road bike uk - Reviews of the latest cycling gear

Shimano WH-7850-SL

The latest 2009 Dura-Ace offering form Shimano are the WH-7850-SL wheels. They have been upgraded to drop the weight down to 650g (front) and 870g (rear) making them a super light offering. This is achieved by using the Shimano Dura-Ace 10 speed hub that has a titanium freehub, as well as having hub mounted nipples also saving a few grams. Another interesting feature of these feather weight contenders is that they can be used with tubeless and standard tyres. The rim height has been changed to 26mm front and 24mm rear to also help with the weight as well as the aerodynamics and strength.

Out on the road these are super quiet and very smooth, but that’s what we have come to expect from a top of the line Dura-Ace hubs. We did find that the first fitting of tubeless tyres was not the easiest but was finally achieved, but these wheels have the advantage that if you get a flat you can always just put a tube in, which is a nice feature.

As expected they are very stiff and responsive no complaints from us at all, the price is reasonable for what you get. The performance is fantastic and they are super light, if you have the money they are a safe bet for a good set of light race wheels.

Buy Online Here From £334

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DMT Evolution Road Shoe

This shoe from DMT is designed to provide comfort as well as a high level or reliability. This model features the FG Concept which is the latest sole form DMT and is based on a resin composite that increases the rigidity so should reduce the power loss on each peddle stroke. The upper has nylon mesh inserts that help the shoe breath on those hot summer days and the heel is moulded to help keep your foot in place and give more control on sprints.

Your foot is kept secured to the shoe with two Velcro straps and the main strap has the new D-Microlock enclosure system. All this comes in at around 330 grams. Out on the road the road the shoe feels secure and is easy to get the straps adjusted to the right feel. These are defiantly not the cheapest or most advanced shoes available and the performance is quite average too – but if they provide a good fit then they are probably not a bad choice.

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Pearl Izumi Zephrr 2

This 2008 version of the jacket has been upgraded to have a softer fabric that is a also more water resistant. The Zephrr polyester fabric is a good light weight fabric that makes it easy to carry when not in use. It offers a full length front zip to make it easy to put on and take off, when on it is form fitting to stop it flapping around and causing drag.

The main problem with this jacket is the lack of ventilation it has no back vents which is a normal feature of other jackets. The front zip can be used to regulate temperature but the addition of a few vents would make it much more comfortable to use in warmer conditions. The addition of a pocket would also make it a bit more useable but overall this is a great jacket considering the relatively small price.

Buy Online Here - from £37