In today’s Gear Break, we’ve got the new Pearl Izumi summer weight kit to keep you cool(er), an updated Knog Oi bell with an “elegant” tone, Chris King’s Aeroset headset for internal routing is now patented and available, the vacuum insulated bottle from tiibo is reviewed, Italian bike travel bag maker Scicon Sports now offers their road and triathlon bags in selected national flag color ways, and Training Peaks unveils a new feature to aid more precise fueling on the bike.
Pearl Izumi Summer Kit
Pearl Izumi PRO Mesh Jersey – $165
Pearl Izumi Sez: Built with PRO Transfer Mesh fabric, this ultralight jersey offers next-level breathability and quick-drying comfort to keep you cool when the pace and temps rise.
It’s enhanced with sweat-activated In-R-Cool® technology, which improves thermoregulation to help you maintain peak output even on sun-scorched climbs. A GoFresh
anti-odor treatment keeps you feeling fresher, longer. The compressive race fit delivers aerodynamic efficiency without sacrificing comfort, with thoughtful details like an elongated sleeve length and low-rise collar for a streamlined feel.
A YKK semi-locking front zipper optimizes airflow, while three traditional rear pockets and a zippered stash pocket keep your essentials secure and within reach—no matter how hard you’re pushing.
Sez: What sets the PRO Mesh Jersey apart from many other jerseys is the material. It’s almost entirely open mesh construction. So definitely well ventilated. And definitely intended for warm/hot weather riding.
Mesh material front and back
Even the collar is mesh (but sewn doubled over so not quite as flow-through)
In terms of actual construction/design, the PRO Mesh Jersey is a lot like most other jerseys:
- The front is two panels connected by a full-length YKK (gold standard) zipper
- Two side panels
- A single rear panel with three rear pockets and a secure zipper pocket
- Silicone gripper at the hem
- A relatively low collar
Obligatory three rear pockets plus a secure zipper pocket. The Pearl Izumi logo is reflective to aid with visibility in low light conditions.
But the sleeves are a little different:
- The front is mesh material and sewn set-in
- The rear is a more solid material and is a raglan sleeve, which allows for better articulation/freedom of movement
- Rather than raw cut (which wouldn’t be possible with the mesh material), the sleeve ends are hemmed
Mesh and set-in in front. Solid and raglan in back (inset).
Hemmed sleeve ends
Pearl Izumi doesn’t spec weight
Pearl Izumi Transfer Mesh Sleeveless Baselayer – $60
Pearl Izumi Sez: Made with PRO Transfer Mesh fabric, this baselayer is highly breathable, quick-drying, and designed for unrestricted movement. Integrated In‑R‑Cool® technology activates with your body heat to provide continuous cooling when you need it, while the high-stretch construction ensures ultra mobility with minimal bulk.
Strategic design touches include a tight fit through the armpits to prevent bunching under jerseys or jackets, and an extended rear tail for full coverage in the riding position. For added freshness, GoFresh anti-odor treatment keeps funk at bay even under hard rides and extended use.
Sez: The Transfer Mesh Sleeveless Baselayer is … well … a baselayer. Interestingly, the mesh is a tighter weave than the PRO Mesh Jersey. I know not everyone wear a baselayer in warmer/hot weather, but I’m one of those people. For me, the Transfer Mesh Sleeveless Baselayer if plenty porous and all about ventilation/wicking.
Pearl Izumi PRO Bib Shorts – $250
Pearl Izumi Sez: Crafted from luxurious Italian PRO Transfer fabric, these bibs deliver elite-level compression to support your hardest efforts—while offering a smooth, second-skin feel that disappears on the ride.
At the heart of the design is the PRO Levitate chamois, an ultra-premium, multi-density pad engineered to reduce friction, absorb road vibration, and provide long-haul support on your most demanding days in the saddle. Laser-cut bib straps offer a barely-there feel, while the seamless leg hems with silicone-infused grippers ensure a secure fit without restriction.
A 7-panel construction enhances aerodynamics and mobility, so you stay fast and powerful through every climb, sprint, and descent. Subtle reflective details provide low-light visibility without compromising the clean, minimalist aesthetic.
Chuck Sez: Construction-wise, the Pearl Izumi PRO Bib Shorts is relatively minimalistic:
- The shorts sections consists of four panels that are serge stitched
- There’s ~6 cm wide silicone patterned section on the inside of the raw cut leg hems
- The ~5 cm wide bib straps are raw cut and instead of a traditional Y-back design, the back is what I would call a “donut hole” in between the bib straps
A wide leg gripper section to avoid “leg creep”
Lay flat, raw cut bib straps are the epitome of comfort
The Pearl Izumi PRO Bib Shorts have what I call a “donut hole” back
Of course, the most important part of any pair of bib shorts is the pad aka chamois. Pearl Izumi’s PRO Levitate chamois is multi-density/firmness and ever so slightly thicker than pads in many of my other bib shorts, but not to the point of it being bulky, i.e., feeling diaper-like. There is moderate channeling for perineal relief and “undercarriage” comfort. The material of the pad is very soft and smooth to the touch — almost suede-like.
My “important bits” had no complaints
The Pearl Izumi logo is reflective to aid visibility in low light conditions
On me (5’8″, 130 pounds, ectomorph), the Pearl Izumi kit fit as I would expect. The PRO Mesh Jersey was form fitting/snug with moderate compression, but not a spray-on, second skin uber tight race fit. For me, it was comfortable and allowed for freedom movement, but I know everyone’s tolerance for tightness/compression is different, so YMMV. The PRO Bib Shorts had slightly more compression than the jersey but didn’t compromise on comfort. In particular, bib straps provided enough “pull up” to keep the pad in place, but didn’t dig into my shoulders. And the leg grippers gripped firmly enough but not so tight as to create the dreaded “sausage effect.”
And the kit was about as comfortable as comfortable gets in typical Lowcountry summer weather, i.e., temps in the 80s/90s(F) with humidity that can push the heat index up to well over 100(F). A baselayer under a jersey might seem like “too much” in hot weather, but the PRO Mesh Jersey in combination with the Transfer Baselayer worked for me. The jersey provided plenty of venting to help with cooling and the baselayer wicked a lot of moisture away from my skin to where it could evaporate. Not air conditioning by any means. And in high heat and humidity, there’s no avoiding getting sweaty. But I finished riding surprisingly “dry,” i.e., less drenched.
Knog Oi Prima Bike Bell – $32.99
Knog Sez: Oi Prima bike bell features our signature wrap-around bell design and our newest innovation – WAVETEK hammer technology. The whip of this new hammer design helps to create a beautiful and consistent bell tone, while being built for robust and long-lasting use. Available in two sizes to ensure the correct fit on your handlebar:
- Large – 23.8 mm to 31.8 mm (what PEZ got)
- Small – 22.2 mm
Sez: Inevitably — to get from one place to another — we all find ourselves riding on bike trails/shared paths from time to time. If you’re tired of yelling “On your left!” to alert others to your presence and intention to pass, the Oi Prima bike bell is the ‘droid you’re looking for. It’s a new version of the Knog Oi Classic bike bell.
PEZ readers may remember the Knog Oi Classic bell on my Felt FC
We probably tend to associate bike bells with kid’s bikes — functional and playful. But it’s probably not an accessory most of us would think aesthetically pleasing for our carbon EuroPro steeds. The Knog Oi Prima bike bell changes all that. IMHO, it’s elegant and … dare I say … sexy. Also discrete.
What’s in the box: Oi Prima bell, two rubber shims for smaller than 31.8 mm bars, and a hex wrench (because you can never have too many hex wrenches)
Mounting the Oi Prima bell is relatively easy: Remove the hex bolt (inset) to open up the bell and then just wrap it around your handlebars. Full instructions here.
NOTE: The Oi Prima bell will only fit if you have round handlebars or enough of a round section for it to fit on aero bars — such as the PRO Vibe Aero Alloy Handlebar on my Colnago V3 project bike
The sound of the Knog Oi Prima bell is distinctive. Loud enough to be heard, but very pleasant sounding. Knog uses beautiful and glockenspiel in their product descriptions. I’ll go back to the word “elegant.” Have a listen here.
Chris King Aeroset – from $295.00
Chris King Precision Components, the leader in high–performance bicycle components for nearly five decades, announced on July 29, 2025, that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has awarded the company Patent No. US 12,337,923 B2 for an innovative internal headset design.
While Chris King was not the first to explore the concept of internal cable routing, the company recognized early on the value of creating the best possible version of an internal headset. Internal systems can be difficult to work on and expensive to maintain. Riders who choose internal routing deserve the peace of mind that comes from using a headset built on nearly 50 years of proven durability, serviceability, and dependability.
The patented design of the Chris King Aeroset employs their own GripLock bearing cap system, itself a patented technology, to create the ultimate internally routed cable headset. The result is a system that resists loosening under demanding use, bearings designed for unmatched longevity, and remains easy to service over time.
Chris King sez: “Internal routing is here to stay, but that doesn’t mean riders should have to accept compromises in serviceability or longevity,” said Greg Hudson, sales manager at Chris King. “This patent reflects our commitment to designing components that make modern bikes better to ride and easier to live with.
“Internal routing demands more from every component in the front end of the bike, and after almost 50 years of building headsets that set the standard, we designed this one to stand above anything else in the internally routed category. It carries our legacy forward and gives riders the confidence that, even with the added complexity of internal systems, they are riding the most dependable headset available.”
Chris King Precision Components has been manufacturing headsets and other investment–grade components since 1976. Every product is purpose-built in Portland, Oregon to exacting standards and backed by a lifetime warranty.
tiibo vacuum insulated 17 oz (500ml) bottle – $34.95
It’s still summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s coming soon to our friends in the Southern Hemisphere. With the temps we’ve seen in past years, any bike ride longer than 30 minutes invariably means your bottles are going to warm up. That’s where tiibo comes to the rescue.
Andy Sez: We all know that a cool (or cold) beverage just feels more refreshing when you are hot. And, once you get heated, a cool beverage is much more inviting than one that is lukewarm or “hot.” It’s even better if the bottle is stylish.
I received this bottle earlier this week and promptly went for a ride with it. I filled it with carbohydrate/electrolyte mix and tossed in a few ice cubes (old habit) and mounted it on the bike and set off. Temps were around 80°F (27°C) with a beating sun. I had it emptied 45 minutes in, but by the time returned home after an hour and a half, there were still ice cubes banging around on the inside. I’d guess that the insulation will keep beverages cold for 3+ hours.
How does it perform? Exactly as billed. It was easy to drink from. Being made of stainless steel, you can’t squeeze it to get water out; so, tiibo equipped the spout (that opens and closes like a standard plastic bottle) with an air vent which permits the fluid to flow through. I should note that just like a plastic bottle, you need the spout to be below the fluid level so it can pass through. You also can also suck on the spout when getting fluid to make it flow faster.
I use Specialized side pull cages on my gravel bike, and the bottle was easy to take out and replace, with no issues. While in the cage, the bottle was secure without any rattling or other movement. It is worth noting that tiibo bills the surface as being scratch-resistant, but recommends cages made of composite materials (plastic, carbon) to avoid scratching the surface. Though I may be 64% water when I set off on a ride, I’m guessing I’m sub 60% upon return…and despite all the sweat on my hands, I never had an issue gripping or controlling the bottle. There is just enough texture on the surface that sweaty barehands can grip it fine.
This bottle does what it says with no fuss. The design keeps drinks cold, and ice stays ice, for at least one and half hours as tested on the bike. I tested out plain water (8 oz) poured over ice cubes after I returned, and after 3 hours the ice had not melted very much and the water was still cold. In actual use, only a little ice (or none) would work fine if the water starts out “ice cold.”
Despite carrying 17 fl oz (500ml) of fluid, which itself weighs in at roughly 17 oz (500g), to some of us, the weight of the container will matter. tiibo claims that the dry weight of the 17 fl oz bottle is 260g. My scale came in at 258g, close enough to say tiibo’s claim is accurate. For reference, a 650ml uninsulated Purist bottle weighs in around 80g.
There is also a tiibo bottle available to carry 23 fl oz (680ml). I did not test that size, but I have no reason to doubt that it performs exactly as the 17 fl oz size I tested. The larger bottle is only available in one color (black) at the time of writing. The smaller bottle comes in five colors, and tiibo sells replacement lids a complete unit with the integrated spout/air vent.
Finally, I did not test the bottle with a hot liquid (coffee, cocoa, etc.). The tiibo website indicates that the bottles can carry hot liquid, but they specify that the cap is not designed for use with hot liquid.
Verdict: The bottle performs as intended, and it fits well into a properly sized and formed cage. It is heavy for a bottle, but that the cost of cold hydration. Check out the full collection at tiibo.com.
Scicon Sports Flag Edition Travel Bags – USD1099 / CAD1539 / EUR1099
This summer Scicon Sports unveiled their very popular Aerocomfort 3.0 Road Bike and Triathlon Bike travel bags with limited edition national flag color ways. As of writing, Scicon are advertising the bags at a hefty discount. If you are not familiar with Scicon Sports, they are a sponsor of Team UAE Emirates, and you’ve seen their eyewear protecting Tadej Pogačar’s eyes over most of his 100 wins. They have a compelling story here.
Scicon sez: “Aerocomfort 3.0 represents the optimal solution for transporting road bikes by airplane without the need for disassembling handlebars, saddle and seatpost. This ensures that no bike fitting measurements are lost. The exterior contours perfectly match the bike frame, minimizing bulk. Crafted from 3D-Padding a padded triple-layer tear-resistant fabric, TwistZip Double Coil zipper. Internally, a built-in kickstand stabilizes the bike, preventing unwanted movement during transport, alongside two integrated wheel pockets. Endorsed by hundreds of pro-riders, it has proven its reliability through more than 35.000 flights per year—becoming an icon for bicycle travelers.”
For example, this is the US Flag adorned bag. Unique to the Scicon’s US site, the flag option is overlaid on an outline of the USA. For readers in other countries, the national flag options on offer have your colors unfurled into the wind. Also, some country sites offer multiple flag options to the customers. For instance, you can check out the options on Scicon’s UK site.
The Aerocomfort 3.0 Triathlon bike travel bag is also offered in limited edition color ways.
Scicon Sez: “The Aerocomfort 3.0 Triathlon is the ideal solution for transporting Triathlon or Crono bikes by air, without the need to remove the saddle, seat post, pedals, or most types of handlebars. Designed for ease of use, its sturdy construction and exterior contours perfectly match the shape of the bike frame, reducing bulk and ensuring a snug fit. Crafted from 3D-Padding, a triple-layer tear-resistant padded fabric, and secured with a durable TwistZip Double Coil zipper, the bag offers unparalleled protection. Inside, a built-in kickstand keeps the bike stable, preventing unwanted movement during transport, while two integrated wheel pockets ensure safe storage for your wheels. Trusted by hundreds of professional and amateur triathletes, the Aerocomfort 3.0 Triathlon has demonstrated its reliability through thousands of flights each year. This is why it’s known as the Ironman’s choice for bike transportation.”
And, for an example of the national flag color way, here is the Italian flag edition available on most of Scicon’s European site storefronts. Unfortunately for our readers in the US and Canada, only your national colors are available to you. Sorry, folks.
BONUS: if you currently order any Scicon Sports travel bag, they are offering the Essential Cycling Kit Race Day Rain Bag as a no cost add on to the purchase. We reviewed this handy piece of kit to carry everything you need to be start line ready a little over 8 years ago. The bag has been updated and now includes a shoulder strap and the trim has been modernized, but the core bag itself is functionally still the same item. Give our review another look for more information.
Training Peaks Fueling Insights
A Smarter Way To Fuel
Fueling Insights brings lab-validated metabolic data directly into workout analysis, helping deliver truly personalized fueling strategies. The use of sensors to measure human performance, particularly power combined with heart rate, has revolutionized training for professionals and amateurs alike. Now, in additional to estimating Functional Threshold Power, Lactate Threshold, and Max Heart Rate, using this data, Training Peaks has rolled out a precise way to measure fueling requirements.
Anyone who’s experienced the dreaded bonk during a training session understands the importance of fueling, but the nuance of how much to fuel (and when) can be challenging to pin down, especially for your athletes.
Factors like gut tolerance, experience level, and workout intensity all affect how much an athlete needs to fuel on a given day, which is why many struggle with generic “X g/hour” fueling guidance.
With the release of Fueling Insights, we’re bringing more precise metabolic visibility directly into power-based workout planning and analysis. Partnering with renowned physiologist Dr. Iñigo San-Millán, we’ve translated insights from over 250 lab-tested athletes into individualized, actionable data.
How Fueling Insights Works
Workout-based calorie burn data (like you might see on your wearable after a workout) is usually based on a simple equation utilizing an athlete’s weight, workout intensity, and a generic basal metabolic rate. More sophisticated recommendations might take kilojoules into account.
With this feature, we aimed to go a few steps further, introducing individualized fat and carbohydrate burn data based on lab testing.
Research and Testing With Dr. Iñigo San-Millán
The model used to power Fueling Insights is based on decades of research by Dr. Iñigo San-Millán.
San-Millán conducted every metabolic test for Fueling Insights, and participants included hundreds of male and female athletes from across the world and the athletic spectrum (from recreational riders to Tour de France pros)
Each rider performed a standardized graded-exercise protocol, which includes a warm-up, then steady power increases until exhaustion. Respiratory Exchange Rate (RER) was measured throughout the test to indicate carbohydrate and fat oxidation rates at each intensity, and was logged using a calibrated Parvo Medics TrueOne 2400 metabolic cart—the gold standard in RER testing.
Uncovering Consistent Fueling Profiles
The goal of this testing was to understand the relationship between carbohydrate and fat usage in athletes across the spectrum. The results were clear, showing a grouping around certain utilization rates consistent with an athlete’s experience and training level.
Put simply, recreational athletes have consistent and repeatable fat and carbohydrate utilization patterns compared to world tour pros or competitive riders. Dr. Iñigo San-Millán’s research showed that if an athlete’s power during a workout and metabolic “level” are known, carbohydrate and fat utilization can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy.
This feature is aimed at coaches. But, there is utility for amateur athletes, especially ones who compete in multi-day/stage races or ultra-endurance events.
Learn more about the methodology behind Fueling Insights and how to use it by visiting Training Peaks Coaches Blog.
Note: If you have other experiences with gear or something to add, drop us a line. We don’t claim to knowIf everything (we just imply it at times). Give us a pat on the back if you like the reviews or a slap in the head if you feel the need!
PezCycling News and the author ask that you contact the manufacturers before using any products you see here. Only the manufacturer can provide accurate and complete information on proper/safe use, handling, maintenance, and or installation of products as well as any conditional information or product limitations.
The post Gear Break: Pearl Izumi Summer Kit, Knog Oi Prima Bell, Chris King Aeroset, tiibo vacuum insulated bottle, Scicon Sports Flag Edition travel bags, Training Peaks Fueling Insights appeared first on PezCycling News.
