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When it comes to road bikes, you can, as they say, buy yourself silly. There are always new components, new clothing and new accessories. Of course, you don't always have to buy the latest product, but when you do need it, it's easy to lose track. We help with our monthly test centre selection. Today we have pee-friendly cycling shorts, a mudguard, a size-adjustable crank, a torque spanner and colourful saddle clamps in our range.
Practical road bike accessories: pee-friendly cycling shorts from Castelli
- Price: 180 Euro
- Sizes: XS to XL
The Unlimited Cargo W DT Bibtight from Castelli is a versatile long cycling trousers for women with additional storage space, made for every cycling adventure. We tested the size S on autumn laps in the drizzle. The outer shell remained water-repellent even after several washes, but the Nano-Flex 3 fabric is not made for heavy rain; however, it is still warm enough in temperatures just above freezing. The seat pad offers comfort on rough surfaces, but our tester and frequent rider found it too spongy on long journeys.
Two large pockets with safety flaps on the thighs offer plenty of space for food and drink. The braces, which are only elasticated in one direction, fit well but are not made of mesh material, contrary to what is stated in the product description. The promised zips at the ankles were not present. At the back of the trouser legs are comparatively dimly lit reflectors. Very good: the pee-friendly pull-down construction, which makes pit stops much easier.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Plus: Versatile, vapour-permeable, practical for pit stops
- Minus: Incorrect product description
Dirt protection: mudguards from BBBCycling
- Price: 60 Euro >> available here
- Width: 42 millimetres
The DiscGuard mudguards from BBB are specially designed for racers with disc brakes, which is why they do not have a taper or cut-out in the area of the brake bridge or fork crown like rim brake models. The pads (in the set) weigh 445 grams and are mounted using two universal brackets on paint-friendly rubber pads with a flexible screw strap. When we first fitted them to a gravel bike, it took us quite some time to adjust the rear mudguard to an even distance from the tyre.
In the search for the optimum position, four bolts and a union nut must be loosened and tightened again. Once the position has been found, the mudguards, which are only available in a width of 42 millimetres, sit quickly and securely over the tyre and reliably repel dirt and splash water. The 20 centimetre mudguard extensions supplied are useful, although the manufacturer does not include any mounting material.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Plus: Processing, protective function
- Minus: Assembly, scope of delivery
Practical road bike accessories: special WX Vario crank
- Price: 169 Euro
Knee problems are not uncommon among cyclists. If the joint's ability to bend falls below 105 degrees, the crank on the affected side should be shortened. Otherwise you will have to move your sitting position further up, which can damage the lumbar spine and hips. In the past, a new hole was drilled in the crank to fit the pedal. Today, there are adapters that allow shortening at fixed intervals. Until now, anyone who wanted to shorten their pedals temporarily after an injury or operation could not find anything suitable. Andreas Sextl developed the WX Vario, a stepless adapter for crank shortening that fits all standard road bikes and allows any crank length from 0 to 172 millimetres.
The WX Vario is easy to fit, can be used on the left and right and holds even when pedalling in a cradle and with riders weighing up to 90 kilograms. You need a torque spanner and should fix the screw of the adapter with Loctite. The system only works with pedals that are locked from the front with a 15 mm open-end spanner. The WX Vario is ideal for individual, millimetre-precise shortening or for training back to the usual 172 millimetres after an injury. The adjustment bar looks a little rough on a filigree racer and is relatively heavy, but it can be individually adjusted and easily fitted. The description could be improved, as the word "invalid crank" seems strange.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Plus: Option for different leg lengths and knee problems; favourable
- Minus: -
Practical road bike accessories: torque spanners from Wera
- Price: 199 Euro
The Bicycle Set Torque 1 includes a torque spanner with a ¼-inch drive and 15 matching sockets, optimised for use on bicycles. Weighing in at just over one kilogram, the elegant torque wrench set is neatly arranged and well secured in its 335 x 110 x 65 millimetre soft box with Velcro fastener, with each spanner size bearing an easily recognisable colour marking. We liked the torque spanner (2.5 to 25 Newton metres setting range) with ergonomic handle the best. It can be set very precisely and the fine adjustment in tenths of a Newton metre increments is supported by a separate scale and detent. The mechanism releases well when the set target value is reached.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Plus: Handling, processing
- Minus: -
Stylish accessories: saddle clamps from Chris King
- Price: 60 Euro
- Colours: Ten anodised variants
The name Chris King makes tuner's hearts beat faster. The Americans have always had a knack for chic extra parts, such as wheel hubs or bottom brackets made of anodised aluminium. Accordingly, the new 32 gram seatpost collars, available in ten colours and four diameters (30.0 / 31.8 / 34.9 / 36.4 millimetres), will also find their friends.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Plus: Processing
- Minus: -
Matthias Borchers
Editor
