CyclistIn the Drops: Shimano wheels, Silca tyres, the future of mechanical shifting and some tasty sports treatsMuch like theme parks, gastropub menus and shopping centres, there has been something for everyone on Cyclist.co.uk this week.Tech nerds were told of Newmens crazy new 32in aero gravel wheels and DT Swisss gravel suspension fork, then shown Remco Evenpoels gold Specialized Tarmac SL9.Fans of pro racing got to look through a gallery of 2026s Il Lombardia and we recounted the ten best moments from both the mens and womens (coming later today) WorldTour seasons. History buffs and riders looking for 2027 Tour de France route rumours were well catered for as well.That leaves the latest instalment of In the Drops to round-off an already well-rounded week. Anyone for a round of applause?Shimano Dura-Ace R9370 C50 wheelsMike AndersonWhile Shimanos Dura-Ace R9300 groupset is still in the leaks and rumours phase of release, making it unlikely well see it this year, Shimano has gone ahead with the launch of the new generation Dura-Ace wheels.We deliberately chose to launch the wheels separately because theyre more than an accessory to a groupset, says Rob Busser, Shimano EUs product planner. Modern wheels have become one of the biggest performance differentiators on a bike, so launching independently allows the wheels to be assessed on their own merit.Mike AndersonTheres certainly plenty of updates to assess. The introduction of carbon spokes is an important one.The inclusion allowed us to significantly reduce weight while maintaining the stiffness required for top-level racing, says Busser. The new Dura-Ace wheels launch at 36mm, 50mm and 60mm depths (along with a deep TT front and disc rear), and lose up to 220g dependent on depth. The 50mm option pictured here drops 159g, now weighing a claimed 1,302g.Thats despite an increase in rim width, which moves to 23mm internal and 31mm external, leading to a claimed advantage of 2.7 watts at 45kmh when paired with 28-30mm tyres compared to the previous wheels.Mike AndersonEven the hubs get an upgrade, now integrating replaceable bearing races, so Shimanos venerable cup-and-cone bearing arrangement can be recovered if the races get worn.Silca Protocol RCR tyresSam ChallisSince Josh Poertner took over the historic Italian parts and accessories brand in 2013, Silcas range has expanded steadily to include sealant, valves, TPU tubes, rim tape and a tyre pressure calculator alongside its famous pumps.There was one product missing to complete the ecosystem, says Poertner. The tyre itself. With that in mind, weve launched our Protocol series three gravel models and one road option, the RCR.The RCR comes in 29, 34 and 38mm sizes. It might look like an eclectic mix, but the range was deliberate.We engineered them specifically for modern rim profiles, he says. 29mm is the narrowest tyres that can officially fit on a 25mm internal rim width, for example. Unlike standard manufacturers who scale up narrow tyres as rims and clearances get wider, we started with the 38 mm model, which we believe to be the marquee tire in the road line up, and scaled down to 34mm and 29mm.This means that rather than treating wide road tires as a traditional endurance options by adding layers of thick rubber (that compromises suppleness and speed) the 120 TPI Race Casing and low-rolling-resistance Pulsar compound in RCR tyres enable lower inflation pressures and wider contact patches in a fast, supple, lightweight package.Sam ChallisPoertner claims practicality along with performance as well, explaining that the tyres use carbon fibre beads instead of Kevlar, to guarantee dimensional stability and tool-free installation, custom ply casing angles for suppleness and protection.We even have thought to use a mould-release agent that plays nice with sealant some can prevent proper adhesion and cause premature coagulation, says Poertner.Ratio Technology MechSam ChallisFounded in the Lake District in 2018 by a pair Cambridge engineering graduates, Ratio Technology got its start making mechanical drivetrain upgrade kits the small parts necessary to make 11-speed shifters and derailleurs compatible with newer 12-speed cassettes and chains, for example. The release of its own Mech was an extension of this business.We already had three years of our shifting upgrade kit sales to prove to us that there was an appetite for reliable, serviceable mechanical shifting, says Ratios director, Tom Simpson. Through these kits we built a shopping list of all the features we wanted to see on our own derailleur and built it to perform as well as an electronic one.Sam ChallisItems on that list and present in the Mech include stainless bearings for all rotating components (rather than bushings) and a specific spring type and location inside the derailleurs parallelogram to control the pull through the derailleurs travel down the cassette.The result is much less friction, so a light lever action without sacrificing return force. It makes the shifting much less sensitive to cable friction, contamination or imperfect cable routing, says Simpson.Sam ChallisCannily, Ratio has made the Mech to be modular, so it isnt locked into a specific manufacturers drivetrain.By changing the cable fin or the cage length, the Mech can adapt to the bike or components around it, says Simpson. We also design and manufacture it ourselves in the UK. That gives us particularly close control over the entire process, and means we can develop individual parts without having to redesign or replace the whole derailleur.Applied Nutrition productsSam ChallisApplied Nutrition is a UK sports nutrition brand that has been around since 2014. In that time it has built a decent reputation in the health and fitness industry for its high-quality products, which has allowed it to broaden its range extensively.Alongside the more conventional protein and recovery powders, drinks and bars theres a range of Endurance carb-based products to rival any cycling-specific nutrition brand.Sam ChallisUnlike those guys theres also a dizzyingly diverse supporting cast of products geared towards helping performance as well, such as pre-workout stimulants, protein cookies and hydration drinks.Where necessary, Applied Nutritions products are Informed Sport certified to guarantee nutritional quality, so the brand looks to be a one stop shop for all riders sports nutrition requirements.The post In the Drops: Shimano wheels, Silca tyres, the future of mechanical shifting and some tasty sports treats appeared first on Cyclist.