Five cool things coming soon from Merlin, DMT, Shimano, ETC and Triban

The days are getting shorter, but our rides aren't as we're out testing the latest and greatest new cycling gear in all weathers. Here's some of our faves at the moment.... oh and any chance of some gloves? Those mornings are getting chilly!

Merlin Malt-G1X Apex 1

£1,099.00

With a glowing review of the Merlin Malt G kitted out with a Shimano Tiagra groupset appearing on road.cc back in November, now it's time to test the 2020 edition, called the G1X, dressed with a Sram Apex 1x groupset. The frame gets an upgrade from double-butted tubing to triple-butted 6061 aluminium, paired with a full carbon fork to bring the weight down and stiffness up. Thur-axles front and rear with flat mount disc brakes provide plenty of stopping power, and there is internal cable routing for the brake and gear cables for a clean appearance; we also think it looks hot to trot with the army green colourway. Can the new Malt G1X do its thing better with a single chainring? Stu Kerton's review is coming soon. 
merlincycles.com

Triban RC 500 long sleeve cycling jersey

£34.99

It's getting to that time of year again where the longs are coming out, and this affordable number from Decathlon's in-house cycling brand Triban could be just the ticket for the in-between days that are not warm but by no means baltic either. The breathable fabric has a fleece lining to keep you warm with vented parts on the back and underarms to stop you getting too sweaty, and there are five pockets in total for stashing your essentials. Decathlon also say the fabric is super stretchy too allow you greater freedom of movement in the saddle; and if the fluro colourway isn't your jam , it also comes in blacjk or navy. Is it a bargain autumnal buy? James Whateley's test report is coming in early October.  

decathlon.co.uk

ETC Mizar combo lightset 

£120.00

Don't want to faff about buying your front and rear lights separately? Consider the ETC Mizar combo set, with both lights, plus a remote system and battery all included. You get 2000 lumens of power from the set in total, with a run time of just over 3 hours on full whack and 7 hours on flash. The total weight is 674g, and you get four modes on both the front and rear lights, controlled with your bar-mounted remote; a helmet mount is also included if that's the way you roll. Is this light set a bright idea? Matt Lamy will be telling us his opinion in the coming weeks. 
moorelarge.co.uk

Shimano GRX groupset 

£884.93

Shimano's big launch of 2019 was their first gravel/adventure-specific groupset, and our man Mike Stead will be ready to give us his verdict next month. The GRX options are vast, with 10 and 11 speed versions possible, 1x and 2x and manual or electronic; you can even go for dropper post integration. The range of GRX products includes a crankset, front and rear derailleurs, STI levers, a new sub-brake lever for braking on the tops, disc brake calipers and wheels. The top-end 800 series can be mixed with the more affordable 600 series components, and the cassette and chains will come from Shimano's existing Tiagra, 105 and Ultegra road groupsets and the Deore, SLX and XT mountain bike range. 
freewheel.co.uk

DMT KR1 Road Shoes

£310.00

DMT's KR1 performance road shoes sort of resemble football boots favoured by the current crop of top pro's, with a inner bootie constructed with 3D knit technology. That doesn't mean this shoe is a softie though... the sole unit is DMT's super stiff UDFAW 150 carbon, anatomically shaped to offer stability during the pedal stroke. There's also some ventilation in the sole unit to complement the highly breathable upper. DMT have specced IP1 Boa dials to take care of adjustment, and the 3mm kitted upper is designed to hold and support the foot perfectly while giving you a stable platform without any unnecessary weight. Did Liam Cahill dig the knit, or are they just a little too flyweight? Find out in the full test report soon... 
paligap.cc

To check out road.cc's latest full test reports, head over to our reviews section. If you want some more advice before splashing your cash, check out our buyer's guides.