to make their seats extremely comfortable for long hours in the saddle. Bontrager (ie. Trek) dealers should have fitting mechanisms in their stores to help you get the right size.

Full press release, actual weights for RL and RXL and more photos of every model after the break…

(more…)

The Giro Xar, their new all-mountain helmet that should start shipping this fall, was being rocked by Ross Schnell at the Breck Epic, so we grabbed a few closeup photos…if only I’d had the Park scale!

Check this post for tech specs and official photos and jump past the break for more closeups…

(more…)

With very few exceptions, it seems as though the best cycling gear is the stuff that basically disappears when riding.  No one wants to have their attention drawn to floppy jersey pockets, poorly padded shorts, slipping glasses, or unstable lids.  At the end of the day, no one wants their gear to get between them and the experience of the ride.  While it is unlikely that Lazer set out to build an invisible helmet, they have come remarkably close with their Genesis model.  Hit ‘more’ to find out if this 5 year-old model is still worth seeking out.

(more…)

The folks over at Niner Bikes now have the Jet 9 in all sizes, in stock and ready to ship. Also, the S.I.R. 9 will be available in two new colors: Kermit Green and Moondust Grey…but on to more important stuff, they have some new t-shirts available, now, too. Check out the cool Traildog tee also available in kid’s sizes…and wait, what is this?…an awesome kit that turns your favorite beer cap into your headset cap. Saweet!

Bikerumor has reported on a bunch of cycling Apps for the iPhone– not to leave out Android fans, Andreas over at LondonCyclist has composed a list of cycling Apps for their platform:

I was actually surprised at the sheer number of apps available for cyclists on the Android. You can track your GPS position and route very easily to be shared with others. Some of my favourite apps are Runtastic which has a really nice and simple interface. The Cycle Hire Widget which shows the position of the new London cycle hire docking stations and BreadCrumz which is an amazing way of sharing a route with a friend and I’m surprised there is nothing quite like it for the iPhone. With 200,000 Android phones been activated every day I’m sure this will be of interest to a lot of people.

Check out his full list of Apps here.

CatEye is introducing a new light that has both motion and optic sensors that turn the light on (and off!) automatically when it senses motion and darkness (or lack thereof) so you don’t have to remember to do it. The new Reflex Auto front and taillights will be available in late August with an MSRP of $30 for the red rear light and $33 for the white front light.

Click ‘more’ for the press release and product features.

(more…)

Available in two weeks, the Golden Gate color (above) and Slate color (after the break) join the black color already available for $65 on LUNA Sport Gear’s website. Made of super soft 100% Merino Wool from New Zealand, these handsome tops can be worn as an under-layer or by themselves. Cute Japanese wood block print on the side dresses them up.

(more…)

Pretty much everything you need to know is in the image above, just click on it and you’ll see it full size.  Oh, and check that little post-it on the bottom left, you could get this for half off by renouncing disposable bags. Sweet.

The utility bag and clothing market is rapidly expanding with the major players now staking claims in the world’s major cycling cities. Mission Workshop and Chrome have both announced recently that each will have new flagship stores in some major locales.

Mission, is jumping across the pond and starting a collaboration with their friends 14 Bike Co. This new store is in addition to their original San Francisco store. The London store offers a rebirth of 14 Bike Co.’s original East London Store and will offer more than just bikes and bags. While the store will carry the full line of Mission Workshop and obviously bikes and parts from 14 Bike Co., it will offer a sit-and-fit lounge where customers can be fit for their own custom bikes made for them by 14 Bike Co. The shop will also serve as a warehouse and distribution center for Europe’s Mission Workshop resellers, offering much more simple, duty free delivery of product.

Chrome on the other hand, while also starting it’s second store away from San Francisco is choosing to set up on this side of the Atlantic. Opening at 238 Mulberry Street, the store will of course carry the full line of Chrome Bags, shoes, and clothing.

While the Mission Workshop Grand Opening party has passed us by, there is still time to make it to the Chrome Party if you happen to be in NYC on August 28 from 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Check out the full press release from both factions after the break.

(more…)