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NASA chief concerned China may deny access to parts of Moon’s south pole
Last month, China delayed the launch of an ambitious robotic mission to the south pole of the Moon, Chang’e 7, until early next year. The country did not provide a detailed explanation for the schedule slip, but it was welcomed by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
“They are targeting the exact same location on lunar south pole,” Isaacman said Wednesday evening at the Off World conference in Houston. “We may have dodged a bullet with the Chang’e 7 mission a couple of weeks ago because that would have gone to the Shackleton crater.”
Much of the lunar surface is pretty barren, but the south pole, and the Shackleton Crater in particular, offers some of the most coveted real estate there. That’s because the high rims of the crater create permanently shadowed regions known as “cold traps,” where it’s thought that water (in the form of ice, of course) and other useful materials may have accumulated over billions of years.
Meta puts its AI assistant on a keychain
Mark Zuckerberg said Meta’s new personal AI agent Muse has become the “centerpiece” of his AI vision, as he unveiled a new handheld AI “charm” device that will feature the interactive assistant.
The Meta chief used the company’s annual Connect event at its Silicon Valley headquarters to announce Muse Charm, a small pendant-like device that fits on a keychain and is activated by a fingerprint sensor.
The device, which features a screen showing the Muse avatar, will also have real-time voice interactivity and is set to be released in December.
Xiaomi’s 18 Pro series phones have the latest Snapdragon chip and a Samsung-like privacy screen
You’ll have to wait a bit if you’re outside China though.
Razer’s Kiyo V2 Pro webcam can capture 4K video at 60 fps
Razer’s new ‘pro’ webcam can handle 4K video at 60 fps and will cost $300
OpenAI, Anthropic CEOs Urge UN Countries to Cooperate on AI Safety Standards
“The heads of major AI firms pleaded with the United Nations on Wednesday to save the world or at least its people — by somehow regulating the fast-expanding technology that they have been designing,” writes the Associated Press.
“If managed poorly, I even believe AI could be a risk to humanity as a whole,” said Dario Amodei, chief executive officer of Anthropic. And from his competitor Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, came this assessment: “We could lose control of the future to AI.”
Yoshua Bengio, who co-chairs the UN’s International Independent Panel on AI, called this
“a moment of global awakening” to possible threats, noting AI from top companies had behaved in unacceptably dangerous ways, against instructions, taking actions “that would be crimes if committed by a human”.
In his presentation, OpenAI’s Sam Altman agreed the discussion about AI “feels different in recent weeks,” even suggesting specific reforms:
Altman: We need a mechanism for complementary national and international frontier AI standards, standards for measuring capabilities, assessing risks, determining whether safeguards are sufficient, and preserving meaningful human oversight as systems become more autonomous. We need common standards so countries can compare evidence, verify compliance, and have a shared language and understanding about what is happening. We need accurate and speedy incident reporting, classification reporting protocols, so the world can learn from failures before they become catastrophes. And we need secure channels among governments, critical infrastructure operators and technical experts, to share emerging vulnerabilities and new threats…. We will all be better off if we can agree on what good evidence, good safeguards, and good oversight look like on the global stage.
Speaking next, Anthropic’s Dario Amodei agreed that standard-setting was important, also calling for “common global standards for testing AI models for loss-of-control risks and misuse risks — and a notification system for AI incidents that are significant to global security.” Reiterating his September 12th call for an industry-wide safety collaboration, Amodei pointed out that Anthropic committed to embedding external evaluators “similar to a food inspector” and recommended other companies do the same. “Some have already agreed to adopt this measure.”
Besides calling for global cooperation between governments to set international standards, Amodei also offered two other specific ideas:
Amodei: We should begin with narrow agreements that every member can support, such as a ban on using AI to make biological weapons or permitting your AI technologies to be used to make biological weapons….
We should build evaluation and verification systems that keep pace with AI development so that states can have visibility into frontier model capability and can verify each other’s commitments.
“No leader, no company, and no nation can manage this alone. We commit to working with governments in this room on this urgent work.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
The Best Power Tools to Gift Your Favorite DIYer
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It can be hard to choose the perfect gift for that DIY enthusiast on your list who seems to already have every tool imaginable. If you’re looking for just the right thing for someone just starting out on their DIY adventure, or a seasoned weekend warrior, all of the options can be intimidating. As an experienced DIY home maintenance aficionado as well as an experienced carpenter and furniture builder, here are some of my favorite tools to give this year.
Best overall tool to gift this year
My favorite drill and driver set, the new Makita 18-volt LXT drill and driver set, is the best tool for anyone who likes DIY. These tools use an efficient battery system that gives you more work time per charge. The drill in this set can deliver about 70% more torque than its predecessors, and the impact driver has a speed control, allowing you to use more force on tougher materials and less on more delicate jobs. This set is a great gift because it comes ready to use, with an 18-volt hammer drill, an 18-volt impact driver, a 2-amp-hour battery, a 5-amp-hour battery, and a charger.
Makita is known for producing the best batteries on the market, with its first battery-powered drill launching in 1969. These drills are still coveted by pros even today because they were so well-balanced and easy on the wrists. This set builds on that reputation, with light batteries that give you more control over your tools.
Best runner-up tool to gift this year
The new 20-volt DeWalt oscillating multitool is a great gift for a DIYer of almost any persuasion because it’s so versatile. You can use an oscillating multitool for anything from DIY sink installation to DIY drywall repair. The big improvement for this tool over its previous model is that it has been re-engineered to vibrate less, making it more comfortable and safer to use. It also has a wider cutting radius and a brighter LED.
This set is a great gift because it comes with everything you need to use it right out of the box, including a 20-volt DeWalt oscillating multitool, a 20-volt MAX compact battery, a charger, a tool-connect chip adapter, a fast cut wood blade, a wood with nails blade, a sanding attachment, some sandpaper, and a depth guide.
DeWalt makes some of the best woodworking tools and is known for durable and precise cutting tools.
Best tool to give a DIY woodworker
A Kreg Rebel 20-volt pocket hole joiner is a great gift to give a DIY woodworker because it allows you to make precise joints in half the time. Kreg is known for making quality jigs for making joints and cutting straight lines, but this tool integrates a power tool into the jig, allowing you to line up and drill a pocket hole much more quickly. It comes with the joint-making tool, a 4-amp-hour battery, a charger, an easy-set drill bit, and dust collection attachments.
I use Kreg jigs for cabinet-making, for quick hidden joints on frames, and for putting together shelving, and this tool is a game changer for all of those projects.
Best tool to give a DIY mechanic
The new 20-volt sealed head DeWalt powered ratchet set is a good choice to give a DIY mechanic because of its unique adapter system. The interchangeable coupling allows you to use this powered ratchet set with both ⅜-inch and ½-inch sockets. The gear mechanism that drives the socket head is protected from metal dust and debris, so it’s more durable than its predecessors.
The set has what you need to use it right out of the box. It comes with a 20-volt cordless-powered ratchet, a 20-volt, 2-amp-hour battery, and a charger. This ratchet is compact enough to use for oil changes and vehicle maintenance but powerful enough for turning stubborn bolts like the ones on the outside of your HV/AC filter access panel.
Best tool to give a beginner
The best place to begin a DIY tool set is with a cordless drill. The Ryobi 18-volt cordless drill set is a good gift for a beginner because it’s a decent-quality tool that comes with everything you need to get started, including a battery and bits. For everything from hanging pictures to changing air filters, a drill is an essential tool.
The set comes with an 18-volt drill, an 18-volt, 1.5-amp-hour battery, a charger, a 40-piece bit set, and a tool bag.
Best tool to give someone with a home shop
The DeWalt 20-volt cordless/corded wet-dry vac is a good gift for someone with a home shop because keeping your shop clean and organized is always its own project. Sawdust buildup can be a hazard because it can be combustible, so a shop vac is also a good gift for safety. This shop vac can tackle both wet and dry messes, so it’s good for cleaning your car or around the garage, as well as in the shop.
This is a tool-only deal, but it can be plugged into a power outlet and work without a battery. The shop vac comes with a hose, a crevice tool, and a HEPA filter.
Best DIY gift under $100
The Klein digital laser level and angle finder can be used for everything from leveling a mounted TV to making precise cuts when doing woodworking. It’s a good gift for a DIYer at any skill level, and it can be a useful addition even to a well-appointed shop.
This tool uses an internal electric accelerometer instead of a spirit bubble to gauge angles and judge level. This allows you to measure angles based on numbers instead of a visual bubble, but also allows the level to find angles from any starting point you choose.
Top 5 Zwift Videos: Zwift Settings, Building Fitness, and Cycplus T7
Ever wondered what the “best” settings for Zwift are? In this week’s top video, hear from one Zwifter as he walks viewers through his favorite Zwift settings.
We’ve also included videos about building back fitness, riding the Cycplus T7, trainer recommendations, and cardio gains from Zwift.
Zwift Settings I Change Immediately (And You Should Too)
I ruinedmy FTP!! Road to 450W FTP Episode 1
Don’t Buy a Smart Trainer Until You See This | CYCPLUS T7
Best Indoor Bike Trainer in 2026? (Advice From a Pro Esport Champ)
My Journey with Zwift (So Far)
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Tiny Race Series – September 26 Routes – Heroic Hillclimbs
See zwiftinsider.com/tiny for current Tiny Race details.
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This Battery-Powered Blink Floodlight Camera Is Just $40 Right Now
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
The Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera is down to $39.99 on Amazon, a sizable discount from its $99.99 list price and, according to price trackers, its lowest price to date. At that price, you’re getting a home security camera and a motion-activated floodlight in one unit, which makes it an easy way to cover a backyard, a driveway, a side yard, or whichever corner of your property never seems to get enough light. The real appeal, though, is that there’s no wiring to deal with, because both the camera and the floodlight run on batteries. That flexibility also extends to placement—since the camera connects over wifi, as long as you have a decent signal, you can install it without having to plan around a nearby outlet, notes this PCMag review.
The setup pairs a motion-activated floodlight with a 1080p camera, powered by four D-cell batteries and two AA batteries, respectively. Naturally, you’ll need to keep an eye on battery life over time and replace the batteries periodically, but it’s otherwise fairly straightforward. When the camera detects movement, the floodlight kicks on with up to 700 lumens of brightness, which should be enough to illuminate a driveway, side yard, or other dark area around the house, while the camera records in 1080p. It also has infrared night vision, so you can continue monitoring the area after dark even when the floodlight isn’t on.
The bigger consideration is the ongoing cost if you want more than basic camera access. Blink’s subscription plans start at $3.99 per month for one device and $11.99 per month for unlimited devices, with cloud storage, video history, and advanced alerts among the features tied to the paid plans. You do get a 30-day trial to see whether those extras are useful before committing, but anyone who wants to keep recorded clips in the cloud should factor the subscription into the overall cost. For those who prefer local storage, you’ll need to purchase a Sync Module XR and a MicroSD card with up to 256GB of storage separately, since the included Sync Module Core doesn’t support local backups.
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There’s a new way to break RSA that’s faster than anything we’ve seen before
The world has known for decades that the RSA cryptosystem’s days are numbered. Once quantum computing becomes practical (estimates for that range from 3 to 20 or more years), the foundational security it provides will crumble. New research has revealed a novel method that uses classical computing to reduce the current RSA security level to an unacceptably low threshold.
The practical risk is limited, but still significant. Applying the attack against the deprecated use of 1024-bit keys took a handful of months on an academic CPU cluster, significantly less than the current estimates for 1024-bit factoring that would require resources that only nations or companies with massive resources could achieve. Widely used RSA implementations are also safe.
Nonetheless, the research has taken cryptographers by surprise because it introduces signature forgery, a new way to break RSA keys without factoring. Equally important, this novel method reduces the required computing resources by orders of magnitude.
Moots Routt gets an upgrade with 57mm tyre clearance and front-end integration
Moots has updated its Routt titanium gravel bike, increasing the frame clearance to 57mm from 50mm, redesigning the carbon fork for wider tyres and adding internal cabling through its custom alloy stem.
The changes are a response to the increase in tyre width, faster pace and more technical terrain typical of modern gravel riding, with Moots saying the idea behind the bike hasn’t changed, but the places it can take you have.
Moots says the Routt is designed around 50mm tyres, citing the lower pressure they enable, the added grip and the ability to carry speed over rougher ground. At the same time, it claims, the Routt retains its versatility, catering for racing, bikepacking and long endurance gravel rides.
57mm seems to be the new 45mm in gravel bike clearance. We have seen brands such as Canyon with the new Grail and Factor with the Elara launching updates to their gravel bikes or completely new models with around this much room for wide rubber; the new Specialized Crux has 55mm.
XC MTB tyres are an increasingly popular choice, while there are more gravel tyres being offered in greater widths.
To cater for the update, Moots has made changes to the Routt’s frame and fork. The frame now has a 3D-printed chainstay yoke, enabling riders to fit a 1x groupset with a 48-tooth chainring, while retaining 2x compatibility. There’s a BSA bottom bracket and chainstay length increases to 437mm.
The fork has been redesigned with a D-shaped steerer, enabling brake hoses to pass through the head tube. It’s paired with Moots’ own titanium stem for an integrated cockpit. The head tube angle is between 70 and 70.75 degrees across frame sizes, while the fork rake is 57mm on smaller and 50mm on larger sizes.
There’s the option to run mullet drivetrains, as well as SRAM Full Mount XPLR groupsets, using the brand’s own UDH dropouts. The Routt is electronic-only, if routed internally, and there’s electronic and mechanical dropper compatibility.
Two frame grades
While the Routt and Routt RSL were previously separate models, Moots is now casting the Routt RSL as a premium frameset upgrade.
The Routt frame is constructed from straight-gauge 3/2.5 titanium, while the Routt RSL is made from double-butted tubing. Moots claims the RSL upgrade not only makes the frame lighter, but it offers a quicker, more direct feel under power. It targets all-round use with the base-model Routt and performance riding with the RSL upgrade.
The Routt RSL frame is slated for availability in early 2027.
The Routt frame offers three bottle cage mounts, a top tube mount and, on the non-RSL frame, mudguard mounts and the option to spec rack mounts.
The updated Moots Routt is priced at $5,499 for the base frameset. Full builds are priced at $9,999 for Force XPLR AXS, $10,199 for a Force/X0 12-speed mullet and $12,499 for Red XPLR AXS, all with Nobl Far 50 wheels on either DT Swiss 350 or Chris King R45D hubs and Vittoria Terreno T30 50mm tyres.
The Routt is available to order immediately, with Routt RSL pricing to be announced closer to launch.
New Coros Pace 4 Pro smartwatch will track your rides for up to 60 hours, with a larger, brighter screen
Coros has announced the release of its new Pace 4 Pro smartwatch, which it says offers 60 hours of GPS tracking, as well as the brand’s largest screen yet, at 1.47in / 37.3mm across.
It says the Pace 4 Pro is ideal for athletes looking for a slim, tough, lightweight watch that offers a complete mapping solution, and it provides functionality for cyclists, triathletes, runners and a range of other sports.
The Coros Pace 4 Pro offers close to a 50% increase in battery life over the Pace 4, as well as 22.5% greater screen size that enables it to display up to 11 data fields.
According to Coros CEO Lewis Wu: “The Coros Pace 4 Pro is a big step forward in hardware design for Coros. It combines the largest and brightest display we’ve ever built with an incredibly narrow titanium bezel and sapphire glass screen.”
The Coros Pace 4 Pro’s AMOLED screen has 466×466 pixel resolution and 3,500-nit maximum brightness. Coros says it incorporates an ultra-fast processor for rapid mapping and navigation, and double the RAM size of the Pace 4 at 64MB with 64GB storage.
The Pace 4 Pro has an 11.8mm-deep, low-weight case with a titanium bezel, with the watch plus its nylon band weighing a claimed 43g, only 11g more than the non-Pro Pace 4, but around 13g less than the Garmin Forerunner 970, probably its closest competitor.
The watch includes dual-band GPS as well as heart rate, ambient temperature, pulseOx, altitude and ECG sensors, enabling users to track sleep, HRV, stress and resting heart rate trends. It links into the Coros app for route planning, fitness tracking, pace planning and recovery monitoring, as well as access to training plans and, for women, menstrual cycle tracking.
Alongside the performance tracking and navigation functionality, the Pace 4 Pro also enables you to record voice notes and sync them to workout files, with voice pins that anchor them to GPS locations. There’s live tracking, weather and safety alerts, and easy sync to Strava, TrainingPeaks and other fitness apps.
The 60 hours of claimed GPS use reduces to 46 hours when in always-on mode. When using the always-on display, the Pace 4 Pro will provide around seven days of use without GPS, which can be extended to 21 days with on/off display. Coros says charging, which uses USB-C, takes around 1.5 hours, with a 10-hour boost in GPS tracking from 30 minutes’ charging.
The Coros Pace 4 Pro is priced at £389 / $449 / €449 and available in either black or white. The price undercuts many Garmin watches significantly, with the Forerunner 970 priced at $650 or more, while the premium Fenix 9 AMOLED costs $1,000 and above.
Review: Apple’s hyper-pricey M5 Ultra Mac Studio made me into a vibe coder
This spring, Apple made it official: The Mac Pro is dead.
When Apple was using Intel processors and AMD GPUs, the idea of an expandable and upgradeable tower made sense. But Apple Silicon chips bring the CPU, GPU, and memory interface all under one roof in a way that makes that sort of upgradeability not just superfluous but impossible. At least not without breaking some of the chips’ key benefits.
And as it happens, Apple Silicon’s combination of a fast CPU, solid GPU, and unified memory architecture has made it a good fit for a modern “pro” workload that really pushes high-end hardware: running language models and agents locally.
UCI to rewrite the Lugano Charter in review that could reshape future bike design
The UCI has confirmed it will launch a full review of the Lugano Charter, cycling’s foundational equipment rulebook, opening the door to the biggest shift of bicycle design regulations in three decades.
Announced following the governing body’s latest Management Committee meeting in Montréal, the review will produce a draft charter before an industry-wide consultation set for February-April 2027.
While the UCI has not proposed any specific rule changes yet, the Lugano Charter underpins many of road cycling’s most influential technical regulations – including the 6.8kg minimum bike weight, tube-profile limits, geometry restrictions and gearing rules.
The new charter is set to be developed in closer consultation with brands and industry experts, with the establishment of new ‘technical committees’ for specialist areas. UCI president David Lappartient says this “illustrate[s the UCI’s] commitment to evolving our rules in consultation with all the families of cycling”.
A chance to rewrite cycling’s design rulebook
Originally adopted in 1996, the Lugano Charter established the principles that govern bicycle design in UCI-sanctioned races. It was created to balance technological innovation against safety, while intending to ensure sporting fairness and sustainability.
It defined the double-triangle bike frame design, but perhaps its most famous rule is the 6.8kg minimum bike weight for UCI races, introduced in 2000 as an amendment to the charter.
At the time, carbon manufacture was in its relative infancy, with concerns for safety in the event of a war on weight. But for years the rule has increasingly been questioned by engineers, manufacturers and commentators, with some arguing the rule is outdated given the advancements in the technology since.
BikeRadar explored that debate in our 2023 feature on whether the UCI’s bike weight limit should change. Designers have suggested modern testing standards would be a better measure of safety versus a blanket weight threshold.
The charter also governs the more recent 8:1 tube aspect ratio rule, limits on frame geometry and rider position, and regulations surrounding drivetrain and gearing dimensions.
Those rules have evolved gradually over recent seasons, notably allowing designers greater freedom around head tube proportions and aero optimisation.
Riders have also been seen to be adopting ever more forward positions (within current limits) in the search of greater efficiency and in response to more recent revisions – designs borne out with the likes of the Eddy Merckx 525R and Factor One.
Any new regulations could be set to allow for even greater freedom in this area, or indeed restrict it.
New technical committees could help prevent future controversies
Alongside the charter review, the UCI has announced a new consultation framework intended to give manufacturers and independent experts a formal role in developing future equipment regulations.
Rather than relying solely on its existing Equipment and New Technologies Commission, the governing body has stated it will establish specialist technical committees covering:
- Frames
- Wheels and tyres
- Rider equipment
- Protective equipment
- Data and technology
Officially, the UCI says the aim of these new committees is to strengthen collaboration between the governing body and manufacturers. It also appears to address one of the biggest criticisms levelled at recent equipment rule proposals: a lack of meaningful stakeholder consultation.
That issue came to a head just before the 2025 Tour de France when the UCI announced plans to trial gearing restrictions in professional road racing. The proposal prompted immediate opposition from riders, teams and component brands, with SRAM publicly criticising the process before the governing body suspended the trial.
We also reported on Tom Pidcock’s concerns about the wider package of UCI rule changes, while technical editor Dan Bigham argued in his feature on why gearing restrictions were the wrong solution to rider safety that evidence-based regulation should come before blanket equipment limits.
The dispute ultimately culminated in the UCI losing its appeal over the proposed gearing restrictions. The new committee structure could be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to build consensus before future technical regulations (or experiments) are introduced.
The UCI says each committee will feature “equal representation” from the UCI and the cycling industry, alongside independent technical experts, albeit exactly which brands and stakeholders have a seat at each respective table isn’t yet defined.
Via the UCI’s official communiqué, UCI president David Lappartient said: “From a regulatory perspective, the opening of a new consultation framework with cycling industry members, together with the launch of the review of the Lugano Charter thirty years after its adoption, illustrate our commitment to evolving our rules in consultation with all the families of cycling.”
New finish-line safety barriers approved
Alongside this, the UCI says it has formally approved new barrier standards for the final 200 metres of men’s and women’s WorldTour races from the start of the 2027 season.
It says the regulations are based on research by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland Valais-Wallis.
The UCI hasn’t confirmed if and when these new regulations will come into effect at other levels of the sport.
GPS rider tracking set for wider rollout
The UCI has committed to introducing a regulatory framework for real-time GPS rider safety tracking, with the system set to be deployed across professional road racing starting with the men’s and women’s WorldTours.
Last season, five teams were disqualified from the Tour de Romandie Women after refusing to participate in a tracker trial, highlighting disagreements over how the devices should be supplied and operated.
The UCI says the system is being used again at this year’s Road World Championships after its introduction last year in Rwanda.
Women found to have more severe, more frequent injuries than men at the highest level of road racing
The UCI says it has received updates on its ongoing road crash injury study, which it began in March.
It says initial findings indicate injuries are currently more frequent and more severe in women’s WorldTour racing, with average return-to-competition times roughly twice as long as recorded in the men’s peloton.
No regulatory or advisory outcomes have been defined, but the UCI says the study is ongoing as its “database” is built, with the idea to introduce “future risk-reduction measures” in the future and assess their effectiveness.
Genetic testing to align with International Olympic Committee
The UCI has also confirmed it will conform to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) guidance on the definition of the female category for its IOC-recognised competitions by the end of the year.
Because the UCI is a member body of the IOC, the news comes as little surprise, but it defines that only biological women who do not carry the SRY gene on the Y chromosome, which triggers testosterone production at puberty, are eligible to compete in women’s events.
The presence of the gene will be determined by a one-time test. The UCI says an “awareness programme” will be rolled out to athletes, teams and national federations “shortly”, and that all results will be kept “strictly confidential”.
Racing calendar changes confirmed for 2027
Finally, the UCI approved the majority of its 2027 international calendars, with the full schedules due to be published on 29 September.
The headline road changes include:
- La Vuelta Femenina moves to 3–10 October, immediately after the men’s Vuelta.
- Vuelta a Burgos Feminas returns to an early May slot.
- Eschborn–Frankfurt reverts to its traditional 1 May date.
The governing body has also confirmed the inaugural UCI Junior Road Nations’ Cup calendar and approved several scheduling changes across mountain bike, track and other disciplines ahead of the 2027 season.
How to get your cut of Apple’s $250 million Siri settlement
If you’ve bought an iPhone in the last couple of years, you might be eligible for a cut of the class action lawsuit. Here’s how to file your claim.
Save more than £1,900 on Dura-Ace Di2 in the Sigma Sports sale – plus four more deals you should snap up
Sigma Sports has slashed the price of a host of cycling products, with some serious savings to be had across bikes, components and kit.
We’ve trawled through the sale to pick out five of the best deals, including more than £1,900 off Shimano’s flagship road groupset and a carbon Trek Domane for less than £2,000.
There are also big discounts to be had if you’re looking to upgrade your gravel bike or treat your feet to some fancy shoes.
Here are our top picks, but you can see the whole sale here.
Shimano Dura-Ace R9270 Di2 groupset – £3,579 £1,625 (Save 55%)
Getting Shimano’s flagship road groupset for less than £2,000 certainly caught our attention.
Sigma Sports has knocked £1,954 off its Dura-Ace R9270 Di2 groupset, bringing the price down from £3,579 to £1,625.
Dura-Ace R9200 represented a major overhaul when it arrived, moving Shimano’s top-tier road groupset to 12-speed and introducing semi-wireless shifting.
The groupset uses wireless shifters, while the derailleurs remain wired to the central battery.
It also features Shimano’s Servo Wave braking technology and redesigned calipers with increased pad clearance.
Despite rumours of a new generation being released soon, at 55 per cent off, this could be a tempting opportunity if you’re planning a dream-bike build or looking to give an existing road bike a serious upgrade.
This specific deal is for groupsets specced with 175mm cranks, but great savings can be had on shorter-cranked specs too.
Trek Domane SL 5 Gen 4 105 – £2,800 £1,499 (save 46%)
You can currently pick up a carbon Trek Domane for less than £1,500, with Sigma Sports taking £1,301 off the endurance road bike.
The Domane SL is built around Trek’s 500 Series OCLV carbon frame and is designed to balance speed with comfort over longer rides.
The Gen 4 bike uses Trek’s rear IsoSpeed system, which is designed to add compliance at the seat tube, while generous tyre clearance gives the Domane some versatility away from pristine tarmac.
The SL 5 is equipped with Shimano’s mechanical 105 groupset and hydraulic disc brakes.
With a 29 per cent saving, this looks like one of the standout complete-bike deals in the sale.
At the time of writing, there are sizes ranging from 50 to 60cm.
Shimano GRX 825 12-Speed Di2 Groupset Bundle – £2,060 £1,011 (save 51%)
Roadies aren’t the only ones getting a hefty Shimano discount.
The latest 12-speed GRX RX825 Di2 groupset has dropped to £1,011, representing a saving of £1,049.
GRX RX825 brought Shimano’s electronic gravel groupset in line with its latest road offerings, using wireless shifters alongside a wired rear derailleur and battery.
The shifters also feature additional buttons on the hoods, which can be configured to control compatible bike computers or used as extra shift buttons.
If you’ve been considering moving your gravel bike to electronic shifting, a 51 per cent discount makes this considerably easier to justify.
This specific discount is for 170mm cranks, although there are savings on the 172.5mm variation too.
Scope R3 Carbon Road Disc Wheelset – £1,300 £479 (save 63%)
A carbon disc wheelset for under £500 isn’t something we see every day.
Sigma Sports has reduced the Scope R3 from £1,300 to £479, saving £821.
The R3 uses 30mm-deep carbon rims, making it the shallowest option in Scope’s Race Series and positioning it as a lightweight all-round wheelset rather than a deep-section aero option.
The rims are tubeless-ready, and the wheelset uses Scope’s own hubs.
At 63 per cent off, these could make for a significant upgrade over the stock alloy wheels supplied with many road bikes.
This specific deal is limited to SRAM’s XDR freehub body.
Sidi Shot 2S road shoes – £425 £96 (save 77%)
You don’t have to spend four figures to take advantage of one of the biggest discounts in the sale.
Sidi’s Shot 2S road shoes have fallen from £425 to £96, depending on size and colour – a hefty saving of up to 77%.
The Shot 2S sits towards the top end of Sidi’s road shoe range and features the Italian brand’s carbon sole and centrally mounted Tecno-3 closure system.
There’s also an adjustable heel-retention system, designed to help secure the rear of your foot inside the shoe.
A £425 pair of shoes is undeniably extravagant, but at this price they become a much more interesting proposition – how are they making money here?
This specific price is for the Anthracite colourway, with a wide variety of sizes from 40 to 48 available at the time of writing.
There are also good savings to be had on the other colourways.
Sidi’s new Prima 2 road cycling shoes are the lowest-priced option in its 2027 range
Sidi has announced the Prima 2 shoes for men and women cyclists, which it says are designed for effortless and efficient daily rides, with a design it claims is simple to use, comfortable and performant.
The Prima 2 is the most affordable road cycling shoe in Sidi’s 2027 range, with uppers made of microfibre, which Sidi says is durable and comfortable.
The uppers are paired with a 3D-mesh tongue for breathability and use Sidi’s Nuun 002M single-dial closure, with a flip-up adjustment lever.
On the base, the nylon composite sole has a non-floating three-bolt drilling. This ensures simplicity, but may compromise cleat adjustability with Shimano’s latest SPD-SLR pedal system.
The sole is rated by Sidi at stiffness index 5 and is paired with a cushioning insole. Sidi positions the shoe’s fit as closer to recreational than performance, suggesting there should be a reasonable amount of wiggle room.
It says the shoe components, such as the heel cleat and Nuun dial, are replaceable, increasing the shoe’s longevity.
The Sidi Prima 2 shoes are priced at £140 / $200 / €159 and come in men’s sizes 38 to 50, with half sizes from 40.5 to 46.5. There’s a range of four colours for men: blue, cream, black and grey.
Prima 2 Woman shoes are available in sizes from 36 and 43, with half sizes from 37.5 to 42.5. There are two colours: grey and a light purple ‘mulled grape’.
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Castelli and Sportful owners buy Tailfin as bikepacking company sees continued growth
The owners of Castelli and Sportful have announced the acquisition of Tailfin, the Bristol-based technical bikepacking equipment company.
MVC Group says the acquisition represents a “significant acceleration” in its development strategy and that Tailfin will complement its cycling portfolio.
Founded in Bristol in 2017 by Nick Broadbent, Tailfin is known for its premium bikepacking bags, racks and accessories. The company has developed its proprietary technologies in-house, and they are protected by more than 20 granted and pending patents.
€10 million in revenue
If the proprietary tech wasn’t enticing enough for MVC Group, Tailfin’s company has also achieved an average annual growth of approximately 50% and it reached almost €10 million in revenue in 2025.
More than half of this revenue was generated in the US, UK and Germany, and Tailfin’s growth will now be supported by MVC Group’s presence in 75 countries.
As well as complementing Castelli and Sportful, MVC Group adds that the acquisition has broader benefits to its triathlon and outdoor sports brands, Zoot and Karpos.
Emilio Foà, CEO of MVC Group, says: “With Tailfin, we are not simply adding a new product category: we are integrating a leading brand whose positioning around excellence and strong focus on innovation are fully aligned with our own brands, while also being complementary to their offering.
“We are also integrating a strategic asset: the company’s distinctive technological expertise and extensive intellectual property, which could generate product innovation across the different disciplines in which we operate, from cycling and triathlon to outdoor sports.”
Broadbent, Tailfin’s CEO, mechanical engineer and product designer, says: “Since Tailfin was founded, we have invested heavily in innovation to develop products that set the standard within the rapidly growing category of bikepacking and adventure cycling.
“Joining MVC Group will allow us to accelerate this journey further, leveraging the Group’s industrial strength and international presence, while preserving the identity, autonomy and innovation culture that have made Tailfin so successful.”
Fourth expansion in a year
The acquisition of Tailfin is the fourth in a series of expansions MVC Group has made in the last year. In July, it launched its 10th international subsidiary in the UK; it created MVC Benelux through the acquisition of Wolvenberg; and Zoot acquired its European distributor last October.
MVC Group says its latest acquisition “has a positive impact” on its proposed development path and three-year industrial plan, which targets €150 million in revenue by 2028.