Publisher - What's Cool In Road Cycling
Gear Break: Spring into Spring with MAAP, Giant new Surge Pro road shoe delivers superior efficiency and a personalized fit, Classified introduces Powershift in North America at Sea Otter Classic, Primal gives back: April collab, DRIIVE sports glasses: A collaboration between Team DSM and Hans Anders Retail Group on product innovation and Muc-Off partner with NextGen to launch ‘Game Changing’ bike insurance that never goes up in price.
Primal Gives Back: April Collab
Spring into Spring with MAAP
Voyage Pro Air Long-Sleeve Jersey – $190
The Voyage Pro Air Long Sleeve Jersey brings sustainability and performance together through moisture wicking technology, highly breathable and ultra-light air mesh fabrics. Crafted with majority recycled yarns and SPF50+ to provide sun protection no matter where your ride takes you.
With an all new unique four-way stretch 3D aero structure, the re-engineered Pro Bib 2.0 delivers a firm compressive fit. Reshaped ergonomic panels provide a new level of performance, contoured to move effortlessly with the body in motion, whilst seamless raw cut knitted fabrics minimize pressure points and maximizes comfort.
Cool weather comfort starts from the base. The Thermal Base Vest combines highly breathable, quick dry, moisture-wicking, Polartec® Power Grid fabrics for versatile warmth through advanced thermoregulation. High-stretch bi-component knit improves compressibility, enhances fabric performance, and contoured side panels move with your body for maximum range of motion.
The Draft Team Vest is our most lightweight yet, the perfect partner to bring along on the bike when you may need an extra layer of protection. Designed for cool, wet, and windy weather; it’s easily stowable and features 360 degree reflective print graphics to provide additional visibility in low light conditions.
The Division Sock features a breathable mesh with Meryl ® Skinlife antibacterial yarns with permanent antimicrobial properties. The lightweight construction is designed to keep your feet feeling fresh when the temperature rises.
Chuck Peña PEZ Sez: It’s that time of year in my part of the world (Babylon on the Potomac) when winter is in the rearview mirror and the weather is changing from colder to warmer … transition/shoulder season. But it’s also not yet quite consistently warm. The temperature can be a little bit all over the map (no pun intended). Cooler days can be around 50F and warmer days around 70F. Sun or clouds. Maybe some wind.
I love this time of year when the weather is just cool enough that I need a long sleeve jersey but also just warm enough that I can ride in shorts. It should be noted that MAAP rates the Voyage Pro Long Sleeve Jersey and Pro 2.0 Bibs for warm/hot weather, but they worked fine for me (with the Thermal Base Layer Vest underneath — the Polartec really makes a difference and is soft against my skin) to temps down to about 60F as long as it was mostly sunny (if it was cold enough, another option was to wear a long-sleeve base layer under the jersey). That said, the Voyage Pro Long Sleeve Jersey is a lighter weight jersey. If you need/want something a little more “substantial” (but still not a winter jersey), have a look-see at the MAAP Training Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey.
If it’s not full-zip, it’s not a real jersey
A little chillier or windy and I was OK layering the Draft Team Vest (both wind and water resistant, but not waterproof) over the jersey to keep my core warm enough. I love the versatility of a vest aka gilet. Easy to slip on when it’s cooler. Easy to slip off and stow in a jersey pocket when it’s warmer. Plus the Draft Team Vest is made with stretch material so is form/race fit with no flapping around. #aero Another thing I like about the vest is that the full-length YKK zipper (the gold standard) is a double zipper so you can unzip the vest from the bottom to gain access to your rear jersey pockets.
70F would ordinarily be considered short sleeve jersey weather, but because the sleeves on the Voyage Pro Air Long Sleeve Jersey are a mesh fabric they provided enough ventilation/air flow in warmer temps (it’s kind of like a long-sleeve version of the MAAP Vector Air Pro Jersey I previously reviewed). In fact, if you are UV-impaired (several in my regular riding crew fall into that category, i.e., Pasty White Boyz), there’s probably enough ventilation to wear it as a long-sleeve summer jersey (plus the jersey is rated SPF 50+ sun protection).
Tried and true bib shorts design/construction with uber comfortable laser cut lay flat bib straps
The Pro Bib 2.0 is MAAP’s new top-of-the-line bib shorts. Construction-wise, it’s built much like the MAAP Team Bib Evo I previously reviewed. But there are a couple of differences. First, the silicon dots on the wide leg gripper section don’t go all the way around — more like about 3/4 with the inside part held in place with just firm compression. For me, the leg sections stayed in place just as they would with gripper all the way around. Second, the side panels are a dimpled stretch fabric (that feels like paper and is “crunchy”) that are supposed to be low drag/more aero. #marginalgains But I don’t know if it’s enough of a difference for me to be able to sustain a breakaway from any of my riding companions.
Dimples, but not like on golf balls that are designed to induce lift and spin
Fit-wise, the Pro Bib 2.0 is comfortably firm race fit compression — but not so tight that it feels like a sausage casing. MAAP may be on to something with their 3/4-ish around leg gripper — I found it both grippy and comfy. The chamois aka pad is the same 3D Thermo Moulded multi density chamois, manufactured by Elastic Interface®, that’s in the Team Bib Evo that my butt has logged hundreds of happy miles in.
My amigo, Ed Hood, might quibble about sock height, but he can’t give me grief for classic white socks
If you’re looking for some new kit to spruce up your cycling wardrobe for spring and kick off your riding season, check out MAAP!
Giant Surge Pro Road Shoe Delivers Superior Efficiency and a Personalized Fit With an all-new dual beam carbon sole and unique wrap-around fit system, this next-generation road shoe is the choice of WorldTour pros including Simon Yates.
Simon Yates, one of the top climbers in the pro peloton, favors the Surge Pro for its superior power transfer and personalized fit. Cor Vos photo
From steep climbs to explosive attacks, the new Surge Pro road shoe is designed for race days and training days, decisive bursts and the long hours in between. Tested and proven by WorldTour pros including grand tour winner Simon Yates, it’s the lightest, most efficient road shoe ever from Giant.
The new Surge Pro in White. Availability varies by market
This next-generation update of the original Surge Pro features an all-new dual-beam carbon outsole for superior efficiency, plus a redesigned 360-degree wrap-around foot closure for a super secure and comfortable feel. The result is a pro-level road shoe with phenomenal power transfer, a more personalized fit, and cool comfort for the most demanding days in the saddle.
The new upper is made with a durable polyurethane coated mesh material. The seams are welded rather than sewn, which reduces weight and gives the shoe a sleek profile. Cameron Baird photo
Yates and other riders from Team BikeExchange-Jayco began riding prototype versions of the new Surge Pro at early-season training camps in January.
“We were excited to start testing and riding the new Surge Pro shoes at our first winter camps this year,” said Yates, the leading general classification rider for Team BikeExchange-Jayco. “It was immediately clear how lightweight, efficient and comfortable they felt, and I’ve been training and racing with them ever since.”
Yates rode the Surge Pro to a stage win and second place general classification finish at the Paris-Nice WorldTour race in March. Cor Vos photo
In March, Yates won the final stage at the Paris-Nice stage race in France wearing his Surge Pro shoes. That victory landed the Brit second overall in the general classification, a confidence builder as he looks to the upcoming Giro d’Italia, his primary racing goal this year.
The outsole has been redesigned with next-generation ExoBeam technology that features a dual-beam design. It’s made with 100% ultralight carbon fiber for reduced overall weight, greater toe-heel stiffness, and improved power transfer. Cameron Baird photo
“Seeing Simon perform at that level and realize the competitive gains that we’re aiming for with this new shoe shows that all the time and effort we put into developing something truly unique is paying off,” said Jeff Schneider, head of product and marketing for the gear division at Giant. “Every advantage counts for riders at this level, and footwear is a critical part of the equation for pro racers like Simon.”
Several riders from Team BikeExchange-Jayco have been testing and racing with the new Surge Pro since January
New Exobeam and Exowrap One of the key breakthroughs with the new Surge Pro is its all-new ExoBeam outsole plate that features a dual-beam design. It’s made with ultralight 100% carbon fiber layup construction to deliver superior toe-heel stiffness. This proprietary design significantly boosts power transfer while allowing enough torsional flex for natural foot movement. It also helps minimize lower leg strain during the pedal stroke without compromising efficiency.
Available in multiple colors, including this Chromaflair model, the Surge Pro features two Boa Li2 reels on each shoe to offer precise, incremental micro-adjustability
The Surge Pro’s new closure system is built on the redesigned ExoWrap, which draws the foot up into the shoe using its unique wrap-around fit and micro-adjust Boa Li2 reels with Dyneema textile laces. The Boa dials, two on each shoe, provide a direct pull on the internal side of the ExoWrap closure for a super secure and comfortable feel. While most cycling shoe closures press the foot down toward the sole, ExoWrap surrounds the foot to create a 360-degree enclosure for a more personalized fit.
Comfort is further enhanced with a new polyurethane coated mesh upper that has laser cut micro-perforations for maximum ventilation combined with long-lasting durability. The seams in the upper are welded rather than sewn, which helps minimize weight and gives the shoe a sleek profile and a supple feel.
The new Surge Pro in Gunmetal. Availability varies by market
Inside the upper is a removable sock liner with tunable arch support and a TransTextura Plus antimicrobial layer that produces a cool, balanced foot climate in all conditions. The heel cup is ergonomically designed and has grippy SharkSkin material to comfortably grip the rear of the foot and provide a secure, no-slip fit.
Classified Introduces Powershift in North America at Sea Otter Classic Classified is delighted to announce that it is making its official US launch this week during the 2022 Sea Otter Classic, in Monterey, California.
Classified, the Belgian deep tech cycling company behind the Powershift technology, will have its own booth at the four-day event, widely considered the world’s largest cycling festival, drawing nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes as well as 70,000 fans.
The Classified booth will have a permanent test ride setup where fans will be able to experience the ultimate shifting of the Powershift hub and get all the detailed information about the system and its applications. Classified’s bespoke gravel and road wheelsets, which are now commercially available through official dealers in the US and Canada, will also be on display.
Cycling legend and Classified ambassador Tom Boonen will be in attendance and fans will have the unique opportunity to meet and greet the former World Champion during an exclusive autograph session this Saturday, between 11h00 and 13h00 at the Classified booth.
“We’re thrilled to take part in the Sea Otter Classic which is a great celebration of cycling, bringing together the best cycling brands worldwide. This marquee festival is the perfect platform to announce that Classified has well and truly arrived in North America through an ever-growing network of official dealers. Adventure riding is more popular than ever and the Powershift hub is the ultimate solution for gravel which is really big in the US. Cyclists can ride a clean, efficient 1x setup but equally enjoy the versatility and gear range of a 2x without any of the traditional drawbacks,” said Classified CEO Mathias Plouvier.
After a successful demo testing display at the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championships that took place in January in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Classified proceeded to create an American base for sales, support and distribution via a new partnership with Lucidity Business Development in Carlsbad, California.
“Working with Lucidity, we’re essentially announcing ourselves open for business in North America,” stated Mathias Plouvier. “We’re very excited to deliver our technology to consumers, shops, and other bike brands.”
Classified’s revolutionary Powershift technology caught the attention of the global cycling media when first introduced in 2020. Since then, Classified has built on the original designs, expanded to gravel applications and has significantly grown the number of global brand partners, dealers’ network and ambassadors.
“We’ve known for a long time that Classified was going to shake things up in the drivetrain world, and we’re very happy to offer our expertise to help them become a much bigger player in the market,” stated Lucidity CEO, Richard Wittenberg.
Classified’s innovative 2-speed wireless gearing system, integrated into the rear hub, replaces the classic front derailleur and makes it possible to change gears instantaneously, under full load and on any terrain. The Powershift wheelsets are perfectly compatible with 11 and 12 speed rear derailleurs and represent a premium upgrade from a 1x to a virtual 2x delivering more functionality, efficient gearing and reliable, lightning fast shifting.
The complete Classified road and gravel wheelsets are now available for $2999 through your own bike shop.
Collaboration Between Team DSM and Hans Anders Retail Group on Product Innovation Partnership at Pro Cycling Team Leads to Sports Glasses Innovation
Team DSM and Hans Anders Retail Group (with its optician shop chains Hans Anders, eyes + more and Direkt Optik) together introduce the eyewear brand DRIIVE. The brand focuses entirely on innovative sports eyewear. The first collection is the successful result of intensive joint product development with the aim of creating the perfect racing glasses for athletes at the highest level. DRIIVE sports glasses are now available (also with prescription) for cyclists and other outdoor athletes in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Sweden.
Cyclists, material experts and product engineers go for the best sports glasses Starting in 2020, the R&D experts from TEAM DSM and Hans Anders Retail Group worked closely together on the requirements for the ultimate professional racing glasses. This led to a product development trajectory in which experts from the cycling team collaborated with specialists and technicians of the optics group to create the next generation of sports glasses.
The result is the first collection of DRIIVE sports glasses, which have been thoroughly tested by TEAM DSM under all conceivable conditions. In the meantime, team members won their first races wearing the newly developed glasses. From 11 April, the glasses are available in all 700 shops of Hans Anders, eyes + more and Direkt Optik.
Top achievement Team DSM and Hans Anders Retail Group share the ambition to be at the forefront of innovative solutions and thinking. Bart van den Nieuwenhof, CEO of the optics group: “Team DSM and our optics experts have delivered a top achievement together. Cyclists and other athletes know about the importance of good sight in top sports, and we know all about high-quality spectacles, perfect lenses and optimum sight and vision during sport. Together, we were able to get the best out of people and their environment.”
Iwan Spekenbrink, CEO of Team DSM: “With Hans Anders Retail group we share our vision on sustainability, safety and innovation. We want to be the best in these fields. For us, innovation means being ahead of the game and beating our competitors. With these sports glasses Team DSM has gained a sporting advantage. We are proud to have achieved this with our DRIIVE collaboration.”
The DRIIVE collection The collection is available in two versions:
The DRIIVE PRO collection: state-of-the-art professional sports glasses, with aerodynamic design, extremely light weight, high quality lenses, including prescription, different shields for all weather conditions without distortion, high quality coating for clear vision and adjustability of the glasses at nose and ears. The DRIIVE HYBRID collection: sporty hybrid glasses that are perfect for all outdoor activities (such as cycling, mountain biking, running, hiking, etc.) and other leisure moments. Also available with prescription lenses.
Muc-Off Partner with NextGen to Launch ‘Game Changing’ Bike Insurance that Never Goes Up In Price! Muc-Off, the global leaders in bicycle and motorcycle care, are excited to announce the launch of a new and totally unique Bike Insurance product.
In another first for the Poole-based brand, Muc-Off have partnered with Insurance intermediary NextGen, to produce bike cover like no other, offering a number of features and benefits, that are set to shake up the world of bike insurance.
Benefits such as insurance premiums that never increase on renewal for the same risk, as well as up to £100 free upgrade cover, meaning riders can upgrade their bikes to more expensive models, and their policy may not increase in price. These game-changing features come in addition to the typical offerings expected, such as theft cover, home and away, plus a multi-bike discount of up to 25%, as the majority of the brand’s customers own multiple bikes. Those who pay annually can save up to two months of insurance premium, there’s a no-claims discount, and European and worldwide cover are all included in premiums as standard.
Beyond insuring their bike, riders also get £15,000 of personal accident cover, in the event that they seriously injure themselves whilst out riding plus every policy comes with third party liability cover up to £1m. Cyclists are also covered in the event of accidental damage to their bike or accessories; and if repairs are needed, riders can choose to get an estimate from a repair shop of their choice, subject to them being authorized. If that wasn’t enough, riders will even receive a temporary hire bike for up to 10 days, so they can get back on two wheels as quickly as possible.
“As always, we’re stoked to have found a new way to improve the experience of owning and maintaining a bike. Working in partnership with NextGen on a move into bike insurance is the next step on that journey for us. We’ve all had bike insurance ourselves here, and most of us have been frustrated by their limitations, so we knew what we didn’t want from a policy! Working through the potential cover options with NextGen, we all got super-excited about giving the industry the major shakeup we think it needs! We’re proud of what we’ve been able to create together, and we know our customers will love it!” – Alex Trimnell, CEO at Muc-Off.
Alan Hickman, Founder at NextGen said “We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with Muc-Off on this new and innovative product. Muc-Off offer superb products to dedicated customers that this insurance offering will really appeal to. We’re pleased to continue to offer the next generation of insurance products to enthusiasts that just want to get out and ride, knowing they’re covered.”
The launch comes at an important time for riders, as the number of bikes purchased, and in turn, the numbers of bikes being stolen has soared following the recent global pandemic. In a recent study undertaken by Direct Line Insurance*, it was found that between March and November 2020, over 32,700 bikes were stolen in UK. Over a full calendar year that equates to over 50,000 thefts, and with Direct Line also stating 71% of bikes stolen are never reported, the true yearly UK bike theft total is likely to exceed 150,000!
“A significant increase in bicycle sales (over a million during the first national lockdown) will likely result in an increase to the number of bicycle thefts during 2021/22. A number of bike insurance policies out there don’t provide adequate cover for riders, so for us at NextGen, it was important to us that we worked with a highly credible, forward-thinking company, that shared our views and wanted to create something truly game changing. Muc-Off provided incredible insight into what riders demand from their products, and together we’ve applied their core values to the world of Insurance.” – Alan Hickman, Founder at NextGen.
With a whole host of game-changing benefits, Muc-Off continues to improve rider experience. From Bike Cleaner to technical riding kit, from Chamois Cream and now to Bike Insurance, they really do have riders well and truly covered!
Note: PEZCyclingNews ask that you contact the manufacturers before using any products you see here. Only the manufacturer can provide accurate and complete information on proper / safe use, handling, maintenance and or installation of products as well as any conditional information or product limitations.
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