Interbike 2018: Road gear review
All the best road gear and kit from Reno, Nevada
Interbike 2018 rolled into Reno, Nevada with a fair bit of new road, cross and gravel gear and kit to show off. Here’s some of the best new and expanded lines we found out on the showroom floor of the Sparks convention centre.
Bianchi e-road Aria
Looks like a Bianchi Aria
Still looks like an Aria
Wait, e-road Aria?
A couple small differences on the bike
And one bigger difference that was catching alot of attention
Disc stoppers to help with the exxtra power
Bianchi e-road Aria
Bianchi was out in force at Interbike, and in good spirits. The big news was its Aria e-road bike. At first glance, the e-Aria is a standard bike, looking almost exactly like it’s 100% human powered version. Look a bit closer, and there’s a couple small difference, and one sizable rear hub. The hub driven e-assist allows Bianchi to keep the Aria’s looks in line with a road bike, while still giving a boost when riders need it.
Castelli – Chapter 3 and Aero kit
Chpt 3 gets a subtle green and red design for this year
Chapter 3 is based in Girona, Spain - a popular trainigng for pro road cyclists
It's a low key logo for Chapter 3
And even more subtle on the bibs
There's more colour on the wide, comfortalbe looking leg gripper band
Castellis Rosso Corsa jersey
And aero dotted bib shorts
The bibs shed material wherever they can
Long sleeves for comfort
... and style
Castelli had David Millar’s Chapter 3 projected displayed in its booth. The former WorldTour pro’s clothing line offers a more subtle style than the usual bright road kit, while still providing performance oriented features.
For its own kit, Castelli was showing its lightweight aero road kit. There’s a whole host of features beyond the aero dots. Including very breathable layer on the bibs, longer arms, and wide gripper on the leg for comfort.
DT Swiss – road and cyclocross wheels
Mont Chasseral wheels are named for a infamous climb neighbouring the brands Swiss headquarters
Carbon hub shell, ceramic bearings throughout, and a low weight put the Mont Chasseral wheels in above category class
DT Swiss filled in its road line with a mid-aero wheel, and an endurance aero wheel. The latter is designed around 23-25mm tires, with a 19mm internal width.
DT Swiss had some help with the aero profile of its 2019 rims from Swissside. The company's prior experience comes from doing carbon fibre aero research for F1 racing.
The CRC 1400 is DT Swiss's entry into the gravel and cyclocross range. 22.5mm internal width on the rims makes them compatible with a range of tires.
DT Swiss re-worked its entire road line in 2018 so for 2019, they’re filling out the line. A new aero wheel, an aero endurance wheel, a cross / gravel wheel and the higher-than-high end Mont Chasseral wheel join the line for the coming year.
Shimano road shoes
Shimano RC 7 comes in a subtle black
Or a white colour. Both feature the low profile Boa closures.
The white RC7 gets extra detailing around the bottom of the shoe
The RP9 gets a two way micro adjustable Boa, and the sharp dark blue / pink colour shceme
Shimano had plenty going on in their booth, including some sharp looking footware. The new SPhyre colours launched earlier this year, but the RC7 and RP9 fill out an impressive line
Abus – AirBreaker
Abus's light wight road helmet in Bianchi celeste
Air vents are supposed help pull air up away from the head
Abus’s new light weight road AirBreaker helmet weighs a scant 180g. The helmet will only be available in Europe and Canada, at this point. It’s already been seen on the Movistar team riders and, if you’re worried about the durability of such a light helmet, mountain bike World Cup XCO winner Jolanda Neff.
Maxxis Tires – road, cx, gravel
The High Road tire features Maxxis' HYPR compound
Velocita AR expands Maxxis' gravel range with a full gravel racing tire. At 700x40c, it's volume is ideal for rougher roads at race speeds
It's a fast rolling tire, targeting pure racers and the smoother side of gravel.
The Rambler remains for rougher gravel, and other surfaces
There's more sizes of the tire available this year
Maxxis has been pushing steadily into the road, cyclocross and gravel market. The company is most know for its mountain bike tires, but recent efforts outside the dirt have been garnering attention. Especially for the brands experience with tubeless tires, as that becomes more standard in CX and gravel riding.
Kenda – cyclocross and gravel
Alluviium expands Kenda's gravel line with a fast rolling race tire
Minimal centre treads, with enough side lugs to keep you connected if the road gets a bit rougher
Kommando X, a versatile tire designed to be run in different directions for different conditions - fast or slick - now comes in a 36c option
The Cholla mud tire has a casing option for low, low tempatures
The agressive lugs will keep you connected to no matter what you ride through
The Flintridge Pro has a gumwall option
And reflective lettering to keep you seen on when you return from gravel to the asphalt
Kenda has added new treads, a gumwall casing option, and a functional reflective lettering on the side of its gravel and cyclocross tires. Fall sports often end in the dark, and cross and gravel rides eventually return to the city. Reflective lettering is a little extra help to keep you seen on your way home.
FSA – Gravel parts
K-Wing AGX gravel / adventure carbon fibre handle bars
FSA's K-Force Light gravel/adventure crankset comes with two different direct mount chainring options
FSA is embracing the adventure side of gravel, building its K-Wing AGX bars around ergonomics of the currently-oversized hydro disc levers many gravel riders are using, as well as offering full internal cable routing. The K-Force carbon fibre crankset is available in two different direct mount chainring combinations: 48/32 or 46/30. Should be enough to get you up the worst wall of a west coast logging road you can find.
