Week in Tech: Rapha’s hot beats, Zipp gets advanced, and more
Rapha invades your eardrums, Strava gets local, Zipp unveils new 404 Firestrike options, and Brooks takes it easy on your sensitive areas
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Strava launches Locals-only tips
Strava is taking all of its users’ rides and photos to give someone visiting a new city the ability to get out for a good ride, find good coffee on the way, and even locate a bike shop to stock up on your necessities.
Strava Local is currently available for just 12 cities, and for each city there is a running and a riding guide. The guides are best accessed through the mobile website, where users can select a city and a route that should keep them on course.
We look forward to seeing the Local site grow the number of available city guides and routes at each city.
Rapha launches headphones
Move over Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, and Jay-Z. Rapha is entering the headphone game with its $429 Bang & Olufsen H6 over-ear headphones.
The H6 Rapha headphones are wrapped in black African Hair Sheep leather, while the standard H6 headphones use regular leather. The H6 Rapha headphones come with a carry bag and a detachable pink cable with a three-button remote for changing the track and adjusting volume. The standard, non-Rapha H6 headphones retail for $400.
PC Mag said of the H6 headphones, “If a more refined, crisp mids-focused sound is what you seek, the H6 will not disappoint, and it’s refreshing to see such a unique sound signature in this field.”
We expect to see Richie Porte and Bradley Wiggins wearing the Rapha H6 headphones on their respective turbo trainers and rollers this summer. Rapha has even made a cool-down playlist on Spotify.
Zipp launches 404 Firestrike tubular
Nearly one year ago, Zipp launched its 404 Firestrike carbon clincher wheelset, a higher-end version of the Firecrest wheels with a new brake track designed to improve braking in wet conditions.
The production process for the new wheels is said to be advanced and very time-intensive, which is why Zipp calls them “limited” and has attached to the Firestrike tubular and clinchers a $3,600 price tag.
The Firestrike tubulars come with CeramicSpeed bearings, Silca valve extenders, and Zipp’s redesigned skewers. The tubular Firestrike wheels will be available next month.
New Brooks Cambium C15 Carved
Brooks has added another iteration of its Cambium saddle. The C15 was introduced recently as a narrower version of the now-popular Cambium. The new C15 Carved sports a cutout in the center for improved blood flow and decreased pressure on sensitive areas.
The C15 Carved carries the same $162 price tag as the C17 and C15 and is available now.