PELOTON ISSUE 62 GEAR: Giordana, MET and Syncros

The Feb 2017 Issue 62 of PELOTON is chock full of the latest tech and newest gear, from the best gravel bikes money can buy to the smartest of smart trainers. Here’s a sample of what’s inside – the Giordana Sosta jacket that mates standout Italian style with technical expertise, the winningest helmet from the 2016 Tour de France, the aero MET Manta favored by Cavendish, a road saddle from Syncros that tips the scale at just 150grams. To see all the tech pick up issue 62 of PELOTON on newsstands now or in our store: shopmovepress.com. 

PELOTON

Syncros RR 1.0 Carbon

The saddle is one of the easiest places to shave 100 grams from your ride. But it’s 100 grams that may haunt you two hours into the club ride when you realize your new saddle is as comfortable as an anvil. At 150 grams, the Syncros RR1.0 Carbon saddle checks the ultralight box with carbon rails and a carbon-nylon shell, but thanks to strategically placed lightweight PU foam and a subtle but effective central channel it offers plenty of comfort. The narrow saddle is 275mm long by 128mm wide, and the wide model is still fairly narrow at 139mm, but adds only 5 grams to the overall weight. Starting in mountain biking, Syncros has a long history of making quality gear that fills a much-needed niche. Syncros may now be SCOTT’s house brand, but that tradition still inspires what it creates, and the RR1.0 Carbon saddle is a great example. $160; syncros.com

MET Manta

Mark Cavendish is less powerful than most other elite UCI WorldTour bunch sprinters. That’s a fact. What he lacks in power though he makes up for in tactics, bravery and aerodynamics. At the 2016 Tour de France, his stunning victory total was thanks, in part, to the MET Manta. Saving 10 watts at 50 kilometers per hour, it saves even more at Cavendish-sprinting speeds—up to 78 kilometers per hour. A fast aero road helmet is nothing new, but the Manta does it at only 200 grams with enough ventilation for hot-weather riding and a full-featured Safe-T Advanced fit system. The MET Manta is an aero advantage that can be taken advantage of everyday with zero drawbacks, because, like Mark Cavendish, we all face riders bigger and stronger. $230; met-helmets.com

Giordana Sosta Jacket

Just because winter is here doesn’t mean style has to hide under layers of clothing. Giordana’s Sosta jacket is here to bring the style the Italians are known for with the technical expertise that is Giordana’s hallmark. In houndstooth, the Sosta is a gorgeous showstopper—which is fitting, because sosta is Italian for “break” or “stop” and you’ll look very good taking a mid-ride break at the coffee shop. It may perform even better in the saddle than it looks at the café, with a luxurious Merino wool interior and a windproof and water-resistant exterior. For keeping all your gear safe and organized, a single big zipper reveals three traditional pockets on the back. The jacket’s elasticity allowed Giordana to cut the Sosta to ensure it fits well in the riding position without bulk, but it’s still comfy sitting back in a chair at the café. The Sosta is available in men’s and women’s fits in a few colorways—but, really, houndstooth is the way to go. Stunning! $390/men, $375/women; giordanacycling.com