Gear Break: La Vuelta Virtual by ROUVY, Primal New SHUT UP LEGS® Kits, New Syncros Capital SL Wheelset, New CADEX Amp Saddle, Chris King Splash Colorway & Hand

Gear Break: Introducing La Vuelta Virtual by ROUVY, Primal new SHUT UP LEGS® Kits! New Syncros Capital SL wheelset, new CADEX Amp saddle brings high-performance fit, efficiency and comfort to a wider range of riders, Chris King releases limited edition “Splash” colorway for MADE Show and Ass Savers and Squid Bikes collab for hand-painted fenders.

Introducing La Vuelta Virtual by ROUVY

ROUVY, the indoor cycling app which lets you ride real routes around the world, has launched a new series of races under the banner of the official La Vuelta Virtual, which will run alongside la Vuelta a España 2023 Grand Tour.

Unpredictable, unconventional, hot, brutal and gripping, riders will be able to experience the thrills, sights and emotions of the iconic Spanish race with ROUVY’s realistic, high quality video routes, closely following the real-world parcours ridden by the pro’s during la Vuelta.

With three levels of challenge available – Tranquilo (4 challenging but achievable stages), Medio (4 tougher stages) and Diablo (15 stages – a challenge for highly determined riders) – there are options suited to riders of all levels of ability.

Riders will be able to unlock official virtual jerseys by completing any of the La Vuelta Virtual ’23 ROUVY challenges. These jerseys will remain available in each finisher’s virtual garage forever, making them a unique unlockable achievement.

In addition to the challenges, a series of races will be held, with events running up to 4 times per day, with multiple heats, throughout the 3 weeks of racing, allowing all riders to get a taste of what the pro’s will experience, on the same routes. Each day will feature races on the real-world Vuelta a España stage, flashback races on the previous stage and recon group rides on the next stage upcoming. La Vuelta leaders jerseys will be awarded to race finishers – Green and White jerseys for sprint or flatter stages, a Blue polka dot jersey for hilly stages and a Red jersey for the final on stage 21.

Other prizes available include virtual coins to be spent on your avatar and in-app equipment and real-world bundles of ROUVY apparel, bidons and towels. Indoor cycling hardware brand Zycle will also be supplying some of its innovative products as prizes.

To ensure La Vuelta Virtual matches la Vuelta a España 2023 as closely as possible, four new routes are being added to the platform. The new routes feature sections of Vuelta stages 3, 9, 14 and 16, bolstering ROUVY’s already expansive list of Spanish routes.

Petr Samek, CEO of ROUVY, ‘ROUVY is delighted to be the Virtual Partner of La Vuelta a España again this year. La Vuelta is a unique event and shares the same spirit of adventure and excellence as ROUVY. I’m really happy that we can bring the experience of riding the stages of La Vuelta Virtual to a global audience of cyclists.’

Keep going, and feel the heat of La Vuelta!

Primal New SHUT UP LEGS® Kits!

About Jens:Yeah, he finished the Tour de France 17 times. Wore yellow, won stages, inflicted pain. Rode a children’s bike against the competition? Yep. Jens never won a grand tour but had many career wins, and even broke the Hour Record and kicked off a resurgence in a discipline that truly embodies the “Shut Up Legs” mentality. Jens rivaled the biggest names in cycling because he did it right. He competed. He suffered. He was selfless. He was resilient. He was fearless. He was willing to sacrifice his body in the name of glory. And he’s hilarious, intriguing, and insightful. Check out his podcast with Bobby Julich – Bobby & Jens

NEW Syncros Capital SL WheelsetFaster, stronger, and more Aero. Syncros takes innovation to a next level with the all-new CAPITAL SL one-piece carbon wheelsets.

More than the sum of its parts, every element of the all-new Capital SL wheels has been designed to function as part of a bigger System For Speed. The one-piece carbon design delivers a lighter, stronger and more responsive feel that will make cyclists faster on both road and gravel. Faster acceleration, faster cornering, better handling and unreal Aero performance is achieved on a wheelset barely tipping the scales at 1170g for the Capital SL and 1290g for the Capital SL Aero.

Monocoque Wheel System (MWS)Deploying a system with low inertia, drag and rolling resistance which at the same time gives good handling and stability would not be possible without the right technology. Our innovative one-shot patented manufacturing technique is the best way to make the fastest wheel on the market. By using the full potential of the material properties of carbon fiber available and a new manufacturing process, MWS delivers the best carbon fiber wheelset.

Faster AccelerationWhen it comes to accelerating or sprinting, the ability to spin the wheels faster in less time is a key competitive advantage. Our unique and modern construction process reduces overall weight and moves weight from the outside of the wheel, near the rim, to the inside of the wheel, near the hub. Delivering a lower rotational inertia meaning less power output for the rider when it’s time to up the speed. Capital SL wheels show a 20% reduction in rotational inertia compared to traditional carbon wheels.

Faster Cornering, Better HandlingStiffness optimization is closely correlated to the handling feeling of a rider and as such is an area of focus. We drastically worked on this key component to ensure the best performance and feelings in all riding conditions.

As a result of our patented Monocoque Wheel System technology (MWS) and our unique pre-straining process, we can achieve a precisely defined spoke tension delivering a livelier and more responsive wheel, whether descending or climbing your favorite mountain pass. Our carbon spokes weigh less than traditional steel spokes yet are 35% stronger. Unlike traditional spoke fixation, the Capital SL’s spokes are bonded directly to the rim and runs from the rim over the flange to the other side of the rim while being woven at the intersection, increasing and optimizing torsional stiffness. This results in a better and more precise handling of the bike in any riding condition.

Aerodynamic PerformanceLooking at aerodynamic drag, the Capital SL wheels offer extraordinary performance. From the start, a wide range of riding conditions were considered: riding speed, wind speed and wind direction all factored into our calculations. With the one-piece carbon construction, the overall drag was lowered by around 7% compared to our benchmark. As the Capital SL wheels were developed looking at the wheel as a system including the tire and its rolling resistance, we also found the best compromise between low drag and rolling resistance, even with a larger tire section. The outcome is the Capital SL are faster than the competitors equipped with narrower tires, and offer the best handling in every wind situation.

Hookless TechnologyWith a hookless design, the rim’s structure is improved, resulting in a stronger and lighter rim. Aerodynamically, the absence of the hooks leads to a smoother transition from the tire to the rim, which reduces drag. The hookless bead provides increased impact protection and reduced pinch-flats, especially for gravel use. The internal width of 25mm is optimized for the best compromise between aerodynamic drag and reduced rolling resistance with wider tires. The Capital SL wheels are compliant with the ETRTO standards.

Schwalbe Co-DevelopmentThe Capital SL wheels were developed looking at the wheel as a system including the tire and its rolling resistance. This led to the adaptation of wider tires offering lower rolling resistance. Obviously, a wider tire and rim combination provides more sail area than a narrower set-up. This impact is especially important for the front-wheel as the first attacking point of wind. The rear wheel and tire are mostly isolated from wind turbulence, due to the bike-frame and movement of the legs. Considering these different behaviors, it was the aim to co-develop a specific front and rear-tire with a strong partner, Schwalbe. The all-new Pro One Aero front tire is designed with the most aerodynamic shape on modern rims, while the Pro One Aero rear tire is dedicated to low rolling-resistance with plenty of durability.

Key FeaturesCAPITAL SL AERO (60mm) – CAPITAL SL (40mm)

New CADEX Amp Saddle Brings High-Performance Fit, Efficiency and Comfort to a Wider Range of RidersSuperlight saddle combines some of the core features of the CADEX Boost saddle with a supportive shape to deliver a more universal fit

An ergonomic rear curve increases ischial support and a new side-curve profile provides greater pedaling space. This helps the rider push back into the saddle to achieve a powerful and aerodynamic riding position

CADEX, a leading brand of high-performance cycling products, introduced a new saddle, the CADEX Amp, to its expanding collection of components. The Amp saddle takes some of the core features of the acclaimed CADEX Boost saddle—including an Advanced Forged Composite Technology base, Integrated Rail design and Particle Flow padding—and matches them with a new design made to fit the needs of more riders.

Using the same Advanced Forged Composite Technology as the acclaimed CADEX Boost saddle, the base balances optimal pelvic support with base wing flexibility for smoother, more efficient pedaling

“The CADEX Boost saddle has been a popular choice for high-performance road riding and is a favorite for many of the pro racers we work with,” said Jeff Schneider, Global Head of Product for CADEX. “With the Amp, we wanted to build on those core features and make it a better fit for a wider range of riders.”

Team Jayco AlUla rider Michael Matthews has been testing and racing on the new Amp saddle since the start of the season. Matthews won an uphill sprint to take Stage 3 of the 2023 Giro d’Italia on a prototype Amp, which has become his saddle of choice this year.

An all-new crowned shape drops away quickly at wings for more pedaling space, increasing fit options and reducing clearance issues

The Advanced Forged Composite base and carbon rails help give the Amp a light weight of 129g. The rail attachments are positioned away from main contact points with a rider’s sit bones, which helps dampen road vibrations and alleviates pressure points that are common with traditional saddle construction.The saddle is shaped with an ergonomic rear curve that improves ischial support and a side curve that offers greater pedaling clearance. This shaping helps the rider push back into the saddle to achieve a powerful and aerodynamic riding position. The top of the saddle has a crowned shape that drops away at the wings, and the full-carbon, low-seated base eliminates flex and increases support for efficient pedaling power.

Integrated Rail Design technology strategically places rail-to-base connections to dampen road vibrations and alleviate pressure points that can occur with traditional saddle construction

The Amp’s comfort is further enhanced with an ergonomic center cut-out that relieves pressure on soft tissue areas. A combination of high-elasticity Particle Flow padding, which is built directly into the upper, and Lightweight Reactive Foam promotes even distribution of a rider’s weight across a broader area.

The CADEX Amp saddle will be available at retailers and online in select markets worldwide.Learn more at: www.cadex-cycling.com/amp

Team Jayco AlUla rider Michael Matthews won an uphill sprint to take Stage 3 of the 2023 Giro d’Italia aboard a prototype CADEX Amp

CADEX Amp Saddle Key Features:

Technical Specifications:

Chris King Releases Limited Edition “Splash” Colorway for MADE Show

To coincide with the upcoming MADE show in their backyard of Portland, Or, Chris King is introducing a limited-edition “Splash” anodization, a rich bronze base color with vivid turquoise splashed over it. This entire run will consist of a highly-limited 50 complete kits: headset, bottom bracket, and King wheels, with available configurations for all-road, gravel, and mountain bikes.

King Design Manager Jay SyCip said, “The inaugural MADE show is here in Portland, so we just had to do something special, something we hadn’t done before, and that was the motivation for Splash. It will be both a component finish and a soft goods collection. There will be a LOT of King components and wheels on bikes all around the show. For us, it’s like a homecoming.”

King was among the first bicycle component makers to introduce color anodization to their product line in 1988, with colors coming in and out of the collection each season. Earlier this year, they brought back 3D Violet, which first appeared in ‘88.

SyCip continued, “We’ve seen what others have done with splatter and drip anodize effects in the past, not just on bike parts, but in other industries as well, and wanted to create a more refined version incorporating some favorite colors from our palette. Our Matte Bourbon color was incredibly popular and a favorite of many here at King, and we loved the way that warm bronzy color worked with many paint and component choices, especially on handmade bikes, and how well it complemented vibrant color accents. We wanted to take the subtle sophistication of a bronze base color and add a ‘Splash’ of something bright and complementary to take it to the next level: our Matte Turquoise.”

The world will get its first in-person look at Splash on show bikes produced for MADE, a showcase for handmade and custom bikes. The King booth will proudly display Splash-themed bikes from Mosaic, Argonaut, and Tomii.

The limited-edition Splash components will be available as a complete build kit for Road, Gravel, and Mountain bikes through King dealers and the Chris King website on a first come, first served basis. Each Splash kit will contain a headset, bottom bracket, and King FusionFiber® Wheelset, built to order.

Ass Savers and Squid Bikes collab for hand-painted fenders

Ass Savers team up with Squid Bikes for limited-edition hand-painted fender collab.Two of the most colorful brands in cycling have teamed up for a new project that promises to brighten even the rainiest riding days: the special-edition Ass Savers x Squid Bikes Win Wing fender.

First introduced last fall, the Win Wing by Ass Savers is an ultra-lightweight, easy-to-install rear mudguard that adopts a minimalist approach to maximizing rider comfort on wet, rainy rides. It does so through a principle the Ass Savers team have termed “tangential coverage”, stopping road spray at the point where it leaves the tire for big-time backside protection.

For their latest creative Win Wing collaboration, Ass Savers have joined forces with the folks behind Squid Bikes, a brand born from Northern California’s cycling counterculture and well known for their chaotic and colorful rattle-can paint jobs. Limited to just 128 hand-painted pieces, the Ass Savers x Squid Bikes Win Wing blends form with function—and Swedish precision manufacturing with free-flowing Californian creativity.

The path to bring this project to life was one only made possible by international post. First, Ass Savers produced, prepared for paint, packaged the individual plastic sheets, and shipped them to Squid. Once delivered to the brand’s workshop in Sacramento, the team got to work, spray painting each sheet in an array of saturated styles before repackaging them to head back to Sweden for screen-printing, die-cutting, and finishing. The result is 128 completely unique fenders—no two of which are exactly alike.

The original Ass Savers x Squid Bikes Win Wing Gravel is designed to fit any standard-style frame, attaching in seconds via two rubber straps and with clearance for up to 60mm tires—now available on the Squid Bikes website for $30 through the link below.https://www.squidbikes.com/products/ass-savers-win-wing-gravel-fender

For those who miss out on the limited-edition drop, Ass Savers are also selling screen printed versions of select styles from the collaboration for €26 through their web store.https://ass-savers.com/collections/squid-kollection

And to see how this special project came to life at every stage along the way, check out the following reel: https://vimeo.com/asssavers/the128 and for more details on the process: https://asssavers.exposure.co/the-128/

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