All About the New Zwift Click v2 Controllers (Now Shipping)

Last week’s Fall 2025 This Season on Zwift press release included, as the first item of business, news that a fresh version of the Zwift Click controller will begin shipping today, September 9th. Keep reading to learn all about the new Zwift Click, including my full hands-on review.

Click v2, as we’ll call it, is replacing two SKUs for Zwift. First, it replaces the original Click, a simple device with a + and – button for shifting up or down. This comes as no surprise. But the bigger news is that Click v2 is also replacing the Zwift Play controllers. (To be clear: while Zwift Play can still be used in-game, it will no longer be sold.)

Here are some images from Zwift showing the Click v2 and how they mount easily to multiple locations on drop bars, as well as flat bars and TT bars:

Zwift is not currently selling Click v2 as a standalone item, but Zwift Cog and Click upgrade kits for all Zwift Cog-compatible trainers are available at Zwift.com now for £49.99/€49.99/$49.99: 

Click v2 Capabilities and Specs

Simply put, the new Clicks do everything Zwift Play does, apart from braking. That includes:

  • Virtual shifting (for compatible trainers)
  • Steering
  • Game menu navigation
  • U-turns
  • Rearview camera in events
  • Power up triggering
  • Ride On bombs/returns

In terms of specifications, the list is short:

  • Bluetooth connectivity only
  • The two units are bridged together, so they use only 1 Bluetooth connection (good news for Apple TV users)
  • Claimed 100-hour battery life (CR2032 coin cell)

Hands-On Experience

Setup and Onboarding

Click v2 is quick and easy to set up. In addition to the two Click controllers, the package includes four straps and two soft pads you can place beneath the controllers to more secure mounting on rounded bars:

Clicking any button on a controller activates it, and an LED at the top of the controller will begin flashing blue. It turns solid blue once connected.

The first thing I did was open up Zwift’s Companion app and go to Zwift Hardware, where the app automatically detected the Click v2 which I had already turned on. The app then prompted me to perform a firmware update to version 1.1.0:

Once the Clicks were updated to the latest firmware, I started my Zwift session and paired the Click v2 (reminder: these are Bluetooth only):

Before riding, I was greeted with a simple tutorial walking me through their capabilities:

After finishing (or skipping) the tutorial, you’re ready to go! If you’d like, you can go to Settings>Controls and rotate the controllers, which may prove useful depending on how you decide to mount them.

Steering vs Intersection Selection

While the Click v2 does everything Zwift Play did (apart from braking), Zwift had to get a bit creative to squeeze all that functionality out of a pair of simple controllers.

Specifically, if you want to manually choose a turn at an intersection, you have to press A when the intersection option pops up, then choose your desired intersection with left/right arrows. (On-screen text reminds you how this works.)

Apart from this little quirk, steering is simple using the left/right arrows on the left controller.

Virtual Shifting

If you have a smart trainer that supports Zwift’s virtual shifting (see list of compatible trainers), Click v2 can handle the shifting duties. The – button on the left controller shifts down to an easier gear, while the + on the right controller shifts up to a harder gear. These also modify FTP bias in ERG workouts when shifting is disabled.

Shifting with Click v2 is just as responsive as with Zwift Play and the original Zwift Click, happening quickly and reliably.

I had the Zwift Plays installed on my bike, and added the Click v2 on the flats of my bars as shown above. I found I enjoyed pairing both the Plays and the Click v2 to my Zwift session, as the Clicks came in handy as satellite shifters when I was riding on the flats.

Other Notes

I’ve been using the Click v2 on my main Zwift setup since May, which means I’ve logged over 100 hours of use. I changed the battery on one controller in my “pre-release” set early on, but they haven’t needed a battery change since.

Overall, I’ve been pleased with the feel and functionality of Click v2. The buttons are a bit easier to press than the Zwift Play, which is noticeable when you’re a Ride On bomber like myself.

Zwift has packed a lot of functionality into the new Click, and in a format that works on flat and tri bars, not just dropbars like the Zwift Play. While it doesn’t matter to me personally (I’m a roadie), that’s a smart and inclusive move on Zwift’s part for sure.

Even though they’re only being sold with the Zwift Cog at this time, the price point is so low that I’d recommend them to any Zwifter with Bluetooth capabilities in their setup, as they put all the in-game menus and steering at your fingertips, even if you can’t do virtual shifting. They’re handy, reliable, and quite bomb-proof. My bet is they’ll quickly become this season’s most popular hardware add-on for Zwifters.

Buy Zwift Click v2

As already mentioned, Zwift is not currently selling Click v2 as a standalone item. Hopefully that will happen soon.

Until then, Zwift Cog + Click upgrade kits for all Zwift Cog-compatible trainers are available directly from Zwift for £49.99/€49.99/$49.99: 

(Note: buying through the affiliate links above helps support this site.)

Questions or Comments?

Got questions about the new Zwift Click? Comments about Zwift hardware? Share below…

New Specialized Diverge is more off-road ready than ever – but there’s no top-spec S-Works version 

First spotted at Unbound in May, the Specialized Diverge 4 boasts increased tyre clearance, updated geometry, bigger SWAT storage and SRAM’s UDH – and includes the latest Future Shock 3 suspension system. 

Tyre clearance across the range has been increased to 50mm, with 7mm clearance on all sides, or room for a 2.2in mountain bike tyre with 4mm of clearance.

The geometry has been tweaked to accommodate these bigger tyres, with a longer wheelbase and lower bottom bracket. 

SRAM’s latest Transmission AXS drivetrains feature heavily across the range, thanks to the updated compatibility with SRAM UDH. All the bikes ship with 1x drivetrains, but the frame can still fit a front derailleur.

The Diverge’s USP – Future Shock – has been updated to the latest 3.0 model first seen on the Roubaix SL8. Internal frame storage has also been increased in size and now also features on the E5 aluminium models.

The Specialized Diverge 4 is available from launch online and at Specialized retailers, with prices starting from £1,999.

What’s new?

A rider adjusting the Futureshock 3.3 suspension system on a Specialized Diverge 4 Gravel Bike
The Diverge 4 sees an update to the hallmark Future Shock suspension system.

The new Future Shock 3 boasts improved damping. 

The adjustable Future Shock 3.3, with its easily accessible dial to tune in the suspension, features on the Pro LTD and Pro models, while the Expert, Comp, Sport and alloy models use Future Shock 3.2. The latter doesn’t offer any adjustability, but comes with three different spring weights that can be fitted to offer some personalisation.

The new SWAT 4.0 storage features on the 9r carbon frame, which Specialized says has a larger, updated door with a simplified, more robust design. 

The alloy models use SWAT 3.0 – first seen on the Stumpjumper Alloy mountain bike. Specialized claims the “Diverge is the first and only alloy gravel bike with downtube storage”.

While UDH is another key update across the range, the Diverge 4 is compatible with all major gravel groupsets

Specialized says: ”Diverge 4 is compatible with all 1x or 2x drivetrains with wide chainlines (47.5mm). For example, Shimano GRX, SRAM XPLR/Transmission with DUB Wide Cranksets, and Campagnolo Ekar all work nicely. The frame features a UDH dropout, and is compatible with all SRAM full-mount rear derailleurs. Diverge 4 is not compatible with cranksets with a standard road chainline (43.5mm).”

The tyre clearance has also been increased to keep the Diverge in line with the trend for wider tyres on gravel bikes. The Diverge is officially rated for a 50mm tyre with 7mm clearance all round, but will also accommodate a 2.2in tyre with 4mm clearance.

Updated geometry

Sofia Gomez Villafane on a Specialized Diverge 4 Pro LTD dropping into a gravel trail
Specialized claims the new Diverge’s updated geometry makes it more capable than its predecessors off-road.

Specialized has slightly tweaked the geometry to “help provide a more stable and confidence inspiring ride on off-road terrain”. 

The head tube has been slackened by half a degree to increase the trail and lengthen the wheelbase, and the bottom bracket has been dropped by 5mm to offset the wider tyre capacity while keeping the “feeling of riding ‘in’ the bike, not ‘on’ the bike”.

The chainstays have been lengthened by 5mm to balance the handling with the longer front-centre and boost the tyre clearance, according to Specialized.

SWAT 4.0 internal frame storage on the new Diverge 4 E5 Aluminium frameset
The new Diverge 4 is also available in alloy, which, for the first time, includes SWAT frame storage.

The range starts with the E5 Sport alloy model – priced in the UK at £1,999 / $2,099.99 / €2,299 – which utilises the new Shimano Cues U600 11-speed hydraulic groupset. Specialized quotes the weight of this model at 10.74kg in size 56cm.

Moving up to the carbon fibre models, and – perhaps surprisingly – Specialized has used the same Fact 9r carbon across the range. Prices here start at £2,999 for the Sport and top out at £8,499 for the Pro LTD, with a claimed weight of 8.01kg. Specialized’s quoted weight for a painted 9r frameset is 1,150g in a 56cm size.

However, the flagship S-Works line has been cut from the range. Specialized claims “the Pro LTD has already proved itself as our Athletes have been racing it, with great positive feedback from and showing its capabilities of performing well during races”.

There is no frameset-only option at present, either.

Despite being able to fit a front derailleur and 2x crankset, all the Diverge models ship as 1x, with a variety of groupset options from both Shimano and SRAM – with all the SRAM-equipped models utilising the latest AXS XPLR Transmission drivetrains thanks to the new UDH compatibility.

Full global pricing for the eight new Diverge models is as follows:

USD EUR GBP AUD
DIVERGE E5 SPORT 2,099.99 2,299 1,999
DIVERGE E5 COMP 2,699.99 2,799 2,399 3,800
DIVERGE SPORT 3,499.99 3,499 2,999 5,000
DIVERGE COMP 4,199.99 4,499 3,799 6,200
DIVERGE EXPERT AXS 5,999.99 6,299 5,249 8,200
DIVERGE EXPERT Di2 6,499.99 6,499 5,499
DIVERGE PRO 7,999.99 7,999 6,999 11,200
DIVERGE PRO LTD 10,499.99 9,999 8,499 15,900

We’ve had the Diverge 4 Expert AXS in for testing over the last few weeks, so watch out for a full review soon.

Zwift Update Version 1.97 (151752) Released

Zwift version 1.97 begins its phased rollout today. This is a very minor update, but we’ll share the details nonetheless…

Aero Lightning Socks Visual Effect

If you’re one of the small subset of Zwifters who have already put in the work to unlock the Aero Lightning Socks, this update includes a new aero visual effect. See it here:

This effect appears at 25 km/h (16 mph), and gets stronger the faster you go. We found it to be fun for solo riders, but we aren’t sure how it’ll look if lots of riders have it in a group.

(That may never be an issue, though, as it takes a lot of work to unlock the socks, plus riders actually have to wear the socks in order to get the visual effect.)

Don’t know anything about the Aero Lightning Socks? These are unlocked after completing the extra credit portion of the Factory Tour Challenge, and give you a ~12-second advantage across 1 hour of flat riding in Zwift.

Learn all about the Aero Lightning Socks >

Momentum Sport Core Temp Fix

Zwift announced support for heart rate and body temperature from the Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds back in update v1.94, but the body temperature data wasn’t actually being recorded to our .fit files. This is now fixed, with the values being recorded to the core_temperature field.

Zwift says, “To get started, in the Pairing screen, open the Heart Rate card and select your Sennheiser MOMENTUM Sport earbuds, then configure the displayed metrics in Zwift Settings under the HUD tab.”

(Watch this space for a review of the Momentum Sport earbuds, which we’ve been using on Zwift for a few weeks now…)

Release Notes

Zwift provided notes on additional tweaks and bug fixes in this update:

  • Fixed a bug that could potentially cause riders to start in the wrong location on Hilly Route in Watopia.

Discuss this update in Zwift’s forum >

Questions or Comments?

If you spotted any other changes or bugs in the update, please comment below!

SRAM pays homage to its beginnings with limited-edition ‘1987’ Eagle Transmission groupset

SRAM is celebrating its 38th anniversary with a limited-edition run of 1,987 individually numbered polished Eagle T-Type AXS groupsets. 

Dubbed the 1987 Collection, the limited-edition groupset features a unique combination of T-Type ecosystem components, all in an exclusive polished silver finish.

Aside from the rear derailleur, which is custom for the 1987 collection, it doesn’t appear to function any differently from the regular Eagle Transmission groupset – but it certainly is eye-catching.

The limited-edition groupset will set you back £3,399 / $3,499 / €3,799, if you can get your hands on one.

The 1987 Collection

SRAM is pitching the groupset at riders looking to upgrade their current groupset, or those assembling a once-in-a-lifetime custom-built bike. SRAM

The main selling point of the groupset (aside from its exclusivity) is a polished aluminium colourway, which runs through all the components. 

Eschewing the usual stealthy SRAM greys and matt blacks, this groupset will make your bike stand out at the bike park, but all this bling doesn’t come cheap.

The whole groupset retails for just under $3,500, and although it includes some tasty goodies and spares, such as a SRAM four-battery AXS charger, two chainrings and a spare AXS battery, it’s still a serious amount of money. 

It’s expensive enough to buy two whole Calibre Bossnut mountain bikes, in fact. But that’s not the point. 

SRAM is keen to stress that it is a strictly limited production run: “When they’re gone, they’re gone”.

But what’s different from the standard SRAM Eagle Transmission components you can already buy?

SRAM 1987 Eagle Transmission derailleur

The limited-edition derailleur combines the body of the XX SL with the cage from the XX. SRAM

The 1987 derailleur combines the cage from the SRAM XX derailleur with the lighter-weight body from the XX SL derailleur.

The limited-edition silver colourway makes it stand out and shows other bike nerds that you’re shifting with something special.

SRAM 1987 Eagle Transmission Flattop chain

The 1987 groupset includes a custom Eagle Transmission Flattop 12-speed chain. SRAM

The 1987 Collection T-Type chain is based on the XX Eagle Transmission Flattop chain, featuring hollow links, hollow pins and a Hard Chrome coating. It looks classy and under the cut-outs in the plates (like the XX SL chain).

There is room for subtle detailing carrying the handwriting of SRAM founder, Stan Day, and a unique groupset serial number.

SRAM 1987 AXS Pod Ultimate Controllers

The SRAM AXS Pod Controllers have silver infinity clamps for the 1987 groupset. SRAM

SRAM’s 1987 AXS Pod Ultimate Controllers are functionally the same as the standard ones, with interchangeable touch points and programmability, but they include silver infinity clamps to match the rest of the 1987 groupset.

Spares

The 1987 groupset includes two SRAM threads on chainrings in a silver colourway, plus a tool to fit them to their power meter crank. SRAM

SRAM includes 32t and 34t thread-on chainrings, as well as its Threaded Chainring Removal Tool with the 1987 groupset.

SRAM’s four-battery AXS charger is included with the 1987 groupset. SRAM

There’s also a four-battery USB-C charger included. This can charge up to four AXS batteries in the same time as it would take using four individual AXS chargers.

The four-battery charger operates quicker when charging two or fewer batteries. SRAM also includes two AXS batteries so you can keep a spare charged up, just in case.

Wahoo Releases New KICKR CORE 2 and KICKR BIKE PRO

Today, Wahoo released new versions of their KICKR CORE and KICKR BIKE. And while the BIKE is essentially an iterative upgrade from the previous generation, the new KICKR CORE 2 features some significant enhancements, making the already compelling trainer much more attractive.

We’re still putting the KICKR CORE 2 through its paces here in our test lab, so watch for a review in the next week. For now, let’s look at what’s new with Wahoo’s flagship mid-budget trainer and top-tier smart bike.

The New Wahoo KICKR CORE 2

The original Wahoo KICKR CORE’s longevity and reliability have proved nothing short of startling, especially considering its price point. First released in 2018, the KICKR CORE is the “little brother” to Wahoo’s flagship KICKR trainer, and its hardware has remained unchanged since release.

It did, however, receive significant firmware updates to enable auto-calibration and Zwift virtual shifting, allowing it to become the de facto trainer paired with the Zwift Ride smart frame.

But competition in this price range is strong. Today’s release of the KICKR CORE 2 brings premium features to Wahoo’s mid-budget workhorse, updating it to the standards set by the latest smart trainers.

This is particularly big news in the world of Zwift. The KICKR CORE 2 is the trainer that ships with the Zwift Ride from today onward, making today’s upgrade from Wahoo an upgrade for all future Zwift Ride buyers!

What’s New?

New or upgraded features on the KICKR CORE 2 include:

  • WiFi connectivity for fast, reliable connections and automatic firmware updates
  • Race mode for near instantaneous response
  • Bluetooth bridging of heart rate and other sensors to consolidate connections (great for Apple TV users)
  • New flat leg design for easier, more stable setups
  • Improved multicolored LEDs indicate connection and trainer status
  • Redesigned flywheel lowers product weight while slightly increasing inertial load for better road feel
  • Reduced setup friction and waste: easier unpacking and assembly

Key Specs

  • Max Wattage: 1800W
  • Max Incline: 16%
  • Max Decline: -10%
  • Power Accuracy: +/-2%
  • Connectivity: WiFi, ANT+ FEC, ANT+ Power, Bluetooth FTMS, and Zwift Protocol
  • Cassette: sold with 11-speed cassette or Zwift Cog
  • Supported Hubs: 130/135mm QR, 12×142, and 12×148 Thru Axle
  • KICKR CLIMB compatible
  • Weight: 29.9 lbs / 13.6 kg
  • Dimensions: 23.5×20.5×18.5 in / 59.7×52×47 cm
  • Price: $549.99 USD, $899.99 CAD, £499.99 GBP, €549.99 Euro, $899.95 AU, ¥99,000 JPY

Buy the Zwift Ride + New KICKR CORE 2 (Price Drop!)

The KICKR CORE is the only trainer sold as a bundled product with the Zwift Ride smart frame, so today’s upgrade to the CORE 2 means the Zwift Ride bundle gets upgraded as well! Effective today, all Zwift Ride packages sold through Zwift and Wahoo will ship with the new KICKR CORE 2, giving you a top-notch feature set at an unbeatable price.

More good news: the updated Zwift Ride now costs less! Starting today, the complete setup price drops by £100 and €100 in the UK and EU, bringing the cost down to £1099.99 and €1199,99 respectively. In the US (where tariffs are making pricing an adventure), the cost of shipping has been reduced from $110 to $75.

Looking to purchase the full package of a Zwift Ride smart frame with Wahoo’s brand-new KICKR CORE 2? Click below to purchase through Zwift (your purchase through this link helps support Zwift Insider):

In Canada? Purchase Zwift Ride + KICKR CORE 2 from Wahoo >


The New Wahoo KICKR BIKE PRO

Wahoo unveiled the first edition of their KICKR BIKE at Eurobike 2019, and it certainly turned heads with its distinctive look and built-in KICKR CLIMB tilting. Then in 2022, they released the updated KICKR BIKE, making various iterative improvements while also adding WiFi connectivity and a redesigned motor for higher max wattage and quieter operation.

One year later, the KICKR BIKE SHIFT was announced, sporting a similar design and base feature set as the KICKR BIKE but at a lower price point.

Today, Zwift released the next version of KICKR BIKE, named the KICKR BIKE PRO. This replaces the KICKR BIKE Gen 2, and while mostly what you’ll see here are iterative upgrades from the Gen 2 version, that’s what you would expect in the third generation of the industry’s leading smart bike.

What’s New?

New or upgraded features on the KICKR BIKE PRO include:

  • Handlebars redesigned for increased indoor comfort (now 40cm wide with 16-degree flare and Fi’zi:k Solocush bar tape)
  • Upgraded saddle (Fi’zi:k Aliante R5)
  • 4-button controllers on top of each hood, mimicking Zwift Play controller capabilities (these also work for navigating other indoor apps, including Wahoo SYSTM, Rouvy, TrainingPeaks Virtual, and MyWhoosh)
  • Bluetooth bridging of heart rate and other sensors to consolidate connections (great for Apple TV users)
  • Increased durability thanks to more robust shifter cables and oversized quick-release levers

Key Specs

  • Max Wattage: 2500W
  • Max Simulated Incline: 20%
  • Max Simulated Decline: -15%
  • Power Accuracy: +/-1%
  • Connectivity: WiFi, ANT+ FEC, Bluetooth, Direct Connect
  • Variable crank length (165mm, 167.5mm, 170mm, 172.5mm, 175mm)
  • Configurable virtual cassettes and shifting styles
  • Physical bike tilt grade simulation via integrated KICKR CLIMB
  • 5-point adjustment system ensures perfect ergonomics
  • Total weight: 93lbs
  • Dimensions: 48x30x37 in / 121x76x95 cm (smallest configuration), 48x30x47 in / 121x76x118 cm (largest configuration)
  • Price: $3,999.99 USD, $5,599.99 CAD, £3,499.99 GBP, €3,999.99 Euro, $6,299.95 AU, ¥510,000 JPY

Your Thoughts

What do you think of Wahoo’s updates to the Core and Bike, and the corresponding update to the Zwift Ride? Share your thoughts below!

Wahoo partners with Fizik to create a ‘pro’ indoor bike

Wahoo has announced the Kickr Bike Pro, an upgraded version of its highly rated smart indoor bike.

Built around the same indoor bike frame and resistance unit as the standard Kickr Bike, Wahoo says the Kickr Bike Pro features upgraded shifters alongside “premium” contact points from Fizik.

These include a Fizik Aliante R5 saddle and the Italian brand’s Solocush bar tape wrapped on a new ‘ergonomic handlebar’ that Wahoo says is “ specifically designed for indoor riding”.

The Kickr Bike Pro is available now and priced at  £3,499.99 / $3,999 / €3,999.99.

Zwift-inspired shifters

Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro shifters
Wahoo’s Kickr Bike Pro shifters feature additional action buttons up top.

With interactive indoor cycling booming in recent years, we’ve seen an increasing number of video-game style ‘controllers’ such as Zwift’s Play and, more recently, Click v2.

Designed around Zwift (indoor cycling’s most popular app), these enable riders to control their avatar and navigate in-app menus without needing to reach for a keyboard and mouse while riding.

With other indoor cycling apps, such as Rouvy, adopting these systems and controllers, Wahoo has added more buttons to the tops of the shifter hoods to expand the Kickr Bike Pro’s capabilities.

Zwift Click v2 controllers and Zwift Play controller
Wahoo says it modelled the new shifter buttons to match the functionality of Zwift’s controllers. Simon von Bromley / Our Media

The brand says these are modelled to mimic the functionality of Zwift’s Play and Click v2 controllers, but they can be used with other apps where they are supported.

Wahoo has also added the ability for the Kickr Bike Pro to act as a sensor bridge for other Bluetooth or ANT+ peripherals, such as heart rate monitors.

According to Wahoo, these make the Kickr Bike Pro “the most integrated indoor training solution available”.

Upgraded contact points

Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro saddle
Fizik supplies its popular Aliante R5 saddle. Wahoo

While the standard Kickr Bike came with unbranded parts – leaving riders free to spec their own parts, if preferred – Wahoo has partnered with Fizik to improve the quality of the Kickr Bike Pro’s contact points.

The saddle, for example, is the brand’s popular Aliante model. Designed for endurance road cycling, the Aliante features a curved profile and a pressure-relief channel in the middle.

Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro handlebar
Wahoo’s Kickr Bike Pro handlebar features flared drops. Wahoo
Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro handlebar
The new handlebar features compact drops. Wahoo

Alongside this, Wahoo has specced a new ‘ergonomic’ drop handlebar. It doesn’t note exact changes compared to the bar on the standard Kickr Bike, but it appears to feature a relatively compact drop with a slight flare to the drops.

The brand says it has also refined the quick-release levers used to adjust the bike fit, for a smoother experience setting up the bike.

As before, the Kickr Bike Pro uses industry-standard saddle and stem mounting points, so riders can swap in their own favourites if preferred. Crank length is also selectable in 2.5mm increments from 165 to 175mm.

Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro spec

Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro
Wahoo’s Kickr Bike Pro is built around the existing Kickr Bike platform. Wahoo

Beyond the upgraded shifters and contact points, the basic spec of the Kickr Bike Pro is the same as the standard Kickr Bike.

This includes a maximum power output of 2,500 watts, a claimed power accuracy rating of +/- 1 per cent and the ability to simulate gradients from -15 to 20 per cent.

It also features network connectivity via Wi-Fi or Wahoo’s own ‘direct connect’ wired standard, as well as Bluetooth and ANT+ capabilities.

Wahoo Kickr Core 2

Wahoo Kickr Core 2 smart trainer
Wahoo has also announced the release of the new Kickr Core 2 smart trainer. Simon von Bromley / Our Media

Alongside the Kickr Bike Pro, Wahoo has announced the Kickr Core 2 – a new version of its iconic mid-range smart trainer.

As with the Kickr Bike Pro, the Kickr Core 2 is built around a similar platform to the original Kickr Core, but features upgraded legs and additional connectivity options, including Wi-Fi.

Priced at £499.99 / $549.99 / €549.99, we’ve got a unit in for testing ahead of the coming winter.

“Sportswashing pure and simple”: pro-Palestine organisers at La Vuelta explain why they’re disrupting the race

If you’ve been following this year’s Vuelta a España, you’ll have likely seen or read about the pro-Palestine demonstrations that have disrupted the race. 

From the beginning of this year’s final Grand Tour, demonstrators have lined the roadside waving Palestinian flags, entered the course to halt the race and even engaged in a stand-off with police. 

Coverage of the protests has focused overwhelmingly on statements issued by the race organisers, the riders and the Israel–Premier Tech team, which has been the main target of the demonstrations. So we spoke directly with those behind the demonstrations.

“Sportswashing pure and simple”

A Protest In Ribadeo (lugo) Against Israel's Participation In The Vuelta Ciclista A España.
A protest at the start of stage 15 of La Vuelta in Ribadeo, Spain. Carlos Castro / Getty Images

In April, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement called for protests against the inclusion of Israel–Premier Tech in this year’s Grand Tours. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) is a founding member of the Palestinian-led BDS movement.  

Stephanie Adam, a campaigner for PACBI, told BikeRadar via email that Israel–Premier Tech’s presence at La Vuelta is “sportswashing pure and simple”. Sportswashing is typically described as a way to improve the reputation of a government or state, and it has become commonplace in cycling

She believes the team “was explicitly created to whitewash and distract from Israel’s grave crimes against Palestinians”, adding that it refers to itself as an “ambassador” for Israel.  

“The team’s backer and co-founder, billionaire Canadian-Israeli Sylvan Adams, refers to himself as an ambassador-at-large for Israel,” she explains, highlighting how Adams has said that riders understand that being on the team means being an ambassador for the country

Recently, former Israel–Premier Tech riders Jakob Fuglsang and Alessandro De Marchi have expressed relief at no longer riding for the team. 

Israel-Premier Tech's co-owner Israeli-Canadian Sylvan Adams in 2022.
Israel-Premier Tech’s co-owner Sylvan Adams in 2022. Bo Amstrup / Getty Images

Adam says: “Israel is committing what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled is plausibly genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, killing tens of thousands. Israel’s livestreamed engineered mass famine is starving Palestinians to death. It has also decimated Palestinian homes, hospitals, schools, universities, and sports facilities.”  

Israel’s war on Gaza was launched in response to the Hamas attacks of October 7 2023, where more than 1,000 Israelis were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. 

Adam contextualises Israel’s ensuing war on Gaza by saying: “This is only Israel’s latest, devastating attack on Palestinian life. As Amnesty International and others have documented, Israel has been imposing an apartheid regime on the entire Palestinian people, including refugees, for 77 years.” 

She says Palestinians and the PACBI’s progressive allies “will not stand by” as any sportwashing of Israel takes place. “How could we? Our most urgent task at hand is stopping the genocide. There can be no sports as usual,” she says. 

“Grassroots power at its finest”

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the finish line watched by the police (Ertzaina) during the La Vuelta.
Pro-Palestinian protesters at the finish line of La Vuelta’s stage 11, which was shortened. Tim de Waele / Getty Images

Lidón Soriano has been one of the organisers of the protests at La Vuelta. In July, she was involved in launching BDS Deportivo, a platform for the boycott of Israel in sport through the BDS Movement and RESCOP, the Spanish network against the occupation of Palestine. 

She says the platform’s main objective is to expel Israel from La Vuelta and all sporting competitions. 

“We’ve achieved coordination throughout all stages, and it’s been wonderful to be able to create that common thread in terms of message, action, and objective,” she tells BikeRadar by email.

“From the first stage in Figueres to the current one in Asturias, we’ve been in contact with all the local groups, and all have carried out peaceful, nonviolent actions.

“Personally, the experience was impressive: grassroots power at its finest and a collective demand for justice for Palestine.”

While there have been protests at other races, none have been as large as those at La Vuelta, which even led to stage 11 being shortened due to the number of demonstrators at the finish line in Bilbao. 

Soriano says she thinks there are two reasons for this. “On the one hand, the Spanish population is probably the most sensitive and supportive of Palestine of all European countries. On the other hand, the Spanish government is less repressive toward demonstrations of support for Palestine,” she says.

It is not only the Spanish population that is supportive of Palestine, but parts of the government too. Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, was the first senior European leader to accuse Israel of genocide. 

The government also recently announced that it will move forward with a law that, if passed, would directly impose a military embargo against Israel. And, last week, the country’s minister of foreign affairs, European Union and cooperation of Spain, José Manuel Albares, even said he supports Israel–Premier Tech leaving La Vuelta. 

UCI hypocrisy 

Cyclists pass Palestine flags at La Vuelta a España.
Cyclists pass Palestine flags at La Vuelta a España. Tim de Waele / Getty Images

Albares is one of many to have called for Israel–Premier Tech to leave Spain’s Grand Tour, but the decision on whether or not they can race ultimately lies with cycling’s governing body, the UCI.

Last week, the UCI released a statement saying it “firmly condemns” the protests at La Vuelta, stressing its political neutrality. But for Adam, there is hypocrisy in the UCI’s actions. 

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UCI banned Russian teams from participating in competitions, but no similar ban was placed on Israel after it began its most recent attack on Gaza following October 7. 

Adam says this signals to Israel that “its genocide… can continue with no consequences, with total impunity”. 

Pro riders’ reactions 

MONFORTE DE LEMOS, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 07: Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Visma | Lease a Bike - Red Leader Jersey winner after the La Vuelta - 80th Tour of Spain 2025, Stage 15 a 167.8km stage from A Veiga-Vegadeo to Monforte de Lemos / #UCIWT / on September 07, 2025 in Monforte de Lemos, Spain. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Jonas Vingegaard claimed the race was the “wrong place” for people to protest, but later said people were doing it for a reason. Dario Belingheri / Getty Images

Pro riders have been at the sharp end of the protests at La Vuelta. Several have crashed following protesters entering the course of the race. Some riders have acknowledged the right to peaceful protests, but expressed concerns over safety

Following the curtailment of stage 11, Tom Pidcock said the demonstrators’ actions were “not going to help what they’re protesting for”. Race leader Jonas Vingegaard said La Vuelta is the “wrong place” for people to protest. 

This week, the Dane expressed understanding for what’s behind the protests: “People are doing it for a reason, it’s horrible what’s happening,” he said after stage 15, but added that it was a “shame” the race was being targeted.  

In response to their comments, Soriano is appealing to riders. “I would like to ask them what they would like the world to do if their children, wives, or mothers were being murdered,” she says. 

Adam adds: “Palestinians and our progressive allies would like nothing more than for there to be no need to protest against Israel’s genocide, its apartheid rule, or its military occupation. But that is not the world we live in.” 

What happens next? 

Team Israel Premier Tech 's US rider Matthew Riccitello crosses the finish line during the 14th stage of the Vuelta a Espana.
Israel–Premier Tech removed its name from the team jersey at La Vuelta. Miguel Riopa / Getty Images

Israel–Premier Tech has said it’s firmly committed to racing at La Vuelta. The team has also removed its name from its kit, citing safety concerns, and Sylvan Adams has said withdrawing from the race would amount to “surrender to the terrorists”.

Meanwhile, Adam and Soriano say protests will continue through the final week of La Vuelta. 

Soriano says BDS Deportivo demands the expulsion of Israel from all sporting events, and will “continue coordinating the actions that the different groups are preparing in their respective cities until governments and sports organisations fulfill their legal obligation to do everything possible to end the occupation, apartheid, and genocide in Palestine.”

Adam says protests will continue at La Vuelta, and until Israel–Premier Tech is excluded from UCI races and events. 

“Riders and teams are reportedly starting to call for UCI to do just that,” she says. “We encourage them to make their collective voice heard, to uphold sporting values and push UCI to stop tarnishing the sport.”

Garmin’s new Edge 550 and 850 compact bike computers are its “brightest and smartest” yet

Garmin says the new Edge 550 and Edge 850 are its “brightest and smartest” compact bike computers yet.

Launched today, the Edge 550 (£379.99) and Edge 850 (£469.99) have a new bright and colourful 2.7in display, which is a small increase of 0.1in compared to the previous Edge 540 and Edge 840.

Garmin says the two bike computers are also highly responsive, fast and they come with a whole host of advanced training features, including free training plans. 

This extra performance also comes with a boosted battery life, which has increased from 26 hours on the Edge 540 and 840 to 36 hours. 

What features do the new computers have?

Garmin Edge 850 analysis screen.
The new Edge bike computers come with advanced training features. Garmin

One of the biggest draws of the new Edge 550 and 850 computers is the free Cycling Coach plans, which come alongside a host of other training features. 

Accessible via the Garmin Connect app, these plans are said to “adapt based on specific course demands and the rider’s training and recovery, providing recommended training adjustments.”

However, you will need a compatible power meter and heart rate monitor to make use of the training plans. 

You can also use the Edge 550 and 850 to see your cycling ability. Garmin says this can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses as a cyclist, and it tracks your progress over time.

Elsewhere, the smart fueling alerts prompt you to hydrate and refuel during your ride based on your current fitness, the course you’re riding, heat and humidity.

When paired with a smartphone and the Connect cycling app, you can use the computers to access Garmin’s new GroupRide data comparisons. This feature shows how your speed, heart rate, power output, cadence and more stack up against your fellow riders. 

If you ride with electronic gears, after your ride you can use the computers to check how much time was spent in each gear with Garmin’s new Gear Ratio Analysis. 

One particularly useful feature on the Edge 550 and 850, that doesn’t require an app or high-tech equipment, is real-time weather updates, including wind direction. 

The computers also support Garmin’s enduro and downhill profiles, which launched with the recently announced Edge MTB computer. These enable 5Hz GPS recording while descending to help you see the lines you took in greater detail.

The timing gates feature will also be of use if you ride off-road. This enables you to see splits in real time for each lap or run of your ride. 

So what’s the difference between the Edge 550 and 850?

Garmin Edge 850 Garmin Pay screen.
The Edge 850 comes with Garmin Pay for contactless payments. Garmin

While the new Garmin Edge 550 and Edge 850 share the same bright screen and training features, the Edge 850 has several extra features, which contributes to its higher price and brings it more in line with Garmin’s flagship Edge 1050 bike computer

One of the big draws of the Edge 850 over the 550 is the responsive touchscreen. As with the Edge 1050, the Edge 850’s touchscreen means you can pan or zoom on the map, swipe between data screens and even report road hazards.

The Edge 850 also has a built-in speaker like the Edge 1050, which provides you with a digital bike bell, audible turn-by-turn navigation, workout prompts and more. 

As with Garmin’s smartwatches, the Edge 850 supports contactless payments. But this feature is only supported by certain countries, payment networks and banks, which you can check on Garmin’s website. 

Another difference between the new Garmin Edge bike computers is the Edge 850 has a route creator, so you can plot out point-by-point courses directly on the device via the touchscreen. 

Safety features 

Garmin Edge 850 on handlebar of bike.
The computers come with Garmin’s core safety features to help “support cyclists’ peace of mind and awareness”.   Garmin

The Edge 550 and 850 also include Garmin’s core safety features, which are said to help “support cyclists’ peace of mind and awareness”.  

Both computers will alert you to road hazards reported by other Garmin users, and enable you to contribute any hazards you spot.

Your family and friends can use Garmin’s LiveTrack feature to see your location in real time. 

If an incident is detected, the computers will send a message with your location to your emergency contact. 

The computers are also compatible with Garmin’s Varia radar bike lights to audibly alert you to when a vehicle is approaching and capture footage from your ride.

New Garmin Rally pedals 

Garmin Rally power meter pedal.
Garmin has also launched its new Rally power meter pedals. Garmin

The Garmin Edge 550 and 850 have launched at the same time as the new Garmin Rally 110 and 210 power meter pedals

Garmin says the single- and dual-sensing power meter pedals can be swapped easily between road and off-road pedal bodies and from bike to bike. 

They have rechargeable batteries and new Pedal IQ smart calibration, which alerts you when the pedals need to be recalibrated. 

    Garmin’s new power meter pedals look fantastic, but the price is far too high for me

    Garmin has overhauled its Rally power meter pedals, with a redesigned spindle that features an internal rechargeable battery for the first time.

    According to Garmin, the new Rally pedals feature a “redesigned sensing spindle” that makes them “more responsive”, offers 90 hours of battery life and enables them to measure your power output “within 1 per cent accuracy”.

    Alongside this, Garmin has redesigned the pedal bodies – paying particular attention to the off-road versions – for improved performance and easier swaps between pedal body types.

    As before, Garmin will offer pedal body options for Shimano SPD-SL, Look Keo and Shimano SPD (off-road) cleat systems.

    On paper, it looks as if Garmin may have finally caught up with – or even surpassed – Favero’s Assioma PRO RS and Assioma PRO MX pedals.

    However, the sticking point is the cost.

    With prices for dual-sided, Rally 210 pedal systems starting at £929.99 / $1,199.99 / €1,099.99, Garmin’s new Rally pedals cost significantly more than the competition.

    Prices for Favero’s latest power pedals, for example, start at £599 / $759 / €750 for a dual-sided set, and with the Assioma PRO MX pedals scoring a full five stars in our review, it’s hard to see why you’d spend any more.

    Refining a successful formula

    Garmin Rally 210 / 110 power meter pedals
    The latest Rally 110 and 210 road pedals look similar at a glance, but there have been plenty of changes under the hood. Garmin

    While Favero has deservedly garnered much praise in recent years for its power meter pedals, Garmin’s own efforts have long been a dependable option too.

    Although its Vector 3 pedals began life with a few battery-door related teething issues, they offered solid performance with excellent data accuracy and a long, 120-hour battery life from user-replaceable CR1/3N coin cells. 

    I still use a set for benchmarking smart trainers and other power meters to this day.

    When Garmin rolled out its Rally 200 in 2021, it was a first for compatibility with Shimano SPD-SL cleats, as well as offering the tantalising prospect of being able to swap between road and off-road pedal bodies.

    With the new Rally 210 systems, Garmin is refining the system even further.

    Garmin Rally 210 / 110 power meter pedals
    The pedals are charged via a magnetic connector. Garmin

    As noted, the big news is the move to an internal rechargeable battery, with a claimed 90 hours of run time.

    Garmin also says the pedals have a ‘quick-charge’ feature that means riders can gain “up to 12 hours” of riding time from only 15 minutes of charging. It’s easy to imagine that being useful if you realise the batteries are flat just before heading out for a ride, for example.

    As well as potentially offering better weather-sealing (battery doors are a common weak point on power meters), Garmin says it also makes it easier to swap the spindle between pedal bodies.

    While the previous Rally pedal bodies could be swapped at home, it was a fiddly process that involved a precision screwdriver and some very small bolts. It wasn’t exactly traumatic, but equally not something you’d want to be doing before every other ride.

    Garmin Rally 210 / 110 power meter pedals
    The new Rally pedals are said to be easier to take apart. Garmin

    Garmin says this can now be accomplished using only a 15mm pedal spanner and 5Nm Allen key / hex wrench, and will be selling road pedal systems bundled with off-road pedal bodies (£1,129.99) to enable riders to enjoy the benefits of both pedal types.

    Of course, we’ll reserve judgement on exactly how easy this is until we’ve had a set in to test, but Garmin says “It’s now a matter of a couple of minutes to swap pedal bodies, change from one ride type to another and move [the pedals] from bike to bike.”

    Redesigned sensing spindle

    When quizzed on what improvements have been made to the sensing spindle, Andrew Silver, Garmin’s lead bike product manager – engineering, told BikeRadar that the sensor design now includes a gyroscope, which enables “more instantaneous power measurement”.

    According to Silver, “this allows for greater responsiveness and accuracy in short efforts as well as oval chainring support.”

    These changes also help the pedals determine whether they need calibrating – a new feature that Garmin calls ‘Pedal IQ Smart Calibration’.

    Smart Calibration

    Garmin Rally 210 / 110 power meter pedals
    Garmin says the Rally 110 and 210 pedals can now notify you if they need calibrating. Garmin

    In what might be a first for a power meter, Garmin says the new Rally pedals can notify riders (via compatible Garmin bike computers and smartwatches) of the need to perform a zero-offset calibration.

    Garmin says this isn’t simply a periodic reminder, but a ‘smart’ system based on “several factors”, including ambient temperature changes, the time since a previous calibration and whether the pedals have been swapped to a different bike.

    Although Garmin doesn’t specify, I’d imagine this feature comes in addition to the auto-zero or automatic calibration the previous Rally system featured. This triggers an automatic calibration every time you wake the pedals up, provided your bike is stood still for 10 seconds.

    Updated pedal bodies

    Garmin Rally 210 / 110 power meter pedals
    Garmin has paid particular attention to the XC pedal body. Garmin

    One criticism of Garmin’s previous Rally XC200 pedals – the SPD-compatible off-road version – was that the pedal body itself left something to be desired.

    My colleague, Tom Marvin, for example, tested those pedals and noted the stack height was fairly high.

    Seeking to address this, Garmin says its new XC210 pedals feature an all-metal body with a lower stack height of 11.5mm (2mm lower than before and within 0.3mm of Favero’s Assioma PRO MX pedals).

    The road pedal bodies have also been subtly redesigned, with a “carbon polymer material” contributing to a lower overall weight and improved durability.

    A dual-sided set of Shimano SPD-SL-compatible Rally RS210 pedals is now claimed to weigh 312g, compared to 320g for the previous version, for example.

    Garmin says all pedals have also received updated bearings for better long-term durability.

    Garmin Rally 210/110 pedals claimed weights

    • Rally RK210: 312g
    • Rally RK110: 320g
    • Rally RS210: 312g
    • Rally RS110: 320g
    • Rally XC210: 436g
    • Rally XC110: 444g

    Can the Garmin Rally 210 pedals take on Favero?

    Garmin Rally 210 / 110 power meter pedals
    Garmin looks to be bringing a number of solid updates to its Rally platform. Garmin

    While we’ve yet to get a set of Garmin’s latest Rally pedals in to test, I’m impressed by what, on paper, looks to be a solid refinement of an already high-performing system.

    The switch to a rechargeable battery is a smart one, and hopefully means Garmin will avoid any teething issues with battery doors with this release.

    Likewise, the improved XC pedal bodies should please plenty of cross-country and gravel racers – a power meter pedal needs to be a good pedal first and foremost, not solely a good watt-measurement device, after all.

    If the pedal bodies are easier to switch, as claimed, then that will also be worth celebrating, as will the quick-charge and smart-calibration features.

    Unfortunately, it’s impossible to ignore the price compared to the competition.

    Garmin Rally 210 / 110 power meter pedals
    The Garmin Rally 210 / 110 power meter pedals look fantastic, but the price is hard to swallow. Garmin

    The base prices of £929.99 / $1,199.99 / €1,099.99 for dual-sided road pedal sets are markedly higher than Favero’s offerings, and the off-road sets are even pricier at £999.99 / $1,299.99 / €1,199.99.

    Prices for single-sided sets are cheaper – £549.99 / $749.99 / €649.99 for road pedals and £629.99 / $799.99 / €749.99 for off-road sets – but still relatively expensive compared to the competition (and they only measure power output from one leg, of course).

    Favero’s latest Assioma PRO MX pedals cost only £649 / $789 / €699 for dual-sided sets and £399 / $499 / €439 for single-sided sets, for example.

    Meanwhile, its off-road Assioma PRO MX pedals cost even less – only £599 / $759 / €750 for a dual-sided set and £399 / $450 / €499 for single-sided sets.

    Even in a best-case scenario (the most expensive dual-sided Favero pedals versus the cheapest dual-sided Garmin option), the Garmins are more than 43 per cent more expensive in the UK.

    At its worst (Favero’s Assioma PRO MX versus Garmin’s Rally XC210), the difference is a whopping 66.9 per cent here in the UK.

    Given Favero’s offerings are practically flawless – I awarded the Assioma PRO MX pedals a full five stars when I reviewed them, and am currently wrapping up testing of the road version (spoiler, they’re also excellent) – I’m not sure Garmin’s latest offerings can justify their price premium.

    Who rides in the rain? New Castelli Perfetto jacket uses “revolutionary” Polartec fabric and responds to how cycling has changed

    The new Castelli Perfetto 3 RoS jacket has undergone a major overhaul, dropping the Gore-Tex Infinium fabric that was synonymous with the Italian brand’s wet-weather cycling kit and moving to Polartec’s new Aircore fabric. 

    Castelli worked closely with Polartec to develop the new “revolutionary” Aircore fabric. It says the fabric “ticks every box when it comes to being lightweight, highly breathable, windproof, and water repellent” and helps the Perfetto 3 redefine “what ‘breathable’ means”. 

    The fabric is also completely free from PFAs-based chemicals. These toxic ‘forever chemicals’ don’t break down in the natural environment and are now banned in some parts of the world. 

    Steve Smith, head of cycling at the MVC Group, which owns Castelli and Sportful, says this fabric is a “huge deal”. 

    “The drive to remove PFAs from wet weather clothing has been challenging to say the least. A number of products coming out dramatically compromise breathability for the sake of waterproofing,” says Smith. 

    “In so few areas of our lives is the move towards sustainability actually bringing us better performance. But here, we’re improving breathability, we’re improving water protection, we’re improving stretch and comfort, and we’re PFAs free,” he explains. 

    “A big change” 

    Cyclist wearing new Castelli Perfetto 3 RoS jacket.
    Fewer people are heading out for a bike ride in the rain, according to Steve Smith. Castelli

    Entering an era free of PFAs, Castelli began designing the new Perfetto with a blank canvas and “a hard look” at what cyclists need. 

    “We’re seeing a big change in the way cyclists are riding in cool and wet conditions. That’s partly driven by technology, but also driven by climate change,” Smith says. 

    When it comes to technology, cyclists are spending more time riding indoors, which means they’re not braving the elements so often. And with more accurate weather forecasts, cyclists are adapting their rides to avoid downpours. 

    On climate change, Smith says: “There’s data out there that says we’re actually getting fewer days of rain, although the total amount of rainfall is maintaining the levels it always has. It’s just increasing in intensity.”

    So when we do cycle in the rain, Smith says we’re reaching for rain jackets more than the kind of mixed-conditions, wet-weather kit for which Castelli is renowned, such as the Gabba.  

    These factors led Castelli to ask a question. “If we didn’t have to worry so much about water, how far could we push the breathability so that we can keep the cyclists drier on the inside across the widest range of temperatures and intensity levels?” says Smith. 

    Enter Polartec Aircore 

    Cyclist wearing new Castelli Perfetto 3 RoS jacket.
    The Castelli Perfetto 3 RoS jacket uses the “revolutionary” Polartec Aircore fabric. Castelli

    After speaking to a range of fabric suppliers, engineers and scientists, Castelli found Polartec best understood its quest not to compromise on breathability or water protection.  

    Ramesh Kesh, business manager at Polartec, says you can basically make any rain jacket shell waterproof by putting a plastic film in it. But this means the material can’t breathe, which leads to moisture build-up. 

    With Polartec’s new Aircore fabric, Kesh says: “The idea is to prevent wind and moisture getting in, but at the same time, it has to get out so that you don’t feel clammy and start becoming uncomfortable.” 

    This is particularly tricky with sports such as cycling due to the Clausius–Clapeyron law. Kesh explains: “For every degree increase in your body temperature, you’re going to accumulate about 7 per cent more water, which means that as you do your high aerobic activity, condensation is going to build up.”

    Aircore gets around this issue thanks to a nano-fibre membrane that’s sandwiched between two layers of textile. 

    The membrane is produced by a process called electrospinning, where a hydrophobic polymer is pushed through a needle that’s charged at 20,000 volts. The needle emits filaments, which are approximately 100 times smaller than a human hair and “fall like snow” to create a membrane that’s incredibly tight but still allows air to move through it. 

    Polartec Aircore fabric close up showing its permeability.
    A graphic showing how air can move through the Aircore fabric. Castelli

    Smith says this airflow through the Perfetto is imperceivable: “Your perception of wearing this garment is that it is completely windproof, you don’t feel that there’s a wind chill, but yet there’s a small amount of air coming in that’s grabbing the moisture and taking it out.”

    The end result is a fabric, and therefore a cycling jacket, which ventilates sweat away from your body to keep you dry and blocks out the wind and rain.

    “A disservice to the industry”

    Two cyclists wearing new Castelli Perfetto 3 RoS jacket.
    Steve Smith says the water column of 10,000mm has been a “disservice to the industry”. Castelli

    When it comes to waterproofing, the new Perfetto has a water column equivalent to 5,000mm.

    This is half of the 10,000mm figure that is often the legal definition of waterproofness, and Smith thinks has “really been a disservice to the industry”. 

    “It got set at that because of the lobbyists for the industry, who were the earlier players that figured out how to make a product that gave that level of waterproofness,” he claims. 

    “In reality, lighter rain falls with the water column equivalent of around 800mm while heavy rain falls at around 2,000mm. So when you go to 10,000mm, you have way more waterproofness than you actually need,” Smith adds.  

    This means that although the new Perfetto has a high water column value, “we can’t call it waterproof in a legal sense”. Instead, Smith says Castelli promises you “effective waterproofing” with its latest jacket.

    What else is new with the Castelli Perfetto 3? 

    Model wearing Castelli Perfetto 3 jacket.
    The new Castelli Perfetto 3 RoS jacket is similar to its predecessor. Castelli

    Apart from the new fabric, the Perfetto 3 (£280 / $320 / €249.95) is similar to its predecessor, with a few small tweaks. 

    The jacket still has taped shoulder seams to keep any water out, but these are now reflective. There is also a new reflective strip underneath the three rear pockets, which still feature drainage holes. A drop-tail design protects you from any road spray, while the high collar keeps your neck warm. 

    Suitable for temperatures ranging from 4–14˚C, the jacket now has a two-way zip and retains its two body zips, which may not be of great use. Smith says the jacket was in development over the last winter and by the time it had gone into production in spring, Castelli realised the body zips weren’t necessary thanks to the breathability of the fabric. “You may never open them,” he says.

    Castelli zip close up.
    The Perfetto retains the body zips for ventilation. Castelli

    Castelli Perfetto 3 RoS Jacket rear pocket and drop tail close up.
    The jacket has three rear pockets and a drop tail. Castelli

    What’s next for Aircore?

    Castelli has exclusive rights to use Aircore for cycling kit, and it will soon release a range of products that use the new fabric. 

    But there are currently brands outside of cycling looking at Aircore, so we can probably expect to see it crop up across the outdoor industry – and possibly elsewhere – in due course. 

    Kesh says the next stage of development will be to make the Aircore membrane from recycled material, which would make the fabric 100 per cent recycled. 

    “The idea is to leave the world in a better place, but not to compromise on performance,” says Kesh.

    TSOZ Closer Look: Zwift Racing Score Changes

    In the Fall 2025 “This Season on Zwift” press release, Zwift revealed several upcoming changes to the Zwift Racing Score system which is used to group riders for most of the races on the platform. These changes will have a significant impact on rider scores, so let’s dive into the details…

    Zwift Racing Score Decay

    Launching mid-September

      Zwift Racing Score decay was built into the early system, but the feature was turned off in October 2024 because feedback from Zwifters indicated it wasn’t making scoring more accurate. At that time, Zwift said, “We may turn this back on later after making some improvements to the mechanism.”

      Zwift has now made those improvements, and they are reintroducing decay into the ZRS system. Zwift says, “This means that if you stop racing for a while, your displayed score will very gradually drift downward (after 30 days without a race), and the system’s uncertainty about your true level goes up – so when you return, you’re matched more fairly rather than a stale high score.”

      Digging a little deeper, this change involves:

      • 30‑day grace period: Your score will only begin decaying after 30 days without a scored race.
      • Rising Uncertainty, Fairer Returns: After the 30-day grace period, the system’s uncertainty for your score will also increase, allowing your score to adjust more rapidly once you do race again. Or to put it another way: returning racers will adjust faster to their real level.
      • Decay is Capped (or better, Floored): Your score will not drift infinitely downward.
      • Discourages Rating Squatting: Built-in decay means riders can’t climb to a higher score and stay there without racing. It keeps rankings fresh.

      In practical terms, Zwift says this is what you can expect if you take a break from racing:

      • Short break (within grace period): No change; you won’t feel penalized for a holiday or training block.
      • Moderate break: Slight downward adjustment; you may see a modest score dip that encourages re-engagement.
      • Long break: You settle at a conservative plateau; when you come back, early results will move you faster than before.

      Rewarding Personal Bests with Instant Score Updates

      Launching mid-September

      ZRS is a results-based algorithm where your score changes based on your finishing position in races. But the foundational component of the ZRS algorithm is your seed score, which is based on your 90-day power personal bests.

      One crucial thing your seed score provides is a ZRS floor value – the lowest your score can drop to. Your ZRS floor is 15% below your seed score.

      Currently, if you set a new power PB (in a free ride, workout, race, or any Zwift activity), your ZRS is only immediately changed if the updated floor value based on your new power PB is higher than your current ZRS. This means there are plenty of scenarios where riders will hit new power PBs outside of a race, but their scores don’t change. Here’s one example of how that could work…

      Example 1 (current system):

      • Current ZRS: 500
      • New Seed Score Based on New Power PB: 540
      • New Floor Value (85% of Seed Score): 459
      • New ZRS: 500 (unchanged, because it is higher than the new floor value)

      With the new system, when a rider achieves a 90-day power PB, their racing score will immediately be set to the new, higher “seed” value if that seed value is higher than their current ZRS.

      Example 2 (new system):

      • Current ZRS: 500
      • New Seed Score Based on New Power PB: 540
      • New ZRS: 540 (score instantly set to new seed score, since it was higher than the rider’s current score)

      In simple terms, this change will lead to ZRS increases for more riders, which should mean more riders’ scores will accurately affect their current peak fitness. To be specific:

      • Active Racers will see score boosts immediately when their power PB wasn’t in a race
      • Active Non-Racers who are training but not racing will get their score adjusted upwards with new PB values, helping ensure their score is accurate once they race
      • Returning Users coming back to Zwift after a break will have their scores adjusted more quickly as they set power PBs in any Zwift activity

      30-Day Best Score for Race Categorization

      Launching late September/early October

      Soon, race organizers will have the option of categorizing riders based on 30-day best ZRS, as opposed to the current ZRS that all scored races use.

      Why the change? Some racers have complained that riders are purposely tanking their score by riding hard enough to bypass Zwift’s anti-tanking measures while still finishing far down in the results. This is especially prevalent among racers who naturally sit near the cutoff lines for categories.

      These racers may enter a “target” race with a score that places them near the top of their category, winning the race and receiving a ZRS result that would push them out of their category and into the next highest.

      They will then purposely tank a race or two (or perhaps four, via our Tiny Races), dropping their ZRS so they can once again enter the lower category in their target race.

      With this change, race organizers may enable “30-Day Max Score Enforcement” for their event, meaning even if a racer purposely tanked their score across multiple events, they would still be categorized based on their highest score in the past 30 days.

      Simply put, this is an additional anti-tanking measure. And I think it’s a good one that many race organizers will use.

      (For our Tiny Races in particular, this feature will have the added benefit of reducing how often a rider starts the set of four Tinies in one category, then gets forced into a higher category mid-set, eliminating their chance of a high overall placing since they raced in two different categories on the day.)

      Displaying Score Deltas in Results

      Launching mid-September

      We published a post about the ZwiftPower ZRS browser plugin just 2 weeks ago. This fun little community-created add-on for ZwiftPower adds ZRS results to ZwiftPower pages, including a delta figure showing how much each rider’s ZRS changed in that race.

      In that post, I asked Zwift to add the delta figure to race results found on event pages at zwift.com. Little did I know, Zwift already had that change in the works (which explains why the delta figure was available in the API data for the ZwiftPower ZRS plugin to access in the first place).

      Anyway – this is a small change, but a welcome one. The deltas will also be visible in results on Zwift Companion.

      Questions or Comments

      That’s a pretty significant list of changes impacting Zwift Racing Score. What do you think of the changes? Share your thoughts below!

      9/11 Charity Race This Week on New York’s Gotham Grind

      With the 24th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, I’ve created a Zwift charity race to honor the victims of the attacks and to raise funds for the Firefighters Burn Institute, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded by Sacramento Fire Captain Cliff Haskell and the Sacramento Area Fire Fighters, Local 522 in 1973 for the purposes of:

      • establishing a local burn treatment facility
      • providing recovery programs for burn survivors
      • promoting fire and burn prevention through public education
      • funding education for medical burn team professionals, firefighters, and burn survivors
      • supporting burn treatment and rehabilitation research

      As a firefighter, this is a cause that is near to my heart. Thank you for your support.

      Schedule and Route Details

      Route and Pen Details:

      • 2 laps of New York’s Gotham Grind (18.7km, 192m elevation)
      • Powerups: Feather, Aero, Draft
      • Staggered start scratch race using 5 ZRS pens. Lower pens start first, all riders are visible, and you are only scored against your own pen.

      Two Events Available:

      Donations

      This race is a fundraiser for the Firefighters Burn Institute. Donate at zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/911-race-to-remember.

      Racing is not required to donate, and donating is not required to race.

      Israel–Premier Tech drops ‘Israel’ from La Vuelta cycling kit

      Israel–Premier Tech has removed its name from its cycling kit for the Vuelta a España, citing safety reasons after the race was targeted by pro-Palestine protesters. 

      While the team’s kit previously had its name across the chest, the new kit simply has its sponsor logos and monogram.

      In a statement released on Saturday, Israel–Premier Tech said it had changed its kit to keep its riders and the rest of the peloton safe in light of the “dangerous” nature of some of the protests. 

      “Israel–Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race. The team name remains Israel–Premier Tech but the monogram kit now aligns with the branding decisions we have previously adopted for our vehicles and casual clothing,” the team said. 

      The BDS Movement called for protests at this year’s Grand Tours in April against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech. The team is co-owned by Canadian–Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams, who is a vocal supporter of Israel. 

      While there were demonstrations at the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, there have been more prominent demonstrations at the Vuelta. 

      Protestors disrupted Israel–Premier Tech’s team time trial on 27 August, and there were more significant protests last week. 

      On stage 10 of the race, demonstrators entered the course, leading to Intermarché–Wanty’s Simone Petilli crashing. 

      After the incident, the riders’ union, the Cyclistes Professionels Associés (CPA), met with race organisers before stage 11 to discuss how to approach the issue

      President of the CPA, Adam Hansen, said on Twitter: “We remind everyone that cyclists are not involved in political or social disputes – they are simply doing their job: racing. Their safety must never be put at risk.

      “While we respect the right to peaceful protest, actions that endanger athletes cannot be accepted. Rider safety must remain the highest priority.”

      Later that day, the race organisers cut stage 11 short by 3km and said there would be no stage winner due to protests at the finish line in Bilbao.

      Team Israel Premier Tech 's US rider Matthew Riccitello crosses the finish line during the 14th stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling tour, a 135 km race between Aviles and La Farrapona in Somiedo, on September 6, 2025. Cycling team Israel-Premier Tech removed their name from their kit at the Vuelta a Espana today after pro-Palestine protests aimed at them during the race. (Photo by Miguel RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)Team Israel Premier Tech 's US rider Matthew Riccitello crosses the finish line during the 14th stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling tour, a 135 km race between Aviles and La Farrapona in Somiedo, on September 6, 2025. Cycling team Israel-Premier Tech removed their name from their kit at the Vuelta a Espana today after pro-Palestine protests aimed at them during the race. (Photo by Miguel RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)
      Police watch protesters at the finish line of stage 11 at La Vuelta. Miguel Riopa / Getty Images

      Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, then said it “firmly condemned” the protests and stressed the importance of political neutrality in sport. 

      Following stage 11, Israel–Premier Tech said it would not withdraw from the race, saying the team “remains committed” to La Vuelta. 

      Protests continued at the race through the weekend.

      Israel–Premier Tech also participated in the Tour of Britain, which concluded yesterday, where its kit retained its full name.  

      TSOZ Closer Look: New York Expansion and Power Segments

      Zwift’s Fall 2025 “This Season on Zwift” press release included an announcement every Zwifter loves to see: new roads! Specifically, Zwift is expanding the New York map, and using it to introduce a new “Power Segment” feature. Let’s dive into the details…

      The Big Apple Gets Much Bigger

      This release adds 31km of roads to Zwift’s New York map, making it the largest single expansion we’ve seen on Zwift in years. (Neokyo added ~30km to Makuri Islands in late 2021, and Watopia’s Southern Coast expansion in 2023 added 19km.)

      It’s an especially impressive addition when you consider that the New York map currently only has around ~20km of roads.

      Zwift has created 20 new routes (16 bike and 4 run) using the new roads, but it’s unclear whether all 20 routes will be released when the expansion first launches.

      Details on the actual roads/maps are scarce, as are teaser images. But we know the expansion will take Zwifters out of Zwift’s futuristic Central Park, into the city, and out to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park via New York’s subway network.

      New Feature: Power Segments

      New York’s new roads will include a new feature: power segments! These are a new take on Zwift’s timed sprint segments, where instead of sprinting across a particular distance, you hit a start arch and sprint for a particular amount of time.

      The first power segments will be located within the new subways of New York which connect the older roads of Central Park to the new roads of Prospect Park. Here’s a preview image:

      The goal is to hold the highest power possible across the segment. So hit the start arch and hammer until the timer hits zero to try and average the highest watts possible!

      Zwift is presenting these as primarily a challenge of personal achievement, so when the leaderboard pops up, it will first show how your current result (in watts, not seconds) compares to your last 90 days. It will then show how you rank against the global community.

      I’m hoping results show both pure wattage and W/kg, as both are interesting metrics for different reasons.

      Power segments will launch in New York, but hopefully we’ll find them soon on other maps. Zwift says “Power Segments will eventually roll out to other Zwift Worlds over time.”

      Power Segment Possibilities

      Power segments may be primarily a personal challenge, but what else could they be used for apart from quick sprints during free rides? A few ideas:

      • Points Races: how wild would a race be if you earned points for having the highest watts or W/kg (or both) across a segment? Heck, make it really interesting and award points for lowest power through the segment. See who can hold onto the pack with the least effort.
      • Route-Based Workouts: these have been talked about for a long time, but power segments could add a new, power-focused dimension to the idea. Routes could be turned into workouts with lots of structure, but no ERG.
      • Custom Segment Placement: what if ride organizers could place their own power segments on routes – any length, any location? Imagine the wild events that would ensue.
      • Race Gates: what if organizers could put a minimum power requirement on a power segment in a race, so riders had to meet that minimum average power or be booted from the event/hidden from others? Enforced spiciness.

      When?

      The New York expansion launches October 27. The final two stages of Zwift Unlocked (an all-new double XP tour starting October 6 and mentioned in TSOZ) will take place on new routes in NYC.

      Wrapping It Up

      Zwifters love new roads, and the New York map has always felt ripe for expansion, with many unrideable roads spurs heading into the heart of the city. What will we see when Zwift expands their “100 years in the future” NYC map to include another iconic park? Only time will tell. Personally, I’m hoping the new roads are flattish, making the map more suitable for group rides and rolling races.

      While we don’t have any more imagery or map details to share for New York’s expansion, those will certainly be teased by Zwift in the coming weeks. I’ll try to share them out here on Zwift Insider whenever possible.

      I’m also excited for power segments, which are a fresh idea that could be leveraged for new types of challenging rides and workouts. (They may also be a sneaky way to get Zwifters to put out more max efforts, which will upgrade Zwift Racing Scores to improve ranking accuracy…)

      Your Thoughts

      What do you think of Zwift’s New York expansion plans, and the new power segments feature? Share your thoughts below!

      Weekly Challenge Calendar: See Zwift’s Route, Climb, and Workout of the Week Schedule

      Zwift’s Route, Climb, and Workout of the Week challenges are designed to get you riding routes and workouts you may not otherwise ride, in return for an XP bonus you wouldn’t otherwise earn. That’s right: finishing one of these weekly challenges earns you an XP bonus that varies based on the difficulty of the route/climb/workout.

      Each week features a blend of challenges, including a shorter challenge (250XP), a medium challenge (500XP), and a longer challenge (750-1000XP). See the full schedule below.

      < September 2025 >
      Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
      1Cheddar Gorge (250XP)Cheddar Gorge (250XP)
      Jon’s Mix (500XP)Jon’s Mix (500XP)
      Climber’s Gambit (750XP)Climber’s Gambit (750XP)
      2Cheddar Gorge (250XP)Cheddar Gorge (250XP)
      Jon’s Mix (500XP)Jon’s Mix (500XP)
      Climber’s Gambit (750XP)Climber’s Gambit (750XP)
      3Cheddar Gorge (250XP)Cheddar Gorge (250XP)
      Jon’s Mix (500XP)Jon’s Mix (500XP)
      Climber’s Gambit (750XP)Climber’s Gambit (750XP)
      4Cheddar Gorge (250XP)Cheddar Gorge (250XP)
      Jon’s Mix (500XP)Jon’s Mix (500XP)
      Climber’s Gambit (750XP)Climber’s Gambit (750XP)
      5Cheddar Gorge (250XP)Cheddar Gorge (250XP)
      Jon’s Mix (500XP)Jon’s Mix (500XP)
      Climber’s Gambit (750XP)Climber’s Gambit (750XP)
      6Cheddar Gorge (250XP)Cheddar Gorge (250XP)
      Jon’s Mix (500XP)Jon’s Mix (500XP)
      Climber’s Gambit (750XP)Climber’s Gambit (750XP)
      7Cheddar Gorge (250XP)Cheddar Gorge (250XP)
      Jon’s Mix (500XP)Jon’s Mix (500XP)
      Climber’s Gambit (750XP)Climber’s Gambit (750XP)
      8Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)
      Orange Unicorn (750XP)Orange Unicorn (750XP)
      Beach Island Loop (250XP)Beach Island Loop (250XP)
      9Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)
      Orange Unicorn (750XP)Orange Unicorn (750XP)
      Beach Island Loop (250XP)Beach Island Loop (250XP)
      10Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)
      Orange Unicorn (750XP)Orange Unicorn (750XP)
      Beach Island Loop (250XP)Beach Island Loop (250XP)
      11Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)
      Orange Unicorn (750XP)Orange Unicorn (750XP)
      Beach Island Loop (250XP)Beach Island Loop (250XP)
      12Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)
      Orange Unicorn (750XP)Orange Unicorn (750XP)
      Beach Island Loop (250XP)Beach Island Loop (250XP)
      13Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)
      Orange Unicorn (750XP)Orange Unicorn (750XP)
      Beach Island Loop (250XP)Beach Island Loop (250XP)
      14Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500XP)
      Orange Unicorn (750XP)Orange Unicorn (750XP)
      Beach Island Loop (250XP)Beach Island Loop (250XP)
      15Gotthard Pass (750XP)Gotthard Pass (750XP)
      Expand (250XP)Expand (250XP)
      Itza Climb Finish (500XP)Itza Climb Finish (500XP)
      16Gotthard Pass (750XP)Gotthard Pass (750XP)
      Expand (250XP)Expand (250XP)
      Itza Climb Finish (500XP)Itza Climb Finish (500XP)
      17Gotthard Pass (750XP)Gotthard Pass (750XP)
      Expand (250XP)Expand (250XP)
      Itza Climb Finish (500XP)Itza Climb Finish (500XP)
      18Gotthard Pass (750XP)Gotthard Pass (750XP)
      Expand (250XP)Expand (250XP)
      Itza Climb Finish (500XP)Itza Climb Finish (500XP)
      19Gotthard Pass (750XP)Gotthard Pass (750XP)
      Expand (250XP)Expand (250XP)
      Itza Climb Finish (500XP)Itza Climb Finish (500XP)
      20Gotthard Pass (750XP)Gotthard Pass (750XP)
      Expand (250XP)Expand (250XP)
      Itza Climb Finish (500XP)Itza Climb Finish (500XP)
      21Gotthard Pass (750XP)Gotthard Pass (750XP)
      Expand (250XP)Expand (250XP)
      Itza Climb Finish (500XP)Itza Climb Finish (500XP)
      22Cote de Trebiac (250XP)Cote de Trebiac (250XP)
      The Kitchen Sink (500XP)The Kitchen Sink (500XP)
      Deca Dash (750XP)Deca Dash (750XP)
      23Cote de Trebiac (250XP)Cote de Trebiac (250XP)
      The Kitchen Sink (500XP)The Kitchen Sink (500XP)
      Deca Dash (750XP)Deca Dash (750XP)
      24Cote de Trebiac (250XP)Cote de Trebiac (250XP)
      The Kitchen Sink (500XP)The Kitchen Sink (500XP)
      Deca Dash (750XP)Deca Dash (750XP)
      25Cote de Trebiac (250XP)Cote de Trebiac (250XP)
      The Kitchen Sink (500XP)The Kitchen Sink (500XP)
      Deca Dash (750XP)Deca Dash (750XP)
      26Cote de Trebiac (250XP)Cote de Trebiac (250XP)
      The Kitchen Sink (500XP)The Kitchen Sink (500XP)
      Deca Dash (750XP)Deca Dash (750XP)
      27Cote de Trebiac (250XP)Cote de Trebiac (250XP)
      The Kitchen Sink (500XP)The Kitchen Sink (500XP)
      Deca Dash (750XP)Deca Dash (750XP)
      28Cote de Trebiac (250XP)Cote de Trebiac (250XP)
      The Kitchen Sink (500XP)The Kitchen Sink (500XP)
      Deca Dash (750XP)Deca Dash (750XP)
      29La Laguna Negra (500XP)La Laguna Negra (500XP)
      Melange (750XP)Melange (750XP)
      Loop de Loop (250XP)Loop de Loop (250XP)
      30La Laguna Negra (500XP)La Laguna Negra (500XP)
      Melange (750XP)Melange (750XP)
      Loop de Loop (250XP)Loop de Loop (250XP)
               
      Categories
       Climb of the Week
       Route of the Week
       Workout of the Week

      Weekly challenges switch at 9am Pacific each Monday (noon Eastern, 4pm UTC).

      To ride the Route/Climb/Workout of the week, begin by clicking the challenge card on the homescreen. Here’s what it looks like for the Route of the Week:

      Pro Tip: Double Up!

      The Workout of the Week can be “stacked” with the Climb or Route of the Week to earn bonus XP extra fast.

      To do this, you must first click the Workout of the Week challenge card to be “registered” for the week’s workout challenge.

      Next, click the Route or Climb of the Week challenge card and enter the map to begin riding that challenge.

      Once you’re in the game, pull up the list of workouts (use the “E” keyboard shortcut or access it by clicking Menu>Workouts). Find this week’s featured workout in the workout archive. (If you aren’t sure where to find it, click the workout on the calendar above to learn where it’s stored.) Load the workout and complete it while also completing the Route or Climb of the Week, and you’ll earn both XP bonuses!

      Questions or Comments

      Questions or comments about these weekly challenges? Share below!

      TSOZ Closer Look: Personalized Recommendations

      Of everything mentioned in the Fall 2025 “This Season on Zwift” Press Release, Zwift’s planned release of personalized recommendations carries the most potential as a game-changing feature. Launching this November, the promise of these AI-powered recommendations is that your fitness data and preferences can be used to serve up a recommended activity, any time you ask.

      Let’s dive deeper into this, Zwift’s first public use of AI, and discuss planned features and future potential.

      The Challenge: Maximizing Training and Fun for Everyone

      Veteran Zwifters like myself are always asking for more. More roads, new features, fresh events. But do we consider what Zwift is like for someone new to the game and/or new to cycling?

      It must be overwhelming.

      There are thousands of events each week. Hundreds of routes you can ride and workouts to choose from. Thousands of riders milling about, around the clock.

      In addition to all that content, numerous metrics are floating around that new cyclists don’t understand. What is FTP? Why does Companion say I’m “overreaching,” and how is that tied to my Training Score and Stress Score? What is XP, what are Drops, and do I care? What’s a good weekly goal? What’s an ideal cadence? Is my heart rate too high? How does Zwift Racing Score work? And let’s not even talk about zMAP and zFTP…

      On top of all this, consider that, while every Zwifter wants to maximize their training results, everyone is targeting different results. Some are training for a particular outdoor event. Some want to lose weight. Some are just looking to maintain fitness until they can head outside again, while others are dedicated indoor riders training to win Zwift races. And fitness levels vary: while one rider might consider a full hour on the trainer to be a max effort, another may need two hours before it qualifies as a challenge.

      A New Solution?

      Zwift has built an ecosystem that can be leveraged to build cycling fitness efficiently and effectively, but many customers need help figuring out how to make that happen.

      In the past, Zwifters who wanted to train with intentionality may have paid a cycling coach for a training plan, or dug in and done their own research, or perhaps asked a knowledgeable friend for advice. Zwift’s personalized recommendation engine will soon be the new option on this list. And it will be front and center in the game and Companion, a flagship feature continuously improving thanks to the constant influx of fresh data.

      How It Works

      No, I’m not going to dive into the depths of LLMs and other AI tech. But let’s talk about how Zwift’s personalized recommendations will work from the perspective of a common Zwifter.

      Here’s the first screenshot Zwift shared, showing the beta personalized recommendation block at the top-left of the homescreen:

      A few things to note here:

      • The interface is very simple. If you want to take Zwift’s recommendation, just click “Start Ride” and go.
      • The card explains why this activity was recommended: “This ride fits within your typical weekly activity duration and will help maintain your current fitness level.”
      • It also notes the estimated activity duration, distance, and elevation.

      If you want to do something different from what Zwift recommends, there’s a shiny “Tune” button, which takes you here:

      The Tune screen gives you access to a vast array of recommendations, but through a very simple interface. There are just two things you can tune:

      1. Activity Type: choose between riding a route, a workout, an event, or hopping into a RoboPacer group
      2. Activity Length: click an arrow to generate a recommendation that is longer or shorter than what you’re currently seeing

      The secret sauce, of course, is the recommendation engine at work behind the scenes. Since it is constantly learning from your activities and feedback, the recommendations it puts forth – regardless of the tuning options you choose – will be tailored to you. That means:

      • Routes you like to ride, and perhaps routes whose badges you haven’t yet earned, especially if they’re the type of route you typically ride
      • Workouts that help you improve a particular weakness, or work toward a fitness goal
      • Events you’ve enjoyed in the past, or similar events
      • Robopacer groups riding at the pace you would typically ride

      Already working through a training plan, or working with a coach? No problem. Zwift tells me that, if you’re using a third-party workout provider like TrainerRoad, their workout of the day will take preference as the recommendation.

      Companion and Game

      Zwift says, “Personalized Recommendations will display both in the home screen in the main Zwift App and also in Zwift Companion.” That’s a very good thing, and I’m hoping the tuning tool is also available in Companion, so we can dial in our next activity before hopping on the bike.

      Related New Features: Outdoor Connections and Goal Auto-Adjust

      Zwift announced two features/changes rolling out in September that will work in tandem with personalized recommendations.

      First, an improved onboarding experience will help more Zwifters hook up connections to Wahoo, Garmin, and Hammerhead so their outdoor rides are automatically brought into Zwift and included in key fitness metrics. Outdoor connections launched back in April 2025, and Zwift knows that if riders do significant training outdoors, Zwift needs to see those activities before providing helpful day-to-day recommendations.

      Second, Zwift is rolling out the option to have your weekly goal auto-adjust. Instead of having a static goal to hit a particular number for kilojoules, stress points, calories, distance, or time, Zwift will use your recent activities to “adjust your upcoming weekly target goal, helping to support your continual development.”

      When?

      Zwift says personalized recommendations will launch in November 2025.

      Of course, the launch of this feature doesn’t mean the end of its development. That’s not how AI works! I’ve already heard many positive things from Zwift staffers who use the tool internally, and they’re promising that the recommendation engine will continue to improve as it receives feedback from an increasing number of users.

      (You can improve an engine like this by changing the parameters used to make decisions, but you can also improve it by feeding in post-activity feedback, such as a star rating scale asking something like, “How well did this activity help you work toward your fitness goals?” Zwift will be doing both.)

      What About Other Activities?

      Ever since Zwift launched their Fitness Metrics in April, some Zwifters have been asking when running and other workout types will be included. This has been the only consistent complaint about Zwift’s fitness metrics, in fact.

      It’s a fair question… because lots of Zwift riders don’t just ride. Many run, lift, ski, hike, swim… you get the picture.

      For these athletes, Zwift’s Fitness Metrics, and therefore their personalized recommendations, may not prove useful until Zwift begins to support a wider variety of activities. And there are lots of activity types! As one reader commented recently, “After all, cycling is represented by about 8 of the ~180 activity profiles on a regular Garmin watch. In Strava, I believe cycling is 5-6 out of the 48 available activity types (but lots of activities there are logged under a false flag since the actual activity type is missing).”

      Zwift has said they will support running in their Fitness Metrics, but they haven’t given an ETA. Hopefully they’ll figure out a way to do it sooner rather than later, and hopefully they’ll also figure out how to easily include other activity types.

      Wrapping It Up

      There are things about AI that concern me, such as search engines presenting AI-generated answers to questions and stealing traffic from actual content creators. (This impacts my bank account directly.) The unknowns of AI are even more concerning. Where will it all take us? What are the unintended consequences?

      But using AI to deliver personalized recommendations? That’s a use case I can get behind. It’s been discussed for years, and some training platforms have actually done it. But if it can be done well by Zwift, in a way that leverages their massive community and content library, it will enhance the training of tens (hundreds?) of thousands of riders worldwide.

      And that’s a big deal.

      Your Thoughts

      What do you think of Zwift’s plans to offer personalized recommendations? Share your thoughts below!

      Mahle’s updated X20 ebike motor offers increased torque and peak power

      Mahle has released an updated version of its X20 electric bike motor.

      Here are three key things you need to know:

      • The X20 is Mahle’s flagship motor system, sitting above the X30 and X35.
      • Mahle has boosted the torque delivered by the X20 by 18 per cent, from 55Nm to 65Nm.
      • The peak power produced by the new X20 motor has increased from 250 watts to 275 watts.

      The X20 is a drive system designed for premium and lightweight road, gravel and urban bikes that cut a similar silhouette to unassisted bikes.

      The motor is housed in the hub of the rear wheel and, on the Orbea Gain pictured, a 350Wh battery is found in the down tube. Mahle says this provides a range of around 140km, and you can add a range extender to give you another 60km of motor-assisted pedal power.

      With 275 watts of peak assistance, there’s plenty of power on tap for steep climbs. Beyond the increase in power, Mahle says one of the key features of the new X20 is the increase in torque, from 55Nm to 65Nm.

      Torque plays an important role in how quickly an electric bike can deliver its power and, as a result, the acceleration, as well as its ability to handle a variety of terrain and surfaces, is ideal for e-gravel bikes.

      Each bike manufacturer that works with Mahle defines specific motor mapping, so every bike brand has its own ‘riding DNA’ pre-configured from the factory. Riders can then fine-tune within the ranges defined by each brand via the app.

      Mahle says the torque sensor is central to the natural pedaling feel: the more torque applied by the rider, the more assistance the system provides. The motor is also designed so that it doesn’t just cut out above 25km/h, it reduces resistance gradually until 27.5km/h, for a smoother ride, according to Mahle.

      The total system – motor, torque system, a small 250Wh battery and a bike computer – weighs a claimed 3.2kg.

      You can find the X20 on ebikes from mainstream brands including Van Rysel, Ribble, Rose, Ridley, 3T, Wilier, Bianchi and Mondraker – and smaller boutique brands such as Pashley, Origine, Conor and Nordic Bikes.

      Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of September 6-7

      This week’s event picks are a nice mix, starting with a popular charity ride, hitting two (very different) races, and including two banded group rides to help you tackle especially tough routes. See details below!

      � Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4

      ✅ Good Cause  ✅ Popular  ✅ Kit Unlock

      The training rides for the Tour de 4 ride with Sir Chris Hoy are done, and this Sunday the big in-person event happens at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. Zwift is holding a series of rides so you can participate virtually! Each is open-paced and 45 minutes long, on Watopia’s Tempus Fugit.

      Donate to Tour de 4 >

      Get started early with the Galaxy team, who is holding a ride to promote the event. It’s up to 4 hours long, on Scotland’s Rolling Highlands route. Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5078986.

      Saturday, September 7 starting @ 9am-2pm UTC/5-10am ET/2-7am PT
      Sign up at https://www.zwift.com/events/tag/tourde4

      � La Roja Tour (TNP): Stages 3 and 4

      ✅ Stage Race  ✅ Multiple Classifications

      TNP (Team Not Pogi) has organized a 6-stage race series held on Saturdays and Sundays, and this weekend it continues with stages 1 and 2. In this series, riders compete across each stage for GC, Sprint, and Climbing overall podiums.

      Stage 2 is on 2 laps of Richmond’s 2015 Worlds Reverse route, while stage 2 is on 1 lap of Scotland’s The Muckle Yin.

      Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7 @ 5:15pm UTC/1:15pm ET/10:15am PT
      Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/tnp

      � PACK Banded Buddies: Road to Sky

      ✅ Banded Ride  ✅ Alpe Summit  ✅ Kit Unlock

      This ride is returning after a summer break, just in time for anyone looking to summit Alpe du Zwift for the first time! Join this banded ride as they take on the Road to Sky route, which takes you up the mighty Alpe du Zwift. Since it’s banded, you just need to keep pedaling in order to stay in the group.

      Sunday, September 7 @ 2:25pm UTC/10:25am ET/7:25am PT
      Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/4951233

      � A Sunday in Hell with DZR

      ✅ Unique Event  ✅ Endurance Challenge

      The event title certainly sells it, eh? This unique event comprises four back-to-back races designed to test every type of rider. The iTT – for the time trialists, The Sprint – for the sprinters, The After Party – for the puncheurs and The Climb – for the climbers. All told, you’ll race around 60km and 1000 vertical meters. “Brutal but fun,” DZR tells me.

      Get details at dzrracingseries.com/asundayinhell >

      Sunday, September 7 @ 7:45am UTC/3:45am ET/12:45am PT
      Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/dzr

      � LA MARCHA HISPANA (Enable Rubberbanding)

      ✅ Banded Ride  ✅ Tough Route  ✅ Route Badge

      If you’re looking to complete Watopia’s challenging Four Horsemen route (89.9km, 2111m), but find the prospect too daunting, why not try it in a banded ride? As long as you keep pedaling you’ll stay in the peloton, and when you finish the route you’ll earn the achievement badge and a 1780 XP bonus.

      Saturday, September 6 @ 7:30am UTC/3:30am ET/12:30am PT
      Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5096391

      How We Make Our Picks

      We choose each weekend’s Notable Events based on a variety of factors including:

      • Is the event unique/innovative in some way?
      • Are celebrities (pro riders, etc) attending/leading?
      • Are signup counts already high, meaning the event is extra-popular?
      • Does the ride include desirable unlocks or prizes?
      • Does the event appeal to ladies on Zwift? (We like to support this under-represented group!)
      • Is it for a good cause?
      • Is it just plain crazy (extra long races, world record attempts, etc)?
      • Is it a long-running, popular weekly event with a dedicated leader who deserves a shout out?

      In the end, we want to call attention to events that are extra-special and therefore extra-appealing to Zwifters. If you think your event qualifies, comment below with a link/details and we may just include it in an upcoming post!

      Cervélo has just released the R5 and I’m in love with its classic looks – but it’s frighteningly expensive

      Cervélo has officially launched the fifth generation of its R5 range, a super-lightweight climber’s bike. It’s a stunning example of a genre that still has plenty of allure, and is a bike I would love to ride. It’s just a shame it costs a mind-bending amount of money, at £5,000 for the frameset alone.

      BikeRadar’s ever-diligent tech sleuth, Simon von Bromley, first spotted the new bike at the 2025 Tour de France Grand Départ in Lille, where Matteo Jorgenson and his Visma–Lease a Bike teammates were already racing on unreleased versions.

      Even then, it was clear Cervélo had doubled down on trimming every possible gram. 

      Matteo Jorgenson's new Cervélo R5 at the 2025 Tour de France
      We spotted the new Cervélo R5 at the 2025 Tour de France. Simon von Bromley / Our Media

      BikeRadar weighed Jorgenson’s size-58cm bike at 7.03kg, including empty bottles. With those removed – as they would be for UCI checks – the bike would sit close to the 6.8kg UCI weight limit. That’s very impressive for a larger bike in close-to-race-ready spec.

      With official details now to hand, Cervélo claims the new frame and fork come in at 657g and 302g, respectively. There are lighter frames from mainstream manufacturers – an S-Works Aethos frameset is claimed to weigh 585g, for example – but that’s still impressively feathery for a disc bike by any measure.

      Complete builds dip as low as 5.97kg – well under the UCI’s limit.

      Unashamed nostalgia

      Cervélo R5 studio pack shot
      The classic lines of this unoptimised cycling simpleton make my brain fizz. Cervélo

      And this is where the heart of this gently nostalgic man in his early 30s still leaps a little. 

      Nobody questions the importance of aero gains, but like many riders, I still romanticise a little about days when the weight figure was the headline spec. And not just because the (often pointless) pursuit of chasing low weight is entertaining. 

      Although everything has been slimmed down – the pencil-thin seatstays now measure the bare minimum 10mm, and junctions have been pared back – the R5 retains its classic silhouette, and it looks absolutely banging. 

      Pack shot of the Orbea Orca M20i Team road bike
      The classic lines of the R5 or the Orbea Orca are hugely appealing. Scott Windsor / Our Media

      The bike and others of its ilk, such as the Orbea Orca, have an elegant air in a way most modern aero bikes don’t, and I’m totally here for it. 

      Front wheel detail Cervélo R5
      With wide tyre clearance and a modern one-piece cockpit, this is no throwback. Cervélo

      It would be unkind to describe this as a throwback to the heyday of the lightweight bike in the rim-brake era – this is a thoroughly modern bike with all of the tech trappings to match.

      But it shares a common thread with the classic double-diamond frames of old, and I simply love the way it looks.

      The bike for me… if I could ever afford it

      CHATEL LES PORTES DU SOLEIL, FRANCE - AUGUST 03: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France and Team Visma | Lease a Bike - Yellow leader jersey celebrates at finish line as stage and final overall winner winner during the 4th Tour de France Femmes 2025, Stage 9 a 124.1km stage from Praz-sur-Arly to Chatel Les Portes du Soleilon 1298m / #UCIWWT / August 03, 2025 in Chatel Les Portes du Soleil, France. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images)
      The R5 was ridden extensively by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot at the 2025 Tour de France Femmes. Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images

      And for someone whose road riding amounts to little beyond chewing up the local lanes with pals, with the odd effort on choice climbs or long days thrown in, a good-looking bike that gets me excited to ride is more important than outright performance.

      Of course, for the World Tour pros reading this, there is still a performance benefit to climbing bikes – particularly for lighter riders.

      As outlined in his excellent piece comparing the bikes ridden at the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, BikeRadar’s road and gravel presenter Ollie Smith highlights that the typically lighter riders in the women’s peloton have more to gain by opting for lighter bikes. 

      However, as appealing and high-performance as the bike might be, there is the unfortunate question of cost. 

      Cervélo will offer five complete builds at launch, priced from £8,500 to £11,500. Framesets are £5,000. That’s a breathtaking amount of money, no matter how deep your pockets are.

      In fairness (if you can call it that) to Cervélo, an S-Works level Aethos frameset is also £5,000.

      Difficult as it might be, putting the wild price aside, I’ve still got time for brands that haven’t abandoned the traditional climbing bike – even if few of us can ever afford them. 

      For all the rightly deserved aero hype, there remains a place – and a powerful emotional pull – for beautifully light, simple, classic-looking race bikes. And for riders like me, that’s reason enough to get excited.

      Zwift Camp: Baseline Announced, Begins September 15

      Last year, Zwift held their first-ever Zwift Camp: Baseline – an assessment-oriented training program consisting of six stages. And it was a hit, besting even Zwift Academy as Zwift’s most popular workout series of all time!

      Following last year’s proof-of-concept, this year Zwift is leaning heavily into the Zwift Camp concept, launching a three-camp series that kicks off with Zwift Camp: Baseline on September 15.

      Below, we’ll share what we know about Zwift Camp: Baseline, and a bit of info on the two camps that follow: Zwift Camp: Build and Zwift Camp: Breakthrough. Let’s dive in!

      On a related note: Zwift has announced that Zwift Academy will not take place this year, but that it “will return in 2026 and work is already underway to make sure the 10th edition is the best yet.” This season’s Zwift Camps are clearly positioned to replace Zwift Academy for riders not pursuing pro contracts.

      Baseline Basics

      The first Camp of the season is best seen as a launchpad for the Camps to follow. It’s all about completing four separate “Power Check” workouts, which will update your power curve with max efforts across standard time intervals:

      • 5-second power (Zone 6+)
      • 1-minute power (Zone 6)
      • 5-minute power (Zone 5)
      • 20-minute power (Zone 4)

      Workout Details

      To complete those Power Checks, Zwift has created four different workouts. Complete the workouts and you’ve completed Zwift Camp: Baseline:

      Each of the four power checks consists of an ERG workout combined with a new route. The workouts each run you through a warmup section, followed by some “leg opener” efforts, then a bit of recovery before hitting one or more free ride sections where you are expected to put out maximal power for a specific duration.

      Each workout will be held on a new route of the same name, created just for Zwift Camp: Baseline:

      Tip: If the workout finishes before the route, keep riding to earn the achievement badge and bonus XP at the route’s finish line!

      Events + On Demand

      Ride the four Zwift Camp: Baseline workouts in scheduled events with others, or on demand by selecting the workouts and completing them on your own. Group events will run on the following schedule:

      • Workout 1 (September 15-22): 5-Second Power Check, “Red Zone Repeats”
      • Workout 2 (September 22-29): 1-Minute Power Check, “Power Punches”
      • Workout 3 (September 29-October 6): 5-Minute Power Check, “Climb Control”
      • Workout 4 (October 6-13): 20-Minute Power Check, “Flat Out Fast”
      • Make-Up Events: October 13-20

      Sign up at zwift.com/zwift-camp >

      Each workout “stage” is a week long, with events beginning at 9am PST on Monday and scheduled hourly on the hour until 8am PST the following Monday.

      Progressive Unlocks

      Three unlocks are available as you work your way through Zwift Camp: Baseline:

      • Complete 1 Workout: Zwift Camp: Baseline Helmet
      • Complete 3 Workouts: Zwift Camp: Baseline Shoes
      • Complete all 4 Workouts: Zwift Camp: Baseline Kit

      Personal Dashboard

      Zwift has launched a personalized Zwift Camp: Baseline dashboard for all participants, which includes a progress meter and your power bests across each of the four intervals.

      Access your dashboard at zwift.com/zwift-camp/dashboard >

      2025/26 Zwift Camps

      Three Zwift Camps are planned for this year’s 2025/26 peak Zwift season:

      • Zwift Camp: Baseline (September 15-October 20): Pure power analysis
      • Zwift Camp: Build (November 10 – December 21): Power application through in-game segments/routes
      • Zwift Camp: Breakthrough (February 2026): Pure power competition and analysis through Power Segments*

      * Power Segments are an upcoming feature mentioned in This Season on Zwift released today. They’re the perfect way to test your power across various intervals, and should make a great addition to Zwift Camps. Inside sources also tell us Zwift Camp: Breakthrough may feature some population rankings, so you can see how your power numbers stack up against others…

      Questions or Comments?

      What do you think of the Zwift Camp proposition? Going to participate? Got questions? Share your thoughts below!