New 2022 bicycling gear to help you grind the gravel with gusto.
Topeak Gravel Gear Bag
Like it or not, flats happen (just like chaffing and taxes). If you’re on a long-distance ride, you better have a reliable tire repair kit with you or risk hitchhiking home. Topeak’s Gravel Gear Bag comes with a Tubi 11 multi-tool, Power Lever X tire lever/master link pliers/presta valve core tool, three pieces of tubeless tire repair plugs, and an AirBooster CO2 inflator, plus room to carry two 16-gram CO2 cartridges and a spare tube up to 700x40c. It’s all packed into a sleek, under-top-tube-mounted case with internal organizers to keep all your goodies securely in place. $140. topeak.com
Donnelly EMP Gravel Tire
The EMP Gravel Tire is a departure from Donnelly’s usual tread design, featuring a tighter block pattern without a well-defined center strip. It’s made to roll fast, which is key if you’re racing any endurance gravel bike event, but with bigger side knobs to handle more aggressive cornering. The EMP is constructed from a soft rubber compound for extra grip and shock absorption, with an integrated puncture protection belt under the tread. Available in sizes 700x38c, 700x45c, and 650x47c — in both tube and tubeless-ready options. $55-$70. donnellycycling.com
Bell XR Spherical Helmet
The XR is an all-new model created with gravel cyclists in mind, blending the ventilation of a road helmet with the deeper coverage of a mountain bike helmet — and providing rotational impact protection with the help of MIPS (multi-directional impact protection system) technology. The XR also features the Float Fit system, which allows riders to dial in the fit easily, along with an easy-to-use magnetic FIDLOCK buckle that can be opened and closed with one hand. Available in seven different colors and three sizes: small, medium, and large. $225. bellhelments.com
Yamaha Wabash RT E-Bike
Yamaha describes its Wabash RT is a performance gravel bike designed for long hauls off-road and a tough-as-dirt attitude on roads. It’s one of the first bikes sporting the all-new Yamaha PWSeries ST drive unit, which has four assist modes and an intuitive automatic mode to provide support up to 28 mph with maximum power of 500 watts. Key gravel bike features include flared handlebars with a wide drop to accommodate packs, Shimano GRX drivetrain with a 44-tooth chainring and 11-speed cassette, Shimano GRX RX hydraulic brakes with 180mm center-lock rotors, Maxxis Rambler 700x45c TR EXO tires, built-in dropper seat post with 40 to 60mm of travel, and 12mm thru axles on both the front and rear hubs that increase control and strength when cornering and accelerating. $4,099. yamahabicycles.com
Author: Brad Kovach is the editor/publisher of Terrain Magazine.
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