For riders looking for a pair of mountain bike shoes that does not really look like one, the 2011 Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes are the perfect item. Combining bike shoe functionality and traditional Oxford styling, the shoes feature a thermoplastic urethane cleat tap and a 3/4-length SPD-compatible plates.

To enhance comfort and moisture control, elastic leather-lined heel pockets and Cambrelle lining in the forefoot are added. Cushioning, rebound and arch support are sufficient, thanks to the custom shaped removable metatomical EVA footbeds.

While they are water and stain resistant, the full-grain leather uppers are made flexible so the mountain bike shoes fit comfortably. Hip styling is added to the 2011 Keen Austin Pedal Bike Shoes by the matching leather accents and contrast stitching around the ankle and eyelets.

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Montane balances breathability and waterproofness with its bike-specific jacket released this 2011 called the Featherlite Velo H2O. Ideal for performance road cycling, the lightweight and thin Freeflow H2O fabric makes the jacket sufficiently breathable and waterproof at the same time.

Perfect tight fit is offered by the jacket’s short front and long back. The arms are made very long to cover the wrists even when stretched out during rainy rides. The jacket has no hood and pockets, which allows it to pack down small and easy to stash in the jersey back pocket.

Fully showerproof, the 2011 Montane Featherlite Velo H2O Jacket keeps the rider’s inner clothing dry even under heavy rains. This makes it one of the most breathable cycling jackets available today and so far the only performance road cycling garment that perfectly balances breathability and waterproofing.

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Velocite has released a full carbon saddle called SCS, which stands for Soft Carbon Shell this 2011. By using patented soft carbon fiber layup, the saddle becomes softer than usual carbon fiber products. Weighing in at 113g, Velocite SCS is made lightweight with only minimal compromise to comfort.

More riders are accommodated by the deformable shell in greater comfort than by other naked carbon shell saddles. A perineal cutout adds extra usability and comfort by aiding circulation and increasing ventilation. This makes the saddle for female riders, too.

Along with the soft carbon fiber monocoque shell construction of the 2011 Velocite SCS Saddle are oval carbon rails. Hung on the leaf spring at the rear, the carbon rails provides even more comfort to the saddle as compared to numerous standard padded saddles.

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For 2012, Cannondale has released a mountain bike helmet called Ryker. Like its typical approach, Cannondale designed the Ryker to offer first-rate comfort, function, form, safety and overall usage. In key impact zones, support and strength are added by the exoskeleton reinforcements.

Embedded chassis tackles impacts while occipital fit system with micro adjust dial allows for an easy and perfect fit. To disperse and redirect impact, the helmet features a dual density foam. Extra safety and protection is provided by the cone-shaped foam that functions as crumple zones.

With the moisture and odor resistant rubber pad in the back, large vents make the helmet more breathable. Weighing about 250g, the 2012 Cannondale Ryker Mountain Biking Helmet is for riders who demand comfort and safety when mountain biking. The helmet is available in five color options.

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New this 2011 is the Hope Apparel range, which is a product of two UK companies’ collaboration. In cooperation with Endura, the Hope design team and riders came up with excellent cycling garments that include the Hope Defcon DH Shorts.

Designed with serious riders in mind, the cycling shorts are ideal for professional and amateur riders alike. Aside from the combined knit fabric and durable stretch, the bike short guarantees better articulation thanks to its nice rib fabric at the crotch and rear rib fabric lumber stretch.

A well-thought-out bike short, the 2011 Hope Defcon DH Shorts are a must-have garment for serious riders. Extra comfort and durability are guaranteed by its amazing features, which include deep front pockets, waist adjusters, zip and popper fastening at front fly, and sublimation printed panels.

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Coming from the top performance wheels designer in the world, the 2011 Reynolds Element T Disc Wheel guarantees exceptional features including incomparable torsional stiffness and low rolling resistance. The wheel weighs at 1100g for tubular and 1340g for clincher.

A clear-cut firm performer, the Reynolds’ disc features chiefly excellent braking. Aside from its noticeably low drag coefficient, this full-carbon wheel offers a patented all-carbon clincher technology of Reynolds with a noticeable edge between wheel and tire.

A UCI-certified mechanic is not needed as the wheel features an innovative valve stem cup that admits a standard pump head with no adaptor necessary. Indeed, the 2011 Reynolds Element T Disc Wheel is the best among disc wheels, which characterize supreme aerodynamic performance.

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Wilier has announced the release of its lightest road bike so far called the Zero7 this 2011. Though the weight was made incredibly light, the bike’s ride performance is not compromised. This is achieved through the use of BB386 that was developed alongside FSA.

Very stiff, the Zero.7 has an almost zero loss when all of the rider’s power is moved to the rear wheel. The bike is constructed with Special Elastic Infiltrated (SEI), a new carbon layup technology that absorbs road vibration by placing a viscoelastic layer is in between carbon layers.

While it uses a tapered head tube and steerer, the 2011 Wilier Triestina Zero.7 features a 1-1/8in to 1-1/4in dimension instead of the commonly used 1-1/2in on traditional tapered frames. Uniformity and compaction are enhanced by the Large Inflatable Tube construction used to mold the Zero.7 frame.

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