If you’ve still got room left in the Xmas budget, we can help fill the gaps with some more super-sweet swag to brighten even the brightest tree. Here’s more of the stuff you need, want, and just plain can’t live without…
NEUVATION R28 SL Wheels
If you saw our review of the Neuvation M28 wheels, you’ll know these are some big-ass value. The R28 SL's weigh 250 grams lighter at 1470 per set… and priced of $399 for a 100% handbuilt wheelset, that includes skewers, rim strips and extra spokes – these look to be an even bigger-ass value.
• Fits either Shimano or Campy.
• Go to NeuvationCycling.com
VITTORIA OPEN PAVE EVO-CG Tires
What better to wrap those new wheels than some new rubber? The top tire-maker from Italy has won just about every pro race on the planet, and with over 50 years experience in bike racing, they know where the rubber meets the road. The Open Pave (clincher) EVO-CG is designed for use in every kind of road and weather conditions, including pavé and heavy rain. Its got a new Corespun K2 casing (50% Polycotton, 50% Kevlar®), for added puncture resistance, a tread made of Vittoria’s Kevlar ® SiO2 3D Compound, and a “hand made” casing construction. An excellent choice for training or racing in crap conditions.
• MSRP: US $69.99
• Go to www.Vittoria.com
• Or see the US distributor: www.BikeMine.com
SPIUK NEXION Helmet & SONIC Eyewear
The big Spanish brand SPIUK (reportedly no relation to the bodily reaction familiar to cyclist climbing the famous Angliru in the Spanish Pyrenees) gained lots of exposure atop the heads of pro team Illes-Balereas with their helmets and glasses. Now available in America, the Nexion helmet features in-molding technology, 25 vents, weighs only 290 grams, and their CompactFix tensioning system, plus comes in lots of cool colors (plain and Pro team!)
• The SONIC Sport Glasses are the newest eyewear offering from Spiuk. Offered in 12 colors - 1 Carbon-style, 6 matte (solid color), and 5 crystal (translucent) variations, the frames are made of flexible, ultra-light, and resilient Grilamid, and the design of the frames allow the lenses to FLOAT in areas of low stress and tension, further minimizing the weight and bulk of the frame design. Each comes with four sets of interchangeable lenses, made of IMEX, a shatter-proof polycarbonate, and each lens has an anti-scratch treatment.
• The SONIC retails at $109.99 and come with a two-year warranty.
• Nexion retail price $139.99.
• Distributed in USA by DPMSports.com
CERVELO Soloist Bike
An unbelievable combo of aerodynamics and stiffness, 'Soloist' is the perfect name for Cervelo's CSC team frame - a breakaway artist's best friend. One of the most talked about bikes this season, smile all the way to the front of your group ride on a truly aero bike. CSC chooses the Soloist carbon, maybe you should too.
• Frameset: $3,200, Dura Ace $5000, Ultegra $4400, and Record $5595
• For more details or to buy it online go to www.RACycles.com
SELLE ITALIA Signo Saddles
Intro’d in ’05 as the newest from Italian saddle-maestros Selle Italia, the Signo (pronounced “SEE-nyo”) has been under my butt since May, and I’m pleased to say has become my personal saddle of choice. The center supports allow for saddle flex at the rear, so it moves with you as you pedal, designed to reduce fatigue and make the ride more comfy. They even backed it up with some lab tests that proved ‘em right. It’s offered in two versions – the Signo Genuine Gel shown above and Gel Flow with “anatomically arranged 1-3 mm differentiated thickness gel inserts around the central anatomical TransAm shape that further reduces pressure on the ischiatic and soft tissue zones.” They look cool too.
• Retail: Signo Genuine Gel $124.99
Signo Gel Flow $129.99
• Go to www.SelleItalia.com
ROAD ID Personal Identification
Possibly the best gift value on anyone’s list – full identification that’s easy to carry on any ride. Our review says it all, so we won't preach about the value of these inexpensive items, but let’s say that if it's the thought that counts, Road ID might count the most.
• Price: around US $25.00
• Go to www.RoadID.com
M5 BRAKES
With the stiffness and performance levels of current bicycles and carbon wheels it only makes sense to improve the power of your brakes to control your added velocity. M5 Brakes are machined from 7075 aluminum in Holland, and feature the stiffest brake arms in the industry resulting in enhanced modulation and superior safety at just 72g per brake.
• Retail price: $465 per pair of arms, $560 with Bram's Brake shoes and Corima cork pads.
• Go to GroupDeTete.com
EVERTI Team Bike
Vancouver Island’s small builder of custom titanium frames announces their new Team model - developed with the needs of racers, especially sprinters and very strong riders in mind. The frame has a massive downtube that flares out from the headtube at 36mm width to 58mm at the bottom bracket to ensure maximum power transfer from that area. The straight seat stays keep the rear wheel tracking precisely when sprinting, and compact geometry keeps the whole package very tight and responsive.
• Price: US$1450 Frame only
• Go to EverTiBikes.com
ICE TOOLZ
What better to grab this winter than some Ice? Ice Toolz make every kind of tool you could want (they are the manufacturers of some very popular brands as well...) but the one tool you should ask for this season is the Quartet Flex Hex wrench (the blue thing in the middle). 4,5,6 and 8 hex heads and they're floating, rather than fixed! It will do screw driver type work and turn at angles to give you way more range than standard "L" shape wrenches, for tight spots.
• Go to PromologicUSA.com for a retailer near you.
CALFEE One-Piece Custom Bars & Stem
Calfee roll out the best one-piece bar stem combo made, simply in it's combination of weight and it's ability to be tilted to fit you before they make it (rather than tilting your riding position to fit your bars, as other one piece units do...). Prices vary, but if you have a custom fetish, this is the one piece for the new year...
• Go to CalfeeDesign.com for a retailer near you.
PEZ WISH LIST #3
Yo Santa! Keep those great gifts coming! What..? You still need ideas...? Fear not dear PEZ-Readers - we've got stocking stuffers-a-plenty for even the toughest to buy for riders... just email this to your own secret Santa and hope for the best on Christmas Day...
SELF-GUIDED TOUR DE FRANCE 2006
What true cycling fan isn’t interested in seeing a wide-open Tour de France for 2006? We can’t wait for July and if you want to see the action up close nothing will help you more than Velotainment.com’s Self-guided Tour de France 2006. 65 info-packed pages written by veteran TdF Guide Ted Arnold, the guide gives up all the skinny on just how to create your own adventure - complete with advice on the how, when, and where written specifically for the 2006 race route. From camping next the road, to the best 5-Star Hotels, Ted has been there and done that. With his guide and maybe you can too.
• Price $19.95
• Available at: www.CafePress.com/Velotainment
• Read the PEZ-Review of 2005 Guide 2005 Guide
WHITE XLITE by Barbieri
Pretty much a must have for dark-day winter riding – these super bright mini lights by Italian maker Barbieri weigh almost nothing, attach easily to handlebars, seatposts, even your hemlet, and shine enough light to make you visible from afar. The lights are waterproof, have replaceable batteries, and feature 3 settings - slow flash, fast flash, and steady light. Retail is around $17.95. Go to www.euromediagroup.us
D2 CUSTOM SHOES
Nothing will make you more happy than happy feet (butts are a close second depending...) D2 make custom fit shoes that conform to your dogs, top bottom and sides. They make leisure shoes too for off the bike, but who cares…! Find ‘em at D2CustomFootwear.com. You might wanna do the gift certificate thing though, as they're made after you go through a fitting process that might not fit on Santa's schedule.
CLIF SHOT BLOKS
At last! Energy gel that’s chewy… sort of… The smarty-pants-es over at Clif introduce their new Clif Shot Bloks of energy boosting goodness. They’re reportedly “3 chews per blok”, won’t stick in the pack, and are “delicious”.
Each energy gel packet contains 100 calories, 24 grams of simple and complex carbohydrates derived from organic brown rice syrup for fast energy, 70 milligrams of sodium to maintain hydration and proper muscle function, and 20 milligrams of potassium to relieve muscle cramping. Expect to pay around $1.99 per pack.
• Find ‘em at ClifBar.com.
VDO MC 1.0 Altimeter
Need the data to confirm why your legs are killing you? The MC1.0 altimeter is the answer - max %/feet (or meters) and a host of other features from the same company that supplies the German auto industry with precision instrumentation. Features new larger graphics that are easier to read with blurred, sweat-smudged eyeballs.
• MC1.0 Wired $99.95 / MC1.0+ Wireless $149.95
• VDOCycleComputers.com
• Buy it online at WISECYCLEBUYS.com
• Read the PEZ-Review VDO MC1.0+ Wireless Cyclometer
SWISSSTOP Brake Pads
If you’ve been to Switzerland, you know they love rules, and what better way to enforce ‘em than a great brake pad to quickly put a stop to any monkey business? Special rubber compounds offer superior stopping power in wet and dry conditions, low pad wear rates, very linear brake response and smooth, quiet performance - how more Swiss can you get?
• MSRP Race2000 GHP (Campy/green compound) is CAD$38.80 for a set of 4/ Yellow King (carbon) is CAD$61.60.
• MSRP Flash GHP (Shimano/green compound) is CAD$29.60 for a set of 4/ FLASH Yellow King (Shimano/yellow compound for carbon) is CAD$48.40 (set of 4).
• HelvetiaSports.com
Race Report: Today was another sprinter’s delight with just one Cat 3 climb along the course, and a flat run in to town. The usual sacrificial ... More....
Roadside St.5: A sprinter’s day and the best of them are here at the 75th Vuelta a España. Who will take the honours and the champagne? What ... More....
Not much needed changing with Sidi's benchmark shoe. In fact if you asked me, they were dead right, as-is for 09'. But il professore dei piede ... More....
When you talk about Orbea bicycles and the Euskaltel team, it’s about more than light alloy and carbon; it’s about people, national identity, unity ... More....
Catlike's latest version Whisper Plus checks a lot of boxes on anyone's list of requirements for the current top of the top of the line helmets. More....
Two times Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, and at only 50 years of age, his time came much too soon. PEZ ... More....
The new book, “As Good as Gold,” by Kathryn Bertine, is the entertaining tale of a dedicated athlete, who had a singularly peculiar opportunity to ... More....
Just a few short weeks from now, one of the largest organized group cycling events on the West Coast will take place between Vancouver and Whistler. ... More....
The Tour of Utah provided some of the most entertaining and difficult American racing of the year. PEZ was on the scene for the week along the ... More....
Emma Pooley stormed to a second consecutive solo win yesterday in the women’s version of the GP Plouay and Simon Gerrans faced the challenge of ... More....
It’s the final weeks of the summer and a long season of riding and training has gone under our wheels. For some, it’s a holding pattern before the ... More....
Your teammates aren’t cooperating enough in races. A fellow rider is at risk – or is putting others at risk – but is unaware. The peloton needs ... More....
August has been sweltering for much of North America and Europe, and we know that hyperthermia can have a major negative impact on our performance ... More....
August is a dangerous month; a full season of racing has left many athletes tired and ready for the fall break. Often motivation to train hard wanes ... More....
Roadside Report: 'Did you think it was a good Tour?' asks Vik. I knew it was a leading question, but went along with it, 'yes, a good Tour.' ... More....
Roadside Report: On last Monday’s ‘repos’ in Morzine, Pez got a very special opportunity. As things were marginally more relaxed than normal, ... More....
Giro Roadside Wrap: The curtain fell on this Giro a few weeks ago, but as I’ve learned over the years, as the days tick by the memories of ... More....
Roadside PEZ: The team bus is the home away from home for the riders on Tour. Every night a new hotel room, every day a new start town and a ... More....
Dozens of SMS and emails flash up on my BlackBerry each day, most are chaff and get deleted after a quick glance – but when one comes in to tell me ... More....
The last time we spoke to Columbia-HTC's Matt Goss, he'd just won a race which one day may become a classic - Philly. On Sunday past he won a race ... More....
Here at PEZ, we’re dedicated students of cycling history. Plus, we love those old-school photos featuring riders in wool jerseys on skinny steel ... More....
On the premise that it's never too early to run a six day story... Black Dog's Ryan Sabga wanted to ride a European six day race. So, he did! Here's ... More....
Yesterday, PEZ spoke with young American talent, Lawson Craddock, today, we move up two steps to World Junior TT Champion, Bob Jungels. The 17 year ... More....
Gran Canaria, situated off of the west coast of Africa, is not one of the world’s best known riding destinations. When compared to the Alps, ... More....
He has a degree in 19th century French literature was a big Richard Virenque fan, and as the organiser of PEZ's superb hotels for the 2010 Tour de ... More....
Race Report: It’s a sad start to the first big mountain stage of this year’s Vuelta. Team Sky’s masseur Txema González passed away yesterday ... More....
Fairy tales are rare in pro cycling, but 25 year old Matthew Busche’s story is about as a close as they come. At the beginning of the 2009 season, he ... More....
Roadside St.7: Today there was a big fast sprint into Orihuela, before that the fast men had to get themselves over a bit of a climb. Some got ... More....
Vacansoleil are making the headlines at the moment; there’s the Pro Tour application, Bjorn Leukemans’ win in the 1.1 Druivenkoers and last but not ... More....
![](javascript:showpic("http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/tech/sidi/10sidilarge.jpg",1900,1267);)
