A lot of gear comes across our desks here at Pinkbike. Check Out is a monthly round-up of everything our tech editors have gotten their hands on. Sometimes it's products we're doing long-term tests on, other times it's stuff we're stoked on but don't have time to fully review. And, sometimes it's crazy shit someone sent us unsolicited and we're having a laugh.
Polar V650 GPS Bike Computer Features• 2.8" colour touchscreen display
• GPS and map navigation
• Compatible with Bluetooth Smart power meters (Stages, Rotor, Powertap, 4iiii & Trainingpeaks)
• Barometer with real-time vertical ascent display
• Adjustable bike mount
• All data is uploaded to Polar Flow, Polar's proprietory training app that's compatible with Strava
• Compatible with Polar heart rate and other cycling sensors
• Displays Strava Live Segments
• Stores 450 X 450 KM map area from OpenStreetMap
• £229.00 (with H10 heart rate sensor) / £189.50 without.
•
polar.com | Even if you're not a statistic geek or thrive off beating your mates on Strava, a GPS bike computer can be a great tool to use to have more fun on your bike. It's fascinating watching your heart rate fluctuate on climbs and descents and with the V650's in-built route guidance and mapping you can head out into the unknown without the fear of getting lost or missing the turning that'll take you to the land of brown pow. Even at 230 quid, Polar's range-topping V650 is only a smidge over Garmin's bottom of the range colour-screen navigation GPS and cheaper the rest of their range.—Alex Evans |
Smith Forefront 2 Helmet Features• 20 vents, internal air channels
• Aerocore in-mold construction, Koroyd skeleton
• VaporFit adjustable fit system
• Seven color options
• Three position visor, camera / light mount compatibility
• Weight: 388 grams (size M)
• $200 USD, $230 with MIPS
•
www.smithoptics.com | The second generation Forefront receives extra Koroyd (the honeycomb shaped material that's claimed to provide better impact protection than EPS) at the rear of the helmet, along with more generous venting over the top of the head, which should help keep things a little cooler on those midsummer rides. Smith are best known for their sunglasses and goggles, so it's not surprising that the Forefront 2 is designed to work well with either eye protection option. There are MIPS and non-MIPS versions, but realistically, if you're already shelling out $200 for a helmet, it seems silly not to scrounge up the extra $30 for the potential benefits of that low-friction slip plane.— Mike Kazimer |
Bontrager Ion Pro RT Light Bontrager's Ion Pro RT doesn't take up much space, but it's bright enough for trail riding, with three brightness levels and two flashing modes.
Features• 1300 lumens via high-power CREE LED
• 1300LM-1.5hrs, 800LM-3hrs, 400LM-6hrs, night flash-26hrs, day flash 22hrs
• Includes adjustable handlebar mount
•
www.trekbikes.com• Connect with Garmin and Bontrager ANT+ devices for always on, battery status, and control
• USB rechargeable
• $99.99 USD
 | Like it or not, the days are getting shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, which means it's time to start thinking about bike lights. Bontrager's Ion RT is bright and easy to use, with a run time of 1.5 hours in the high setting and 6 hours in the low setting. The Ion Pro comes with handlebar mount, but there is a helmet mount kit available separately. Even if you're not planning to be out after dark, it's not a bad idea to toss a little light like this in your pack, just in case.— Mike Kazimer |
Spurcycle Tool Features• Titanium tool
• Chromed S2 steel bits
• 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, T10, T25, Phillips2
• USA Made
•
www.spurcycle.com• X-Pac case
• Handle slides for desired position
• Magnetized
• $69.00 USD
 | The Spurcycle Tool is a well-made and thought out tool that should last a lifetime. The sliding handle makes it versatile and the bits are magnetized when in the socket - nice when dealing with smaller bolts. Yes, it's more than twice as expensive as a lot of other options but you get what you pay for.—Daniel Sapp |
Ride Concepts Livewire Flat Pedal Shoes Features• Rubber Kinetics DST 6.0 high grip rubber outsole
• D3O High Impact Zone Insole Technology
• Gusseted tongue
•
www.rideconcepts.com• Molded toe and heel protection
• Colors: charcoal/red, charcoal/orange, black/charcoal
• $100 USD
 | Ride Concepts is a brand new company, and they're kicking things off with three flat pedal shoe models. I only have a couple of rides in on the Livewire shoes, but so far they're comfortable and grippy. That's a good start - we'll see how they hold up to a few more months of hard use.— Mike Kazimer |
MENTIONS: @trek /
@SombrioCartel
That bit of yellow plastic is not worth paying double for!
I've had my forefront 2 for a couple of months now and really like it. Fits well, looks good and breathes better than the old one...
I didn't get it with mips, because i don't like a helmet to wobble around on my head even when its fitted correctly
I really want to know - which allows the helmet to move more relative to my skull: my hair or the mips?
helmets.org/mips.htm
My brain, to me and my family, is worth infinitely more than any price of a helmet on the market. You don't have to spend crazy amounts though... Bell will have at least 1 or 2 coming for less than $100 cad! And a few under $80 for kids!
You can decide what is right for yourself but I've seen enough people with head injuries to know that money isn't an object to me to provide the better protection to my brain/head.
My friend just got a new MIPS helmet, and a bunch of us were laughing about how that little bit of yellow plastic cost him an extra $60. It's not new tech anymore. The r&d must have been paid for a thousand times over. It should be an extra $10 by now!
It looks awesome, and no doubt works well, but realistically, am I going to spend $70 on a multitool, no.
Make it in stainless for 1/4 of the money and I'd keep one strapped under my top tube all the time.
I’d love to ditch the cord to get 1000+ lumens on the helmet
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/equipment/cycling-accessories/bike-lights/bike-light-accessories/bontrager-helmet-mount/p/13492
Well I use something similar, BUT, I also have the option of making it a screwdriver style tool for places and jobs that won't take an L wrench. And mine costed 6$, I've removed some damn stubborn pedals with a cheater bar on it.
Rethink the design. The price. But mostly, the design.
You can hire my brain later...
Not to mention it can be made in under an hour using basic tools (as I did) using a couple sockets and a 1/4inch socket driver.
That also opens just carrying a couple sockets for you hex wrench needs.(8,10mm comes to mind)
Pair that off with a few multi purpose nuts and bolts/machine screws zip ties, couple tube patches, some elctrical tape, spare derailleur hanger and cable, few links of chain, parks chain breaker, small 4" needle nose pliers and a c02 inflator.
My kits about as big as a phone and I could do any bike repair in a pinch.
No cables to come undone , light weight and
Plenty of light.
I find the lumen ratings to be more of a suggestion.
If it's rated for 800 lumens or more you good to go.
Word of warning: Almost all of these units burn for about one hour at full power.
After plenty of research I purchased a Fenix and BC 21R . It's rated at 880 lumens . More important you can change the battery. All these lights use cr18650 batteries that can be found for as little as five bucks!
Also, 60$ for a multi tool? Check out the Topeak Ratchet Rocket, lots more features and a friggin' ratched for less money.
And that Spurcycle tool looks promising. I like the magnets idea