The German Schwalbe website announces the newest model in the “Evolution” line, the Marathon Dureme. This new high-end tire is added to the touring/city line with the Marathon Supreme and the Marathon Extreme.

Schwalbe does such a wonderful job of describing all the merits of this tire, and the Evolution line, that I can only refer you over to them for more information. It will be very good, large, expensive tire. Maybe the greatest bike tire ever. (hey, read what they have to say.)

Tags: dureme ceramicguard highdensityguard snakeskin triplenano

Carradice will offer this retro wool jersey soon. The Carradice Cycle Jersey represents “a real breakthrough in fabric technology”, and is made from “Dry Wool” – produced by a company in neighbouring Burnley – which combines a 100% merino wool base layer with a stable polyester layer. The jersey has been produced in collaboration with another British company, Shutt Velo, based across the Pennines in Ilkley.

The traditional British bag maker will also be producing a new under-the-saddle seatpack in cotton duck with leather straps and a refinement of the Kendal panniers in the Barley style.

The jersey is being produced in a small run to gauge demand. Not sure of the price or other details. We will put these new items on order and offer them when they arrive.

We have received a small shipment of the colorful Brooks Team Pros and Swifts.

The models are:

• Blue Team Pro – Berlin
• Red Team Pro – Boston
• Blue Swift – London
• Mustard Swift – Seattle
• Red Swift – Philadelphia
• Mandarin Swift – LSP Bike Polo

The price is $205 ( + $9 shipping) each. The saddles are numbered and come in a special carton.

Please call 888 731 3537 (Int’l. 504 314 8500) to order. We only have two each of most colors. More on the way but I’m not sure when they will get here.

Gilles Berthoud introduces the new “Race” version of his evolutionary leather saddle at the Eurobike trade show in Germany this week. At 315g, with ti rails, M. Berthoud believes that he is offering the lightest leather saddle on the market.

The saddle will come with titanium or steel rails. The steel version should be available around the first of the year. The ti model will come later due to the four-month lead time necessary to acquire the titanium. M. Berthoud hopes it will be available “when the season starts.” The ti saddle should cost less than $350.

The rails on this saddle are common with the current Berthoud Touring saddle. Once the titanium is available the touring model will also have a ti option and the saddle rails can be purchased separately and easily changed by the owner.

This new saddle has been honored with a Eurobike Award.

Brooks has introduced a series of  “Bike Polo Limited Editions.” We expect to have them here in a few weeks. The models are:

• Blue Team Pro – Berlin
• Red Team Pro – Boston
• Blue Swift – London
• Mustard Swift – Seattle
• Red Swift – Philadelphia
• Mandarin Swift – LSP Bike Polo

The price should be around $230. We assume chrome steel chassis. Production is said to be 250 of each saddle.

Tags: swift teampro color

Our first batch of the new Gilles Berthoud leather saddle is on the way to us from the California distributor. We should have them Friday, 6/19, or the following Monday.

There are men’s and women’s versions of this saddle in three colors:  Natural and black saddles will cost $222. The cork version will cost $233.

Wallingford Bicycle Parts will give you the same six-month unconditional guarantee that we give on new Brooks saddles. For saddles purchased from this first batch we will give you a $10 tin of Berthoud leather dressing at no charge.

We will also have the classy, saddle-matching, bar plugs in road and MTB diameters for $19/pr

These saddles will be for sale on our website soon after we get them. If you would like to pre-order please give us a call at 888 731 3537, M-F 8:30-5:30.

We have high hopes for this innovative new saddle. Gilles Berthoud has been determined to create a new standard for quality and function. We are anxious to try one and get feedback from riders who have put some miles on one.

UPDATE 6/20, Saturday: The saddles arrived late on Friday. They look great and first short rides are encouraging.

Buy Gilles Berthoud leather saddle here!

If you click on the photos to the right you will be taken to our Flickr photostream. I have posted some pictures of the saddle manufacturing process in the Berthoud factory.