Each week we bring you a round-up of the newest and most interesting products that have caught our eye in the last seven days.
The world's lightest bike?
Weight weenies' delight
Merida took advantage of the hubbub around the start of the Giro d'Italia to launch its new Scultura 9000 LTD, the lightest production bike the world has ever seen. At only 680g for the frame, and with full builds start at just 4.56kg, the bike is certain to draw in the weight weenies, although we might be a little reluctant to subject such a machine to the punishment of broken British roads in March, especially given the price tag is likely to be comfortably north of £10,000.
Turbo training game open to the masses
Now everyone can get in a few laps of the Island
Although we've been lucky enough to have been able to put Zwift through its paces over the winter, the turbo trainer game has only been on limited beta release while the company ironed out any niggles in the software during the last eight months. However, the game has now been opened up to the world, meaning anyone with a turbo trainer, speed sensor or power meter, and an ANT+ dongle (oh, and a bike of course) can start getting in the laps on "The Island".
Fast uphill or down
New lightweight climbers that should be as good downhill as uphill
Another product launched on the Italian Riviera last week was the new Mon Chasseral wheelset from DT Swiss. Named after the mountain that overlooks DT Swiss HQ, the wheels are full carbon clinchers that will become the company's climbers' wheels. Although DT Swiss seems to be just as interested in extolling the virtues of the braking surface as it is talking about how fast they are.
Nice wheels, not sure about the name...
Wheels that what...?
Another pair of wheels, and another interesting name, although this time for a very different reason. WTF (that stands for "Wheels That Fly", in case you were wondering) is a new company that is handbuilding sub-£1000 50mm carbon clinchers straight out of its workshop in Sheffield. We've got a pair in for our aero wheels group test in the summer, so look out for a test in the pages of Cycling Weekly.
Tacx branches out from turbos
A couple of Tacx's new mutli-tools, complete with tyre levers
Tacx may be better known for its turbo trainers, but it has also recently released a whole range of tools and accessories which have just landed in the CW office. The highlights include the new Shanti bottle which you drink from by squeezing rather than tugging at a pull spout, and a couple of neat-looking multitools which also include tyre levers attached to the side.
Bike brand won't be launching non-existent bike
The Cervélo RCa: the top-end bike that the non-existent R7 won't be replacing
The sighting of the words "Cervélo R7" on the list of UCI-approved bikes caused a flurry of activity as cycling journalists rushed out articles on what we should expect from what might be the new range-topper from the Canadian brand.
Alas, all this was in vain as Cervélo quickly moved to quash the rumours, pointing out that the mythical R7 had been approved by the UCI back in 2012, and was in fact just one of the proposed names for the R5.
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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
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