Five cool things coming soon from Merida, Repente, Tubolito, Bell and Northwave

After a mostly miserable couple of weeks weather-wise, we're embracing the warmer weather down here in the south west at the moment and getting some summer kit tested. Roll on the next Bank Holiday!

Tubolito S Tubo Road inner tube 

£29.99

30 quid for an inner tube? This ain't any old inner tube though, it's possibly the lightest tube commercially available at just 42g. Tubolito claim it's 78% lighter than a standard tube and 75% smaller, so even if you can't afford to kit out all your bikes with them, they're great as a space-saver in your jersey pocket. Do they do the job with none of the bulk? Dave Arthur has them in his tyres now...
extrauk.co.uk

Merida Reacto Disc 4000

£2,000.00

The Reacto Disc 4000 makes aero reasonably affordable, with a full carbon frame and decent spec that includes Shimano 105 shifting, hydraulic disc brakes and dependable Merida Expert rims. The frame has Merida's slightly more relaxed CF2 geometry compared to the higher-end versions, better suited to long days in the saddle compared to their CF4 frames. It's also fully Di2 ready should you wish to upgrade to electronic shifting, and most of the cabling is internal. What was Stu's reaction to the ride? His test report is coming later this month.    
merida-bikes.com

Repente Prime saddle

£170.00

This unusually-carved perch weighs in at 165g, and has Repente's locking seat cover system that allows you to choose your saddle cover depending on your anatomical needs. The rails are full carbon and it has a water-based microfiber coating on top. 
sellerepente.com

Bell Z20 Aero MIPS 

£209.99

Bell's latest aero road offering has MIPS inside, using 'Progressive layering' to ensure it's incorporated without making it any less comfortable on your head. Two layers of hard-shelled EPS foam are used in addition to the MIPS system to offer what Bell say is improved impact protection. The drag-reducing design makes for a sleek appearance, and Bell say the multi-layering system also allows them to boost airflow and ventilation without compromising protection. The 'Overbrow Ventilation' features intake ports on the brow of the helmet to channel in cool air and push it through the rear of the lid for full head ventilation. Is it as cool as it is fast? The review's coming soon. 
zyrofisher.co.uk

Northwave Extreme Pro road shoes

£339.99

Extremely pro for an extremely decadent price tag, Northwave claim their top-end road shoes offer the ultimate in power transfer and stiffness without sacrificing comfort. No stone is left unturned in the pursuit of speed, say Northwave, with the design and construction focussed on producing the most power efficient shoe possible. Numerous versions of the dial retention system and dial placement were tested before the finished product was produced to find the perfect balance of security, comfort and power transfer, and the heel design was refined to prevent any heel slip. The 100% unidirectional carbon fibre sole features Northwave's Powershape system, supposed to deliver 100% power transfer from you to the bike. Did they offer our reviewer anything less than 100%? Find out in the full test report later this month...
i-ride.co.uk

For all the latest road.cc test reports, head over to our reviews section. If you want some more advice before splashing the cash, check out our buyers guides.