First Look: 2019 bling coming your way

The bike industry's Corebike Show earlier this week gave us the chance to check out loads of new products that have just hit the market or are just about to. We've told you about a few of them before, but this was our first chance to check out many of them in the flesh.

Here's a quick rundown of the highlights...

Poc Ventral Air helmet

We told you all about Poc's new Ventral Air helmet a couple of weeks ago and we got to check it out for ourselves at Corebike Show. This white version has a certain stormtrooper-chic to it.

Poc says that the Ventral Air has "a focus on extreme levels of ventilation, very low weight and high levels of protection".

It'll be £220 when it becomes available in March. 

www.pocsports.com

Fizik Arione 00 Versus Evo saddle

We reviewed the Arione R1 Versus Evo saddle about a year ago and Fizik has recently introduced the Arione 00 Versus Evo at £324.99. '00' denotes Fizik's top-level tech and materials while 'Versus Evo' relates to the use of a full central channel.

The single carbon rail is Fizik's Mobius closed loop design that's intended to provide better weight distribution and eliminate any pressure hotspots on the ischial bones. The cover is applied using a vacuum process, the idea being to create progressive cushioning.

Stu is reviewing one of these saddles at the moment so stay tuned for his thoughts.

www.fizik.com

Fizik Tempo Powerstrap R1 shoes

Fizik introduced its £109.99 Tempo Powerstrap R5 shoes last year, with a nylon composite outsole and two Velcro straps, the lower one of which crosses the foot twice.

This is the new R1 version, produced with a carbon outsole apparently as a result of demand from the Movistar pro team, hence the blue fade finish on one side. It doesn't actually say 'Movistar' anywhere — it's more subtle than that. This is a limited edition and is priced at £225.

www.fizik.com

Cane Creek eeBar Keep handlebar plugs

You might be perfectly happy with plastic bar end plugs but if you want something a bit more classy you can swap them for Cane Creek's eeBar Keep plugs. These are CNC machined 6061 aluminium, black anodised, and they weigh 6g each. They fit bars with an inner diameter from 17mm to 22mm. Yours for £34.99.

www.canecreek.com

BlkTec components

We've told you about Blktec (pronounced 'black tech') components in the past, showing you some sleek-looking wheels back when the brand was launched. You're likely to see more from Blktec in the future because it now has UK distribution. 

This is the R5 combined handlebar and stem (£479.99) with a compartment for a Shimano Di2 junction box.

The R3 handlebar and M2 Stem combo is £399.99.

We've not used any of these products but they certainly look the part.

https://blktec-cycles.myshopify.com/

Catlike Vento helmet

Catlike launched the Vento last year, a helmet that's designed to balance ventilation with aerodynamics. It features an aramid internal mesh that allows the ventilation channels to be made larger 

A standard Catlike Vento helmet is £109.99 with the MIPS version £139.99.

www.catlike.es

Bryton Rider 15 GPS computer

Bryton computers have been off our radar having lacked UK distribution for a while, but the brand is back with a new Rider 15 which "comes with built in GNSS receiver for improved accuracy plus all new Heading feature along with 16 battery hours, smart notifications and supports up to 30 functions". It'll link to heart rate and cadence sensors (but not powermeters) via Bluetooth. 

Bryton reckons that the Rider 15 is similar to the Garmin Edge 130 in terms of function, but with an RRP of £69.99 rather than £149.99.

www.brytonsport.com

Seatylock Pentagon Locks

Seatylock has a range that covers many kinds of folding locks and U-locks in various different lengths. The Pentagon Mason lock, available in a variety of colours has a Sold Secure Gold rating. 

https://seatylock.com

Maxxis High Road tyre

Maxxis launched its top-level High Road clincher tyre last year. It features a 120 TPI casing and a new compound called Hypr which is designed to reduce rolling resistance while increasing traction in wet conditions. There's a puncture protection breaker underneath the tread.

The High Road is available in a 25mm width only.

www.maxxis.co.uk

Pirelli Cinturato tyre

The Cinturato is another tyre that was unveiled last year. It's a tubeless-ready option that's available in 26mm, 28mm, 32mm and 35mm widths. Unlike the existing P Zero tyres, the Cinturato features Armour Tech anti-puncture system which "combines a nylon bead-to-bead high density layer [with] an aramid breaker and aramid fibres dispersed into the tread, resulting in a new level of protection against the worst road conditions", according to Pirelli.

Prices are from £46.99 to £49.99, depending on width.

https://velo.pirelli.com/en/ww

Ergon SR Men Road saddle

We published a review of the Ergon SR Sport Gel Women’s Saddle last week and here is the SR Men Road. A central channel and cut out, plus Egon's Orthocell foam inlays, are designed to distribute pressure evenly on the bone structure. Ergon reckons that Orthocell is lighter and more durable than gel. Slippery side panels are intended to reduce friction when pedalling.

It's available in 140mm and 153mm widths.

www.ergon-bike.com

Scope wheels

Dutch brand Scope offers three sets of road wheels in various rim depths, and a set of off-road/gravel wheels. They're all tubeless-ready with internal spoke hole reinforcement, Sapim spokes, SKF bearings and hubs that are compatible with a wide variety of axle configurations.

The R3 wheelset has rims that are 30mm deep and 26mm wide (19mm internal width). Scope claims a weight of 1,440g for the rim brake version and 1,477g for the disc brake version. 

The R4 wheels are 45mm deep with a claimed weight of 1,520g for the rim brake version and 1,557g deep for the disc brake version, while the R5s are 55mm deep with claimed weights of 1,595g and 1,632g.

Each wheelset is priced £1,298.

www.scopecycling.com

Brooks bags and saddles

Brooks have a whole load of new options available. The carbon-framed Cambium C13 saddle has been updated with an All Weather top comprising waterproof nylon on vulcanised natural rubber. As well as bringing weatherproofing, this is also said to increase flex and durability. 

Brooks have also introduced white rubber and white nylon Cambiums for the first time. Like the other Cambium C13s, this Carved version is £172.

This is the Cambium in a brick finish.

The popular Pickwick Backpack is now available in new colours: rust and this sage green. The 12 litre model is £180, the 26 litre version is £205.

The Pickwick is also available in black, brown and grey Reflective Leather versions. The main body of the bag is made from leather that's perforated, a reflective fabric sitting behind it.

The bag doesn't look like a reflective product in daylight but it catches the light when you're riding at night. A 12 litre version is £271 with the 26 litre option £310.

Thick Leather versions of the Pickwick are also available, as opposed to the standard leather versions, designed to hold their shape well in use.

The Pickwick also comes in lightweight tech linen, priced at £188 (12 litre) and £215 (26 litre). It's 'tech linen' in that it has a water resistant backing.

www.brooksengland.com

Woho bags

Woho makes a wide range of bikepacking bags, this being the X-Touring Saddle Dry Bag (£74.99) that's made from waterproof materials with taped seams. The closure is roll-top and the maximum volume is around eight litres.

This one is the bag with an X-Touring Handlebar Dry Bag (£59.99) with an X-Touring Accessory Pack (£29.99) on the front.

And this is the X-Touring Frame Bag (£44.99)

www.wohobike.com