Cyclist
In the Drops: New Rapha Powerweave shoes, nice BBB glasses, Tactica multi-tool and Divorce
One minute it’s the middle of the off-season, the next it’s Holy Week. Time flies when you’re having fun and that’s exactly what we’re doing here at Cyclist.
In just the past five days, issue 162 of Cyclist magazine has hit the shelves, which includes many Classics-related features including a Roubaix Big Ride, an interview with Matteo Jorgenson and my chat with Johan Museeuw about the Tour of Flanders.
The latest podcast is out too, which features author Chris Sidwells talking about the history of Flanders, Roubaix and chatting about his uncle, Tom Simpson.
Elsewhere there has been lots of web content, including our Flanders preview and favourites, the story of the 1944 race, and the news of a petition to save free-to-air Tour de France coverage in the UK.
We’ve also had tech features including the inside scoop on indoor framesets, MTB brand Lee Cougan’s full suspension gravel bike, our guide to the best 3D printed saddles and our review of the Ridley Grifn RS all-road bike.
There’s lots more to come today too, so let’s get on with it.
Rapha Pro Team Powerweave shoes
Rapha has updated its Pro Team Powerweave shoes with the help of its army of pro riders and amateur testers. They’ve been designed for both increased comfort and improved power transfer.
For the latter they feature a full carbon sole (that matches the shoe colour, which is fun) and a Pebax heel counter (Pebax being a lightweight thermoplastic that’s touted for its energy return and cold-weather durability and can be adapted for optimum flexibility – in this case it’s stiff).
For comfort they have a new knitted sock-like collar that prevents tongue movement, an interchangeable insole arch and added room in the toe box. For both of those things they have Rapha’s Powerweave uppers to balance fit, strength and breathability, as well as Boa Li2 dials.
Speaking about the new Rapha shoes, EF rider Owain Doull said, ‘When I put them on it feels like I’m putting on a pair of football boots built for speed.’
They’re also available in black and grey, but – let’s be honest – the choice is white, and Rapha recommends going up half a size from your normal shoes.
- Buy it now from Rapha (£350)
BBB Valor Flux sunglasses
BBB Cycling’s new Valor Flux sunglasses feature lightweight frames made from renewable castor oil-derived nylon alongside Flux lenses that balance contrast, clarity and colour. The lenses are also coated on the outside to repel mud and water and on the inside to stop them fogging up.
Most importantly for a pair of sunnies, they look great, and also come with a black frame or green frame and a green or red lens, and they all come with a spare transparent lens for darker rides.
- Buy it now from Amazon (£123)
Tactica M.110 Bike Multitool
Australian brand Tactica makes all sorts of outdoor survival tools including knives, but it also produces some very handy bike multi-tools, including the M.010 Card tool, a credit card-sized tool that features in the new issue of Cyclist. This is a different option in the Tactica range, but is similarly compact.
This is the M.110, it weighs a claimed 45g and packs in a whole lot of functionality. It includes: two tyre levers, a 1/4in hex driver, 5-14mm universal wrench set, Phillips and flat bits, 4-6mm hex keys and a bottle opener.
The main tool body is made from stainless steel and features magnets to keep everything together.
- Buy it now from Wildbounds (£49.95)
What we’re into this week: Divorce
No, not like that. Divorce is a band I was introduced to by my friend Ben after they released their debut album last month. They’re from the greatest city in the world (Nottingham, if you didn’t know) and describe their music as ‘like dressing up to the nines, feeling like a million dollars – and then rolling down a big grassy hill’. If that’s not enough, DIY magazine gave the album 4.5 stars.
They’re not the only ones with good new music out though, my new playlist also includes Black Country, New Road’s excellent new album, and songs from artists including Wet Leg, Haim, Djo, Bon Iver, Samia, Peace, Tom Misch, Flyte, Japanese Breakfast, Laufey and Little Simz.
- Listen to In the Drops #27 on Spotify
- Check out all my In the Drops playlists
The post In the Drops: New Rapha Powerweave shoes, nice BBB glasses, Tactica multi-tool and Divorce appeared first on Cyclist.