RBA’s Friday Five Revue

Friday Five Product Revue” is our weekly roundup of new bikes and products that have made their way through the doors of RBA headquarters or have simply caught our eye. Many will be featured in upcoming issues of Road Bike Action magazine, so be sure to subscribe!

Panache Speed Jersey

Boulder, Colorado-based Panache Cycling Wear continues to pump out eye catching styles. But there’s more to the new Speed Jersey than just good looks. This competition-focused top has an aero, close-to-body fit, plus a gripper band on the sleeve to keep flap at bay. Other features include wicking main fabric for all-effort comfort, stretch side panels for improved fit, and a full zip for easy hot-day ventilation. MSRP: $135. Available March 2016. Learn more at www.panachecyclewear.com

Smith Podium TT

The new Smith Podium TT helmet fills in their line, giving them a full aero lid for time trials and triathlon. It sticks with their Koroyd construction for protection and venting, but relies a little more heavily on EPS foam under the much more enclosed shell. Up front, two small vents let air in, then interior channels pull it over the head and out of the rear Koroyd vents. The lenses also get two vents to bring a little AC to your brow, and they remove quickly thanks to magnetic connections. Available in four colors and two sizes (medium 55-59cm / large 59-62cm), retail will be $350. Claimed weight is 12oz (330g). Smithoptics.com has all the info you need about the new helmet!

Park Tool Chain Cleaner

Chain cleaners have historically been one of the cheapest-feeling tools money can buy, made with flimsy plastic that often cracks on the first drop. Park is upping the ante with a die-cast aluminum cleaner. The brushes and the bracket that the chain runs through are built into a replaceable cartridge, which Park will sell independently. Head on over to www.parktool.com for more info!

Yakima Dr. Tray

The Dr. Tray is Yakima’s new remedy for hitch-mount woes. At 34 pounds in the stock two-bike configuration (a third tray can be added on), Yakima says it’s the lightest in its class. The tilt lever at the top allows for easy one-handed operation, and the trays can be adjusted horizontally to avoid handlebar/seat interference. The tightening knob at the base of the rack expands a wedge inside the stinger, which keeps the Dr. Tray from wobbling. The rack will retail for $580 when it hits the market in March.
Read more at www.yakima.com!

Silca Seato Roll Premio

Seat Roll Premio is the world’s first on-bike storage solution powered by the Boa Closure System. The foundation of the Premio Seat Roll is a waxed canvas of SILCA’s own creation. Heavyweight cotton canvas is first hot-melt waxed for water-proofing, and then quilted with 3M reflective thread for improved visibility and style. Seat Roll Premio attaches effortlessly to your seat rails using the beautiful Boa Closure System allowing for a lighter weight, more durable, more powerful and more adjustable attachment to the seat rails than traditional designs. www.silca.cc has all the info you need!

WIN SOME RBA SCHWAG!

Now here’s your chance to win a prize package from the RBA office’s schwag pile. Each week, we will grab at random from our schwag pile, a few items to send to the winner. To win, all you have to do is send us an email at [email protected] with an answer to the following question and you’ll be entered into our random drawing. (The winner must be a resident of the U.S., as we are only authorized to ship goods to the U.S. ) Good luck!

– What’s the coolest new bike or bike product you’ve seen recently? What makes it so unique?