YOUR TESTERS

SPECIFICATION Weight: 620g • Travel: 120-150mm or 150-180mm • Diameter: 30.9 or 31.6mm • Contact: moorelarge.co.uk

E*Thirteen’s new Vario post is unique in offering 30mm of travel adjustment without even removing it from your bike. Two lengths are available: 120150mm, or the longer, 150-180mm, model tested here. Despite the convenience and adjustability, neither weigh significantly extra or require prohibitive insertion depths compared to popular rivals either.

The fixed (5mm) steps in overall travel can be changed in five minutes by unscrewing the seal head and rotating an indexed bushing, and the cable-activated Vario works like most droppers while riding. The benefit of the travel adjustment is you can set exactly how much you need by slamming the post in the frame for maximum standover clearance, and then dialling in the extended height to your leg length for maximum pedalling efficiency.

On the trails, saddle position is infinitelyadjustable (within limits!), controlled by a remote handlebar lever (E*thirteen’s own is sold separately). Inside the post, a proven, gas-charged spring controls movement, and the brand claims its internal design tweaks, including more bushing overlap than previously, have reduced friction to require 20 per cent less lever force.

At the seat end, the 3D-forged clamp is integrated into the upper stanchion, so there’s no join to work loose, and boasts extra fore and aft spacing to allow optimum saddle position on bikes with sub-optimal seat tube angles. Secured with durable T25 bolts, the clamp has 12mm more scope front-to-back than the older E*thirteen design and a 280 saddle tilt range.

All these features sound great on paper, but how did the Vario actually work out after months of wet, gritty UK conditions?

Well, the short answer is flawlessly. Even set in the longest 180mm position (that should theoretically put the most leverage and pressure on the internals), E*thirteen’s post has remained silent and never become graunchy or sticky — despite many wet and muddy rides — and there’s still zero play in the stanchion or saddle clamp.

Yes, like every other post, there’s a very slight (less than 1mm) sideways waggle, but nothing you can sense while riding.

E*thirteen’s lever is also one of the best, with three different mounting positions and a close-to-the-bar stance for better ergonomics and clearance. In fact, with its adjustable ‘reach’ screw you can almost exactly mirror your right-side gear shifter. Pressed by this comfy, grippy paddle and rotating on two sealed bearings, Vario’s activation is as light as claimed, with only Bikeyoke’s Revive and X-fusion’s Manic offering as smooth a cable pull. Indeed the Vario may even have the edge on those, because its stiffer return spring makes it feel crisper.

One drawback is that this post is marginally heavier than some droppers, and you’ll need to buy a remote lever to pull the cable, which adds to the cost. E*thirteen’s own sorted lever, used here, is an extra £50 and adds 73g to the system weight.

Overall, I’ve been very impressed with Vario's E*thirteen dropper post. The price is good, performance and durability are excellent and it also packs an extra feature over its rivals, which could clinch the deal for some riders.

Mick Kirkman

SPECIFICATION Weight: 226g • Sizes: XS-XL • Contact: Jungleproducts.co.uk

Sweet Protection offers three slightly different knee pads in its range. There’s a full-length Knee Shin pad that protects against slipped pedals and flying rocks as well as tumbles. Then there’s the Knee Pad, with Velcro strap for added security and Sas-tec, viscoelastic padding (think similar to D3O). Finally there’s the minimal Knee Guards, which are the lightest and cheapest option in the range. Like most lightweight knee pads, these are a simple, stretchy sleeve with elasticated cuff and silicone grippers to keep them from sliding down. Over the knee-cap is a Sas-tec pad that’s reasonably generous in height compared to some knee sleeves, so you do get a touch more shin protection than average.

When I first pulled them on, I thought Sweet Protection had completely messed them up. While the upper hem felt tight and secure around my thigh, the shin was baggy. According to Sweet Protection’s guide, I had the correct size (although despite having skinny legs, my 48cm thigh measurement put me in size large pads), but it seemed like the fit was totally wrong. Then I rode in them and my concerns were quashed. Whether by luck or judgement, it seems that the upper cuff is sufficient to hold the pads in place perfectly, while the loose-fit shin means that your lower leg can move just enough when pedalling that the bottom cuff doesn’t pull the pad down slightly with every stroke. Security then, is a Sweet Protection strong point, and while the solid pad doesn’t let air through at the front, the vented back means it didn’t get too hot in warm weather with riding pants on. If I have one criticism — and this applies to quite a few knee sleeves — it’s that the insert itself is not removable, and that means you have to hand wash them to preserve the viscoelastic properties of the material.

SPECIFICATION Weight: 241g • Sizes: S-XXL • Contact: gorewear.com

This jacket is made from branded Gore-tex Paclite fabric, which is incredibly lightweight and breathable but also fully waterproof. At just over 240g, it’s way lighter than a lot of those featured in last month’s group test, and with so little bulk, it’s going to take up far less space in a crowded pack. It’s also pretty tenacious, so you can easily wear this jacket for a full day of wet riding and stay dry and comfortable.

The Paclite doesn’t have a hood, but you do get a full-length, waterproof zip with a secondary flap to stop water ingress and a zip garage at the top to keep the sharp end away from your neck. The jacket features adjustable cuffs and an adjustable hem and the cut is not too roadie — not too high at the front but comes down far enough at the back, so that when you’re leaning forward, rear wheel splatter won't sneak between jacket and trousers. It folds up into the rear zipped stow pocket and there’s a small breast pocket for keys or a phone.

Initially I thought the lack of pit vents or mesh pockets (that you can leave open), was going to cause a lot of heat build-up, but the Paclite breathed so well that I didn’t really miss them. It has a good DWR coating on the surface to help beading and I really like the cut-back styling and the long sleeves — I have long arms, and the large size fits me very well.

It is not cheap, but like most Gore Bike Wear products, performance and quality are excellent. If you want a jacket that you can carry with you and pull out during a downpour, or when you stop for a break, this fits the bill perfectly.

Paul Burwell