TREK SUPERCALIBER 9.9
Trek has been making bikes for a long time now and it keeps nailing the brief, despite the constant
ebbing and flowing of the contemporary mountain bike discipline. The Trek Supercaliber 9.9 is the
company’s out-and-out cross-country race bike, boasting a weight of just 9.34kg – a staggering
feat for a bike with 100mm/60mm travel. The secret comes in the clever packaging of the rear
shock, which it calls ‘Isostrut’. The system uses just two pivots, which has not only kept weight
but also bike maintenance to a minimum, all the while creating room for two bottle cages. As the
range-topping model in the line-up, the Supercaliber 9.9 gets a SR AM X X1 Eagle A XS groupset,
Bontrager Kovee XXX carbon wheels and a matching finishing kit.
£9,700, trekbikes.comMOUNTAIN BIKE
GELU K-3 CARBON SADDLE
Few can dispute the beauty of Gelu’s K-3 saddle; it’s a work of art. It’s
handmade from carbon pre-preg weave fabric – a recipe known for its
aesthetic merit but also lightweight properties. While it weighs just 38g,
the K-3’s flat and narrow dimensions are not going to work for everyone.
Priced at £430, it’s also frighteningly expensive.
£430, gelucarboncreation.comELITE DIRETO XR
Elite’s Direto XR is the Italian brand’s top-of-the-line turbo trainer. It can
simulate gradients of up to 24%, while the maximum power output is
pegged at 2,300 watts. It also has a 5.1kg flywheel, which does wonders
to help simulate real-world road feel and help carry momentum up virtual
rolling terrain. Perfect for those who enjoy Zwift.
£650, elite-it.comCYCLING ACCESSORIES
52 T3 MARCH 2022
Unbeatable biking kit