In this week's Five Cool Things we're going to take a look at Whyte's entry level e-MTB, Fox's refreshed dropper post and biodegradable bike care from Stan's No Tubes. That's not all, as we've also got POC's latest bib shorts and new knee pads from Leatt. Of course, we'll also glance over this week's top stories.

• How to set up your mountain bike suspension
• Gravel bike suspension and dropper posts - do you need them?
• Are gravel bikes old-school mountain bikes?

As for that news, the gravel suspension game has heated up once again, but we bet it'll have crescendoed (for now at least) with the unveiling of Canyon's Grail Rift Edition that rocks the new F 132 ONE fork that comes after a collaboration with Canyon and DT Swiss. It gets some aero features, all of the adjustments, and 40mm of squish to play with. Will gravel suspension make you faster? We'll see. Elsewhere in the gravel world, Goodyear has revitalised its gravel tyre range, claiming to have made it up to 70g lighter, stronger, and faster. Moving towards e-mountain bikes, Specialized has brought a more affordable alloy frame to its Levo 4 range.

As for features, we've caught up with none other than Claudio Caluori, the man known for his downhill career and, more recently, Velosolutions. In this interview, we chat with the man himself to learn more about Velosolution's impact on the world and developing areas. We also managed to get some time with Adrian Smith, a co-founder of Carbon Wasp, to chat all things home-grown carbon manufacturing and the rise of the gearbox. Rebecca also chats about e-mountain bikes and weights. As a smaller rider, she reckons that they're still too heavy.

This week's reviews come from all corners of the off-road cycling realm, with Ty bringing his verdict on Merida's eOne-Eighty 900 e-MTB, rating it for its surprising agility and heavy-hitting nature. Steve tells us all about Canyon's Scampr shoes, and we wrap up Title's ST1 35 stem.

Whyte Kado S

£4,500

The Kado is the latest bike to enter Whyte's e-mountain bike lineup, and its entry-level S model is built to combine high performance with high value. To do so, it gets all of the important bits while saving cash on things you might upgrade further into your e-MTB career. To start, it rocks Bosch's Performance Line CX Gen 5 motor that kicks out 100Nm of torque, 750w peak power and 400% support thanks to the recent firmware update.

The Kado boasts 160mm travel up front with 150mm at the rear, which is damped by a RockShox Psylo and Deluxe Select R, respectively. Shifting is handled by Shimano's CUES 11-speed drivetrain, and it's slowed thanks to Shimano's M4100 four-piston brakes. Maxxis provides the Minion DHF tyres complete with EXO casings and wire beads, whereas the wheels are WTB ST Tough rims laced to Shimano FH-TC hubs. Of course, as a more affordable e-MTB, that's all bolted to an alloy frame, and it dons 29in wheels at both ends.

Geometry is right on the money too, with this large frame getting a 485mm reach, a 77.7-degree seat tube angle, and a 65-degree head tube angle. The chainstay then comes in at 450mm, and those angles can be slackened thanks to a geometry-adjusting flip chip at the shock yoke.

• whytebikes.com

Stans Biobased Forkboost and Biobased Chain Lube

£13

Many bike-care goods use a range of harmful substances, such as petrochemicals and PTFEs but Stans' new Biobased range of lubricants oils, washes and greases aim to not only be safe to the environment, but safe for the user. Here, we have the brand's new Forkboost solution and Wet Lube.

Claiming to be non-toxic (we don't recommend chugging a bottle of suspension oil...), petroleum-free, PTFE-free, and actually 100% biodegradable, the Biobased range uses a mix of antioxidants, oleochemicals, and seed oils to do their jobs. They also use the brand's Elulsifite Technology, which employs emulsifiers to reduce grime buildup and make for easier drivetrain cleaning. The tech also means that it'll stay put when splashing through puddles and rivers, but it'll wash away using high-pressure water from a hose and with agitation from a brush.

To touch on the Forkboost serum briefly, Stans says its a 'suspension game changer' which lubricates and cleans your suspension seals. In turn, this reduces stiction and claims to extend the life of those important seals. It can also be used during fork rebuilds to soak foam seals and reduce the thickness of grease.

The bottles are then made from recycled plastic scooped from the sea.

• stans.com

Fox Transfer Factory dropper post

£400

Fresh for 2025, the Fox Transfer, the brand's dropper post, has received a few upgrades and tweaks, both to bring more options to the post but also to boost durability. Now available with up to 240mm of travel and a 34.9mm diameter option.

The brand says that this dropper features a 62% drop in air pressure loss after a full redesign of its internals with a completely new sealing system. Inside, it's replaced two dynamic air shaft seals with static seals, which should lower friction and the potential to lose air during use. Speaking of sealing, the oil sealing has been doubled, and there's a wiper seal, which should all work to extend the post's service life. Handily, the Schrader valve for return adjustment is sat at the top of the post.

Available in travels from 95mm up to 240mm, the new Transfer's travel is adjustable in 5mm increments, so there's a dropper to suit almost everyone.

• ridefox.com

POC Cadence Bib Shorts

£140

POC's latest bib shorts are all about comfort and eradicating the aches and pains that have become accepted in cycling. That's done through a new chamois construction that's built to deliver extra support and softness in areas where it's needed through special sculpting of the pad. The wrap-knitted polyamide/elastane blend is then said to provide extra support for better comfort over longer rides.

Additionally, the bibs are said to give SPF50+ sun protection, and there's a breathable torso for when that sun protection factor is really needed. Overlock seams are then employed for next-to-skin comfort.

Elsewhere, there are all of the features that are part and parcel of bib shorts. There's a four-way stretch material, silicone leg grippers, and gel inserts in the chamois for a further boost in comfort.

• poc.com

Leatt Knee Guard 3DF 5.0 Evo

£100

Said to offer the 'ultimate in knee protection,' Leatt's 3DF 5.0 Knee Guard Evo uses fancy Delfextion technology that we're told makes for a lightweight but durable knee pad. Scoring a 13 on the brand's total protection score, the pad is tested to EN1621-1 Level 1 protection thanks to Leatt's 3DF tech. It's a similar technology to D3O in that it's an energy-absorbing impact foam that's designed to conform to the contours of the knee for comfort and coverage.

Elsewhere on the pad, there's a pre-curved design, MoistureCool and AirMesh fabrics for moisture wicking, an abrasion-resistant outer layer, and an anti-slip calf band. 

• leatt.com

You might also like:

• 5 ways to boost your bike's performance for free
• 7 best mountain and gravel bike upgrades for less than £50
• Best way to transport mountain bikes