If you’re looking for a decent pair of cheap cycling shoes due to a limited budget, then look no further.
We’ve rounded up a selection of cheap road and mountain cycling shoes priced under £120 to help you find the right pair for your performance requirements and budget.
£120 might sound like a lot of money, and for many riders it is. However, it’s around the point at which upgrades begin to become more marginal. And, in any case, most of the options listed below are regularly available for substantially less than their RRP.
We have separated this list into road bike and mountain bike shoes, though bear in mind that the SPD design found on mountain bike shoes may be a better choice for those starting out with clipless pedals.
Editor’s note: This list was updated on 26 September 2025, with all new entries from our best road and mountain bike buyer’s guides.
Best cheap road cycling shoes in 2025
Bontrager Solstice
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The Bontrager Solstice has a great fit for a reasonable price. Simon Withers / Our Media
£100 / $85 / €105 / AU$105 as tested
Pros: Compatible with SPD-SL and SPD cleats; light for the price; good value for money
Cons: Not the best ventilation
Bontrager’s Solstice is well-priced and offers great comfort in a simplistic form factor.
The shoes feature velcro closure straps and a moderately stiff nylon sole that make for an adjustable and wide-ranging fit.
Compatible with SPD-SL and SPD cleats, the Solstice give options for riders who are new to clipless pedals. Although keep in mind, the two-bolt cleat adaptor is not included.
The weight per shoe of 227g in EU42 is competitive.
Our tester found the shoes to be comfortable on long rides, but felt the ventilation was lacking on warmer days.
Beginner racers fall into one of two categories: those who have raced IRL but not on Zwift, and those who haven’t raced indoors or out, but want to give it a try in a safe place like Zwift. Zwift Beginner Racing (ZBR) is a new club hosting events to help both types of riders better understand the sport in a club-neutral environment.
To help both groups of riders, ZBR hosts group rides where the ride leader shares their experience and knowledge of racing on Zwift. For example, their next event is Monday’s “Zwift Beginner Racing The Ins and Outs of Sprinting” in which “The ride leader is an experienced Zwift racer and will provide insight into how to set up for sprints and all the key points to get you over that line as fast as possible.“
Upcoming Events
Currently. ZBR events are held on Mondays and Wednesdays and rotate between the following:
ZBR ride leaders message the group during events and are also on a Discord voice channel (https://discord.gg/PpCQzfuFdW) so event participants can communicate via either method.
Beginner Race Discussion
In addition to hosting events to introduce people to racing, ZBR provides new racers with a Facebook and Discord presence to discuss racing and to provide visibility for events that are focused on beginner racers. (ZBR defines Beginner events as those with a pen supporting a Zwift Racing Score (ZRS) of 0-150 or Category D with 0-1.7 w/kg.)
Zwift Beginner Racing is open to anyone interested in learning about racing and trying it out.
In addition, ZBR would love to add new ride leaders interested in sharing their knowledge of racing!
YT Industries has suspended most of its operations and released the majority of its employees as the German mountain bike brand undergoes insolvency proceedings, CEO and founder, Markus Flossman confirmed in a statement.
The company entered into self-administration in July after its main shareholder, a private equity investor, announced it would no longer finance the business. This left YT three months to secure a new backer, the company said in the statement.
“Unfortunately, the offers we received were an absolute joke and not worth considering,” Flossman said.
“That’s why I decided to buy the company back myself. The creditors’ committee has already approved my offer, and we are now in the process of finalising the contracts to relaunch the business under the new setup. As you can imagine, this is anything but a small undertaking, both financially and in terms of effort.”
Flossman confirmed that most staff had been released, though a small team remains in place to handle customer inquiries and process orders “to ensure that no work is performed by employees that the old company would no longer be able to pay for.”
“We hope to conclude the negotiations as quickly as possible to minimise the impact on our customers,” he added.
Flossman also stressed that the situation affects only YT Industries GmbH in Germany. “Our U.S. subsidiary is not affected, business there continues as usual, and there are no restrictions,” he said.
YT had previously blamed its financial struggles on the post-Covid market downturn, which left many bike brands with unsold inventory and forced heavy discounting.
“While customers scored deals, small brands like us were pushed to the limit,” Flossman said in a video released earlier this year, describing the situation as a “brutal discount war for survival.”
Since returning as CEO in 2024, he said YT had been improving its position by developing new products and reinvesting in the business, but setbacks with a key supplier and instability in the U.S. market compounded difficulties earlier in 2025.
The company is now preparing for a relaunch under Flossman’s ownership, with details expected once contracts are finalised.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated, clarifying the position of YT Industries and including a statement issued by the brand
This weekend’s big events are the kickoff to Zwift’s 2025/26 Fondo Series. But we’ve also selected two unique races and two unique group rides, none of which we’ve featured before. Check them all out below!
zFondo Series on Bambino Fondo
Bonus XP Popular Endurance Challenge
Zwift’s popular monthly Fondo Series is back, and it kicks off this weekend! This is by far the most popular event happening this weekend, so if you’re looking for a longer effort you can race if desired, this is it.
The folks at Team Evolve have spun up a new weekly ride concept where the purpose is to progressively ride longer (5km added each week) until you hit 100 miles in March.
This weekend is the first ride of the series: 30km on France’s R.G.V.
Based on early signup numbers, this new race series looks to be a popular one. It’s a 4-stage series, raced each weekend, with mass starts and not categories. And it begins this week with the first stage on Greatest London Flat (31km, 222m).
Enter individual races for the fun of it, or compete in all four stages. There’s a GC on ZwiftPower which uses cumulative time to rank riders across the series!
Looks like Team Evolve gets two features this weekend! On Sunday, they’re hosting a three-race omnium that will take a total of ~95 minutes to complete. You earn points based on your finishing position in each of the race, then the rider with the most points in each category wins the Omnium.
This is a three-race series:
Race 1 Croissant 12.5km iTT
Race 2 Petite Douleur 24.8km
Race 3 The Bell Lap 8km 4-lap crit
Bike are neutralized – same weight, CdA, and upgrade level. As always, be sure to read event description for more details.
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!
On Wednesday, American customs officials revealed that they will block the import of bicycles manufactured in Taiwan by Giant Bicycles after a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) investigation “that reasonably indicates forced labour use”.
The CBP alleges that it has identified five ‘forced labour indications’ during an investigation of Giant, including debt bondage, where a person is forced to work to pay off a debt.
For investigative journalist Peter Bengtsen, this is not a surprise. “The risk of debt bondage,” he told BikeRadar, “is the rule, not the exception, for migrants employed in Taiwan’s bicycle and other industries.”
Bengtsen has led investigations into the labour conditions of Taiwan’s bicycle, car, electronic and other industries. Between 2022 and 2025, Bengtsen and his team conducted 200 interviews with migrant workers, gathering testimonies that covered debt bondage and other forced labour indicators.
Bengtsen’s work investigating labour conditions in the Taiwanese cycling industry was published in Le Monde diplomatique in June 2024 and February 2025.
His piece from 2024 asked whether major cycling brands were overlooking forced labour risks. Around a dozen of Giant’s migrant employees were interviewed for the story, with Bergtsen reporting that Vietnamese employees said they paid $5,700 to home-country recruiters, while Thai employees said they paid up to $3,200.
Following the CBP’s announcement, Giant said it was “firmly committed to upholding human rights and labour protections”. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
Bengtsen reported in his story from earlier this year, ‘The Bicycle industry’s dirty secret’, that one Vietnamese employee had paid $5,500. “I had to pay up front. I borrowed everything from the bank and mortgaged the house,” they said.
“Migrant workers in Taiwan are vulnerable to forced labour due to several factors, of which high recruitment fees and limited freedom to change employers are key,” Bengtsen told BikeRadar.
“For decades, workers hired from abroad have paid exorbitant fees to home-country recruiters and Taiwanese labour brokers for jobs and services. As a result, workers borrow significantly from banks and money lenders, often at excessive interest rates, and thereby risk debt bondage while working in Taiwan to pay off loans.
“Other migrant vulnerabilities include language barriers, lack of knowledge of laws and rights, lack of support measures or knowledge thereof, and lack of organisation and representation. Fear of repatriation for speaking up adds to the vulnerabilities,” he went on.
Following Bengtsen’s second report in Le Monde diplomatique, the publication received a statement from the Taiwanese Bicycle Association (TBA), an industry trade association that represents companies engaged in exporting bicycles, components and accessories.
The TBA said: “Taiwanese companies have strictly abided by the labour regulations in Taiwan, which nonetheless, may in one way or another, differ from the international method and reference for betterment. We would always obey Taiwan’s labour law and try our very best when there’s room for improvement.”
Giant said it will file a petition to seek the revocation of the import ban, and that it is “firmly committed to upholding human rights and labour protections”.
It said it has taken “concrete actions” in the last year, including the implementation of a Zero Recruitment Fee Policy and upgrading employee housing to provide a “safer and more comfortable living environment.”
Many of the world’s biggest bicycle brands have had bikes or components made in Taiwan. The country is the biggest exporter of bikes to Europe, and trade data shows 28 per cent of bikes imported to the US in 2022 came from Taiwan.
The US can ban imports of goods if they are suspected of being made as a result of forced labour. The country has imposed regulations on imports from China’s Xinjiang region, because members of the minority Uyghur community have been detained and forced to work, according to US officials.
The CBP’s statement says Giant has “profited by imposing such abuse… resulting in goods produced below market value and undercutting American businesses by millions of dollars in unjustly earned profits”.
CBP’s statement echoes the logic behind Donald Trump’s tariff trade war earlier this year, which aimed to make it harder for foreign companies to compete in the US. One trade organisation called the tariffs “devastating” for the US bicycle industry.
Premium track bikes are expensive. As per the UCI rules, equipment used in competition needs to be available to purchase.
So you can buy a Hope HB.T track bike frameset, as used by Matthew Richardson to break the 200m world record, from Hope, but it will cost you £30,000. The V-IZU TCM2 frameset ridden by the Japanese team at the Paris 2024 Olympics has a price listed at €126,000.
New Zealand-based Velobike Innovation is looking to offer a more affordable alternative, with its new Altias Fusion track bike frameset. It says it’s designed for Olympic-level performance, but in a frameset that’s competitively priced and accessible to the wider cycling community.
Starting at £5,300, the frameset’s price is comparable to many premium road bike framesets.
According to Glenn Catchpole, the founder of Velobike Innovation: “The Altias Fusion is the bike I’ve always wanted for myself. It combines all the best features of a traditional track bike while leaving room to embrace more progressive ideas in the future.”
Velobike Innovations says its design will be able to evolve in future.
Velobike Innovation describes track cycling as the Formula 1 of cycling, where countries spend millions on frames with cutting-edge features and ”if you don’t turn up with competitive equipment, you will be disadvantaged”.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the track bike arms race featured an array of exotic and very pricey equipment. However, just yesterday, the UCI revealed price caps for track cycling equipment for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, although the proposed values haven’t yet been made public.
Velobike points out that track bike design typically revolves around interchangeable components such as wheels and cranksets, while it says that its approach with the new Altias bike is to develop components designed to work together for maximum performance.
So the new bike system will, in the future, offer interchangeable forks, cockpits and aero components to suit the needs of specific track events.
Velobike says its approach also aims to futureproof its design, so that it can adapt to future developments and rule changes.
The Altias frameset is designed aa a system around Velobike’s range of components.
Specific design features of the Altias frame include a geometry that positions the rider as aggressively as possible, without contravening the UCI’s regulations. That’s paired with front-end components that can be swapped out, for example to reduce drag in a time trial or increase power delivery in the Keirin, and which can be custom designed for individual riders.
The Altias Fusion track frame will be available in size L from October, with three other frame sizes, S, M and XL, to follow in early 2026. Prices for the track frame start at £5,300 / $7,200 / €7,700, with the frameset available exclusively via www.altias.co.
Trek has launched the CheckOUT, its first full-suspension gravel bike, claiming it offers greater comfort and control on rough terrain without sacrificing speed.
Trek says its lab testing shows its suspension reduces rider fatigue by cutting vibration and steering input, while a new geometry, wider bar, and extensive mounting options further underline its adventure focus.
Trek claims the CheckOUT is its most capable gravel option for tough terrain. Dylan Remis / Trek bikes
According to Trek, the CheckOUT’s suspension is primarily intended to enhance rider comfort and reduce fatigue.
Trek says it paid particular attention to the relationship between conventional chassis bounce and bike-rider decoupling, where you’re thrown out of the saddle on rough terrain.
Trek found that when a rider moves out of the saddle, they naturally put in more effort to maintain control and stability.
For a bike that’s aimed at tackling singletrack and the toughest gravel endurance events, Trek says reducing this fatigue-inducing element was the priority.
Trek tested the bike extensiely on its bike treadmill. Trek Bikes
Trek says its lab treadmill, which mimics rough gravel surfaces, proved essential in the development and testing of the bike.
Trek tested the new bike against a rigid gravel bike, plus a CheckOUT with a 55mm tyre.
The engineers then monitored the rider’s motion and tracked the movement of the rider’s tailbone (sacrum).
Trek says this shows how well the rider stays coupled to the bike, especially on rougher terrain
Trek’s vibration testing showed the CheckOUT reduced fatigue by a significant margin. Trek Bikes
The CheckOUT suspension design provided a 27 per cent reduction in rider position variability with 50mm tyres, reducing a further 32 per cent when a larger 55mm tyre was used.
The suspension design also reduced vibrational forces reaching the rider by 41.5 per cent compared to a rigid gravel bike.
The reduction in steering input was also tested in Trek’s lab. Trek Bikes
Trek’s testing also showed that rough surfaces have a significant impact on a bike’s steering, with the constant corrections required when riding a fully rigid gravel bike causing fatigue.
Under testing, it showed that with the CheckOUT setup, steering saw a 23 per cent reduction in variability with a 50mm tyre. This was further reduced to 16 per cent with a 55mm tyre fitted.
New design and new suspension
The new RockShox Rudy XL brings 60mm of travel and 56mm tyre clearance. Trek Bikes
Trek didn’t want to use a mountain bike fork on the CheckOUT, so it worked with RockShox to create the Rudy XL – a burlier version of its existing gravel fork, which ups travel to 60mm and tyre clearance to 56mm, while maintaining a gravel-friendly 45mm offset.
The Rudy XL will be available separately in 50 and 60mm travel options and priced at $929, €1,010, £900.
The CheckOUT SL7 in Era white is our favourite finish. Trek Bikes
RockShox provides a SIDLuxe 170 x 27.5mm shock. This gives 55mm of travel at the rear wheel.
All models come equipped with a dropper post.
TransX is providing a cable-operated dropper on the SL5 model and RockShox’s wireless Reverb AXS on the SL7.
New wider bar
The CheckOUT SL bar features a wide flare and gentle backsweep. Trek Bikes
Trek bucks the trend towards narrow bars with the new GR Checkout bar.
The bar is designed to be more aero on the hoods, with a narrower position, pushing out 12cm wider in the drops. Trek claim this gives more confident handling over burlier terrain without sacrificing aero performance.
The top section of the bar is designed to add all-day comfort. The rounded top’s larger radius on the rear gives you somewhere for your palms to rest. Trek’s longstanding Carbon IsoCore construction is used to further absorb vibrations.
New gravel geometry
Trek claims the new bike is faster on the road than a mountain bike. Dylan Remis / Trek bikes
The CheckOUT features Trek’s new adventure geometry.
Compared to the rigid adventure-focused Checkpoint, the CheckOUT gets both a longer reach and a higher stack.
Up against Trek’s lightweight XC race bike, the Supercaliber, the CheeckOUT has a more upright position that also places the rider further back.
A full range of luggage is available for the CheckOUT SL. Trek Bikes
The CheckOUT doesn’t have any in-frame storage, but Trek has collaborated with Topo on a frame bag that fits within the front triangle in colour-matched finishes.
At the rear, a proprietary rack with a built-in linkage matches the rear suspension movement, so your bikepacking load won’t get shaken.
The frame features a huge number of mounts, with 18 in total on size M/L and above bikes.
There are two on the top of the top tube, seven on the downtube, three on the seat tube, and three on the underside of the downtube.
Trek CheckOUT range overview
Both models of the CheckOUT are built from Trek’s OCLV 500 series carbon and tested to mountain bike standards.
The SL5 and SL7 AXS complete builds are joined by a frameset option.
The SL5 comes with Shimano’s 1 x 12 mechanical GRX groupset. Trek Bikes The SL7 is built around SRAM’s Force AXS XPLR and X0 AXS. Trek Bikes The CheckOUT SL is available as a frame-only option. Trek bikes
Today, Giant has responded to US Customs and Border Protection’s “Withhold Release Order”, issued on 24 September and suspending imports on products manufactured in Taiwan. The ban included bikes, bike parts and components.
Giant says it plans to engage with US CBP and will seek the revocation of the order, although it’s unclear what the timeline might be for any resolution and whether this might involve formal arbitration.
Giant says in its response that it is “firmly committed to upholding human rights and labor protections” and since the start of 2025 has implemented a zero recruitment fee policy, as well as upgrading its employee housing.
In addition, Giant states that it has “established internal supervision mechanisms and third-party audits, and continues to conduct due diligence to ensure compliance with international standards”.
Giant points out that the order applies to US imports of its Taiwan-made products only. Giant Bicycles
Giant’s response continues: “Giant Group remains dedicated to protecting labor rights through concrete actions and ensuring a transparent, fair, and sustainable development. The Group will continually provide timely updates and maintain open communication with global stakeholders to foster a responsible and resilient industry environment.”
Giant points out that supply and sale in other markets of its products manufactured in Taiwan are unaffected – the Withhold Release Order only applies to imports into the US. It says that some shipments to the US may be subject to delays and inspections, but it’s activated contingency measures and is working closely with business partners to minimise the impact.
RockShox has expanded its gravel suspension offering by introducing the new Rudy XL.
The new gravel fork increases the tyre clearance from the highly rated Rudy XPLR Ultimate to 2.25in/57.5mm. RockShox also upped the suspension travel to 50mm and 60mm options, both coming with a 45mm fork offset.
The Rudy XPLR Ultimate continues to be offered in 30mm and 40mm-travel options, and 45mm and 51mm offsets, with 50mm tyre clearance.
Since the original Rudy launched, we’ve seen a shift in gravel design. Pro riders are looking to ever-wider tyres, leading to many adapting cross-country mountain bikes to take advantage of the larger tyres.
That’s good news for bike designers looking to update their adventurous gravel designs. We’d imagine that would include Trek’s as-yet-unnamed new gravel bike we spotted back in June being ridden to victory in the Trans Balkan Race by Justinas Leveika.
The Rudy XL offers huge tyre clearances for gravel bikes. SRAM / Rock Shox
RockShox say the Rudy XL has been in development for two years. The new design combines the same slender (compared to mountain bike forks) 30mm stanchions, combined with a fresh lower with a new-shaped angular crown to maximise tyre clearance.
The Rudy XL comes in two colourways. SRAM / Rock Shox
The increase in travel also means a small increase in weight from the 40mm-travel Rudy XPLR Ultimate’s 1,300g to 1,370g on the new XL.
The accessory fender is available for £22. SRAM / Rock Shox
The fork also gains twin-bolt mounts for a new dedicated short mudguard/fender that’s available separately for £22 / $25 / €25.
What’s inside?
The Charger Race Day 2 switch offers a solid lockout. SRAM / Rock Shox
The Rudy XL uses the user-friendly Solo Air Spring found on some models of Judy, Reba and Recon mountain bike forks. However, here the Solo Air Spring has been tuned for the shorter 50 and 60mm of travel.
The Charger Race Day 2 damper is only found on RockShox’s premium lightweight SID fork range.
Like the original Rudy, the Rudy XL comes in two models. The range-topping Rudy XL Ultimate gets both the Solo Air Spring and the Charger Race Day 2 damper, and comes in a new bold Electric Red signature colourway.
The second standard Rudy XL gets the same Solo Air Spring but uses a cartridge-rebound damper with rebound adjust. Like the XL Ultimate, it comes in 50mm and 60mm-travel options and fits up to a 29×2.25-inch tyre.
What does this mean for gravel bike design?
We will see bikes designed around the longer-travel Rudy in the coming years. SRAM / Rock Shox
Up until now, the range of gravel suspension forks available has maxed out at 50mm travel (Fox and MRP). RockShox has upped the game by not only increasing travel but also tyre clearance.
The increase in travel shouldn’t render the latest generation of gravel bikes, such as our 2025 gravel Bike of the Year, the Parlee Taos, or progressive-geometry bikes such as Mondraker’s highly capable Arid obsolete. It means the Rudy XL can be set up with more sag than a shorter-travel fork.
We will, however, see bikes starting to arrive for 2026, designed around these new dimensions. That could mean the current trend of riders adapting XC mountain bikes to drop bars becomes unnecessary and a short blip in the timeline of gravel suspension design.
Pricing
The Rudy XL has a mini-fender option. SRAM / Rock Shox
The Rudy XL is not available aftermarket; it’s destined for OE (original equipment) fitment on compatible gravel bikes.
RockShox has the Rudy XL Ultimate available from today in 50mm and 60mm-travel options, priced at £900 / $929 / €1,010.
Yesterday, Zwift introduced a new concept in the Drop Shop – four fresh colorways of a frame that is already in game, the slippery Canyon Aeroad 2024. These four new bikes are painted in distinct designs from the MyCanyon collection.
The MyCanyon custom program was announced earlier this year, offering customers the opportunity to create a bike using a personalized mix of components paired with a unique, high-end colorway.
MyCanyon features nine different colorways, but this week’s Zwift release includes a select four:
MyCanyon Fabrio – Gold Dust:“A stunning golden yellow finish couples with striking mirrored decals. It’s a bike that radiates energy, and is as special as gold dust itself.”Read more >
MyCanyon Mano – Carina Red:“Home to many massive stars, including several that are 100 times bigger than the sun, Carina glows bright and bold. Painted using a hand-stamping process, this frame has a deep and fiery red color that looks three-dimensional under the surface.”Read more >
MyCanyon Opus – Felipe Pantone:“Inspired by the interplay of speed and technology, Felipe’s design represents organized chaos with some unexpected twists and turns as the bike moves. It’s modern speed, just like the Aeroad CFR.”Read more >
MyCanyon Opus – Elena Salmistraro:“Imagining a bike in motion, speeding towards the sun, light dancing on its surfaces, Elena used a kaleidoscopic color concept in her design, making a perfect combination of modernity and fun that is ideal for attracting attention.”Read more >
Opinion: An Odd Departure
Zwifters have asked for more bike colorways for years, particularly when it comes to popular race bikes. But Zwift has always been oddly hesitant to release more paintjobs.
The S-Works Venge, the most popular non-Tron race bike on Zwift for years? Available only in a dull gray to this day. The Pinarello Dogma F 2024? We’ll create a fun Zwifty colorway, but if you weren’t there to do all the races in September 2024, you missed your chance! The S-Works Tarmac SL8, the new favorite race bike? You can have it in any color you’d like. As long as it’s white.
It seemed logical to predict Zwift eventually releasing fresh colorways for frames and wheels which we could purchase using Drops.
But this is not that.
Instead, if you buy one of the new MyCanyon bikes, it adds an entirely new bike frame in your garage:
Sure, this is how it would work in the real world. But why does it need to work that way in Zwift?
Four big issues I foresee with Zwift using this method to release new colorways:
UI confusion (it’s not how the system has worked up until now): Many Zwifters already have multiple colorways unlocked for particular frames in their garage. You select the frame, then select which colorway you’d like. In fact, confusingly, the Canyon Aeroad 2024 has three different in-game colorways that work this way, meaning this week’s change adds four new colorways that work completely differently.
Upgrader anger: If riders love their Canyon Aeroad 2024, then they’ve already worked to upgrade it. Now, if they buy a new colorway, that new bike won’t upgraded at all.
Crowded garages: The request for Zwift to let us clean out our garages – even if it just means deleting items entirely without getting any Drops back – has been echoed so many times that it’s basically a community meme. This setup just makes our garages more crowded, when Zwift could have utilized the existing functionality of consolidating multiple colorways under one frame.
No model names: This is a minor issue, perhaps. But there’s no indication in the Drop Shop of what model of Canyon bike these four new frames actually are, apart from the fact that they look like the Aeroad 2024. But are they actually the same? Do they perform identically? (Zwift tells me yes, but that’s not clear in the UI.)
Let me be clear: I’d be happy if The Drop encouraged me to drop major Drops on a sweet colorway. I’ve got 83 million+ Drops to burn, after all! So please, Zwift, go ahead and create super-exclusive and incredible-looking colorways. Give some of them crazy high prices, in fact. You could even do limited-edition releases. Make it feel special to be one of only a few owners.
But releasing them as standalone bikes just seems all wrong. So I hope Zwift decides to modify the Drop Shop, allowing us to purchase colorways for frames we already own without further crowding our garages.
What’s Next?
Zwift’s This Season on Zwift announcement made it sound like additional colorways would be coming after the initial Canyon release (“Stay tuned for more Drops coming to the Drop Shop this season!”)
I haven’t heard of what’s coming, or when. And frankly, I hope they fix the issue above first. But we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of the look of these new Aeroads? Will you be buying one? What do you think of the whole concept of buying new colorways of frames to add to your garage? Share your thoughts below!
The UCI has backtracked on parts of its controversial handlebar width proposals.
While the UCI confirmed the proposed 400mm width measurement, the minimum distance between the inner edges of the brake hoods has decreased from the proposed 320mm to 280mm, and there’s a new maximum flare figure of 65mm.
This may go some way to winning round critics of the proposed rule, who claimed the original proposals could disadvantage women and smaller riders, although the UCI has also said the updated rule may be modified in the future.
Additional details have also been revealed about how the sport’s governing body intends to distinguish between ‘road’ and ‘time trial’ helmets.
Pro handlebars have been getting narrower in recent years, as riders chase aero gains. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media
The proposed handlebar width measurements proposed back in June were widely decried by professional riders and the bike industry alike.
One source told BikeRadar that the new rules were “hugely discriminatory” against women cyclists and smaller riders in general, who would typically currently ride handlebars narrower than 400mm. It would also force some brands to scrap their current road bike bars and develop new designs to conform to the regulations.
The new hood-to-hood measurement of 280mm should ease these objections somewhat, and the UCI said the new measurement follows consultation with “cycling’s stakeholders including representatives of the cycling industry, findings from extensive verifications of current dimensions used for bikes at UCI Women’s WorldTour and UCI WorldTour events”.
The UCI counters that the proposed regulation was aimed at slowing riders down by increasing the drag on riders and bikes, as part of its goal of controlling race speeds, with the objective of improving rider safety.
There’s already a test of limits on maximum gear ratios slated for this year’s Tour of Guangxi, taking place in October, also aimed at decreasing race speeds.
SRAM recently announced it is taking legal action against the UCI’s proposed maximum gearing test. Simon von Bromley / Our Media
There’s a sting in the tail of the relaxed bar width regs though, with the UCI management committee suggesting that the minimum handlebar width numbers could increase going forward.
It says its management committee has instructed the UCI Equipment and New Technologies Commission to “review” the measurements and consult with stakeholders during the 2026 season, “ with a view to potentially increasing it for future seasons”.
Track riders fare better, with a minimum 350mm width at the drops, 80mm flare and 65mm cross section for their bars.
Clarification of aero helmet regulations
The UCI has revealed details of how it will distinguish between TT and road helmets for 2026 and beyond. Simon von Bromley / Our Media
The UCI has also aimed to clarify the new regulation that will distinguish between ‘road’ and ‘time trial’ helmets, as aero road helmets have become steadily more TT helmet-like.
The POC Procen Air helmet worn by the EF Education pro team, for example, encloses the tops of a rider’s ears and there are just three front vents. Victor Campenaerts and his Visma-Lease a Bike teammates have also been wearing the Giro Aerohead MIPS TT helmet, minus its visor, in many mass start road races this season.
It appears both helmets would be banned from January 2026, under the new rules, which stipulate “minimum ventilation requirements, a ban on helmet shells or accessories covering or obstructing the riders’ ears, and a ban on integrated or detachable visors”.
Again, the UCI’s justification is “to contain aerodynamics”, decrease rider speeds and improve safety, as well as to distinguish between helmets used in different disciplines.
The UCI has announced it will cap the prices of track bikes and equipment used at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Following the 2024 Paris Games, which saw the cost of track bikes and related equipment soar to unprecedented levels, cycling’s governing body says price caps will bolster “the integrity of competitions by preventing excessive cost barriers”.
Though details of exactly how price caps will be implemented – or what level they will be set at – have not been revealed, the UCI says “maximum prices will apply for framesets, forks, wheels, handlebars and their extensions, helmets and skinsuits” from 1 January 2027.
The UCI says this decision has been approved by its management committee, which is headed by UCI president David Lappartient, and is designed to ensure “participants from all nations have fair access to equipment”.
Why does the UCI want to cap the prices of track bikes and kit?
The cost of many track bikes has ballooned in recent years, and the UCI isn’t happy about it. Scott Windsor / Our Media
According to the UCI, the establishment of price caps for track bikes and related equipment will complement its existing rules on commercial availability, which are intended to create a more level playing field in terms of access to equipment.
As before, new bikes and related equipment will need to be registered with the UCI and used in events prior to the Olympics in order to ensure compliance with the rules.
In theory, this gives competing nations a chance to see – and potentially purchase – any bike or item of equipment, clothing and so on, prior to the Games.
It seems the spiralling cost of Olympic track bikes and kit may have prompted the UCI to take action against prices that appear to be designed to discourage or even prevent such kit from actually being purchased by rivals.
The V-IZU TCM2 and TC-M1 track bikes used by the Japanese cycling team, for example, were priced at €126,555 and €112,320, respectively, according to the UCI’s ‘Final Equipment List’.
The UK Sports Institute UKSI-BC1 track bike, used by Team GB, was listed at €64,350 for a frameset alone, while other bikes from top nations were priced at similarly astronomical levels.
Wild designs and novel constructions methods have put top track bikes and related equipment out of reach for many. Scott Windsor / Our Media
And that’s just bikes and framesets. The Pinarello MOST custom 3D-printed bar extensions used by the Italian cycling team were listed at €22,500, while the Black Inc Zero tubular disc wheelset was priced at €18,400.
In comparison, the most expensive bike listed ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was the Worx WX-R Vorteq Track, at €28,000.
With incoming regulation changes potentially banning radical track bikes such as the Hope HB.T and Look P24, it looks as if major cycling nations will need to go back to the drawing board and create bikes that are not only fast, but reasonably priced.
What counts as ‘reasonable’ according to the UCI remains to be seen, though nations will doubtless be hoping for clarity sooner than later given the limited time scale to develop new bikes and equipment before the next Olympic Games.
The new Black Series Corsa is the lightest production bike in the world, at 5.24kg, according to its designer, Andy Wallis.
The Black Series range of bikes and components has long been the ’secret’ or ‘special projects’ label of engineer and designer Wallis, the owner of Poshbikes.
Wallis says: “Whenever a new frame, wheelset or component was required to outperform the standard item, or a specific bicycle is required for a factory race team, when one was not available from their current line-up, a custom item was created under the Black Series codename.”
Over the years, this special project division has amassed a collection of frames and components that have proven themselves for pro riders. Yet they’ve never been available to the public, until now.
Wallis is readying a complete line-up of Black Series bikes and components, including road, aero, gravel and hardtail XC mountain bikes. There are also bars, stems, seatposts, wheels, hubs and a host of small parts, all under the Black Series name.
This special-edition Corsa tips our scales at an outlandish 5.338kg (size-medium). That’s with standard butyl inner tubes, as the bike was being studio shot when I came across it.
Wallis claims the bike weighs in at 5.241kg in full tubeless trim.
Frame and fork details
The Garbaruk cassette weighs only 275g for a 10-44. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
The frame is a single monocoque construction made with a complex dual-mould technology. The Corsa frames are all proportional, meaning the diameter of the tubing expands across the sizes. This is intended to ensure the ride is the same from XS to XL sizes.
The geometry is aggressive, with a super-short back end with 405mm chainstays.
The Corsa frame has generous tyre clearances (conservatively 36mm, although it looks greater than that) and a threaded T47 bottom bracket shell.
Even the 160/140mm disc rotors sit on carbon fibre carriers. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
The head angle is race-bike steep, and the front centre is longer than standard road bike geometry.
Wallis tells me the idea behind the Corsa is to build a classic climber’s race bike, yet one that adds stability on descents with the longer front centre.
The carbon one-piece cockpit is available in a huge range of sizes and made to order. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
The frame and fork are light at 595.7g (unpainted, size medium) and 348g (300mm steerer), respectively. That’s impressive for a bike with internal routing and clearance for 36mm tyres. It gives current featherweight bikes such as Scott’s latest Addict RC (640g) and Specialized’s Aethos (585g, size 56cm) a run for their money.
Attention to detail
The Black Series Corsa crankset, here fitted with a Carbon-Ti chainring, is one of the lightest you’ll find. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
This Black Series bike, however, cheats the scales further thanks to its build. The 220g (100mm x 42cm) one-piece bar/stem is made in collaboration with German lightweight specialist Schmolke. The internally routed one-piece design bonds the stem piece to the bar. That means the combination is available in any size you could wish for.
The carbon crankset is also a collaboration, with carbon specialist THM, weighing 289g (172.5mm) with a Carbon-Ti chainring at 112g.
The Black Series Corsa front wheel tips the scales at only 501g. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
Conventional wheels, unconventional weight
The rear wheel comes in at 580g. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
The Corsa wheels, which use a conventional 28-spoke build, connect the 280g rims via Sapim CX-Ray spokes, with Black Series’ own ultra-light hubset (64g front, 149g rear). The wheels weigh in at a mere 1,081g a pair, including tubeless rim tape.
They’re shod with Tufo’s 220g Comtura Prima tubeless tyres in a rough-road ready 32mm width.
Completing the build is a Corsa seatpost made in collaboration with THM and weighing 85g (27.2x350mm). It’s topped with a Black Series Corsa saddle at an astonishingly light 52g. The 27.2mm-diameter post is available as an inline or offset option.
The Black Series front thru-axle weighs only 15g. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
As you might expect from a brand born out of Poshbikes’ history, the attention to detail goes further in the pursuit of weight reduction than you’ll see from perhaps any other brand.
Take the Black Series Corsa thru-axles, for example.
These are made from a moulded carbon shaft with a ceramic insert for the hex key slot. They are tipped with a metal-threaded end piece that’s keyed and bonded to the shaft. The weights for the road versions of these axles are an astonishing 17g (rear) and 15g (front).
The Black Series rear thru-axle weighs only 17g. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia Four Black Series carbon M5 x 15mm bottle cage bolts weigh 2 grams. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
Even the bottle cage bolts are the lightest available. These carbon fibre bolts are sourced from the aeronautic industry. A set of four M5 x 15mm bolts weighs only 2g.
The 52g carbon saddle is made in Italy by a carbon motorsport specialist. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
Availability and pricing
The Black Series Corsa is a seriously lightweight bike. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia
This ‘Ultimate’ SL build will be available from Black Series before the end of the year with an expected retail price of £16,000 / $21,650 / €18,350.
Wallis told me he’s confident he could build an even lighter version of the bike at less than 5kg.
American customs officials will bar the import of bicycles manufactured in Taiwan by Giant Bicycles following an investigation that found evidence of forced labour.
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will detain bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories manufactured in Taiwan, effective immediately after issuing a Withhold Release Order.
CBP said it identified five ‘forced labour indicators’ during its investigation of Giant: abuse of vulnerability; abusive working and living conditions; debt bondage; withholding wages; and excessive overtime.
CBP said Giant, the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world, “profited by imposing such abuse”, resulting in goods produced below market value and thereby “undercutting American businesses by millions of dollars”.
Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner of CBP’s Office of Trade Susan S. Thomas said: “Importers have a responsibility to do their due diligence and know their supply chains. CBP will continue to investigate allegations of forced labor and take action when we find it in U.S. supply chains.”
In a statement published on its website, the Giant Group said it is “firmly committed to upholding human rights and labor protections”.
Giant said it has taken “concrete actions” in the last year: “Since January 2025, we have fully implemented a Zero Recruitment Fee Policy, under which all recruitment, agency, and government-related fees for newly hired migrant workers are fully covered by the company.
“By the end of 2024, we completed upgrades to employee housing, providing a safer and more comfortable living environment.”
Giant Group said it will file a petition to seek the revocation of the Withhold Release Order and explain to the CBP that the company has “already adopted appropriate measures”.
Giant said it expects some shipments to the US may experience delays and inspections in the short term.
“The Group will continually provide timely updates and maintain open communication with global stakeholders to foster a responsible and resilient industry environment,” the statement said.
If you’re on an A or B team, you’ll be racing one lap of the Country to Coastal route. C and D teams will be racing one lap of Turf N Surf.
There’s much to discuss, including crucial course segments, powerup usage, bike decisions, and strategic options. So choose your category below, and let’s go!
A & B Categories – Country to Coastal
Looking at the Route
Makuri Islands’ Country to Coastal route is 33.5km long with 284m of elevation gain. This is the second time we’ve raced it for ZRL, as it featured in race 3 almost exactly 1 year ago.
Let’s discuss the key parts of this route, beginning just after we blast out of the start pen.
Note: riders will receive particular powerups at particular arches in this race. We’ve included those details below, along with notes about where to best use the powerup.
Uphill Start (0-1.4km): we begin with a quick climb from the start pens up to the Village Sprint. While the slope only averages 3.5%, it’ll make the first few minutes especially tough. Make sure you come into the pens warmed up! Once the race begins, mind your pack position, watch for gaps, hold onto those wheels, and know that recovery is just up the road as the next 13.5km are mostly downhill!
Draft Boost powerup at Village Sprint arch @1.7km: increases the draft effect you are experiencing for 40 seconds. Use at higher speeds (flats and descents) when you are already drafting off another rider (since this powerup only helps when you are drafting.) Best used before the next powerup at 7.4, while you’re in the pack, to grab additional recovery.
Anvilat Country Sprint arch @7.4km: makes you heavier for up to 15 seconds, so you can descend faster. It won’t hurt you, as it only adds weight when the road is at a -1.5% decline or greater. Event-only. Use this on downhills. Pair it with a supertuck to go extra fast with zero effort! Best used on the steeper portions of the slot canyon descent ~13-15km into the race.
Climb to Shisa Sprint (18.6-20.1km): the next pinch point begins at 18.6km when you cross a bridge onto the sandy, uphill corkscrew road taking you to the Shisa Sprint. Again, this isn’t a steep climb – it averages 3.3%. But climbers and puncheurs will push the w/kg here in an effort to thin the herd. If you aren’t attacking, you’ll want to hold onto a wheel to save energy in the draft.
Steamroller at Shisa Sprint arch @20.7km: reduces Crr for 30 seconds so you roll as fast as a road tire on pavement regardless of wheels or road surface. This is most effective when used on dirt, but it also provides an advantage on cobbles, bricks, gravel, wood, and ice/snow, etc. Best used on the dirt portion of the Mangrove Maze road at ~24.1km.
Lightweight (feather) at Tidepool Sprint arch @25.8km: reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds. Use on climbs, when weight matters the most. Best use? Either on the steeper portion of the Slot Canyon Climb (~26.2-28.5km) if you’re struggling to hold on, or save it for the base of the finishing climb, triggering it just before the lap arch so you get the next powerup!
Slot Canyon climb (26.7-29.2km): our last real climb (apart from the uphill finish) takes us up through the Slot Canyon we descended earlier. At just 2.4%, this is the slackest of our three climbs. But since it comes near the end of the race, you know it’s going to hurt! Pro tips: watch for riders attacking when the road turns right off the pavement and onto sand around 28.2km. This always seems to be a key inflection point.
Burrito at lap arch @33km: turns off the draft effect for riders in a cone-shaped window behind you for 20 seconds. Use when attacking off the front so opponents have to work harder to follow you, or in the peloton to make others work harder. Best used in the final seconds of the race, but watch out – your burrito may hurt nearby teammates!
Finish at Virtual Arch (@33.5km): after a flat lead-in from the Slot Canyon climb, you’ll get to slug it out in an uphill finish that is around 700 meters long, averaging 3.5%. Any powerup will help you here, and you’ll get another one as you pass under the lap arch with 400 meters to go. Time them wisely!
This route’s three key climbs plus an uphill finish may entice you toward a climbing-friendly bike. But it’s important to look at the pitch of the climbs, and not just their length.
As noted above, the climbs only average 2.4-3.5%, which means they are quite draftable, and your bike’s aero performance will be more important than its weight, especially at the speeds A and B riders travel.
So we’re recommending pairing the DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 85/Disc wheels – the most aero wheels in game – with any of the following frames:
S-Works Tarmac SL8
Pinarello Dogma F 2024
Canyon Aeroad 2024
Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71
The Tron bike (Zwift Concept Z1) is also a good choice.
Lots of recon events are scheduled on upcoming ZRL routes, led by various teams. See upcoming ZRL recons for this race at zwift.com/events/tag/zrlrecon.
Various members of the Zwift racing community create helpful recon videos in the days leading up to each week’s race. Those videos, though, often reference information found in these detailed race guides! So the videos will be added here in the days to follow.
This route as a scratch race has all the makings of a classic attritional Zwift battle. Make no mistake: riders will fall off the back on each of the three key climbs as strong climbers and puncheurs push hard to drop whoever they can!
But does it always make sense to push on the climbs in a team event? Smart teams will look at the makeup of their squad beforehand to determine whether it makes more sense to attack or sit in at key pinch points. Riders will want to communicate well mid-race, too, so teams can make smart, on-the-fly decisions that maximize the team’s overall result.
C & D Categories – Turf N Surf
Looking at the Route
The Makuri Islands Turf N Surf route is essentially one big loop with two key climbs. It was first raced in ZRL in November of 2024, but as a points race.
All C and D teams will be racing a single lap of the route for a total of 24.7km with 198m of climbing.
Let’s discuss the key parts of this route…
Note: riders will receive particular powerups at particular arches in this race. We’ve included those details below, along with notes about where to best use the powerup.
Flat Start (0-14.6km): Don’t expect any major action for the first half of the race, since it’s just a stretch of flat Neokyo roads, the Slot Canyon descent, and more flats. Until the Festival Harbor Climb arrives, any attempted attacks have a very slim chance of sticking.
Draft Boost at Alley Sprint arch @0.7km: increases the draft effect you are experiencing for 40 seconds. Use at higher speeds (flats and descents) when you are already drafting off another rider (since this powerup only helps when you are drafting.) Best used during or just after the Festival Harbor Climb to save you some effort on this key tough section. Just make sure you use it before the Shisa Sprint arch!
Festival Harbor Climb @ 14.6km (2.6% for 2km): This isn’t an official KOM segment, but make no mistake: the first major selection of the race happens here! This is a draggy, draftable climb (remember, it looks like you’re on dirt, but that’s just sand that rolls like tarmac).
Lightweight (feather) at Shisa Sprint arch @16.3km: reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds. Use on climbs, when weight matters the most. Best used in the Pain Cavern, when the effort gets highest near the end of the climb.
Recovery (16.6-21.6km): Again, don’t expect any action from the top of the Festival Harbor Climb to the start of the Pain Cavern (21.6km). This section is a twisty descent followed by flat or slightly rolling roads.
Pain Cavern @ 21.6km (3% for 2.1km): This isn’t an official KOM segment either, but it’s the longest climb of the route, and it’s where the second major selection of the race will happen! This is a draggy, draftable climb, and the big moves tend to happen as you enter the figure 8 section. Do everything you can to hold the wheels here, as doing so will give you a shot at the podium. If you lose ’em, you’ve lost.
Finish at Virtual arch: once you’re out of Pain Cavern, you’ve got 1km to go, and it’s quite flat. Did you save your aero powerup? Time it right so it runs out just before you hit that virtual arch shimmering in the distance, and you may just find yourself on the podium.
This route’s three key climbs plus an uphill finish may entice you toward a climbing-friendly bike. But it’s important to look at the pitch of the climbs, and not just their length.
As noted above, the climbs only average 2.4-3.5%, which means they are quite draftable, and your bike’s aero performance will be more important than its weight, especially at the speeds A and B riders travel.
So we’re recommending pairing the DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 85/Disc wheels – the most aero wheels in game – with any of the following frames:
S-Works Tarmac SL8
Pinarello Dogma F 2024
Canyon Aeroad 2024
Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71
The Tron bike (Zwift Concept Z1) is also a good choice.
Lots of recon events are scheduled on upcoming ZRL routes, led by various teams. See upcoming ZRL recons for this race at zwift.com/events/tag/zrlrecon.
Various members of the Zwift racing community create helpful recon videos in the days leading up to each week’s race. Those videos, though, often reference information found in these detailed race guides! So the videos will be added here in the days to follow.
This route as a scratch race has all the makings of a classic attritional Zwift battle. Make no mistake: riders will fall off the back on each of the two key climbs as strong climbers and puncheurs push hard to drop whoever they can!
But does it always make sense to push on the climbs in a team event? Smart teams will look at the makeup of their squad beforehand to determine whether it makes more sense to attack or sit in at key pinch points. Riders will want to communicate well mid-race, too, so teams can make smart, on-the-fly decisions that maximize the team’s overall result.
Your Thoughts
Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!
The Lee Cougan Rampage Origin is a proper cross-country race hardtail in the best sense of the word, offering a lot of what I’m looking for in this style of bike.
There are slacker, rowdier and even lighter XC hardtails out there. However, on paper, the Rampage Origin strikes an unusually rare balance, combining the – dare I say it – old-school charm of chasing low weight with practical features.
Spotted at Sea Otter Europe and launching officially today, it’s a hardtail MTB designed for XC marathon riding, that prioritises low weight and practical touches, with a claimed frame weight of only 940g for a size small in the raw-carbon finish.
The new frame has a far more contemporary silhouette than the outgoing Rampage, with slimmer, dropped seatstays and a less aggressive version of the distinctive kink where the seatstays and chainstays meet.
Geometry has also been brought up to date. The head angle has been slackened to 68 degrees (down from 70), while the seat tube angle steepens to 75 degrees (up from 73).
Neither number is wildly out there, and they are exactly what you’d expect of a modern XC race bike of this ilk.
Although not unheard of, it’s relatively unusual to see a proper XC bike with down tube bosses… Jack Luke / Our Media …but it’s even more unusual to see top tube bosses. Jack Luke / Our Media
Despite the focus on weight, practicality hasn’t been ignored.
I’m particularly fond of the triple boss accessory mounts under the top tube and space for an extra bottle cage beneath the down tube. This makes the bike more marathon- and ultra-friendly, but also offers a useful place to stash tools or spares for day-to-day riding.
The Merida Big.Nine springs to mind as a frame offering a similar setup on the underside of its top tube, although the additional boss on the Lee Cougan broadens compatibility with bikepacking accessories. Plus, the Big.Nine misses out on the additional down tube bosses.
Official tyre clearance is 2.4in. That’s around standard for a contemporary XC hardtail, particularly one focused on XC marathon racing. As expected, the frame now uses SRAM’s UDH standard.
If nothing else, I like the look of the twin-bolt seat clamp. Jack Luke / Our Media
Other nice touches include a chunky double-bolt seat clamp – slipping seatposts are rare on quality frames, but it’s reassuring to see, and a nice touch beyond a generic rebranded single-bolt clamp.
One-piece cockpits are par for the course on modern hardtails. Jack Luke / Our Media
Lee Cougan’s own integrated one-piece cockpit is a handsome visual match for the frame. While adjustability is, of course, impacted compared to a two-piece cockpit, these are an increasingly common sight on high-end XC builds, so it doesn’t feel out of place.
In a slightly unusual move, at least from the perspective of someone based in the UK, the two complete builds come specced with rigid posts.
Fixed posts remain popular in ‘traditional’ marathon racing, but dropper posts are approaching a point of anecdotal near-ubiquity and, to a lesser degree, as spec on complete XC bikes.
The bike is offered in two finishes, and the stealthy black option looks wicked. Jack Luke / Our Media
That said, the frame is, of course, fully compatible with internally routed droppers.
The bike was designed with input from two-time marathon world champion Leo Páez, who rode a custom build with a DT Swiss dropper, pedals and tyre inserts to a bronze medal at the 2025 XCM World Championships. That build tipped the scales at only 9.4kg.
The Rampage Origin will be offered in three complete builds, with either SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS, Shimano XTR Di2 or XT Di2. Pricing starts at €4,599 and runs to €6,799, depending on spec. No frame-only option is available at present.
The bike is available in the two finishes pictured. Some will argue that black bikes are boring, and I’m usually in agreement, but I will make an exception for the purposeful stealthiness of the matt carbon option, which looks fetching with its flash of Kashima-coated stanchion.
This week my team (Coalition Delusion, racing in the B1 Development Lime division), took on 8 others in a points race slugfest in Urukazi. Everyone knew heading in that it would be a tough race. Could we survive in the front to the finish, while grabbing enough sprint points along the way?
Only time would tell. Here’s how our race unfolded…
Planning + Warmup
Our team had been chatting on Discord for several days leading up to this race. How could we best attack four laps of Fine and Sandy? Nearly all the race-winning points were in the 8 sprints, but we would also have to survive 8 repeats of the short, dusty Mech Isle climb.
We really didn’t know much about the other teams, either, it being a fresh division and we having only raced a TTT together.
In the end, we decided that the key was to stay in the front group for as long as possible (first priority) while also contesting as many sprints as possible (second priority). It was left to each rider how exactly that would happen.
I was already one dirty chai and a few pieces of Neuro caffeine gum into my day by the time I got on the bike at 9:35am, so I was nicely caffeinated. I’d also applied some PR Lotion to my legs, then I rode a 20-minute warmup, keeping the effort mostly zone 2, with a few spinups to get my heart rate up in zone 4.
After updating my name to include [Coalition] and changing to my chosen race rig (Pinarello Dogma F 2024 + DT Swiss disc), I headed to the pens. Let’s race!
Lap 1 – the Start
The 50 riders in our race started quite tamely, but that was expected. Everyone knew we would need every bit of power we could muster to hang on over 8x Mech Isle climbs and contest 8x sprint segments.
If you’re wondering what this course looks like conceptually, it’s this:
Captain Neil was on comms, keeping on and carrying on, calmly directing and giving atta boys.
As we crossed the wooden bridge to begin the first Mech Isle climb, I was well-positioned just a bike length from the front, giving me room to “sag” the climb if the group was pushing harder than I could hold.
Vanecht from the Belgian Zwift Riders team through down a huge attack as we began, but I wasn’t going to chase that. Too much action up the road. Apparently others though the same, as he stayed away, taking max FAL points on the Boardwalk Sprint before sitting up and rejoining the peloton.
For my part, I put in a hard sprint, but not a maximal sprint. 11th place.
The group slowed quickly after the sprint point, and I realized I had my first powerup: a steamroller. Should I hold it for the Mech Isle climb up the road, or burn it in hopes of getting an aero at the next arch? I decided to hold onto it.
On Discord, it sounded like teammate Chris M was already feeling the effort. We all told him to hang on as long as he could. In ZRL, every point counts!
The first Tidepool Sprint is where I realized I’d made a tactical error in holding onto my steamroller. Because it was clear that riders with aero (helmet) powerups had a huge advantage in the sprints, as they rode away from me quite handily and I crossed in 23rd:
I decided then and there not to make that mistake again. My new goal was to have an aero powerup heading into as many of the sprints as possible. If that meant burning a steamroller and suffering more on the Mech Isle climb, so be it.
Because I thought I could hold on up that climb, even though it was a hard effort. And sprint points were all that mattered. 39 riders left in front. On to lap two.
Lap 2: the Winning Move
As the race unfolded, we settled into a rhythm: go hard on the Mech Isle climb and sprint segments. Ride easy in between. Most of that in between riding was really easy, in fact. I kept finding myself poking my nose into the wind, even though I was only holding 150-200 watts!
On the Mech Isle climb at the start of lap 2, ZSUN rider T. Schippers attacked hard, chasing another rider who was even further off the front. I didn’t think much of it, and neither did most of the riders, it seemed.
But this was the winning move.
I came through the Boardwalk Sprint in 11th, without any powerup to assist me. I was starting to believe that I had the legs today to grab some solid sprint points, especially if I could land an aero powerup. And just like that, the Zwift gods gifted me one – my first on the day!
As we wound our way through Mangrove Maze, we noticed T. Schippers was growing his gap off the front, now 15 seconds ahead. Impressive. But still, I don’t think anyone saw it as a move that would last.
The Tidepool Sprint on lap two was my first all-in sprint effort, as I had an aero powerup and thus, I hoped, a shot at a top-5 finish. I crossed the line in 4th. 47 points! And a steamroller, which meant I’d have one easier go up the Mech Isle climb, but another meagure finish on lap 3’s Boardwalk Sprint.
35 riders were left in the front group as we finished our second lap, with 1 additional rider (Schippers) 38 seconds off the front.
Lap 3
As we made our way toward the first sprint of our third lap, we all began to understand the beautiful plan T. Schippers was executing. While we sprinted our guts out 4x each lap, sitting up in between to recover, he was keeping the power steady and slowly growing a gap on the peloton.
I certainly didn’t have the legs to bridge up to him solo. And it seems nobody else did, either. As long as he was riding within himself, he was going to win this race and land a huge points haul. Would that be what his team (ZSUN) needed to win? We weren’t sure, as we really didn’t know who the strongest teams were.
A 14th-place finish on the Boardwalk Sprint earned my team 37 more points, and more importantly, another aero powerup! I used that aero to grab 3rd (and 48 points) on the Tidepool Sprint, where I got another aero powerup.
It meant I would suffer a bit on the two Mech Isle climbs just up the road. But hopefully that meant I could finally put in a fast effort on the Boardwalk Sprint.
The Mech Isle climb at the end of lap 3 proved to be the one that dropped teammate Chris M from the front group. He’d done a remarkable job of holding on, though, and continued to soldier on in the chase group.
The front pack had been whittled down to 29 riders (plus Schippers well off the front) as we headed into our final lap. Five Coalition riders remained in the front group.
Lap 4 – the Finish
Several riders went surprisingly early on the final Boardwalk Sprint, but I wasn’t feeling spicy enough to follow. Still, I had an aero powerup, so I gave it a go, crossing in 8th.
Landing a steamroller powerup put me in a bit of a quandary. Should I hold onto it to ease my final effort up the dirt climb? Or ditch it in hopes of getting an aero powerup?
I decided to burn it – to literally trash it (so other riders wouldn’t see what I did). And it worked! I got 16th on the final Tidepool Sprint, well behind the riders with aero powerups. But I also landed an aero powerup myself, which I knew would be helpful in my finishing sprint, as long as I could hold onto the wheels up and over the final Mech Isle climb.
Three riders managed to get away off the front up that final climb, and I just suffered my way over it, making sure I didn’t get gapped off the back. My gamble had worked: I had survived the final climb, and had an aero in my pocket for the finish.
My plan was to surf the wheels until the final few hundred meters, and that’s what I did. I probably left it a bit late, but managed to cut through most of the group and finish 6th.
The results from WTRL came in quicker this week, and we were stoked to see Coalition Delusion atop the leaderboard!
Just like we’d told Chris M, every point counts. Without his 159 points we would have lost to Atom Racing. That’s why you never give up in a ZRL race.
Of course, everyone on the team contributed in a big way, as you can see from our points totals above. You can’t win these sorts of races with just one or two outstanding performers. Well done, Coalition Delusion!
Personally, I was really happy with my result, as I somehow managed to be the leading points scorer for my team this week. While my average power for the race wasn’t anything impressive, 17 sprint efforts across 69 minutes of racing certainly emptied my matchbook!
I’m enjoying my ZRL races so far this year, more than I have in some past seasons. It’s fun to be in the mix, instead of just holding on for dear life until I get shelled off the back.
Lastly, kudos to T. Schippers for nailing the long breakaway, Jensie-style, and taking the overall win. It was a strategically brilliant move, and he managed to do it with a 319W (3.365 W/kg) average. He, not surprisingly, earned more FAL and FIN points than anyone else in the race (434 total).
Request: Realtime Points
This was a fun race. But it would have been so much cooler if we had real-time points results displayed in the HUD. Imagine the strategic elements that would bring into the race.
Please make it happen, Zwift!
Your Thoughts
How did your race on Fine and Sandy go this week? Share below!
Israel–Premier Tech’s main sponsor, Premier Tech, has demanded publicly that the team drops ‘Israel’ from its name and adopts a new identity and brand image.
In a press release published yesterday, the Canadian multinational company said: “We are sensitive and attentive to the situation on the international scene, which has evolved considerably since our arrival on the World Tour in 2017”.
Premier Tech has been involved in cycling for more than 30 years and said it “always placed the development of the sport and Quebec and Canadian cyclists at the heart of its involvement”.
Israel–Premier Tech has supported Canadian cyclists since its inception, including Michael Woods and Derek Gee, who recently terminated his contract with the team.
“However, the current situation regarding the team name is no longer sustainable to achieve our goal, which is the very reason for our involvement in cycling,” the press release said.
Factor has said its sponsorship of Israel–Premier Tech is untenable without a change of name and flag. Simon von Bromley / Our Media
On Monday, Cyclingnews revealed that Factor Bikes had informed the team’s co-founder, Sylvan Adams, that its sponsorship of the team was “untenable” unless it changed its name and nationality.
“I’ve already told the team: Without a name change, without a flag change, we won’t continue,” said Factor Bikes founder Rob Gitelis.
“It’s not a matter of right or wrong anymore. It’s become too controversial around our brand, and my responsibility is to my employees and my shareholders, to give them maximum space with which to grow this company and make it profitable,” Gitelis explained.
Israel–Premier Tech told BikeRadar: “The team is currently in the planning phase for 2026 team branding and will communicate any potential changes in due course.”
The pressure on Israel–Premier Tech to change its name follows protests at the Vuelta a España against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech, due to its claimed sportswashing of the state of Israel.
However, Jean Christophe Rattel, the founder of Ekoi, which supplies cycling clothing, sunglasses and helmets to Israel–Premier Tech, told BikeRadar that the company remains committed to the team.
“At Ekoi, we are driven by passion for the teams we sponsor. Abandoning them in such a moment would feel like an act of cowardice,” said Rattel.
Rattel explained that when Israel–Premier Tech changed kits at La Vuelta to remove ‘Israel’ due to safety concerns, Ekoi produced the new jerseys in three days “to show our support for the team during this difficult context”.
A Protest In Ribadeo against Israel’s participation La Vuelta a España. Carlos Castro / Getty Images
Rattel explained that cycling is facing tough times, with the Arkéa B&B–Hotel team, which also uses Ekoi equipment, losing its sponsors at the end of this season.
“In this environment, both Ekoi and myself remain committed and stand in solidarity with the teams and people who count on us,” said Rattel.
“This is an international team, with riders from many different countries, led by a manager I have known for years. I also have personal ties with several of the riders, and walking away now – simply because of the geopolitical situation – would feel like betraying them,” Ekoi’s founder explained.
Commenting on Factor Bikes’ decision to distance itself from Israel–Premier Tech, Stephanie Adam, an organiser with the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, which called for the protests at La Vuelta, told BikeRadar: “This step would clearly weaken the team’s underlying goal of providing propaganda for Israeli apartheid and is a tribute to the many protests against the team at major races, including most recently at La Vuelta.
“This also sends a strong signal to UCI and other sporting bodies that teams sportswashing genocide and apartheid will never be accepted in world sports.”
Cinelli has worked with British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori on a limited-edition collaboration – called Dream Together, You Can Still Win – which will be launched officially on 29 September.
It’s the second artist collaboration by Cinelli in 2025, part of an ongoing series, with Cinelli previously working with Brooklyn, New York based artist Futura’s Futura Laboratories design studio.
Cinelli has also recently worked with Oakley to release limited-edition retro sunglasses, with Italian streetwear brand Iuter, and with Kask to offer limited-edition Protone Icon and Utpoia Y helmets. Back in 2022, it worked on a collab with the Italian football club Inter, including custom Cinelli bikes and cycling kit.
There’s a one-off track bike frame painted by Ilori.
The collaboration with Ilori showcases a one-off edition of the Cinelli Vigorelli track bike. It also includes a cycling jersey and cap, and a striking casual T-shirt. We’ve previously reviewed the Vigorelli in road-legal form, decked out with rim brakes and a 1×11-speed SRAM Apex groupset.
The collection includes this artist-designed jersey.
Cinelli and Ilori claim the Dream Together, You Can Still Win collection’s vivid colours are inspired by the freedom of cycling and its connection to the living world, saying that: “At its core, cycling remains a spiritual, joyful and recreational experience; ‘Dream Together, You Can Still Win’ flips the concept of competition, redefining what it means to ‘win’.”
“Bike culture has been an integral part of my childhood, shaping many of my experiences as an inner city kid in London. The bike itself symbolizes freedom – it’s a tool which allows you to venture, to escape and to expand your horizons,“ says Ilori.
Community bike ride through Milan
There’s also a matching T-shirt.
There will be a one-off event in Milan on 29 September to mark the launch of the new limited-edition collection, featuring an exhibition of bikes from Cinelli’s vintage collection and, of course, a community bike ride, slated to take one hour and visiting some of Milan’s cultural and creative hot spots.
“Cinelli holds a decades-long reputation for collaborating with creatives, exploring the interplay between art and cycling. It’s a pleasure to be able to contribute my own spin on this, collaborating with Cinelli’s creative team to take cycling back to its essence,” says Ilori.
zFondo Series on Bambino Fondo
Bonus XP 
HISP London Minitour, Stage 1
