Rad Power Bikes established themselves early as one of the leading players in affordable, consumer-direct ebikes. That momentum was likely blunted by high-profile recalls and lawsuits, however it seems like with the recent announcement of the Rad Power Safe Shield battery technology, Rad is once again gaining momentum. 

I was specifically interested in the updated RadWagon 5 after spending some time on the RadWagon 4. The RadWagon 4 was a decent attempt, but as it turns out, the 5 is better in almost every way. 

RadWagon 4 Got Off to a Shaky Start

My biggest concern about the preceding RadWagon 4 was the speed wobble the bike would develop if you loosened your grip on the handlebars. It was mostly placated by installing a Cane Creek Viscoset headset, but that wasn’t something the consumer should have to do after purchase to fix a major handling issue. These bikes are all one-size-fits-most, so it’s possible my experience was a result of my unique positioning on the bike. Regardless, it wasn’t good. 

So, after receiving the RadWagon 5, I couldn’t wait to build it up and immediately take it for a test ride. I was very relieved to find a bike with perfectly composed handling. No more steering wobble – even with your hands completely off the bars. 

There are many changes to the bike that could account for this improvement. The frame is completely new, there is no more multi-way adjustable stem, and the battery placement has changed. Perhaps most importantly, the tires and wheels have completely changed. 

No More 22s!

Why would tires and wheels make that big of a difference? The RadWagon 4 ran proprietary 22 x 3” tires and wheels with odd hub spacing (the QR fork dropouts measure 134mm), whereas the RadWagon 5 moves to non-proprietary 20 x 3.3” tires (made by Kenda) and more standard hub sizing for the new 45mm travel RST Guide suspension fork with a thru-axle. I had wondered if the original 22” tires were causing some, or all, of the speed wobble, but it was impossible to swap them out for anything short of a moped tire. That also meant getting replacement tubes or tires anywhere other than from Rad Power wasn’t an option – a big headache for any consumer who doesn’t have a spare.

Despite the smaller wheels, the RadWagon 5 has a much better ride quality than the 4, even with the suspension fork locked out. The 20” tires ride smoother at higher pressures than the 22” tires, giving the whole bike a more confident and comfortable ride. With the 3.3” tires, I can run about 15-20psi comfortably without the ride feeling vague in the corners when fully loaded, and without feeling every bump through my spine. 

Improved Frame Design

While both frames have the same 120lb carrying capacity for the integrated rear rack, the RadWagon 5 has a 375lb payload capacity (350lb on the RadWagon4 ), and feels much more stable when fully loaded. The weight of the battery is now behind the seat tube and lower in the frame which likely helps, and the frame has massive reinforcement around the bottom bracket junction to stiffen up the low-step frame design. 

Stepping over the frame on the 4 could be a challenge if you had a water bottle mounted to the top tube. Now, even with a bottle, it’s much easier to mount and dismount the bike. 

Rad Power states that the RadWagon 5 should fit riders from 4’11”-6’3″ (150-190 cm). I’m 5’8″, and found that I had to push the saddle all the way back on the rails to feel like I wasn’t super cramped from the short reach. But there is still more seat post to extend for taller riders.

Keep Your Accessories

When it comes to accessories, I love that all of the accessory mounts on the 5 are the same as the 4. That means if you already own accessories like a front rack, basket, caboose, running boards, etc., they’ll all fit on your new bike. 

Like the 4, I’ve spent the most time using the 5 to chauffeur my daughter around town. The RadWagon has two integrated mounts for child seats like the Yepp Maxi, and you can mount them inside of the RadWagon Caboose rails for a bit of added protection around the child seat. Once they graduate from the Yepp, you can add running boards and a seat cushion and keep the Caboose to still zip around with your kids (or friends, assuming the total weight is under 375lbs). 

There are plenty of cargo-carrying options to make trips to the grocery, post office, etc. easier than ever. I went with a front rack that I strapped a milk crate to, but Rad Power offers their own front baskets that you can bolt right on. 

Really, the only catch to the RadWagon rack system is that the oversized tubes make it so you can’t run most pannier bags that aren’t sold by Rad Power. 

Simpler, More Upright Cockpit

Another big change to the RadWagon design is the cockpit setup. Instead of an adjustable stem with a more standard bar, the Rad Wagon 5 uses a fixed stem and a high-rise BMX-style handlebar. This puts the rider in a much more upright position, which should be welcomed by most riders. 

WARNING: SO MANY WARNING LABELS

Remember those lawsuits mentioned earlier? It seems like they have had a profound impact on the amount of warning labels and stickers that are included on this bike. They are everywhere. There are even warning stickers that are under the clear coat directly in front of you on the top tube of the bike – no way to miss these (or remove them). 

Electronics

You don’t really expect an ebike under $2,500 to have advanced electronics, but the RadWagon 5 is impressive for the price. One of the biggest improvements would have to be the Safe Shield Battery tech which is UL certified to UL-2271. Essentially, it’s supposed to prevent thermal runaway in the case of a fire. That’s when a chain reaction within the battery raises the internal temperature and can eventually lead to the battery failing and catching fire. It’s this chain reaction that can make battery fires so hard to put out. The Safe Shield tech encapsulates each battery cell with a “heat absorbing resin” that claims to prevent this. 

Fortunately, I have not needed to test this feature. But it does give me more confidence in the system as a whole. 

The RadWagon 5 includes a 720Wh Safe Shield external battery that uses Samsung 50GB or LG M50LT cells. The power is directed through a 750W rear hub motor that offers an impressive 90Nm of torque. The included 48VDC, 2 Amp smart charger can operate on 100-240V AC power. A full charge claims to take somewhere between 3-7 hours, and I’ve never had it take more than six.

A full charge also claims to deliver 20-60 miles of range, which seems accurate. My ranges have skewed toward the 20-mile side as I’m almost always carrying a passenger and accessories, and tend to ride at higher levels of assist in Class 3 mode. To get the higher end of that range figure, you’d need to ride unloaded and at lower assistance levels.

Pick Your Class

One of the more interesting electronic features is the new ability to switch between different ebike classes. While the bike ships as a Class 2 (20mph max speed w/ throttle), you can switch the bike to a Class 1 (20mph, no throttle) or a Class 3 (28mph, no throttle). Technically, there’s nothing preventing you from running the throttle if you switch it to a Class 3, but if you want it to be compliant with local laws, you can remove the throttle. 

You’ll probably want to keep that throttle though – I use it all the time when maneuvering the bike out of the house, and up to the street. It essentially functions as an easier walk-assist mode, where you can juice the throttle a bit while walking the bike to help you get the heft up hills, curbs, etc. The throttle is also very helpful in certain situations where you’re trying to take off with a fully loaded cargo bike in a tricky area. You can use the throttle to get moving, and then switch to pedaling when you’re balanced on the open road. 

Color Display, Torque Sensor, Charging Port and more

The class change can be accessed relatively easily through the custom color display, which is another nice touch for the electronics – there’s even a USB-C port on the display to charge additional electronics. A new torque sensor gives the RadWagon 5 much better assistance delivery than the 4 as well. Previously it was more of an on/off switch with a cadence sensor, where the new bike gradually delivers the power as you push, making the pedaling feel more natural. 

There are five levels of pedal assistance, as well as a zero-assist option if you want to suffer by pedaling an 86lb cargo bike without the motor assisting you. All of these are easily toggled with the switch mounted to the left side of the bar, which is also where you’ll find the turn signal controls. 

Yes, the RadWagon 5 has turn signals – but only on the rear, which seems like a miss. Because of that, there’s another warning label stating that they’re not replacements for proper hand signals. They’re also not auto-cancelling, so you need to remember to press the button a second time after you’ve made the turn.  

Fortunately, the front and rear lights come on automatically, with the front providing “~200 lumens.” Personally, if I was riding the RadWagon 5 at night, I’d want to add some brighter lights, but these are better than nothing. 

Can you Build it Yourself?

Yes, it is possible to build this bike yourself. Particularly if you have some experience wrenching on bikes. Rad Power includes a surprisingly comprehensive manual and a decent tool kit to complete the basic assembly.

But if you’re going to buy one of these bikes, or any bike online for that matter, and you don’t have much experience, take it to a shop and pay them to build it and properly tune it. You’ll want to make sure that particular shop will even work on consumer-direct ebikes before you drag it in, though.

Bumps in the Ride

Overall, the experience with the RadWagon 5 has been great, but there have been a few hiccups along the way. After less than 100 miles, I started hearing an odd noise as I was riding. After a few laps around a parking lot, I traced the noise to the rear spokes which had loosened quite a bit. After removing the wheel (pro tip: disconnect all the wires first), and then tensioning and truing it (you’ll need a larger 3.96mm spoke wrench for the oversized nipples), it’s been solid since.

I’ve been a bike mechanic for over 20 years now, and know my way around a noise. That’s important because it highlights an issue that faces any customer who buys a consumer-direct ebike, not just a Rad Power. If you’re not a seasoned bike mechanic, you will likely run into issues that the manual won’t address. While the build on the RadWagon 5 was better than the 4, and the bike came with a better-than-average user’s manual, these bikes still need a good amount of adjustment out of the box, and even more, once they break in. 

Then there’s the rear brake. Even after breaking in the brakes properly, the rear brake has developed a squeal whenever it’s used. It’s really more of a resonance through the frame than a squeal related to the pads. I’ve tried cleaning the rotor and pads, resetting pistons, readjusting the brake caliper, checking rotor bolts, etc. – just about everything short of replacing the brake pads or rotor completely. I’m sure if you ran into the same issue, Rad Power would do what’s necessary to quiet the brake. In spite of the noise, the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes offer plenty of stopping power and are very easy to control. The move to hydraulic brakes is a big plus over the mechanical brakes of the RadWagon 4, since the heavy bike chews through pads quickly and requires frequent pad adjustments for the mechanical discs. Hydraulic disc brakes self-adjust, so there’s no need for frequent pad adjustments – just keep an eye on the brake pad thickness.

The last issue comes in the form of an odd occasional clunk as the drivetrain seems to engage the hub motor. As far as I can tell, there’s no rhyme or reason for it, sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s more of an annoyance than anything as it doesn’t really affect the ride, but you will feel it in the pedals. Again, this is something Rad Power would likely send out replacement parts for if I had pursued it as a consumer.

Other Things to Consider

If you’re thinking about adding a RadWagon to your fleet, there are a few things to consider. The biggest thing would be storage. At 86lbs without accessories, this bike is not light, and can’t be hung on most bike storage options. It also lacks the ability to be stored vertically on the rear rack like some other cargo bikes. As a result, you’ll need a storage space where you can easily wheel the bike in and out, and store it on the sturdy center stand.

The length, weight, frame design, and layout of the bike also will make it very difficult to transport on most, if not all bike racks. The bike has a 50.7″ wheelbase which leaves a few tray-style racks that will work, but you’ll probably need one with a ramp, and a rack that will work around the fenders and rack, and can accommodate an 86lb bike which will be tricky. In my experience, if you’re riding somewhere where friends or family are driving with their bikes, you’ll probably end up riding there to meet them.

Final Thoughts

Overall though, I’m willing to overlook those issues given what the RadWagon 5 delivers for the price (if I had purchased the bike, I would follow up with Rad Power about fixing said issues, obviously). I could not recommend the RadWagon 4 based on my experience, but the RadWagon 5 is a different story. It’s not perfect, but the 5 is so much better than the 4, it’s really not a fair comparison. If you’re cargo bike-curious, the RadWagon 5 could be a good place to start.

The post The Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 5 Cargo Bike is a Huge Improvement over the 4 appeared first on Bikerumor.

Let’s not beat around the bush, The Beam full-face Virgo Integral MIPS helmet looks pretty wild when you compare it to a conventional half-shell bike helmet – with its integrated chin bar and flip-down visor. But just like how DH full-face helmet tech has trickled down to a lot of lightweight convertible and full-face helmets for enduro and even some aggressive trail riders – it’s hard to argue with extra head protection.

The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face city & ebike helmet

Full-face helmets are nothing new in cycling. But for some reason, they’ve really never made the transition from gravity mountain biking to more mainstream cycling.

The Beam Virgo full-face looks to break down that barrier with a lightweight and well-ventilated helmet that offers more of the light comfort, adjustable fit, and premium safety tech that we’ve come to expect from modern cycling helmets. Plus, of course, the added benefit of extra protection of the rider’s chin & face.

I’ve been following the development of this lightweight, multi-disciple full-face since it began as an aero road helmet almost 5 years ago. So, with my own adoption of more time riding a strange utilitarian ebike and a bright yellow cargo ebike, I was happy to test out this latest evolution of the Virgo full-face.

Why an ebike commuter full-face? Why not!

As more people have adopted ebikes as an alternative form of transportation, we have seen more helmets get ebike certifications – i.e. NTA 8776. Yet still, we still only really see ebike helmets going full-face for off-road-focused aggressive eMTB riding.

But, as commuter ebikes share more of the road and urban environment, it makes sense that ebike helmets could start to look a bit more like a scooter or moto helmet.

When you are riding back and forth to work amongst car traffic, or zipping around town on quick & powerful ebikes, The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS helmet simply offers extra peace of mind in a lightweight and comfortable helmet at a reasonable price. And it delivers enough ventilation that you won’t really roast when you have to pedal a bit on your own, too.

Tech Details & Actual Weight

The Beam developed the Virgo full-face to not only comply with the regular EN1078 / CPSC bike certification standards, but also to meet the more stringent European NTA-8776 regulation created for higher-speed (45kph/28mph) pedelec ebikes.

The French-designed helmet features a unique multi-layer construction. First, there’s essentially a more conventional in-mold half-shell helmet – with just a plastic shell molded over the edges of its EPS foam energy absorbing layer for wear & tear protection. Then, molded on the outside of that, there’s the complete ABS shell with separate in-mold EPS around the cheeks and chin bar for additional protection.

Lastly, inside it all, is a black MIPS Evolve Core liner insert to isolate your head from rotational forces in an impact.

• unique multi-part construction for conventional impacts, plus separate face protection
• ABS shell with in-mold EPS foam
• 5 forward & top facing vents, 4 rear exhaust vents & small internal ventilation channels
• fixed height dial-adjustable fit system, with adjustable nylon webbing chinstrap & plastic buckle
• removable, washable, sweat-wicking padding and separate padded cheek cushions
• optional, removable visors (glasses-friendly)
• optional, removable magnetic taillight
• designed in France, made in China
• EN 1078 / CPSC / NTA 8776 certified
• 3 adult + 1 child size available
• lightweight, starting as low as 600-650g claimed (size Small, without visor)

Our size medium The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face helmet has an official claimed weight of 710g without its visor, but measures a real 706g.

But the actual weight with the visor is 786g, plus an additional 28g when the smart tail (brake) light is mounted.

Lighter than most MTB full-face helmets

As a mountain biker who spends plenty of time riding long travel trail, enduro, freeride, and the occasional downhill bike, there wasn’t really even any mental obstacle to opting for a full-face helmet for ebike riding. In fact, while riding commuter bikes or even trail bikes in the winter, I’ve already been apt to put on a lightweight enduro full face and goggles to get a bit of extra weather protection with the added safety just a bonus.

Weight-wise, I have a couple of light enduro MTB full-face helmets that are lighter (Dainese & Endura) than the Virgo without its visor, but only the Endura is lighter once I factor in a pair of goggles, and then only by about 10g. Only the Dainese has MIPS, and neither are NTA-8776 certified. What that says is that comparing apples to apples (or at least to pears), The Beam’s Virgo Integral MIPS is truly a lightweight when it comes to full-face protection.

Riding Review

I’ve ridden the Virgo Integral MIPS mostly through autumn, with my ebike rides generally leaning towards jackets and gloves weather, so I really can’t vouch for how it will do on hot summer days when you have to pedal uphill by yourself. Or when your ebike battery will run out. But I have ridden in cold enough weather to notice that the vents do let a good bit of air in, so I definitely put a thin windproof cap on when it got closer to freezing.

I picked the sand tan helmet to test because I figured the lighter color would offer improved visibility to drivers. And I have the clear Crystal visor, which still has a tiny bit of a gray tint, although it’s completely fine for riding at night with lights.

The visor itself doesn’t have any specific handles or tabs to move it. But it sits far enough away from my face that I have no problem pushing it up or down by the visor’s edges, even with winter gloves. When it’s not exceptionally cold, I like to ride with the visor up so I can feel the wind on my face. Or half way up which offers a tiny bit of shading against the setting sun. But on especially cold, windy, or even rainy days, dropping the visor down is great.

Virgo Integral’s snap-on Smart Rear Light

I especially like the Virgo Integral’s included rear smart taillight (optional on Access models), as it greatly boosts nighttime and low-light visibility.

It puts out a steady 40 lumens of red light, then powered by an on-board accelerometer, it automatically boosts to 120 lumens when braking for added visibility. The water-resistant 28g USB-C rechargeable taillight has a 400mAh battery for a claimed runtime of 20 hours, and a 2hr recharge time – both of which seem to match my real-world use.

The Smart rear light is StVZO-certified, and comes in a package with the top-spec Virgo Integral models, or sells for 49€ separately.

Riding Takeaways

If you are only used to road, gravel, or conventional urban commuter helmets, The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face is a pretty shocking switch. And I won’t lie, the first comments that I’ve got from coworkers, friends, and family were often astonishment why I would want a helmet that they thought looked more like a motorcycle helmet than a commuter bike helmet.

But on second thought, pretty much everyone understands that more coverage and more protection means improved safety. And what other reason do we wear helmets than to keep our heads safe?

Plus, more ebikes means more time sharing the road with cars, more inexperienced riders on heavier ebikes (vs. conventional bikes), and maybe even higher average speeds. So there’s good reason to offer more protection to the heads of ebikers. And The Beam’s Virgo Integral full face does all that in a lightweight and comfortable helmet, that I personally feel better riding.

The Beam Virgo Integral – Pricing, options & availability

The Beam offers their Virgo full-face helmet in 3 sizes: S(51-54cm), M (55-58cm) & L (59-63cm. Then, you get to pick from 4 colors – black, white, navy blue & sand (tested). And then, if you get one of the top-tier Integral models, it comes with your choice of 4 visor options – lightly tinted Crystal (tested), dark smoke tinted Black, reflective Polarized Blue, bronze-tinted Yellow.

Lastly, The Beam Virgo is available in 4 spec options to hit all price points: Integral includes both the visor of your choice and the taillight. Access is without a visor (but one could still be added later).

Technically, it looks like only the top-tier is available in the US-specific web store, at the moment. But global delivery is available from the European webshop, so you might just have slightly higher shipping costs or extra delivery time.

The top-spec The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face (as tested) sells for $299 / 299€, directly from The Beam’s online shop. Get rid of the visor & that smart taillight, and the Virgo Access MIPS retails for just 239€. Or without the extra rotational impact protection, the Virgo Integral sells for 229€ with the accessories, and the Virgo Access goes for 179€ without.

There are also even cheaper XS (48-50cm) & S (51-54cm) kids versions for just 99€ in more child-oriented colors, too.

As an extra holiday shopping deal now in Europe, if you buy any Virgo helmet right now, The Beam will give you a free visor and a helmet Reflector reflective sticker for free, making it cheaper to get a visor-equipped commuter full-face. (Apply code: VIRGOSTYLE at checkout after adding the accessories).

TheBeam-Europe.com

The post The Beam Virgo Integral Helmet Gives eBike & Commuters Extra Full-Face Protection: Review appeared first on Bikerumor.

Black Friday is no longer confined to the day after Thanksgiving. Many companies have been running early Black Friday or Thanksgiving sales already for days or even weeks. But there are still some of the biggest sales to come on the actual Black Friday, or at least after Thanksgiving. We’ve once again rounded up all the sales, discounts, and deals on road bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and anything else we could find.

Here’s all the best “Black Friday” deals for cyclists! Note that many of these deals extend past Black Friday into Cyber Monday and beyond.

Check back frequently as we’re updating this as they come in.

Black Friday Deals you can get now (in no particular order):

Bicycles, Components, and Parts

• Transition Bikes: Up to 50% off select bikes
• Robert Axle Project: 20% Off everything site
• ENVE: Various savings plus buy any SES or G Series wheels, get free tires. Cyber Monday: buy any tire get one free!
• Litespeed: Daily deals from Nov. 5th, to Dec. 31st! Also, save up to 25% on complete bikes with free shipping and free anodized or etched graphics
• Wheels Manufacturing: 10% off retail price on components and tools with code ‘CYB10’ today only!
• Lezyne: Take 10% off everything online with free shipping for the Contiguous 48 states from now until Dec. 2nd.
• Fox Racing Shox: Save up to 25% off forks, up to 50% off shocks, and up to 70% off apparel
• Specialized: Save up to 50% off bikes and equipment
• Hunt Wheels: Find up to 35% off Hunt Wheels
• Easton Components: Save 20% site-wide on Eason Cycling components
• Commencal: Find a range of deals on components, clothing, and complete bikes
• Rotor: Get up to 60% off with deals on bike components
• Portland Design Works: Find 25% off site-wide for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
• Privateer Bikes: Get a free Hunt Carbon wheel upgrade for Privateer 141 and 161 builds, plus Hunt’s H_Care lifetime crash replacement
• ARI Bikes: Save up to 50% on bikes, accessories, and gear
• Prevelo Bikes: Get up to $100 off plus free accessories for kids’ bikes just in time for Christmas!
• Crank Brothers: Get 30% off sitewide with code ‘BFCM24’
• Industry Nine: Save up to 35% on select items until Dec. 3rd at midnight.
• Campagnolo: Black Week has started with 25% off select items from now until Dec. 12.
• Cane Creek: Cane Creek will have some secret Black Friday deals starting at Midnight, 11/27
• Boyd Cycling: We haven’t seen any info about a Black Friday sale for Boyd Cycling, but they have announced a Cyber Monday sale. Their “biggest sale ever” is one day only on 12/2, and will land you 25% off any Boyd wheelset.
• Obed Bikes: There are a few different deals going on over at Obed including carbon gravel bikes with Shimano GRX 810 for $2,099. There are also sales on electronic shifting with free paint upgrades, free RVR Carbon wheel upgrades, and more.
• Mavic: From 11/15 to 12/04, Mavic is offering 30% off helmets and footwear, 35% off wheels, and 50% off apparel.
• WattBike: Save $600 in the U.S. on the WattBike Atom Digi Bundle which includes $500 off the Atom Bike, 12 mo of WattBike Hub ($80) and 1 mo of Zwift ($20).
• Ibis: The Ibis holiday sale includes big discounts on wheels, 54% off Ripley V4S frames, and 21% off V4S Sunset bundles, and additional savings on rims, bars, clothing and more. Plus find 25% off the Ripmo AF!
• Revel Bikes: Get 40% off site-wide including all bikes.
• Otso Cycles: Find deals up to 25% off select gravel, mountain, and fat bikes like the new Voytek 2 plus a free carbon crank upgrade for Voytek.
• Hayes Bicycle: Save up to 60% with at least 20% off site-wide
• Wolf Tooth Components: Save an additional 20% off Resolve REV1 Dropper posts with code ‘FLASHRESOLVE’
• Berd: Find 20% off all RD35 wheels, HAWK 27 and 30, and Sparrow Wheels with Berd Talon Hubs. Also get 10% off Berd Wheel rebuilding until Midnight CT today!

Clothing, Apparel

• Ornot: Black Friday sale runs from Nov 27th – Dec 2nd with tiered discounts starting with 15% off all orders, 20% off orders over $250, 25% off orders over $450
• 7Mesh: Up to 60% off
• Pearl Izumi: Get 25% off site-wide from 11/15 – 12/2
• Pactimo: Get up to 65% off across the site with special deals on products with 37.5 tech.
• Club Ride Apparel: Save up to 50% site-wide
• 45NRTH: 60% off Ragnarok Winter Boots and select winter riding gear
• Velocio Apparel: Take 30% off select new styles, or 15% off all Velocio RENEWED products with code ‘RENEWEDBF15’, bonus – orders over $500 receive an extra 5% off
• Rapha: Save 25% across the range with code ‘BF2024’
• DeFeet: Get 30% off with code ‘BLACKFRIDAY30’
• VeloToze: Score up to 40% off starting 11/23 while supplies last
• Borah Teamwear: Their first ever black Friday sale includes 25% off orders with code ‘BF25’
• Handup Gloves: Save up to 60% site-wide
• Swiftwick: Find 25% off site-wide from 11/25-12/2, orders over $100 get a free Specialized x Swiftwick bottle

Gear, Tools, and Nutrition

• BikeTiresDirect: Find wheels and components up to 60% off now through 12/2 or while supplies last
• Maxxis Tires: Get 25% off all Maxxis tires on their e-store, sale runs through 12/20
• Otto Lock: 50% off site-wide with 48-hour flash sale, Dec. 1-2nd
• Quad Lock: Find 30% off site-wide and bundles with greater savings
• Roka: Save up to 40% on sunglasses & eyeglasses
• Hammerhead: Get a $50 Velocio Gift Card with a Karoo purchase
• Tifosi: Sitewide Spend More, Save More – Up to 30% Off
• Silca: Save up to 50% site-wide from 11/22-12/2, including 33% off Aeros Socks
• Po Campo: Save up to 60% off with deals varying by product
• Laird Superfood: Take 20% off all orders site-wide, 30% off orders over $100, and 35% off orders over $150
• Abbey Bike Tools: Get 15% off everything on the site for Black Friday
• Wahoo Fitness: Get a free KICKR Headwind fan plus a TRACKR Hear Rate Monitor with the repurchase of the KICKR Run treadmill with code ‘TURKEYTROT’
• POC: Save up to 50% site-wide
• Fidlock: You’ll find everything on Fidlock’s website and Amazon store on sale for 20% off with some outlet items up to 40% off.
• 4iiii: Take 15% off a Factory install for Precision 3+, and 3+ Pro powermeters from 11/25-12/8.
• Kenda: Kenda is offering 30% off tires and tubes for their holiday sale.
• Saris: Saris is having a Holiday sale on bike racks that goes until 12/20, plus a Trainer event, all with free domestic shipping over $150
• Fluid Nutrition: Find 25% off all products and gear with code ‘CYBER24’ plus 40% off new subscriptions
• Feedback Sports: Find up to 70% off select tools and accessories until the end of Cyber Monday
• GU Energy: Get 25% off site-wide until today at midnight!

eBikes

• Rad Power Bikes: Select bikes include a free upgrade to the Safe Shield battery packs, plus many discounts on bikes up to $699 with free gifts and 30% off accessories.
• Aventon: Get $400 off Aventure eBiks and take 30% off of select accessories

Tech and Subscriptions

• Uphill Athlete: Get 15% off all training plans with code ‘TRAIN15’
• Zwift: One of our favorite training platforms is offering a number of sales with 20% off select training accessories, 50% off Zwift Play controllers and apparel and accessories, and more for their Cyber week sale

Bike Racks / Gift Ideas

• Veloist: Save 20% through 12/8 on cycling art with code ‘holiday25’
• Yakima: Get up to 30% off ski and snowboard racks, cargo boxes, and hitch cargo racks for Black Rack Friday, Cyber Monday
• Muc-Off: Take 25% off everything

Bottles, Bags, and Camping Gear

• Scicon Sports: Starting now, get 30% off eyewear plus $25 gift card, 50% off travel bags + free rain bag + $100 gift card, up to 60% off bundles, and up to 70% off the outlet prices.
• Ortlieb: Repair week returns with 40% off repair costs for “aggressively-loved” Ortlieb bags.
• Polar Bottle: Get 30% off site-wide starting now with code ‘BFCM24’

Giving Back is for everyday

• Support Richmond Cycling Corps in continuing its youth cycling program, bike park, cycling team and mechanics program.
• Support your local Trips For Kids program. Google “trips for kids non-profit” and your location to see if there is one nearby.
• Lots of programs accept gently used bicycle gear for their cyclists or that they can sell to make money for their operations. And we all have bicycle bits and pieces lying around that could be put to good use.
• Know of a good program we could add here? Let us know in the comments!

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Partnering with trusted dynamo maker Shutter Precision, the wheel specialists at DT Swiss have created the 350 SP PL-7 dynamo hub and two affordable pre-built aluminum Gravel Dynamo wheels. Whether you are looking for inexhaustible power to light up your next ultra-distance adventure or simply a reliable always-on lighting setup for year-round bike commutes, DT now offers several no-nonsense dynamo generator solutions backed by a brand you already know and trust…

DT Swiss dynamo in 350 SP hub & DYN-series gravel wheels

DT Swiss is getting back into the generator hub dynamo game, working together with Shutter Precision to build modern dynamo hubs & wheels to deliver unlimited power to the latest crop of road, all-road, and gravel bikes. And while the trusted generator tech inside isn’t really new, DT has built it into their solid & reliable 350 hub series with straightpull lacing, 12mm thru-axles, and centerlock disc brake compatibility.

This is DT Swiss’ first dynamo in over 25 years – since their S’Light hub from the 90s – and seems to fit well with the growth of ultra-distance racing, amateur bikepacking, and maybe even a resurgence of riding versatile bikes for fun and commuting.

Because really, having to remember to keep your lights charged just means that eventually, there will come a time when you don’t have lighting when you need it. Why worry about it, when you can always have pedal power to light your way or charge your devices.

Tech details

Inside the DT-made 350 SP PL-7 hub shell are standard Shutter Precision 7 series dynamo hub guts – made by SP in their new high-tech factory in Taichung. That means you get a reliable 6-volt, 3-watt power output claiming 72% efficiency while pedaling at just 15kph. DT says that means “really stable” power to cover your lighting needs, even at relatively slow riding speeds around town or even off-road.

Of course, getting unlimited power adds some resistance as you pedal. SP claims <1W of added drag up to riding at 30kph. And then only when you switch on your lights does it require more power out of your legs. That sucks 4.2W at that 15kph threshold or between 6-7W at 30kph (hence that efficiency percentage claim.)

Plus, the dynamo is StVZO tested & certified, so it will provide the required lighting to ride at night under Germany’s strict rules.

New DT dynamo options

DT makes it easy for riders to add a dynamo power setup to their current bike, or otherwise for a complete self-powered new bike build. DT offers the new 350 SP PL-7 dynamo hub on its own, in just one configuration for road- & gravel-focused custom wheel builds. Or there are 2 affordable pre-built front wheels to choose from, slotting directly into the 2 aluminum options in the DT Swiss gravel bike wheel family, updated last year.

DT Swiss 350 SP PL-7 dynamo hub

• Shutter Precision 7 series dynamo internals
• 6V3W power output, so StVZO-compliant
• centerlock disc brake
• 12x100mm thru-axle
• 24-hole drilling then for straight-pull spokes only
• 376g claimed hub weight

G1800 Spline DYN alloy gravel dynamo front wheel

• alloy centerlock disc brake dynamo front gravel wheel, of course with the new DT 350 SP PL-7 dynamo hub
• sleeved aluminum rim joint
• 24mm internal x 25mm deep, hooked tubeless-ready rim
• pre-taped, tubeless valve included
• 24 straightpull DT Aero Comp spokes
• laced 2x with Pro Lock, Squorx Pro Head aluminum nipples
• 1098g claimed weight (+234g vs. standard G1800 front wheel)

GR1600 Spline DYN alloy gravel dynamo front wheel

• alloy centerlock disc brake front dynamo gravel wheel, thus the DT 350 SP PL-7 dynamo hub again
• welded aluminum rim joint
• 24mm internal x 25mm deep, hooked tubeless-ready rim
• pre-taped, tubeless valve included
• 24 straightpull DT Aero Comp spokes
• laced 2x with Pro Lock, Squorx Pro Head aluminum nipples
• 1075g claimed weight (+245g vs. standard GR1600 front wheel)

DT Swiss Dynamo – Pricing & availability

If you want to custom-build a dynamo wheel to match your current setup, you can pick up the DT Swiss 350 SP PL-7 dynamo hub on its own for $237 / 175€. For comparison, that’s the same price as Shutter Precision’s own J-bend PL-7 hub, and just about 2x the cost of DT’s standard non-dynamo 350 road hub.

The easier and better value solution is one of 2 pre-built aluminum gravel dynamo wheels, which sell for just $95/69€ more than their non-dynamo analogue. The sleeved rim G1800 front wheel sells alone for $343 / 249€, or add in a matching rear wheel for a $688 / 499€ complete wheelset (2069g pair).

The slightly lighter GR1600 setup with a welded rim retails for $443 / 321€ for the front only, or for $923 / 669€ as a complete wheelset with a matching rear wheel (1993g wheelset).

The new hubs and wheels are officially available starting today. But depending where you are in the world, it might be the end of this month or early December before you will be able to get one in-hand.

All new DT dynamo hubs & wheels include the standard SP wire connector that you will need to connect to a custom wiring setup on your own bike, whether you connect directly to a dynamo-specific headlight alone or additionally to a taillight and/or USB accessory charging setup like the Sinewave Revolution. It’s not the easiest bike building project to complete. But once you do, you’ll never have to worry about battery-powered lights on your road or gravel bike again!

DTSwiss.com

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SideLights is a new Swiss start-up that wants to make cyclists more visible with their world’s first 360° & Double Beam cycling safety lights. The concept is simple, by lighting up the ends of your bars, motorists can better see cyclists at night when approaching from all directions. And since SideLights includes a pair of bright headlights (600-lumen combined) set wide at the ends of your handlebar, drivers are more likely to see you coming, and better able to judge your approaching speed.

SideLights bright cycling lights in your handlebar ends

Dreamed up by Swiss “BMX enthusiast and commuter cyclist” Arthur Claessens, and brother of Olympic BMX-medalist Zoé Claessens, SideLights was created with the singular goal of improving bicyclist safety by making them more visible to motorists.

Claessens’ patent-pending solution puts a multi-functional set of lights in each end of your handlebar to ensure 360° visibility. Facing forward is an adjustable angle 300lm headlight under each end of your grips. Facing back is a 100lm taillight. And emanating from the side is a 100lm side indicator with turn signals that are activated by pressing down on a large button with the palm of your hand, without having to really take your hand off the bar.

By mounting to the bike by sliding into the open end of your bar, the SideLights extend out just a few centimeters beyond your regular grips, but can offer full 360° visibility. It also lights the outer edges of the bike, so passing motorists are more likely to better understand the width of the cyclist, and then to also pass at a safer distance away from the rider.

And since the lights are set wide apart, they help drivers see you coming in an environment where they are expecting to see horizontal pairs of headlights, like on other cars. This set-apart arrangement also helps others more accurately estimate a cyclists approaching speed, improving safety all-around.

“As a regular cyclist, I wanted a product that was easy to use, efficient and, above all, safe for everyday rides,” explains Arthur Claessens.

Tech details

• each SideLight is 52x32x180mm
• aluminum main body with bar end bump protectors & stainless steel battery tubes
• ~150g per side
• white headlight output: up to 600lm (combined)
• yellow side lighting output: up to 200lm (combined)
• red taillight output: up to 200lm (combined)

• 3 lighting modes with long run times (combined lumen outputs include all lights)
• 150lm ECO for 8hr, 300lm MEDIUM for 4hr, or then 700lm FULL for 2hr
• battery: 2x 1500mAh batteries, USB-C rechargeable
• IP67 waterproof, for rain & dust resistance

• deemed ‘theft-resistant’ due to the need to use an extended tool to install & remove (once you pull out the battery)
• compatible with handlebars from 0-30° backsweep
• fits almost all grips with open ends (min 15mm internal diameter)
• optional grips & rearview mirror also available

SideLights – Crowdfunding pricing, options & anticipated availability

SideLights is currently running a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to get the project off the ground. A seemingly unlimited number of super early bird deals remain for a price of 119 Swiss francs (~$137) for the SideLights Beamkit which includes the 2 bar mounted lights, 2 removable rechargeable batteries, a charging cable, and the extra long hex key to install them. There are also multiple packs for riders who want them on more than one bike, or shops that want to resell them.

SideLights already beat their Kickstarter funding target by 5x. They move into final tooling now, with backer delivery estimated to happen in April 2025.

SideLights.com

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To help their customers ride more, worry less, and live a “happier and healthier lifestyle”, Trek has launched two new hybrid fitness bicycles. Introducing the new FX2 and FX3. Trek says these two new models will bring more durability and capability to its fitness platform.

The new FX models look to be versatile bikes that can handle some performance, as well as dish out some comfort and utility. They are feature-rich with lightweight aluminum frames, 1x Shimano CUES drivetrains, and a carbon fork on the FX3.

Accessory Mounts

New for the FX2 and FX3 are standard mounts for bags, racks, and fenders. Also, there are new additional mounts for a low-rider front rack and an Adventure Boss frame bag.

More Durable Drivetrain

Another new spec for the FX2 and FX3 is the Shimano CUES Drivetrain. The new CUES drivetrain is designed to be a rugged drivetrain that improves the riding experience with more riding and fewer shop visits.

Comfy and Active

The new FX2 and 3 utilize a less leisurely and more active riding position while maintaining riding comfort. It’s a riding position that lets the rider put more power to the pedals while staying safe, comfortable, and confident.

The Geometry

The Bikes

The FX2 Gen 4

Retail: $799

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, and XL

The FX3 Gen 4

Retail: $1,049

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, and XL

Check out all of the new 2025 bikes by hitting the link below.

TrekBikes.com

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If you visit this site regularly and you have groms in your life who love to ride, you’ve probably read our articles on Prevelo. We’re big fans of the work they do. Heck, Jordan’s given them the 2022 Editors’ Choice and they made the list for the 2024 Sea Otter Best of Show. They make high-quality bikes and bits for kids and are committed to great customer service as a brand. This year, the Prevelo founders have introduced a sister bike brand to round out the family bike ride with Eaglebear Bikes.

We teased about Eaglebear Bikes a bit back in April of this year at the Sea Otter Classic. But recently, I had the opportunity to drive down to their facility in Southern California to ride the bike and take a tour.

While there I got a tour of the establishment and a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes at the HQ. Plus, some bonus activities included riding to a favorite, local lunchtime spot to enjoy some delicious burritos. Win, win!

Who Are Eaglebear Bikes?

Eaglebear Bikes is a “direct-to-consumer” bike brand. It was created as a compliment to the wildly successful Prevelo brand. Sister company Eaglebear Bikes targets the parents of the kiddos that shred the lil’ gnar on their Prevelo bikes.

Founded in 2024 by Jacob Rheuban, Jim Huth, and Owen Dickson, Eaglebear Bikes is run out of the same facility as the Prevelo brand. That’s important because Prevelo has a stellar reputation with its customers for impeccable customer service.

Being part of the same facility means that Eaglebear Bikes is part of an integrated effort with Prevelo. Using the same team to manage Eaglebear Bikes’ fulfillment, quick and thorough order customization and top-notch customer service can just about guarantee the same success that Prevelo has enjoyed.

The Eaglebear Black

Retail: $1300

Black is the first model for Eaglebear Bikes. There were a lot of ideas around how the bike was designed and spec’d. Black was designed while thinking of people who want to try cycling with the family but don’t want to spend a ton of money.

Or maybe, the cyclist whose very expensive bike is a bit overkill for the family bike ride. Or maybe someone who wants more comfort than their mountain/road bike can offer for a simple ride to get burritos.

The folks at Eaglebear spec’d the bike at the right junction of price/value. Black is a versatile, reasonably priced, well-spec’d bike to get out and ride, on just about any type of terrain.

Black comes in the “multi-use” configuration (tested), with 700x 45c wheels/tires. Or, you can get the “trail” version that comes equipped with more MTB-focused 27.5x 2.2 wheels/tires.

There is internal routing ready for a dropper post, if that’s your jam. But, also there are a boat-load of accessories that are available to get all of your bike needs covered in one place.

Accessories include colored lock-on grips, bottle cages, Mac Ride Child bike seat, front pizza rack, riser bars (tested), KS Rage dropper post, Eaglebear branded water bottle, kickstand, optional wheelset (with tires), The “Bell of Justice”, and for the “after the ride BBQ” – an Eaglebear Spatula and Tongs.

Eaglebear Black Specs

• Deore 12-speed drivetrain
• Full sealed cartridge bearings – Hubs, Headset, and Bottom Bracket
• Shimano Hydraulic Brakes
• Full Carbon Fork
• Tubeless-ready – Rims are pre-taped. Just add valves/sealant (optional add-on)
• Mounts for everything – Racks, fenders, bags, etc…
• Center Kickstand mount – If you’re putting kids on a carrier, Eaglebear recommends a double-leg stand.
• Sizing: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large

Eaglebear Black Geometry

What Do I Think of the Eaglebear Black

I’ve been testing an XL version of the Eaglebear Black with 29″ wheels and the optional riser bar. Eaglebear publishes a claimed weight of 24.4 lbs (size medium), and my XL weighs in at a smidge over 26 lbs.

I think the bike is an awesome all-around bicycle. It has mounts for everything you need to attach. For instance, there are mounts for a top tube bag, three water bottle cages, fenders, front, and rear racks, as well as fork mounts.

The fork is a full carbon fork and takes a bit of the edge out of the small chatter bumps. The bike has very comfortable geometry that offers a nice upright riding position and would be great on any terrain. The stock saddle is very comfortable. I didn’t fully love the feel of the grips, but that is easy and cheap to fix.

The Shimano Deore drivetrain is perfect for this type of bike. It is easy to adjust, and reliable, making perfect shifts all of the time. The 10-51 rear cassette provides a great amount of range. The non-branded crank gets the job done and should last a long time.

The Shimano flat-mount hydraulic brakes are a nice touch on a bike at this price point. They look fantastic and stop with authority.

In Conclusion

Overall, the bike “rides light”, rolls well, and pedals effortlessly. The geo feels nimble and predictable. It’s the perfect steed to go out with the family on a bike ride. The Eaglebear Black is a handsome bike for anyone who wants a simple “no-fuss” easy-to-use steed for everyday endeavors.

And for $1300, the Eaglebear Black isn’t priced out of reach. If you are in the market for a bicycle like this, I would highly recommend it.

All direct-purchased bikes are tuned/customized before they ship, adding options that can be installed before the bike ships, like dropper posts, racks, and upgraded bars.

For more info, to reach out for questions, or to grab an Eaglebear Black for yourself, hit the link below.

Eaglebear.com

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In an attempt to #savethetrackbike, Ritchey recently released the Garden City track frameset. Ritchey states the new Garden City combines an urban fixie with a track bike, for a “contemporary version of the multi-purposed fixie”.

The Garden City can be whatever kind of bike you want it to be (sans gears). It uses a triple-butted Ritchey Logic steel tube set and can hold a 30mm wide tire. The frameset comes with an EPD coating, keeping corrosion, dirt, and contaminants from wreaking havoc on the frame.

The frame is designed to fit up to a 55t chainring, so if you wanted to sprint around the local track you could. If the track isn’t your jam, that’s OK too. The frame is equipped with places for bottles and brakes so it can be used as a stylish commuter as well.

Garden City Frameset Retail & Specs

Retail: $1199

Frame

• Frame material: heat-treated, triple-butted Ritchey Logic steel tubing
• Ultra-light forged and machined straight 1-1/8″ headtube
• 27.2mm seat tube with integrated seat collar (max torque setting: 6Nm)
• Bottom Bracket: 68mm, English threaded
• Chainline: 49mm
• Max Crankset: 55t
• Bottle cage mounts: 2
• Dropout: Horizontal 120mm bolt-on
• Frame weight: 1,950g (size large)
• WCS headset included (upper IS42/28.6 – 16mm stack height | lower IS42/30)
• Colors: Midnight Violet and Moon Yellow

Fork

• Ritchey Comp Carbon Road Fork included 1-1/8″ straight steerer
• Axle to Crown: 368mm
• Rake/Offset: 43mm
• Steerer Length: 300mm
• Weight: 525g (uncut steerer)
• 30mm max spacers below the stem
• Standard quick release

Tire Compatibility

• 700 x 28c tire clearance (depending on tire/rim manufacturer)
• Frame spacing: 38mm
• Fork spacing: 32mm

Ritchey Garden City Geometry

The Garden City will come in sizes S / M / L / XL. It is a limited edition frameset, with 100 uniquely numbered frames being produced. And will be in stock and ready for purchase on October 15th at the link below.

RitcheyLogic.com

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Look, there’s nothing we haven’t already covered in the new Ass Savers “Bits n’ Peaces” collection created with playful British illustrator Jody Barton. But these colorful little items brightened my rainy day when I spotted them, and they are pretty much all functional products that I actually use on many of my bikes. Plus, one of the greatest things about Ass Savers’ simple fenders – from the OG Ass Saver, to their Mullet, to the most recent Win Wing – is that these affordable accessories are an easy way to add a splash of color or originality with something practical for your bike…

Ass Savers Bits n’ Peaces artists series fenders & more!

“Outside of its more competitive corners, cycling is an inherently relaxing activity—the repetitive, circular motion a meandering meditation, a journey towards inner peace.“

Simple Swedish fender maker Ass Savers describes their “Bits n’ Peaces” collaboration with Copenhagen-based artist Jody Barton as a project to celebrate cycling’s lighter side. And maybe just spread a little bit of peace and love with some light and colorful art.

“What’s finer than a snack among the pines or a swim stop in a glassy lake? I like the way an empty road can work itself into a full mind. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of peace. In fact, we could all do with quite a bit more. Any way you like to take it—take this as a peace sign and hopefully find some peace yourself as you pedal on your way.”

– Jody Barton

Ass Savers Bits n’ Peaces – Pricing, options & links to our previous reviews

This special Bits n’ Peaces artist collection includes the following:

• a 27€ Win Wing 2 strap-on gravel bike fender, like I reviewed last autumn, and put on every gravel bike I ride.
• a 16€ Speed Mullet toe-saving fender that straps around your bike’s downtube, which I reviewed 6 years ago.
• a 13€ Mudder Mini tiny gravel bike fork fender that I reviewed with that Mullet (and is on all of my own gravel bikes today.)
• an 11€ classic Ass Saver Regular for when you just want to clip a better-than-nothing fender to your saddle rails

• a 24€ soul searchers cotton cycling cap
• a 15€ 500ml transcendentalist Tacx Shiva water bottle
• a 15€ cotton musette for “earthly belongings”

There’s also apparently a colorful poster, a “zine”, a “peace-spreading” reflector, plus plenty of stickers & decorative tape to “help spread the message of inner peace”. We’re not sure how you get the rest of that, but presumably, it will just come when you order any of these functional goodies directly from Ass Savers online.

Ass-Savers.com

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It may still be September, but those in northern latitudes know Winter is just around the corner. For many, that means hanging up the bikes for the season. But for the hearty, it simply means a change of scenery – and clothing.

No one knows that better than 45NRTH. The name says it all, but the winter clothing and tire experts from up north live it every year. Their newest footwear option is called the Öland, and they don’t look like your typical cycling boots.

Instead, the Ölands are built with a “premium waterproof” leather construction that instantly reminded us of the 45NRTH x Red Wing Leather Limited Edition Wölvhammers. It’s important to note that the Ölands are NOT made with Red Wing Leather, but the ECCO leather used for the Ölands should break in similarly to the Leather Wölvhammers which is part of why those boots have become my favorite winter option. 45NRTH points out that ECCO’s leather is “made with Bioscavenge and DriTan technology to save and recycle water during manufacturing. Leather Working Group-certified.”

Inside the Ölands, you’ll find 100g Primaloft insulation which gives them a recommended temperature rating of 20º to 45ºF / -7º to 7ºC. Unlike the Wölvhammers, or any other 45NRTH boot, the Ölands use a traditional lace closure with a high top cut. The lower lace guides are captured, while the upper two pairs are hooked so you can easily unlace and open the tongue – which is required to get your foot in.

When it comes to fit, the Ölands seem to be right on the money with past 45NRTH boots. I requested a pair of 42s which are the same as my Wölvhammers and Ragnaroks, and the fit is just about perfect with a pair of 45NRTH Swiftwick winter socks (which are definitely thicker than most cycling socks, but not the thickest winter sock).

Inside you’ll find a thin, but sculped Syksol insole. There doesn’t appear to be any insulating feature here, just a metatarsal button and a sculpted arch.

On the bottom, you’ll find a real rubber outsole with anti-slip microglass inserts that will continue to provide grip even as the sole wears. The boots are compatible with flat pedals utilizing the included cleat plate, or with two-bolt cleats for clipless pedals.

Where these differ from your traditional winter or hiking boot is that the outside shaping is more slender to prevent rubbing against cranks and frames. Also, the back of the upper cuff is made from a more stretchy material to allow it to flex as you pedal. I will say that initially, pedaling in the Ölands is a bit stiff, but better than expected – and it should only improve as they break in.

On the scale, a single 42-size boot checks in at 651g. Compare that to 894g for the same size 45NRTH x Red Wing boot and it’s clear that the Öland is a good bit lighter.

The 45NRTH Öland will sell for $260 in sizes 36-44, 46, and 50. Available now.

45NRTH.com

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