Joe Whittingham – Panda Podium

Chinese New Year 2025 Notice

Joe Whittingham — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:57:43 +0000

While the holiday season has come and gone in the west, China is getting ready for it’s biggest holiday of the year; Chinese New Year (Or Spring Festival.)

During this period, the entire country almost grinds to a halt as most people take a deserved rest and travel back to their hometowns to celebrate the holidays with their family.

What’s that got to do with anything? There will be quite a big disruption to our services during this period. Firstly, our staff will be taking some well-earned time off and therefore we will be slow to reply to emails. Secondly, logistics in China will mostly pause for this period. Thirdly, most of our suppliers will also take a break. This will affect the supply of products before / during / after the holiday.

Our Advice:

Be quick. If you’re thinking of buying something in the coming weeks, order now. Most orders placed before Jan 20th should be shipped before the Spring Festival. Even if not, the earlier you order, your order will be first processed after the holiday, beating the inevitable back-log of orders.
Be patient. We will be doing our best to minimise disruption, but some things are simply out of our control.
Be excited. We’re gonna come back from the holiday recharged and ready to go with the aim to make 2025 the Year of the Panda!
Be pro-active. If you’re in a rush to get something for a race, etc. send us a message. You may be able to pay to upgrade to express shipping, etc. But check with us first.

Important Dates

January 20th: Last date to order for shipping before CNY. (Not guaranteed, message us if critical.)
January 26th – February 5th: Panda Podium office closed (Limited service, no shipping.)
February 6th: Back in the office, service resumes.

You can still place orders throughout this period, when we return to the office orders will be processed on a first-come first-served basis.

Questions?

As always, feel free to contact us.

National Day Holiday Notice

Joe Whittingham — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:56:43 +0000

The first week of October is National Day holiday in China. (Also known as Golden Week.) It’s a one-week holiday where the whole country pretty much shuts down.

During this period our website will still be up and running, but we will have some reduced services.

October 1st – 7th – Shipping delays. Our Chinese domestic courriers will stop services so we are unable to send packages during this week. Orders placed during this week will be sent out on a first-come first-served basis after the holiday.

October 1st – 2nd – No online chat, reduced email services. Again, after these days we will start replying to emails and catching up. Please be patient as we clear the backlog.

We aim to cause minimum disruption to our services, but some aspects are out of our control. We look forward to bringing you the high level and speed of service you’re used to after the holiday.

Regards,
The Panda Podium Team

I tested the best Western wheels Vs the best Chinese wheels: Roval Rapide CLX II Vs CRW CS5060

Joe Whittingham — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 00:54:00 +0000

Introduction

We’re putting the best Western wheels head to head against the best Chinese wheels in a direct shoot out. We’re going to be looking at the price, weight, stiffness and aerodynamics of these two great wheelsets. In the blue corner, representing the best of the west, we have the Roval Rapide CLX II – The CLX wheelsets have more victories in the world tour than any other wheelset and have been raced by the greats from Peter Sagan to Julian Alaphilippe. In the red corner, representing China are the CRW CS5060 wheels. While not sharing the same impressive palmarès as the Rovals, the CRWs are packing in the technology department; carbon spokes and the latest in carbon layup technology in the rims to deliver an ultralight wheelset thats over 200g lighter than the Rovals.

Battle of the mid-depth wheelsets

Both wheels offer similar rim profiles, both sharing a front rim depth of around 50mm and 60mm at the rear. This staggered setup allows for more crosswind stability at the front of the bike while building the rear for better power transfer and aerodynamics. Both wheels are also on the cutting edge of the latest trends for wider and wider wheels, both wheels feature very “fat” front rims with external widths around 35mm and “skinny” rear wheels with external widths around 30mm. This setup is a great option for all-round riding. Being deep enough to get most of the aero benefits, light enough to climb well and not so deep that crosswinds become an issue.

Weights

All units in grams	Roval Rapide CLX II	CRW CS5060	Difference
Official Weight (Pair)	1520	1290	230
Tested Front Wheel	700.0	600.0	100.0
Tested Rear Wheel	821.5	708.0	113.5
Tested Weight (Pair)	1521.5	1308	213.5

While 1520g for a 50/60mm disc brake wheelset was impressive a few years ago, times have moved on. The Roval Rapide CLX II tipped our scales at 1521.5g including rim tape. The CRW CS5060 however are in a league of their own tipping our scales at 1308.0g including rim tape. A difference of 216g in favor of the CRWs. Weight is obviously a huge factor to any cyclist, but especially rotating weight. The difference between the two wheels is especially noticeable when performing sudden accelerations or on gradients of 5% or above. As a side note, the previous version of the Roval Rapide CLX were actually around 100g lighter than the 2nd generation, but were not tubeless compatible. Tubeless can put stresses on a rim that regular clinchers don’t (due to the tight fitting bead, and other reasons) as such, the 2nd generation reviewed here got 100g heavier in order to become tubeless compatible. It is rumored that some pro tour riders still use the 1st generation with clincher tires on hillier days.

Stiffness / Compliance

All units in N/mm	Roval Rapide CLX II	CRW CS5060	Difference
Front Wheel (DS)	42.42	45.71	3.29
Front Wheel (NDS)	44.34	38.90	5.44
Rear Wheel (DS)	72.20	40.64	31.56
Rear WHeel (NDS)	66.18	54.3	11.88
Average	56.26	44.89	11.37

The balance between stiffness and compliance for a wheelset is always a tricky one. Roval have an especially difficult task, as their wheels come standard on many of their top-of-the-line bikes that are purchased by riders with a wide range of power and body weight profiles. They have to design wheels that can be raced by Alaphilippe at the top end of the sport, yet still ridden by 120kg weekend warriors. We tested the lateral stiffness of the two wheelsets in our lab, on average the Rovals were 25.3% stiffer than the CRWs, likely attributed to the greater number of spokes, larger flanges and the weight / stiffness of the rim. However, this is just lateral stiffness, and doesn’t represent the wheels ability to transfer power (torsional stiffness.) The most impressive aspect of the Rovals is the balance between drive side and non-drive side stiffness. This can likely be attributed to the 2:1 spoke lacing. However, this design is not without its disadvantages. While the CRWs only have 16 front spokes, 8 of those spokes are essentially able to transfer braking forces, whereas the Rovals feature 18 spokes on the front wheel, only 6 of these are able to transfer any reasonable amount of braking force (Due to 2:1 spoke lacing and the drive side being fully radially laced.)* With the CRWs having a further advantage that carbon spokes have a higher tensile strength than the Roval’s steel spokes, the CRWs should have much higher torsional stiffness under braking. Again, like all stiffness figures, stiffer does not necessarily mean better.

*Upon peer review, it was stated by a PhD much cleverer than me, that both spokes in compression and tension are able to transfer the braking force. This would mean the Roval has 12 spokes transferring forces compared to CRWs 16. But, the point remains that CRW has more spokes to transfer braking forces.

Aero Performance

	Average Power (w)	Average Speed (kph)	Crosswind (degrees)	Head / Tailwind (kph)	CdA (m²)	Watts for 40kph (w)
CRW CS *Test 1*	190	35.2	2.0	0.2	0.277	261
Roval CLX *Test 2*	190	35.2	1.3	0.3	0.275	260
Roval CLX *Test 3*	190	35.5	1.3	0.1	0.273	258
CRW CS *Test 4*	191	35.5	1.5	0.1	0.274	259
Roval Rapide CLX II (2 run average)					0.2740	259
CRW CS5060 (2 run average)					0.2755	260

Aero testing was carried out using the Gibili aero sensor. Both wheels were fitted with MAXXIS High Road tires in 28mm with Ridenow TPU innertubes. All tires were inflated to 70psi as the testing surface is a very smooth road. Cassette and rotors were identical sizes. All 4 tests were conducted back to back after a few warm up runs. The end result? The Roval Rapide CLX II tested one watt faster than the CRW CS5060s. This result is no doubt within the margin for error of the experiment (it’s already outside the rated accuracy of the Favero Assioma power meter pedals that were used) however, it’s reasonable to conclude that the two wheels have essentially the same aero performance, with the Rovals having recording a marginal advantage.

Rim Profiles

While the rims look similar, there are subtle differences to their design and execution. Starting with the front wheel, the biggest difference is the hooks of the Rovals. They measure around 6mm thick, which results in a large “shoulder” of the rim at the tire/rim interface. The Roval’s rear wheel has a hook diameter of just 3mm, so this 6mm shoulder is obviously intentional. The question is, did they do it in order to keep a lower internal width and higher compatibility with more tires, or, is it some sort of clever air-tripping mechanism. Knowing Specialized, I’m led to believe it’s an intentional design for the sake of aerodynamics. I’m fast getting out of my depths here, but my belief is that (especially in crosswinds) this shoulder helps to trip the air on the back side of the wheel, causing earlier separation of the air from the rim during higher yaw angles, so that there isn’t such a sudden stall when the AoA becomes too great. Put simply; I think it may slow the wheel down at low yaw angles, but speed the wheel up and add stability at greater stall angles. The CRW on the other hand opts for a more streamlined transition between the tire and rim. The rest of the front profiles are fairly similar, with the Rovals being a bit wider around the mid-section with a slightly more aggressive turn inwards.

Moving onto the rear rims, the difference is less apparent. This time the Rovals have a smaller hook width than the CRWs giving the CRWs more of a shoulder. The rest of the rear profiles are also fairly different between the two. The widest point of the Rovals is a lot further down the rim than the CRWs, possibly to optimize the rim for performance on the trailing edge. I suspect each rim has it’s peak performance at different wind speeds / angles. Which one is quicker for you on most of your riding conditions…? Who knows. Our above aero testing at 35kph in moderate wind conditions suggests that there’s not much real-world difference between the two. However, this is credit to the Rovals, as they have many more spokes than the CRWs. So, to provide the same aero performance with more spokes, the rim (or hubs) must be aiding in the aero side of things.

Hubs

The Roval’s hubs use the tried and tested internals of the DT Swis 180 series of hubs. The outside of the hub shell uses what Specialized call their Aeroflange design. The premise of this design is that the hub shell is as narrow as possible in the center for aero gains, while flaring out at the flanges (for better spoke angles and a stiffer wheel.) The CRWs on the other hand have weight savings as their main focus of design. Their form is dictated by the best weight to strength ratio. There’s some extra machining for weight reduction and removal of a few grams of material. While the CRW’s hubs internals are their own design, they lean heavily on the DT Swis design (since the original patent has expired.) Anyone familiar with the internals of a DT Swis hub will find themselves at home when they take apart the CRW hub. One note of credit to both companies is their following of Shimano’s standards for both brake rotor and cassette freebody locations. During testing, wheels were swapped interchangeably with no adjusting of the brakes or rear dereleiur needed. Kudos to both companies. One common criticism of the Rovals that can be found online is the bearings seem very draggy when not preloaded. One Specialized dealer described it to me “as if they use peanut butter for grease.” This does seem to get better when the wheels are installed in the bike (and bearings therefore preloaded.) CRW are not without criticism. Early batches featured end caps that were undersized leading to ‘clicking’ sounds coming from hubs. These issues have seemingly since been addressed, but needless to say hubs are a critical part of a wheelset that nobody seems to have perfected yet. Both wheels come as standard with a 10 degree engagement angle via a 36T ratchet ring. More than enough for road riding.

Spokes

One major difference between the two wheelsets is the spokes. CRW built the whole wheel around the concept of carbon spokes, whereas the Rovals are built using DT Swis steel spokes. Whether Roval chose these spokes because they’re the best spokes for the job, or it was part of the licensing deal to use the DT Swis internals; who knows. However, the advantages of carbon spokes are clear to see. Lighter spokes with a higher tensile strength and less elasticity, in theory leading to a wheelset that is lighter and stiffer like-for-like. On the horizon we have the release of the Roval Rapide CLX II Team version – a version of these wheels, but with carbon spokes. Roval recently released a similar product for their XC wheels and as time of writing this article, have been seen in testing, but are not yet released to the public.

Price

Of course price is a key component in most people’s choice when buying a new wheelset. Prices can vary by market and sales, etc. But, the RRP of the CRW CS5060 is currently $1680 on PandaPodium.cc with free worldwide shipping. The Rovals are listed for sale on Specialized’s website with an RRP of $2800 for the pair. That makes the Rovals about 66% more expensive than the CRWs… not an insignificant amount.

Warranty

In most countries Roval seems to offer a lifetime warranty on the wheels to the original owner, and free crash replacement for the first two years if you’re inside the USA and have registered your wheels at the time of purchase. More details can be found here, and be sure to check your particular territory. Meanwhile the CRWs come with a two year warranty and no crash replacement warranty, although CRW will sell you replacement parts such as a new rim for $380. While a two-year warranty should be enough for most people (anything thats going to go wrong should go wrong within the first two years…), the Rovals are the clear winner here.

Ride Feeling

While this section is mostly subjective, at the end of the day how a wheelset feels is a big part of the package for many riders. Ride feeling, and which feeling you prefer, will vary based on your weight, your power, the roads you ride, the bike the wheels are on, tire pressures, etc. Speaking as a 53kg rider with around ~230watts FTP who likes climbing, I can share my opinions. Both wheels are great to ride. Coming from the stock wheels on most bikes, either option will be a great upgrade. The biggest difference between the two wheels are in weight and stability. The >200g advantage of the CRWs is noticeable when pulling away from every traffic light, when attacking from the bunch, or when slogging up a steep climb. The CRWs also seem to do a better job of absorbing bad road surfaces. A lower spoke count and a more compliant rim are probably helping in this area. However, when the road gets twisty, the Rovals come into their own. Don’t get me wrong, the CRWs corner just fine, but the Rovals are on another level in terms of stability and inspiring confidence. At this point I’ve tested around 50 wheelsets, and the Rovals have the best handling of any disc brake wheelset I’ve tested. I’m not sure if it’s down to the balanced spoke tension, the wide shoulders on the front rim, the large hub flanges, the stiff rim, or a combination of all of the above, but the Rovals inspire extra confidence in you when tackling a descent. In summary… CRW for the climbs, Rovals for the descents.

Summary

All scores out of 10	Roval Rapide CLX II	CRW CS5060	Reason
Acceleration	7	9	Over 200g of difference in weight that has to be “spun up” along with carbon spokes providing a snappier acceleration feeling.
Climbing	8	10	Lighter is always going to climb better, but both wheels climb fantastic for such deep profile rims.
Handling (cornering, braking)	10	9	While the CRWs aren’t as laterally stiff as the Rovals, the torsional stiffness feels much better due to more spokes handling braking forces on the front wheel, and carbon spokes lack of elasticity for force transmission.) Still, the Rovals hold a corner slightly better than the CRWs.
Aero Speed	10	10	Both wheels are within less than 1% of each other in our aero tests. Both very fast for this depth of wheel.
Aero Stability	10	9	It’s hard to say whether the Roval’s stability comes from their aero profile or their heavier rim leading to a higher gyroscopic effect, either way, the Rovals are slightly more stable in crosswinds.
Warranty	9	7	With a life-time warranty and Specialized dealers seemingly in every city, the Rovals get a great after-sales service.
Value	7	9	Value is relative, and neither wheelset can be considered ‘cheap’. However, the over $1000 difference in price could be used to buy several upgrades in other areas of your bike.
Total	61 / 70	63 / 70

While the importance of each of the above aspects may carry different weight to different people (200g of climbing weight matters less if you’re a 90kg rider as opposed to 50kg) the above are my personal opinions. In my scoring, the CRWs just take the edge. Interestingly, if money is no object (and we disregard the value scores) then both wheelsets score the same. However, if money truly is no object, then you likely don’t care about warranty, in which case, the CRWs take the edge again.

The weight advantage of the CRWs cannot be overlooked. They’re a mere 25g heavier than Roval’s Alpinist CLX II wheels; a super shallow, narrow, climbing wheel. Yet, as seen in the above tests, they have the same aero performance of the Roval Rapide CLX II.

The Rovals however are also a great wheelset. It’s obvious that lots of care and attention went into their development. The minor details such as the balance of stiffness is very impressive. Their long list of victories on the pro scene are evidently no fluke.

Customer Reviews

Both the Specialized Website and PandaPodium allow customers to leave reviews. At time of writing, these are the customer reviews. Of course, customer reviews should be taken with a pinch of salt, as most of the happy customers won’t leave comments, but customers with less-than-perfect experiences will feel compelled to leave reviews. Also, these sample sizes are tiny. Roval has probably shipped tens of thousands of these wheels, but only has 7 customer reviews on their website.

Roval Rapide CLX II - 4.3 stars (7 Reviews)

Link to product page – scroll down to reviews at the bottom.

CRW CS5060 - 4.5 stars (11 reviews)

Link to reviews – or head to the product page and hit “reviews”

Which should you buy?

Read the above and make up your own mind. I’m not here to convince you of anything. If you’ve made it this far in the article, you’re clearly capable of thinking and making your own decision. Both wheelsets offer pros and cons. I can’t imagine anybody serious about speed being disappointed by either wheelset.

LINK to the Roval Rapide CLX IIs on the Specialzed Website

^ Click to buy

LINK to the CRW CS5060s on Panda Podium

^ Click to buy

Other wheels in the CRW CS Range:

Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Wheels Tires & Tubes, Wheelsets
CRW Works CS5060 Disc Brake Wheelset

4.50 out of 5

$1,680.00 – $1,710.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Wheels Tires & Tubes, Wheelsets
CRW Works CS4045 Road Disc Brake Wheelset

5.00 out of 5

$1,680.00 – $1,710.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Wheels Tires & Tubes, Wheelsets
CRW Works CS5055 Road Disc Brake Wheelset

4.80 out of 5

$1,680.00 – $1,710.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Wheels Tires & Tubes, Wheelsets
CRW Works CS6575 Disc Brake Wheelset

5.00 out of 5

$1,680.00 – $1,710.00

Disclaimers & Background

I am not an engineer. I am not an expert. I merely have lots of experience with around 50 sets of carbon wheels and a passion for analyzing and testing things. All opinions above are my own personal opinions. Of course, as a retailer of CRW wheels there is a huge conflict of interest, however I hope the methodology above is transparent enough for people to make up their own minds. As biased as I may be, the weights of both wheelsets are clear for all to see and to do their own testing, etc. While I have a business relationship with CRW, I also have a personal relationship with several Specialized employees. I have been to both companies’ headquarters and signed NDAs, all of the information in this analysis is in the public domain and doesn’t infringe on any NDA. If either brand has a correction to offer or spots a mistake in this article, feel free to contact me and I’ll update it ASAP.

Roval Rapide CLX II Team

JUST as I’m putting the finishing touches on this article, Roval announces the Team edition of these wheels, *sigh*. While I think my article is still worth publishing, its hard to now claim that the “regular” CLX II is the “best” western wheel. For those wondering, the CLX II Team shaves 130g off the regular version (1360g now… still 70g heavier than the CRW CS5060) but the wheels still feature DT Swis steel spokes. They’re now using the 2nd generation of the spokes, which seems to have given them a claimed 0.5 watt increase in the wind tunnel. Their hub seems less aero than before (although hub aero is very marginal gains) so if I had to guess, I’d say the new spokes are actually worth more than 0.5watts, and they’re losing a little bit of aero on the new hubs. Everyone was expecting these new wheels to have carbon spokes, but it seems they’re being reserved for a later product (I guess the CLX III – which I assume will have new rims optimized perhaps for 30mm tires… we shall see. Roval…or Chris Wehan if you’re reading… why not send over a pair for a new comparison test.

Why a new handlebar is the #1 upgrade for your road bike

Joe Whittingham — Wed, 22 May 2024 08:25:51 +0000

Why Upgrade your Handlebar?

Many people are asking "What is the first thing I should upgrade on my bike?" or "Whats the best value for money upgrade for a road bike?" There are several reasons why you'd want to upgrade your handlebar / cockpit on your road bike. Lets look at the most important ones.:

Reason one: Bike Fit

This one is especially important if you've just purchased a new bike. These days almost all brands sell their complete bikes with no choice of the handlebar. Most mid-high end road bikes these days come with integrated handlebars with little to no adjustability. With a few centimetres of reach between sizes of bikes, it's very unlikely that the bike you got came with the perfect reach for you. If you're feeling a bit too stretched out on your bike, you may want to consider a shorter stem. Conversely; if you're feeling hunched up, or your knees are hitting your elbows, you may need a longer stem.

With the length sorted, what about the width? It's a long-established pattern that people with wider shoulders should have wider handlebars, and people with narrower shoulders should have narrower bars. Comfort is definitely king here, but let's not overlook the performance gains of narrower handlebars, which brings us onto reason number two:

Reason two: Aero Gains

The wind is the #1 enemy of road cyclists. As you ride along, most of the force slowing you down is the air as you try to ride through it. You may have heard people talking about minimizing their CdA or 'coefficient of aerodynamic drag.' The "A" in CdA stands for Area. So as a rule of thumb, if you can lower your frontal area, you can go faster. One way to do this, is by using narrower handlebars. There has been a huge trend for this in recent years all the way to the top level of the sport. Many World Tour teams and Tour de France riders are using narrower and narrower bars on their bikes. Years ago 40cm bars were considered narrow, now we have bars as narrow as 34cm being used in the pro peloton. Panda Podium is also at the forefront of this trend. We have bars as narrow as 34cm on our website. (Such as the Avian Canary integrated handlebar or the EXS R180 handlebar) So we definitely recommend going as narrow as is comfortable for you.

In addition to the aero gains from the new riding position, the bar itself may be more aero than your current bar. If you're using a traditional round-tubed handlebar, there are big gains to be made. The tops of your handlebar are one of the first things to hit the wind, therefore a small change makes a big difference. We have many aero optimized handlebars such as the wind tunnel tested EXS Aerover or the Farsports F1 Handlebar )

Reason three: Weight Doping

A traditional alloy bar may weigh around 300g, a traditional alloy stem around 170g. That's around 470g of cockpit weight. Our lightest handlebar is currently the Avian Canary Integrated Handlebar, which weighs an unbelievable 240g. That's almost half the weight of the traditional setup and a saving of over 200g. Saving 200g of weight on something like a frameset usually costs thousands of dollars (As you jump from the mid level layup to the top of the range layup) so being able to save 200g on a handlebar for just a few hundred dollars is a good weight to performance saving. While the Canary is a weight weenie bar, even something designed for the sprinters like the Farsports F1x is still a mere 280g, so there are significant gains to be had.

Reason four: Aesthetics

Everyone wants a good looking bike. If your bike looks good, you feel good. If your bike looks good, you want to ride it more, etc. An integrated handlebar instantly makes a bike look faster and more high-end. Furthermore, switching to an integrated handlebar may allow you to run the cables of your bike internally giving a clean look to the bike, with no cables showing. This isn't an option for all bikes, so get in touch with us if you're not sure. Our team of experts will be able to get the best handlebar to transform the look of your bike.

Even if you want to stick with a bar and stem setup, there are some great handlebars out there now that can be used with a traditional stem. The EXS R175 handlebar features most of the advantages of an integrated bar, but with the adjustability of a bar-and-stem setup.

How to Choose a New Handlebar?

So, the reasons above have convinced you and now you want to get a new handlebar. The question is... which one? There are hundreds of models on the market and you don't know which ones are safe, suitable, or fast.

Safety First

When choosing a new handlebar, safety should be the first consideration. We don't recommend untested or unbranded bars from the likes of AliExpress or eBay. There are many options out there at a whole range of prices, but as is often the case, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Testing, R&D and Quality Control all cost money, and the cheaper options of the market are no doubt cutting corners on these aspects.

The bottom line is: If your bar fails when riding your bike down a hill at speed the consequences will be severe, perhaps even fatal. Do not take unnecessary risks.

So, are Chinese handlebars safe? Well, most big brands also produce their handlebars here in China, and thankfully, all the bars we sell on Panda Podium have been tested to ISO 4210 or higher. Both impact testing and fatigue testing are done to minimise the risk to an already dangerous sport.

Integrated or Separated?

The next decision is whether to go for a bar-and-stem setup or an integrated cockpit setup. Some of the decision is down to aesthetics, however there are a few advantages to a seperate bar and stem setup:

Easier angle adjustment: The bars can be rotated in the stem to find a more comfortable angle.
Easier reach adjustment: If you do decide to adjust the reach of your bike, it's a lot easier (and cheaper!) to change a stem than to change an entire handlebar.
Easier maintenance: In most (but not all) bar and stem setups, the cables travel externally. This makes it easier to both replace the cables and also perform other maintenance such as changing headset bearings.

Of course, there are also many advantages of an integrated setup:

Aerodynamics: Usually integrated bars free the designers to make more aerodynamically efficient shapes.
Weight: Without the hardware to attach the bar to the stem, integrated bars are usually lighter than traditional setups.
Aesthetics: Many people think integrated hanldebars look better, this is especially true if they're set up with fully internal cable routing.

Our best selling seperate bars are the EXS R175 Handlebars and the EXS R180 Handlebars.

Our best selling integrated bars are the Avian Canary Handlebars and the Farsports F1s Handlebars.

Stiffer or Lighter?

Another good rule of thumb is that all other things being equal; a heavier bar will be a stiffer bar. Of course, rarely are 'all other things' equal, however it's a decent rule of thumb.

If you're a heavier rider, a super strong sprinter, or just enjoy the feeling of a stiff handlebar, we recommend bars such as the EXS Aerover or the Farsports F1s.

If you're a smaller rider and looking to save every gram you can then the 240g Avian Canary is probably your dream handlebar.

If you're somewhere in the middle, then the Avian Falcon II or the Farsports F1x may be the best options.

Size & Compatibility

Will it fit your bike? That's what we mean when we talk about compatibility. In the bike industry there are generally two widths of steerer tubes (where the handlebar attaches to the fork of your bike.) OD1 and OD2.

OD1 is used by most bikes and is a 1 1/8th inch (28.6mm) steerer tube diameter.
OD2 is used by mostly GIANT and Canyon (Though not on all of their models) It uses a 1 1/4 inch ( 31.8mm ) steerer tube.

Some handlebars will use an adapter to step down from OD2 to OD1, so almost all handlebars are compatible with OD1. Some bars however are not compatible with OD2, so check our product descriptions or ask us before ordering.

Spacers. With modern aero bikes and aero integrated handlebars, gone are the days of everything just being a round tube. To get the optimum aesthetics for your bike, and to make sure it doesn't rub on the frame, you often need a special spacer or headset cover. The availability varies depending on the handlebar brand, but generally we'll list the available brands on the product page of the handlebars. As always, if you have any questions, just ask us.

Will it fit you? That's what we mean when we talk about size. We have a huge range of sizes as narrow as 34cm and as wide as 42cm. Stem lengths range from 80mm to 140mm. Check the individual product pages for sizing info.

How to Install a New Handlebar?

While it's not the most complicated job on a bike, the move to integration and fully internal cable routing has made the job of changing a handlebar more complicated. As the handlebar is a critical part of the bike, if you have any doubt, we recommend getting your local bike shop to help you with the installation. However, with a few tools and some patience, it's a simple job for most home mechanics.

The good folks over at GCN made a great video on how to change a handlebar.

Our Top Recommendations

After reading the above you may be left overwhelmed and thinking "Which handlebar should I buy?" or "Which is the best Chinese handlebar?" Well, fear not, our site has some of the best handlebars on the market, and the following are what we think are the best of the best:

Out of stock

Select options

Components, Handlebars
Avian Canary Integrated Handlebar

5.00 out of 5

$299.00

Avian Canary: For the weight weenies

Starting from just 240g, the Avian Canary is a weight weenies dream. At just $299, it doesn't break the bank either. That price is no mean feat, as the bar utilises T1100 carbon fibre. Such high modulus fibres don't come cheap. The ergonomics of the bar are great and there's a wide range of compatible spacers. Definitely recommended.

Select options

Components, Handlebars
FARSPORTS F1s Handlebar

4.25 out of 5

$399.00

FARSPORTS F1s: For Everyone

The FARSPORTS F1s is the second generation of FARSPORTS handlebar. The first generation was considered one of the best bars at the time, and even won an Olympic gold medal. The F1s improves on the original in all aspects. It's not as light as the Canary, but it's a mighty stiff bar and can take more of a beating. It's stiffness-to-weight ratio puts many big brands to shame. A great all-rounder.

Out of stock

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Components, Handlebars
EXS Aerover Integrated Handlebar

0 out of 5

$450.00

EXS Aerover: For Nobody

The EXS Aerover is arguably the best Chinese handlebar on the market. However, it's almost always out of stock. Limited production combined with a thirsty domestic market means there's hardly ever stock. The price also reflects it's status, as one of the most expensive Chinese handlebars, you get what you pay for. A good alternative if the EXS Aerover is out of stock, is the top of the line FARSPORTS F1x.

What are you waiting for?

Check out our entire range of handlebars now. If you're still having trouble choosing, get in touch with us!

Out of stock

Select options

Components, Handlebars
Avian Canary Integrated Handlebar

5.00 out of 5

$299.00
Out of stock

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Components, Handlebars
Avian Falcon II Integrated Handlebar

4.60 out of 5

$269.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Components, Handlebars
TAVELO AVRO Gen-1 Integrated Handlebar

5.00 out of 5

$300.00
Select options

Components, Handlebars
FARSPORTS F1s Handlebar

4.25 out of 5

$399.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Components, Handlebars
Headset Adaptor for Farsports F1 Handlebar

0 out of 5

$45.00
Select options

Components, Handlebars
Farsports F1X Handlebar

5.00 out of 5

$499.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Components, Handlebars
EXS R175 Road Handlebar

0 out of 5

$230.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Components, Handlebars
EXS R180 Road Handlebar

5.00 out of 5

$199.00
-15%

Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Components, Handlebars
EXS R150 Road Handlebar

5.00 out of 5

Original price was: $350.00.Current price is: $299.00.
Out of stock

Select options

Components, Handlebars
EXS Aerover Integrated Handlebar

0 out of 5

$450.00
Select options

Handlebars
Quick ZEPHYR-SSL Aerodynamic Integrated Handlebar

0 out of 5

$350.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Components, Handlebars
Voicevelo VFV XC1 V-PEAKS Integrated Handlebars

0 out of 5

$299.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Handlebars
Quick IC-01 Integrated Handlebar

0 out of 5

$150.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Components, Handlebars
EXS R200 Road/Gravel Handlebar

0 out of 5

$199.00

Winter [holiday] is coming…

Joe Whittingham — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:38:52 +0000

While the holiday season has come and gone in the west, China is getting ready for it’s biggest holiday of the year; Chinese New Year (Or Spring Festival.)

During this period, the entire country almost grinds to a halt as most people take a deserved rest and travel back to their hometowns to celebrate the holidays with their family.

Our Advice:

Be quick. If you’re thinking of buying something in the coming weeks, order now. Most orders placed before Jan 22nd should be shipped before the Spring Festival. Even if not, the earlier you order, your order will be first processed after the holiday, beating the inevitable back-log of orders.
Be patient. We will be doing our best to minimise disruption, but some things are simply out of our control.
Be excited. We’re gonna come back from the holiday recharged and ready to go with the aim to make 2024 the Year of the Panda!
Be pro-active. If you’re in a rush to get something for a race, etc. send us a message. You may be able to pay to upgrade to express shipping, etc. But check with us first.

Important Dates

January 22nd: Last date to order for shipping before CNY. (Not guaranteed, message us if critical.)
February 8th – 17th: Panda Podium office closed (Limited service, no shipping.)
February 18th: Back in the office, service resumes.

You can still place orders throughout this period, when we return to the office orders will be processed on a first-come first-served basis.

Questions?

As always, feel free to contact us.

The 2023 Inaugural Panda Podium Awards

Joe Whittingham — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 03:36:13 +0000

With 2023 coming to a close, we thought it was a good time to reflect on the year and recognize the companies and brands that have gone above and beyond this year. Whether it be a great new product, or excellent customer service, we thought we’d give these guys the credit they deserve, and then share this insight with you guys.

We have seven categories; Best Product, Best Innovation, Best Design, Best Marketing, Best Customer Satisfaction, Best Partner and Most Influential brand. So let’s get stuck in.

2023 Panda Podium Best Product of the year Award

The best product award is awarded to the products that we think have brought the most value to customers over the past year. They may be revolutionary in design, performance or value for money. This was the most difficult category as 2023 had so many amazing new products…

Runner Up: HoverAir X1 Flying Camera

The HoverAir X1 Flying Camera is a great addition to any cyclist’s bag of tech. It’s super small and lightweight and folds up to fit in a jersey pocket. Take it out when you get to some good scenery and grab some epic shots and then put it back in your pocket and enjoy the ride. I was impressed with the picture quality for something so small, and the “follow” mode is great for getting some climbing footage.

Price: $399.00

Link: https://thehover.com/

Runner up: Lameda Starlight Mens Cycling Bib Shorts

The Lameda Starlight Bib Shorts are some of the most comfortable bib shorts out there, and at just $49 – they’re a steal. Each leg is made from a single piece of fabric with no seam, which means less chafing and more all day comfort. They’re a no-brainer for summer rides.

Price: $49

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/product/lameda-starlight-men-cycling-bib-shorts/

Runner up: Cybrei Carbon Crankset

The Cybrei Carbon Crankset is a worthy upgrade for almost any bike. At just 320g for the crank arms, they’re ridiculously lightweight, but also super stiff. Climber or sprinters will be more than happy with the performance upgrades of these. With options for regular spiders or power meter spiders, these cranksets have been a very popular item on Panda Podium this year.

Price: (From) $462

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/?s=cybrei+crankset&post_type=product&product_cat=0

Runner up: Avian Canary Integrated Handlebar

Avian really knocked it out of the park with this one – an integrated handlebar for the skinny climbers of the world. From just 240g for the bar, this one will shred serious weight off your bike, while looking sleek at the same time. Coming with titanium fasteners as standard makes this a real premium product. The price is also easy to stomach – just $269 for the bar.

Price: $269

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/product/avian-canary-integrated-handlebar/

Winner of Best Product 2023: CRW CS Wheels

These have been hands-down one of the most popular products on the site this year – and with good reason. The CRW CS wheels (all three flavors) have been flying off the shelves all year round. But why have they been so popular? Well, these wheels are the first of the new “third generation” of carbon spoked wheels. These wheels build upon the progress of previous generations of carbon spoked wheels and manage to improve weight, stiffness and comfort – all at the same time. Their patent-pending dual-threading head design also addresses some of the weaknesses of previous generation carbon spokes – such as spokes coming loose over time. The CRW CS4045 wheels are great for climbers at just 1180g. The CS5060 are the choice for the aero-heads, but still come in at an impressive 1290g. They also seem to glide over poor road surfaces, yet on our stiffness rig had higher lateral stiffness than many of their previous generation carbon spoke competition. A win-win product, and a deserved winner of the 2023 Panda Podium Product of the Year.

Price: $1680

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/crw-cs-series/

2023 Panda Podium Best Innovation of the year Award

The best innovation award is awarded to a product that managed a true breakthrough in the industry. It is awarded to products that are revolutionary in nature, rather than evolutionary.

Runner up: L-TWOO eRX Road Electronic Groupset

When the L-TWOO eRX Debuted this year, it was the first electronic chinese groupset with fully hydraulic disc brakes. Developing the product involved traversing the minefield of patents laid down by both SRAM and Shimano and required some out of the box thinking and innovation by the L-TWOO engineers. The product still has some minor teething issues, but that doesn’t take away from the innovation required to get this product launched.

Price: $720

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/product/l-twoo-erx-road-electronic-hydraulic-disc-brake-groupset/

Runner Up: CYCPLUS Cube Mini Pump

The Cycplus CUBE tire inflator is a great (lazy) alternative to a mini pump. Just press the button and let the pump do the work. Getting this down to such a compact package at a competitive price took some true innovation. Kudos to Cycplus for this one.

Price: $89

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/product/cycplus-cube-mini-bike-pump/

Winner of Best Innovation 2023: OVERFAST Carbon Thru Axles

The OVERFAST Carbon Thru Axles have been another very popular product on our website in 2023. It took some serious innovation to solve the bonding between alloy insert and carbon axle, and that’s why this product wins the 2023 innovation of the year award. The patented approach to constructing the thru-axles means there’s both an adhesive bond and a mechanical interface holding the two together.

Price: $220

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/product/overfast-ultralight-thru-axles/

2023 Panda Podium Best Design of the year Award

The best design award goes to a product that features outstanding design in all aspects of the product. From the aesthetics and the user friendliness through to the packaging.

Runner up: Sixweel 12 speed Lightweight Cassettes

These seriously light cassettes are a work of art. I’d happily put a few on a coffee table as conversation starters, but that would be a waste when they could be on my bikes. The beautiful design, machining and packaging all combine to a well designed product. Congratulations to Sixweel.

Price: $360

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/product/sixweel-12-speed-11-30t-11-33t-light-weight-road-cassette/

Runner Up: VIAK Kobold Bar End Tools

A compact, discreet toolset that lives in your bar ends. Brilliant. VIAK excel at design, and it shows in both the product design and the packaging. This toolset has 3mm, 4mm, 5mm hex tool bits as well as a TORX T25. In the other bar end there’s a chain breaker tool that can also hold a quick link. Great for those who don’t like saddle bags.

Price: $55

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/product/viak-kobold-chain-set/

Runner up: VoiceVelo G-Major Gravel Frame

The Voicevelo G-Major is a design tour de force. Every aspect of the frame has been designed with love, from the geometry to the paintjobs, but it goes beyond that. The packaging, the accessories, etc, have all been designed with care and attention; a somewhat rarity in the Chinese bike frame space.

Price: $2099

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/product/voicevelo-g-major-disc-brake-gravel-frameset/

Winner of the 2023 Best Design Award: Incolor Skypivot Carbon Crankset

Incolor got their roots in the bike industry as a design company – and it shows. Their approach to product design is different to the usual engineering-first, design-second approach of other brands. Incolor instead balancing the two in a careful ballet of form and function. Every aspect of the Skypivot cranks, from the product to the packaging falls easy on the eyes… the fact they’re so light and ride so well is an added bonus.

Price: (from) $380

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/product/incolor-skypivot-light-weight-road-bike-crankset/

2023 Panda Podium Best Marketing Award

We think it’s important to recognize the marketing efforts of these brands. “Made in China” has long had a negative connotation and this will only change through unified marketing efforts of several brands. We commend these brands for not only making good products, but telling the world about them.

Runner Up: Yoeleo Bikes

This year Yoeleo have been doubling down on their marketing efforts. As well as appearing on ‘mainstreaming’ cycling media such as GCN, they also enjoyed some viral success with their ‘gold’ aero bike. It’s great to see companies put effort into the brand as well as the products.

Price: (from) $879

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/brand/yoeleo/

Runner up: PMT Helmets

While mostly unknown in the west, PMT have been making strides in the domestic Chinese market. They have had some new collab projects with famed designers and are now starting to branch out into the west, with their brand gaining more and more traction on social media.

Price: $99

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/product/pmt-elegant-mips-road-bike-helmet/

Winner of the 2023 Best Marketing Award: SCOM Wheels

SCOM come from a motorsports background and use the same ethos when developing their bike products. It’s great to see them expressing this through their marketing. In particular, their strong emphasis on product development through racing. Their sponsorship of 7 high end teams (5 being UCI Continental teams) shows their dedication to this cause.

Price: (From $1299)

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/brand/scom/

2023 Panda Podium Best Customer Satisfaction Award

This award is for the brand that goes above and beyond in the pursuit of customer satisfaction. Making sure that every customer gets a great experience, and also going out of their way to put things right should things go wrong.

Runner up: SERK Bikes

As a boutique brand, SERK have a small but loyal customer base, a very “whos who” of the cycling world. Former world tour riders, cycling journalists, and industry veterans to name a few. Once you own a SERK, the chance of you ever parting with it are fairly slim…Unless you upgrade to another SERK. Shannon and his team go above and beyond to make sure customer satisfaction is met. Kudos to them.

Price: (from) $2426

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/brand/serk/

Winner of the 2023 Best Customer Satisfaction Award: Farsports

Farsports have been in the “Chinese carbon wheel” business for one of the longest. They have somewhat of a cult following amongst enthusiasts and you’ll find plenty of people singing their praises on forums like WeightWeenies. With over a decade of selling direct to consumer, there are tens of thousands of satisfied customers out there. We love their customer-first attitude and are proud to sell them on Panda Podium.

Price: (from) $239

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/brand/farsports/

2023 Panda Podium Best Partner Award

This award is for brands that have grown a great partnership with us over the past year. Usually due to sharing our core values of great customer service, transparent communication and honesty.

Runner up: XCADEY

XCADEY make great products at great prices, but furthermore, they’re great to work with. Their estimates are usually accurate, they’re quick to send stock, and they’re great to communicate and find a resolution if something goes wrong.

Price: (from) $329

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/brand/xcadey/

Runner up: Velonuts Cycling Wear

Velonuts have been a big supporter of Panda Podium since day one. They even hooked us up with some cool t-shirts. They have the same attitude as us to many aspects of business, they put the customer first and strive to make the best products possible. We’re looking forward to working with them in 2024!

Price: (from) $88

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/brand/velonuts/

Runner up: 9Velo wheels

Ninevelo are new to the scene, but they mean business. With a focus on solid hubs, they immediately take aim at what has traditionally been a weak spot for many Chinese wheel brands. Their great communication and prompt deliveries makes them one of our best partners.

Price: (from) $799

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/brand/9velo/

Winner of the 2023 Best Partner Award: RideNow Tech

Ridenow didn’t invent the TPU innertube, but they have certainly taken it mainstream and made it reachable for the everyday cyclist. As well as making kick ass products, they’re a great company to work with. They’re forward-thinking and environmentally responsible. Having similar values to us has brought us much success in 2023, and we’re looking forward to more in 2024!

Price: (from) $48

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/brand/ride-now/

2023 Panda Podium Most Influential Brand Award

When a brand grows they gain influence over the industry as a whole. In the western markets, many large brands use their influence to steer consumers towards new trends. However, many big brands also use this influence to slowly raise prices and lower customer expectations. This award is for a brand that has great influence and is using it for good in the industry.

Winner: Magene

Magene has had tremendous growth over the past few years, and rightfully so. Their dedication to making high quality, affordable products has led to great success. They’ve grown to become a brand with many product lines and strong reach throughout the industry. This reach has brought them great influence which they use to promote their products. With products that make people faster, fitter and safer, we applaud their vast influence and look forward to seeing how they change the industry in 2024.

Price: (from) $129

Link: https://www.pandapodium.cc/brand/magene/

NEWS: OVERFAST launches World’s Lightest Thru Axles?

Joe Whittingham — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 06:40:19 +0000

The thru-axles weigh just 30.5g in FACTOR specification.

OVERFAST has shocked the world by bringing out what they’re claiming is the world’s lightest thru-axles. The axles use a carbon fiber shaft that is mechanically bonded to an aluminium thread via a patented interface. This ensures strength and rigidity, but more importantly; safety.

Weight weenie wet dream

The Thru-axles have been in development for over two years. The final version has been road tested by various athletes for the past year. Only now that OVERFAST are completely satisfied with the results of their testing are they releasing the product to the public.

The Thru-axles have a tensile strength of over 950kgf.

The axles have been tested to take punishment in a variety of conditions, including those that would never be found during normal use.

Packaging is also environmentally-aware.

I’ve had a pair in my hands for a while, but am yet to test them out on the bike. Either way, they’re a great way to save upto 100g from the weight of your bike – depending on the weight of the original factory thru-axles.

The axles are available in multiple formats, including for disc brake bikes from Bianchi, BMC, Cannondale, Cervelo, Colnago, Factor, GIANT, Merida, Pinarello, SCOTT, Specialized and Trek. If your bike isn’t one of the above, OVERFAST can also custom make them to your specifications.

OVERFAST Ultralight Thru Axles

$220.00

Rated 4.20 out of 5 based on 5 customer ratings

Select options

REVIEW: Cycplus Mini Pump Cube

Joe Whittingham — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:58:34 +0000

The Cycplus mini pump cube with it’s included silicon case.

The Cycplus Mini Pump Cube is an electronic pump that easily fits in any pocket or saddle bag. The pump is powered by an in-built rechargeable battery that can be charged in just 20 minutes. When full, the power is enough to take a 700*25C tire from 0-80psi twice.

The small size becomes apparent next to my Attaquer mini saddle bag and the already tiny Topeak Race Rocket HP.

After being suprised by the small size and light weight of the unit, the next thing that impresses you is it’s punch. Switching the unit on for the first time the very loud sound reveals the strength of the pump within. Attach it to the valve of the tire, and watch it go to work.

The tiny pump with a tiny Ride Now TPU tube.

When combined with Ride Now TPU tubes, you can equip yourself with a very small and hassle-free setup. For me, this setup is perfect for 90% of my rides. If I was doing something longer and solo, I’d probably take my Topeak mini-pump, but anything under 150km and anything with friends, I’m fine taking the mini pump cube. In the rare, rare instance that I triple flat and find myself with 0% battery, I’m sure a friend would lend me their pump, or at worst I could find someone with a USB-C phone charger to give the unit the 10 minute charge it would need to inflate one tire.

The pump and it’s included case.

The included silicon case protects the unit if it falls out of your saddle bag when you’re rummaging for a mini-tool, but also prevents your hands getting too hot when holding the unit, as it can get a little hot, especially if you’re pumping all the way to 100psi.

Tire Size	Pressure	Inflating Time	Times on Single Charge
700*25	0 – 60psi	50~60 seconds	4
700*25	0 – 80psi	80~90 seconds	2
700*25	0 – 100psi	150~160 seconds	1
700*28	0 – 70psi	70~80 seconds	3
700*28	0 – 80psi	140~150 seconds	1
700*32	0 – 60psi	100~110 seconds	2
700*32	0 – 80psi	230~240 seconds	1
26*1.95″	0 – 35psi	70~80 seconds	2
26*1.95″	0 – 50psi	120~130 seconds	1

Data for reference only

While there’s no in-build pressure gauge, you’re left to squeeze the tire with your fingers how you would with a traditional mini pump. There is however an LED indicator on the unit to let you know how much battery life is left.

All in all the Cycplus mini-pump is a great addition to any cyclist’s saddle bag and makes a great gift for someone. You can find the mini pump in stock on our website.

CYCPLUS Cube Mini Bike Pump

$89.00

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 3 customer ratings

Read more
RideNow Ultralight Bike Inner Tube 19g*6

$78.00 – $99.00

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating

Select options
RideNow Ultralight Bike Inner Tube 36g*6

$48.00 – $69.00

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 7 customer ratings

Select options

SAVA debuts radial new “Dream-maker” bike

Joe Whittingham — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 06:13:03 +0000

SAVA – A Chinese brand more known for more budget-friendly bikes has rocked Chinese social media by unveiling it’s “Dream-Maker” bike. The bike is a development of the Incolor concept bike that was featured at the 2021 Shanghai bike show. SAVA’s engineers and Incolor’s designers worked together to make the concept bike a reality.

Exact details on the bike are thin on the ground, but the bike will be on the SAVA stand at the Shanghai Bike show next week. Panda Podium will be there to bring you the latest coverage of the show and the dream-maker is definitely one of the bikes we’re interested in seeing.

The original 2021 Incolor concept bike that was a 3D printed, un-rideable passion project.

A finished carbon fiber version of the dream-maker bike.

What do you think? Cool design or just hot air?

NEWS: RideNow makes the world’s lightest innertube?

Joe Whittingham — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 05:49:09 +0000

RideNow disrupted the innertube world a few years back when they launched their pink TPU innertubes. TPU innertubes (popularized by Tubilito) were previously too expensive to be considered a viable replacement for the trusty butyl innertube. That changed when RideNow burst onto the scene.

Since then RideNow have been constantly refining and improving their product. After the launch of their original 36g tube, they debuted their super-light 24g tube.

However, 24g seemingly wasn’t enough. They kept working away behind the scenes bringing multiple improvements to their product. Small details like a valve-hole sticker to prevent rattling and a stretchable patch kit all helped to improve the product.

The latest RideNow Ultralite tube weights just 19g! One difference between the Light and Superlight versions however is that the Ultralight 19g version cannot be use on rim brake bikes. Because the material is so thin, it’s more susceptible to the high temperatures of rim brake bikes. However, if you have a disc brake bike, this could very well be the lightest tube available to you.

The full RideNow TPU tube lineup now includes 36g “light” tubes, 24g “superlight” tubes and 19g “ultralight” tubes.

Is this the limit of how light a tube can get? Or will we be seeing an even lighter mega-light tube? Time will tell.

For now, you can pick up your RIdeNow tubes in the Panda Podium store.

RideNow R1S Mini Bicycle Tire Inflator

$60.00
RideNow Recycle Saddle Bag & Mini Ratchet Tool Set Kit

$80.00 – $86.00

Select options
Ridenow Tubeless Tire Insert Set for 700C x 28C-38C

$40.00

Select options
RideNow Ultralight Bike Inner Tube 19g*6

$78.00 – $99.00

Select options
RideNow Ultralight Bike Inner Tube 24g*6

$60.00 – $81.00

Select options
RideNow Ultralight Bike Inner Tube 36g*6

$48.00 – $69.00

Select options
RideNow Ultralight Gravel Bike Inner Tubes 45g*6

$54.00 – $75.00

Select options

Joe Whittingham – Panda Podium

Chinese New Year 2025 Notice

Our Advice:

Important Dates

Questions?

National Day Holiday Notice

I tested the best Western wheels Vs the best Chinese wheels: Roval Rapide CLX II Vs CRW CS5060

Introduction

Table of contents:

Battle of the mid-depth wheelsets

Weights

Stiffness / Compliance

Aero Performance

Rim Profiles

Hubs

Spokes

Price

Warranty

Ride Feeling

Summary

Customer Reviews

Roval Rapide CLX II - 4.3 stars (7 Reviews)

CRW CS5060 - 4.5 stars (11 reviews)

Which should you buy?

Other wheels in the CRW CS Range:

CRW Works CS5060 Disc Brake Wheelset

CRW Works CS4045 Road Disc Brake Wheelset

CRW Works CS5055 Road Disc Brake Wheelset

CRW Works CS6575 Disc Brake Wheelset

Disclaimers & Background

Roval Rapide CLX II Team

Why a new handlebar is the #1 upgrade for your road bike

Why Upgrade your Handlebar?

Reason one: Bike Fit

Reason two: Aero Gains

Reason three: Weight Doping

Reason four: Aesthetics

How to Choose a New Handlebar?

Safety First

Integrated or Separated?

Stiffer or Lighter?

Size & Compatibility

How to Install a New Handlebar?

Our Top Recommendations

Avian Canary Integrated Handlebar

Avian Canary: For the weight weenies

FARSPORTS F1s Handlebar

FARSPORTS F1s: For Everyone

EXS Aerover Integrated Handlebar

EXS Aerover: For Nobody

What are you waiting for?

Avian Canary Integrated Handlebar

Avian Falcon II Integrated Handlebar

TAVELO AVRO Gen-1 Integrated Handlebar

FARSPORTS F1s Handlebar

Headset Adaptor for Farsports F1 Handlebar

Farsports F1X Handlebar

EXS R175 Road Handlebar

EXS R180 Road Handlebar

EXS R150 Road Handlebar

EXS Aerover Integrated Handlebar

Quick ZEPHYR-SSL Aerodynamic Integrated Handlebar

Voicevelo VFV XC1 V-PEAKS Integrated Handlebars

Quick IC-01 Integrated Handlebar

EXS R200 Road/Gravel Handlebar

Winter [holiday] is coming…

Our Advice:

Important Dates

Questions?

The 2023 Inaugural Panda Podium Awards

2023 Panda Podium Best Product of the year Award

2023 Panda Podium Best Innovation of the year Award

2023 Panda Podium Best Design of the year Award

2023 Panda Podium Best Marketing Award

2023 Panda Podium Best Customer Satisfaction Award

2023 Panda Podium Best Partner Award

2023 Panda Podium Most Influential Brand Award

NEWS: OVERFAST launches World’s Lightest Thru Axles?

REVIEW: Cycplus Mini Pump Cube

SAVA debuts radial new “Dream-maker” bike