Art’s Cyclery Blog

With the calendar year winding down and the holiday shopping season in full swing, we wanted to compile a list of the best products 2011 had to offer. The products on this list were picked by our staff of buyers, an enlightened collection of cyclists with expertise in every genre of two-wheeled machines. We have sorted through literally thousands of products to bring you our top picks for Gear of the Year. The products on the list stand out to us because they meet one or more of the criteria on the list below:

1. Revolutionary
2. Technological and functional superiority
3. Aesthetically awesome

So there you have it. Without any further ado, hype or puffery, we present our first annual Gear of the Year list, starting with bikes.

Road Bike of the Year

Cervelo S5

Cervélo has been the pioneer in aero road bike design since 1996 and the S5 is the latest evolution in Cervélo’s lineup of wind-cheating machines. Evolving from the S3, the S5 is stiffer and more aerodynamic. The most obvious visual difference of the S5 compared to the S3 is the extended rear wheel cutout, which smoothes airflow from the frame to the wheel. Another aero advantage is the dropped downtube, which minimizes turbulence behind the fork crown. The seat stays of the S5 have also been designed to shield the rear brake, further improving aerodynamics. The BB area is massive thanks to the BBright bottom bracket; an improvement on the BB30 design.

The S5 had an impressive 2011 campaign, most notably in the Tour de France where Thor Hushovd rode it to two stage wins and a week in the Yellow Jersey. Not a bad debut for the bike of the year.

Honorable mentions go to the Specialized Venge, ridden my Mark Cavendish to a road world championship and the BMC Team Machine, ridden by Cadel Evans to victory at the Tour de France.

Mountain Bike of the Year

Yeti SB-66

Revolutionary. There is no other word that better describes Yeti’s newest 6” travel trail/all-mountain bike dubbed the SB-66. The “Switch Technology” suspension that sets this Yeti apart from other bikes utilizes a unique eccentric pivot above the bottom bracket to build a bike that takes the best characteristics of two radically different suspension designs and combines them while eliminating their drawbacks. Another improvement is a nearly flat suspensionleverage curve. This means the amount of leverage the rear wheel has over the shock stays essentially unchanged as it moves though the full range of travel. All this adds up to a bike that pedals and climbs crisply without sacrificing small bump sensitivity.

HED Aredennes SL Wheelset – $1,099.99

The HED Ardennes SL is our best selling wheelset, and understandably so. It delivers a tubular-like ride quality without limiting you to only using certain tires like tubeless compatible wheels do. It’s under 1,500 grams for the set, rolls insanely well, is stiff and aerodynamic. Lastly, with the new graphics, it just looks better than ever. What’s not to love?

Garmin Edge 800 – $449.99-$649.99

Garmin’s Edge 800 is the ultimate companion to have along with you on almost any bike ride—it always knows the way and can tell you just how far you’ve come, how far you have to go, and give you multiple options on how to get there. With maps available for almost everywhere on planet Earth, you can just start pedaling and make it back home before dark no matter where you are, even if you’ve never been there before, and you’ll be able to find all the Thai restaurants on the way.

It’s hard to assign one feature that makes the Edge 800 so remarkable, besides the high-resolution, touch-screen display, the near-perfect GPS capabilities of Garmin’s GPS chip, the ANT+ capabilities for speed/cadence and power, and the high-level of customization. Custom maps can be used as well, such as those showing all the cycling routes and trails in an area, or any map you can find. Training regimens can be programmed and a virtual training partner used to help push you along. When you’re done riding, you can upload your data to Garmin’s own Garmin Connect to compare with others, view your route, or look for new routes. Available as a basic speed/distance setup or with cadence and heart rate for training as well, the Edge 800 is our choice for gadget of the year.

Schwalbe Hans Dampf Tire- $66.99

The tire of the year award goes to the Schwalbe Hans Dampf. It takes one seriously awesome tire to virtually surpass all other mountain tires in sales and be more expensive (and it’s only been available since April!). The Hans Dampf is the perfect all mountain and trail tire. It rolls well, grips even better, is tubeless compatible, light for its size and level of protection, and performs exceptionally on every type of terrain. Jack of All Trades indeed.

Lezyne Dirt Floor Drive Pump – $59.99-$109.99

There is no better way to inflate your mountain bike tires than with Lezyne’s Dirt Floor Drive floor pump. Designed specifically for larger-volume mountain bike tires, the Dirt Floor Drive outperforms traditional floor pumps by a margin of at least two-to-one. This innovative pump makes life easier for dirt riders everywhere. Sorry roadies, the DFD will only pump up to seventy PSI; it’s for mountain bikes only!

For Gear of the Year honors, aesthetics is as important as performance, and the DFD comes up aces in the looks category as well. Depending on the model you purchase—Classic, Alloy, or CNC—you’ll get a classy, varnished wood or stylish aluminum handle topping off the oversized piston. Sitting inside a huge barrel, the piston can push enough air to seat tubeless tires with only normal pumping effort required. We know, we use these pumps all the time. Tubeless or conventional tires are inflated in half the time it takes to inflate a tire on a traditional high-pressure pump. Looking at the taller/wider than average Dirt Floor Drive chassis and minimalist base, you might wonder about its ability to remain upright in a cramped workspace. Don’t, because the cleverly designed base is as sturdy as they come, employing a tripod design, which uses an oversized pressure gauge as one of the supports.

What puts the latest version of the DFD into elite status is the new ABS Flip Thread Chuck. Thread-on capability for both Presta and Schrader valves, and push-button pressure release (ABS stands for Air Bleed System), allows you to effortlessly remove the chuck from your valve with no loss of pressure or damage to the valve core. Of course, if you prefer to press rather than thread on, the DFD also comes with Lezyne’s Speed Fit Chuck, which fits Presta valves only.

Giro Factor and Code Shoes – $289.99

Our favorite shoes came from an unlikely source, not heavyweights Specialized, Sidi or Shimano, but we felt newcomer Giro created the best all-around product with the top-end Factor road shoe and Code mountain shoe. The best part about these shoes is the refined fit, which feels so perfectly dialed in, they’re ready to wear right out of the box. The unrivaled fit is largely thanks to Giro’s SuperNatural Fit Kit, which provides three different arch options to customize the amount of support. Stiff carbon soles, supple yet supportive uppers and effective closure systems leave nothing to be desired. We predict Giro will carve out a huge chunk of the market in 2012 and wouldn’t be surprised to see their shoe lineup expand in years to come. An Honorable Mention goes to the Fizik R1 and R3 for the classic, retro styling and handmade Italian craftsmanship.

Swiftwick Olefin Four Aspire – $15.99/pair

Socks are socks, right? Wrong. Socks are really important – if your feet are uncomfortable, it can significantly affect your performance. Our staff is totally sold on the amazing comfort and durability of Swiftwick socks. Once you try them, they’ll be your go-to socks for every ride. Features that set the Aspire Four apart from the rest – 200-needle construction, Olefin material with seamless toe and a four inch compressive cuff. As a special bonus, you can save 15% when you buy two or more pairs! We absolutely love this sock and think you will too, which is why it made the list.

Giro Aeon Helmet – $199.99-$249.99

After years of developing an extended high-end road helmet line, Giro has finally streamlined its offerings and settled on the Aeon as the do-it-all, race-level brain case. Merging the weight of the Prolight with the ventilation of the Ionos, Giro has created the perfect helmet in the Aeon.

Registering 219 grams in a size medium, with all straps and retention systems in place, the Aeon would be a Mini Flyweight boxer. As a helmet, the Aeon disappears once you strap it on your head, thanks in equal measures to the lack of grams, the Roc Loc 5 retention system, and its design. Keeping contact points with your head minimal makes the Aeon very comfortable, and moves material to the outside of the helmet, increasing impact resistance. Upon first look, the Roc Loc 5 looks like it might be a bit obtrusive, as there is no padding on it’s plastic frame. The plastic is soft and pliable, however, and combined with the shape of the “pads” the Roc Loc 5 is as light, comfortable, and as easy to use as any tension device on the market.

If you had to judge by the defunct Prolight, there must be a trade-off between feather-weight and ventilation. The Aeon proves that isn’t true, with more vents than on an old leather hairnet helmet. Giro took advantage of two different technologies to create the Aeon; a reinforcing frame called the SL Rollcage, and a special EPS foam. Since the new thermoformed SL Rollcage—basically a second shell under the outer shell—is so effective, Giro was able to use a lower-density foam to keep weight down. Thin webbing with tiny adjusters also contribute to the increased airflow on your skin, and of course reduce weight as well.

An Honorable Mention goes out to the Kask Vertigo for its revolutionary retention system.

Shimano XTR M985 Shadow Plus Rear Derailleur

After checking out the new XTR Shadow rear derailleur one of our mechanics remarked, “This is a real monkey touching the monolith moment.” Who can disagree? The Shimano XTR M985 Shadow Plus Rear Derailleur is a revolution in rear derailleur design; allowing the cage to swing backward, but limiting forward motion. The result is a chain that stays in tension, never slapping the stays. This derailleur is a chain guide and rear derailleur all in one.

The result of this technology is a much quieter bike and far fewer dropped chains. One employee here experimented using this derailleur with a single front chainring and only a bash guard to guide the chain. Over a one-mile trail littered with softball sized rocks, the chain never dropped. He plans on removing the bash ring soon. We can’t think of a better endorsement than that. We can’t wait to see this technology spread to all levels of mountain derailleurs.

Gore Ride-On Cable Sets – $36.99-$54.99

Cables are often overlooked and frankly a little unglamorous, but since installing Gore Professional Ride-On cables last October (2010 mind you), Brad, our components buyer, hasn’t needed to adjust his derailleurs once after the cables broke in. This bears repeating: he hasn’t even touched his cable adjustments in over a year and they still work like new. And yes, he does ride… a lot.

Niterider Pro 3000 – $649.99

Apparently Niterider grew tired of the slow-paced lumens competition, seeing each manufacturer’s output creep up by a couple-hundred L-M’s each year. In an effort to put some distance between themselves and their adversaries, Niterider teamed up with the Cree LED company (who have been supplying Light and Motion for years) and came up with the unbelievable Pro 3000, more than doubling last year’s high-output lamp without a price increase.

The Niterider Pro 3000 uses a single head housing and two reflectors loaded with three LED bulbs each. Niterider’s mounting hardware is solid and secure—once you get the light aimed where you want it and tightened down, it won’t move. Another distinguishing feature to all the Niterider Pro series lights is the ability to customize output levels, and thus, burn times as well. This would come in handy for racing where you want a climbing mode to save energy and a descending mode to maximize visibility, with no shuffling through medium output and flash modes. All these things are nice, but really, it’s the sheer power of the Niterider Pro 3000 that we most appreciate. It’s like riding with the sun!

Runner up: Light and Motion Seca 1400. This was a tough choice since the Seca is much lighter, has a much lower profile, and has a smaller battery. In the end, though, we just couldn’t overlook the huge output of the Pro 3000.

So there you have it, our favorite products of 2011. If there are any awesome products you’ve been riding that should have made our list, or if you think any of these suck, we’d love to hear from you. Just leave a comment below.

Evan Gear, Mountain, Product Reviews, Road

Bradstone Gear, Road

Clipless pedals, tubeless tires, carbon fiber, aero frames and wide rims all have one thing in common: they were game changers in the world of cycling. It is not often that you come across game changers, but when you do, it is always exciting. We believe that Van Cleve Racing has developed a game changing line of cycling apparel and are pleased to announce that Art’s Cyclery.com is the exclusive distributor for Van Cleve Racing cycling apparel. As part of this announcement we are offering an introductory 20% discount on all Van Cleve Racing gear. Just use the code VANCLEVE20 at checkout.

What makes Van Cleve Racing kits a game changer? Well, unlike most of the hyped-up high-tech components out there, Van Cleve makes no wild claims to proprietary technology when it comes to their garment’s construction. What makes this new kit so exciting is its back-to-basics design and innovative use of faux finishes.

Van Cleve’s departure from the brightly colored pajama-esque styles we are used to seeing recalls the ever-evolving history of rock-and-roll. Elvis Presley was the foil for stodgy big band jazz. The Beatles’ music was a response to the boring folk songs and urbane, sanitized pop of the early sixties. The Clash and The Ramones battled against the overwrought prog-rock of the 70′s. Nirvana shook up the over-synthed world of “altnerative” rock with a three piece line-up and a healthy dose of distorted guitar.

However, Van Cleve Racing isn’t about angst or fighting the system like any of these rockers were. But they are about getting back to that straight ahead three-chord sound that is the antidote for the diseases of an overcomplicated, over-done, hyper-real world. They have accomplished this through a simple design aesthetic that hearkens back to the bicycle craze of the 1890′s when the safety bike first became available in the United States. This era of two-wheeled excitement had a certain purity to it. All of the bikes were single-speeds and riders wore clothes to ride in that are nicer than you or I are likely to be seen wearing at a wedding, let alone out on a bike. As impractical as those victorian styles were, they sure looked good.

Beyond the great styling of these kits, they just plain work great. Made by Voler, the fit works with most body types and isn’t overly tight or loose. The chamois on the bib shorts is made of a high quality multi-density foam with a wicking inner cover that never rubs the wrong way. Plus, it is as comfortable on both long and short rides as any other manufacturer’s bibs we’ve tried.

One last thing, the guys behind Van Cleve Racing are local and hail from our home town of San Luis Obispo, CA. They are real cyclocross nuts that also spend plenty of time on the road and the dirt in the off season. Perhaps their most endearing quality is that they bring a sense of humor to an industry that is often characterized by too many graphs and charts detailing new improvements to frame stiffness, compliance and the like. Some evidence of this sense of humor can be found in Van Cleve Racing’s press releases that are typically written in victorian prose and the tongue-in-cheek old-timey phrases they print on the collars of all their jerseys.

So lighten up and try out one of Van Cleve Racing’s new kits. We guarantee that wearing either one of the Van Cleve kits will make you the classiest looking rider at your next group ride. Order now with the code VANCLEVE20 to get 20% off.

Evan Gear, Road

Certain things are inevitable in life. Death and taxes are good examples, but for we who ride – winter time woes are also inevitable. For example, if you ride at all in the winter chances are good you will flat. Chances are also good you will need to adjust your brakes and derailleurs much more often than normal. All this is due to water and grime gumming up your cables and causing debris to cling to your tires. There are ways around these winter cycling frustrations, and although I haven’t gone a full winter yet on the products I’m about to share with you, chances look good for a low-frustration year.

In general it’s a good idea to change your tires and tubes, cables, and brake pads for the winter time. It’s best to have tires that can stand up to a constant barrage of pebbles, thistles and thorns, and anything else you’ll find on the road. The wet weather causes objects that your tires normally roll over in the summer to stick to your tires and remain there for a while. To combat this,  I’m trying out some Schwalbe Ultremo DD tires. A little background on the DDs; DD stands for Double Defense and is Schwalbe’s most durable race tire. It features two layers of defense.. shocking right? The first is a super densely woven puncture belt underneath the tread patch. The second is Schwalbe’s Snakeskin fabric from bead to bead, which is similar to the Duraskin we’re all familiar with on Conti’s but doesn’t look any different than a normal sidewall – which is quite nice actually. What makes the DDs a race tire is they still weigh a svelte 225 grams in 23c width, feature a folding bead, and use Schwalbe’s Triple Nano Compound tread. Recently, there has been a ludicrous amount of road construction going on in our area. I don’t mind the road repair (though I prefer it when it’s necessary) I just wish Cal Trans would clean up after itself. Instead, they leave little fresh chunks of asphalt strewn across the bike lane and shoulder. It’s one of the best proving grounds for road tires.

I’ve had these tires on for two months and put around 800 miles on them, including a gran fondo. They corner well, roll smoothly, and I haven’t flatted yet in spite of 2 wet rides and picking up a staple. What’s more encouraging is when I closely inspect the tread, there are no visible slashes or cuts after repeated asphalt abuse. I would highly recommend these to any one who needs a durable tire for the winter.

The go-to brake pad for the winter is the Swissstop GHP II pad. These are amazing wet weather pads. If you’ve ever needed to stop quickly in the wet, more than likely you’ve noticed greatly increased stopping distances and virtually no stopping power. These pads respond in the wet like normal pads do in the dry. Enough said. If your winters are wet these are a must, if you live somewhere like Arizona the Original Black pads will better suit your needs.

Lastly, let’s talk about the Gore Ride-On Professional Cable Kits. These immediately made a huge difference in my shifting and braking performance. What’s interesting is that Sram does some clever marketing saying that these cables come with their RED groups. I have Sram RED, bought it aftermarket and can confirm that that is not true at all. What comes with the RED group is a hybrid system that is closest to the Gore Ride-On Low Friction Cable Kit. The Professional kit is a whole different animal. For starters, it’s a fully sealed system. Second, it’s compression-less. The Pro system was designed to appease Pro Tour mechanics who wanted a fully sealed system that was lighter than the Low-Friction Sealed system. The Pro system uses 4mm shift housing to accomplish this and saves about 20 grams per cable. The housing is pre-lubed which would normally make for an easy install; more on that later. Another nice feature exclusive to the Pro Kits is the Teflon coating starts a few inches down the cable.

The reason for this is the Teflon coating eventually comes off – especially where it comes in contact with mechanical zones such as the shifter mechanism. This is typically where the Teflon coating will come apart and sometimes gum up the shifter.  Starting the coating outside the shifter body solves this problem.

Installation was slightly annoying. The cables come with Campy ends and Sram/Shimano ends so you have to cut off one of the ends to fit your system. However, inserting a shift cable into Sram shift levers is one of the biggest pains in road bike maintenance and it’s only exacerbated by a freshly cut cable. After 30 minutes of coaxing I got the cables through. It was smooth sailing after that. Once installed, the Professional Kits made my shift action light and quick. And it hasn’t changed at all since. Best of all, I don’t have to worry about it changing because the system is totally weather sealed. I’m definitely most excited about this change to my bike. I really like these cables!

These are the basics of getting your road steed ready for winter. Not only is it nice to get your bike running fresh again, but these changes will make it more enjoyable over the long haul. For more information on the products mentioned visit our website at artscyclery.com.

Bradstone Gear, Product Reviews, Road

SRAM is releasing a Limited Edition Red Groupset with Yellow graphics to pay tribute to the Tour de France. You’ll see these components on the bikes of Lance and Alberto. The black polished brake levers will feature the Tour issue oversized SRAM logo in yellow, as seen on Team Saxo Bank and Astana bikes. Features and benefits stay the same as the SRAM Red, and it remains the world’s lightest gruppo. These components will be available in September and the cost will be about the same as a Red group. If you’d like to pre-order this gruppo, e-mail us at info@artscyclery.com.

Evan Industry, Road

We’ve all seen them on the bikes of a select few pros, and we finally got our hands on a set. They’re gone now, but we snuck them in for a few high resolution images before they were taken away from us. The “they” were a prototype set of Shimano Carbon Dura Ace pedals. We didn’t have too much time with them but what we can say is they are pretty sweet. Only a tad lighter than the current 7800 pedals, these new carbon variants are huge in comparison. They are at least 5 mm wider per pedal than the current 7800 pedals which means there should be no shortage of power transfer. I did get a chance to put a pedal on our trusty gram counter here and found one new DA carbon pedal to weigh a competitive 124 grams, putting the pair at just over a half pound. This makes them about the same weight as the Mavic SL Ti pedals. The bearings and spindle look to be the same as the current pedal, however the stack height looks like it may have been lowered. Otherwise the pedals seem similar in function to the current 7800 pedals. Here’s the images; check your twitter account for an update on when Artscyclery.com will be getting some to sell. Enjoy.

Hammer On.

Bradstone Gear, Road

It’s no secret that here in California we’re spoiled in regards to weather. The ability to even be able to ride this time of year is a privilege. I think however, that our inexperience with the weather has some what scared us out of riding when it turns foul. Not I however! This fearless blogger has now braved 4 days of rain soaked riding and many more where the roads were significantly wet; it would’ve been more, but again, it’s California. I’ve learned a few things while hammering in the rain that may come in handy should you ever choose to ride regardless of the weather.

Check your tires after every wet ride

Water is an interesting substance. When forced between bicycle rubber and pavement, it tends to grab every piece of debris (small rocks, glass, splinters, etc.) in the road, pick it up and swing it around the tire so that you run over it every revolution of the wheel. This has an especially degrading effect on your tire, as you can imagine. When it’s not raining, tires tend to not pick up the debris, but watch out when it is. I learned that it’s a great idea to check your tires after every wet ride. Go over them with a pair of tweezers to pull out anything that may cause a flat next time you go out. You may be surprised at what you find. I personally have discovered that not all tires are suited to the wet weather. My first ride out in the rain on my stock Specialized Mondo Pro IIs rewarded me with a flat rear tire. My second rain ride resulted in the same and a significant hole in the tire.

To the left are some examples of the debris I found in my tire after my first ride out. You’ll notice that each is a different substance – a rock, a piece of glass, and a metal shard. I actually found much more but these were the biggest examples. I put them on a sticky note for reference. As you can see, it’s a very good idea to check your tires after every wet whether ride.

Get a Set of Rain Worthy Tires

After my second flat I decided to upgrade to a good set of rain worthy tires. I called around and Vittoria was happy to let me try out a set of Open Pavé CG’s. If that sounds unfamiliar to you, think Paris Roubaix. Since 1978, 16 Paris Roubaixs have been won on Pavé Evo CGs – the most recent victory coming in 2007 by Stuart O’ Grady with CSC, shown below. The tire is designed specifically for the slippery cobbles and wet weather that characterizes the Hell of the North. It’s easily identified from all other tires by it’s trade mark green stripe which also separates it from any other tire in Vittoria’s line.

It’s easy to mistake the Open Pavé Evo CG for a Corsa Evo CX, but beyond it’s skin, the Pavé Evo CG is an entirely different animal. Starting with the casing, it has a true 320 tpi casing where 80% is polycotton and the other 20% is Kevlar, making it one of the strongest casings on the market. It also only comes in one size, 700x24c. The larger volume helps the tire absorb more of the pavés ( for those who aren’t fluent in French, Pavé means “paving stone” hence the name) or any other road condition you may encounter. For 2010, the tread design is slightly different also, with the chevron blocks being slightly taller than on a Corsa Evo. The tire also employs Vittoria’s PRB 2.0 which is a strip of material under the tread that increases puncture resistance by 40% over the older versions. The question now is did it live up to the hype? I answer that with a resounding yes! Having just gotten off the Specialized tires, I had a great standard to compare the Pavé Evos to.

Unlike my Mondo Pro IIs, the Pavé Evos don’t pick up water nearly as much. I don’t know how but my guess is it has something to do with the tread pattern. Because of this, the tires haven’t seemed to pick any road debris and thus after 5 or 6 wet rides, I still haven’t had a flat. In fact, my tires still look almost new, with virtually no slits or tears in the tread. This is the biggest difference; other than the fact that I still haven’t gotten a flat, the tires grip well and the 24c size combined with such a high tpi count is heavenly to ride on. Pavé Evo CGs are fast and smooth. Lastly, as with all Vittoria Open tubulars, you really get the sense that you’re installing a nice tire. Many tires give the impression that they shouldn’t cost as much as they do, but Vittoria’s handmade tires look the part. You instantly recognize the 320 tpi handmade difference just looking at the inside of the tire. Open Pavé Evo CGs will soon be available from us here at Arts. We wanted to make sure they worked before we sold them to you, and they most definitely do.  In the mean time Continental Ultra Gatorskins are the standard for wet weather performance, and Vittoria’s Rubino Tech is also a wet weather champion.

My last little bit of wet weather advice is get a good set of fenders. I’ve learned this one the hard way. I’ve got some SKS Raceblades which are light, easy to mount and keep the water off my back and bike. What more could you want? Now get off the trainer and get out there!

Hammer On

Bradstone Gear, Road

Just a quick heads up to my favorite people out there—we have received the first shipment of Giro Prolight helmets. As of this writing we are it. “…You want to get a Prolight, you talk to me!”  (Bonus points for whoever knows which movie I’m paraphrasing there. Hint—it’s not one of the greatest movies ever made, but the first movie in it’s trilogy was.) So anyway, check out the Giro Prolight at Art’s Cyclery and get one now before we sell out. This first shipment is limited and it might be a bit before we get the next one.

Luke Gear, Road

We here at Art’s Cyclery are exited that the Pro Road season is finally underway. There was a lot of deck-shuffling and surprise moves made over the off-season, and the trash-talking has already begun for the new year—it all means more excitement for us, the race fans. Team HTC-Columbia is back to their old tricks—winning races—with Andre Greipel riding to victory in the Tour Down Under. Looking forward, will Tom Boonen become only the second man in history to win Paris-Roubaix four times? Will Levi and Lance dominate the greatest Tour of California yet? Of course the race we’re all looking forward to is in July. This year’s Tour de France could be one of the best we’ve seen in a long time. Cadel Evans’ move to BMC puts him on a team that can provide real support, and he’s got to be hungry for a Tour win. Will Cavendish go all-out for the Green Jersey that so many people think should be his? How about the Schleck Brothers? Are they for real? We’ll find out soon.

Lance. Contador. Who will win… Last years display of dominance by the Spaniard seems to have left little doubt, but Lance seems to have the stronger, more disciplined team, and even though he’s another year older, he’s had another year to train himself back into race shape—just look at all those FRS advertisements. For Contador, the question is whether or not Vinokurov and Pereiro will truly lay themselves on their swords for their leader. If Contador has their unyielding support, he could be untouchable. And those new yellow pedals he’s got might help him out, too.

July is a long way off, however, and there will be a lot of great racing to watch before then. Let Art’s Cyclery get you all kitted-up by visiting one of our Pro Team stores; Liquigas, Quick Step, and of course, HTC-Columbia, so you’ll be ready to go when your favorite race kicks off this 2010. Until then, keep riding.

Luke General, Racing and Races, Road

Overview: With the abundance of features and perfect fit found on the Zxellium, one would never expect it to be part of Mavic’s first generation of shoes. The platform for the Zxellium came from the line of Adidas cycling shoes, but Mavic refined the shoe to make it one of their most popular models, and I’ve got a feeling it’s going to increase in popularity as more people discover all it has to offer. I had a chance to test these flashy kicks out for myself to see if Mavic really can make more than just wheels.

First impressions: I’m not a very flashy guy, but the all yellow Zxellium is Sa-weet! I’ve never seen anything like it, which gives it infinite style points in my review. I can see how this color scheme may polarize potential buyers – I’m guessing people will either love it or hate it. Mavic probably thought the same thing, which is why it comes in a more modest color design that is mostly white with some black and yellow accents.

Slipping your feet into the Zxellium is like putting on your favorite pair of slippers.  I was amazed at how “broken in” these shoes felt right out of the box. A pre-shaped, 3-density composite insole is likely to thank for the initial step-in bliss. But this insole serves a purpose other than a comfy feel – it also absorbs road vibrations while you ride and is anti-bacterial to combat stink. The padding in the overlapping tongue, heel and insole will actually mold to your foot over time, creating a custom-like fit.

The fit in the heel is snug, but not restrictive. The Energy Lock carbon heel counter prevents stretch in this area while minimizing weight. I found the toe box volume and width to be average. I have a very narrow foot, so it was too wide for me, but I think it has an accommodating fit that will work for most people. Another one of our employees who purchased these shoes said it was the only shoe he has ever owned that didn’t give him hot spots while riding.

The Features: Where to begin…How about the ridiculously light and stiff full carbon outsole? If it’s stiff enough to handle the force Thor Hushovd creates when he’s sprinting to victory, I trust it can handle just about anything. I thought the shoe felt as stiff or stiffer than my S-Works Road shoes that I had been wearing previously. The sole on the Zxellium is super thin at 5.5 mm, putting your foot 7.5 mm from the top of the cleat, ensuring maximum energy transfer.

Two Velcro straps and a buckle serve as the closure system, but these are no ordinary straps and buckles. The Ergo SL Straps are lighter, more precise and 25% stronger than traditional straps with better ventilation. The Ergo Light Ratchet is a low profile, lightweight ratchet that is ergonomically designed to allow precise adjustment. I thought the straps looked a little flimsy at first, but after riding with them, my midfoot felt fully secured thanks to these minimalist straps.

Mavic’s Energy Frame is a TPU-injected exoskeleton that wraps around the ankle, for a snug fit without pinching. The upper is totally seamless with no stitching, making the inside of the shoe feel plush, yet supportive.

Final Score: I rate the Zxellium with a 9 out of 10. The style, fit, performance and bling factor are all there. The only reason I didn’t give it a 10 is because they were a little too wide, but anyone with a normal foot will find these to fit perfect.

I was a bit concerned about the durability of the shoe, so I asked our Mavic rep, Bill Archibald, if he had seen any returns due to faulty parts. He said he had only seen one or two instances where a shoe had to be replaced because a part broke. I know people who have ridden in the same pair of Sidi shoes for years because they just keep replacing the heel pads and buckles. Only time will tell how well the Zxellium holds up.

Mavic has some real momentum going with their shoes right now and the Zxellium is the flagship model. If you’re looking for a new performance-oriented shoe, they are at least worth trying on. 

Evan Gear, Product Reviews, Road