Minimalist action shooter Vendetta Forever is heading to PC VR this May, and five new levels are coming as a free update.
Previously released on Quest and PlayStation VR2 last October, Vendetta Forever is a VR shooter from Meatspace Interactive and publisher nDreams. Designed around the ‘LO-KILL-MOTION’ mechanic, where you can only move by teleporting to an enemy’s dropped weapon, today’s VR Games Showcase revealed it’s now heading to PC VR soon.
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Coinciding with Vendetta Forever’s PC VR launch are five new levels across all platforms. ‘Speakeasy’ takes you to a ’40s themed level. ‘Sub’ sees you sabotaging a submarine and escaping. ‘Trench Run’ involves wading through war across no-man’s land to reach the enemy. ‘Panzer’ gives you one grenade launcher and a barrel as a tank slowly approaches. Finally, ‘Escape Velocity’ involves stopping an enemy space station with new weapons.
We enjoyed Vendetta Forever in our 4/5-star review last year, praising its minimalist approach to delivering a “satisfying action game.” Since then, a separate update later arrived in January that added a SUPERHOT-style modifier and native bHaptics support.
Vendetta Forever is out now on Quest and PS VR2, while the PC VR port and new levels will follow on May 8. The new levels are included with the PC VR edition at launch, while Quest and PS VR2 will receive these as free DLC.
If you’re fighting to stay on top of Pokemon TCG Pocket’s onslaught of card updates, then you’ll know a simple “Thanks!” goes a long way. Up to five times a day, any player that presses the “Thanks” button after a battle or a Wonder Pick will grant the recipient a shiny new Shop Ticket to use. Collect enough Shop…
Sci-fi mech brawler UNDERDOGS reaches PlayStation VR2 digitally later this month, with a physical release following shortly after.
Developed by One Hamsa (Racket: Nx), UNDERDOGS is a physics-based brawler that uses arm-based locomotion and a comic book-style presentation. Previously released on Quest, Steam and Pico, this 22nd century underground roguelike fighter is now scrapping onto Sony’s headset with Perp Games publishing.
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Previously announced at the UploadVR Winter Showcase, a new trailer at today’s VR Games Showcase showcased PlayStation VR2 gameplay. The upcoming port includes numerous post-launch updates available on other platforms and haptic feedback in the PS VR2 Sense controllers. While the digital release arrives on March 25, a physical release will follow on April 4.
We praised UNDERDOGS in our review last year on Quest. Awarding it 4/5 stars, we called it a “new benchmark for VR arena combat.”
UNDERDOGS delivers an outstanding experience from start to finish and we only wish there was more to it. Between the strong presentation, engaging core gameplay and progression systems, One Hamsa has delivered an arena fighter that achieves something that feels fresh and exciting on every level.
VR sci-fi horror game Memoreum will reach Quest headsets this September.
Developed by Patient 8 Games, the team behind the Half-Life: Alyx – Return to Rapture mod, Memoreum is an original VR horror game set in the year 2311. Playing as Dr. Otto Hudson, you find yourself ripped from a stasis pod to discover your ship’s inhabitants have succumbed to the Ichor Infection. Guided by a mysterious voice, you’re tasked with solving the mystery of this outbreak.
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Memoreum began life as a Dead Space VR mod, and it’s been in development for four years. We had positive impressions during our hands-on preview at Gamescom 2024, praising the game’s tactile controls and atmospheric immersion. While it’s not mentioned in the trailer, today’s announcement also saw publisher 2080 Games confirm a PlayStation VR2 port for the first time.
For more information, here’s the official story synopsis.
On a dying Earth, as humanity’s last hope, a colony spaceship is launched on a critical mission to seek out a new home among the stars. But amidst the vast expanse of space, a cataclysmic event has plunged the ship and its inhabitants into an unfathomable nightmare. Now you are tasked with unraveling the mysteries that have plagued the vessel and its crew, fighting to adapt and survive against unimaginable odds, all while charting a course towards salvation amidst the cosmic abyss.
Memoreum reaches the Meta Quest platform this September, while a Steam and PlayStation VR2 release will follow at a later date.
Race Face has released its new Turbine SL Stem, which promises high levels of versatility with a flippable design that will give you +6mm of lift or a -6mm drop.
The Turbine SL Stem is aimed at short-travel segments up to 140mm, including cross-country and trail bikes, and enables riders to prioritise efficiency or confidence depending on the orientation of the stem.
Three lengths are available: 40mm, 50mm and 60mm.
Unlike other flippable stems, the Turbine SL remains stylish in either orientation.
The Turbine SL Stem is priced at $115 / €119 / AU$179 and can be specced in six colour options: Black, Silver, Kashmoney, Orange, Red and Blue.
Variable versatility
The new stem has two positions to suit your riding style. Race Face
Race Face says the variable -6mm or +6mm offset enables you to enhance pedalling characteristics on the climbs or increase the cockpit height for a better descending posture.
Having two options in one stem should mean it’s easier to tune your bike to your preferred setup.
The Turbine SL Stem is made using machined aluminium. Race Face
By switching stem orientations, you can adapt your bike to different trails, racing scenarios or personal preferences without adjusting headset spacers or purchasing a new stem.
Unlike other adjustable stems, the Turbine SL maintains a seamless look whatever the orientation.
The top-lock faceplate makes for a clean cockpit, which is said to work well with over-stem bike computer mounts.
The stem remains stylish, whatever direction you run it in. Race Face
The stem is made from 6000-series machined aluminium, which Race Face says gives it great durability and lightweight performance, weighing in at 112g for a 40mm length.
Race Face has committed to the 35mm handlebar standard, and the stack height is listed as 40mm, with the clamp width 48mm.
The Race Face Turbine SL Stem comes in six colourways. Race Face
The brand says the stem is eMTB-ready, and rates it to Use Classification 4, meaning it’s suitable for trail riding.
A lifetime warranty is included, with Race Face saying this includes crashes.
Ghost Town offered a new look at the VR supernatural adventure’s gameplay before its upcoming launch.
Previously announced back in October, Ghost Town is the latest VR title from UK studio Fireproof Games (The Room VR: A Dark Matter). Set in the ’80s, this story focuses on a witch turned ghost hunter and exorcist called Edith Penrose, who now heads up a paranormal detective agency with her flatmate across London. Here’s the latest gameplay trailer as seen in today’s VR Games Showcase.
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“Use a combination of wits, mystical knowledge and ancient magic to help Edith glimpse beyond our world, see the unseen and overcome the unearthly puzzles placed in her way,” states the studio.
As Edith, Ghost Town tasks you with tracking down her brother Adam after he goes missing. Fireproof Games previously revealed that this involves visiting a remote Scottish Island to uncover this mystery, promising tactile puzzles, spellcasting and summoning troubled spirits to help them move on.
Reave is a dark fantasy multiplayer game from the studio behind A Township Tale, and it’s heading to Quest and PC VR.
Developed by Alta, best known for its open-world RPG A Township Tale, the studio officially teased its latest project with a new video showing pre-alpha gameplay footage. Reave is described as a brutal PvPvE extraction game with combat and looting, seeing you fend off enemies as you escape with your riches. Social spaces are also included so you can meet with other players.
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Detailed in a press release, Reave allows you to mix gear and skills to create a more tailored approach that fits your playstyle. This allows you to create options like “a ruthless warrior, a cunning rogue, or something more magical yet to be unearthed by the future game’s development.”
Speaking during today’s VR Games Showcase, Alta’s lead video producer Matthew Needler says the game’s name came from both an old word “to raid and plunder,” and to steal. You can find enemy teams at any point during a raid, letting you either attack each other or choose to form uneasy alliances against greater threats.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Reave, though it’s the first time the game’s name has been officially made public. Previously discussed under the working title ‘Project 2‘, Studio Alta’s been releasing regular developer logs ever since on the game’s YouTube channel.
A release date is currently unconfirmed, though Reave is heading to the Meta Quest platform and PC VR.
Mathieu van der Poel is riding a customised Canyon Aeroad at the Tirreno-Adriatico, which could be yours through the MyCanyon programme.
The bike features a colourway seen in the MyCanyon customisation programme, announced last week, with the addition of sponsors’ logos that have been transferred over the artwork.
The artwork was created by Elena Salmistraro, a world-renowned artist who has been commissioned to produce designs for MyCanyon.
Van der Poel has taken three stages in the Tirreno-Adriatico. Canyon
Canyon says the design has bright, bold fingerprints of colour in a kaleidoscopic palette, making for a “perfect combination of modernity and fun, ideal for attracting attention”, which it certainly did at the start line of Stage 2.
Van der Poel has the race number ‘1’. Canyon
With the first stage being a time trial, where van der Poel was riding his Canyon Speedmax TT, Stage 2 was the first time we’d seen the custom Aeroad in the race.
Van der Poel has many spare bikes in the team bus. Canyon
A look in the team bus suggests van der Poel is planning to use the design for the whole race, with several spare Salmistraro bikes to cover all eventualities.
Elena Salmistraro lives and works in Milan and is one of the two initial artists commissioned to design artwork for the MyCanyon programme. Canyon
Under the artwork is the brand’s Aeroad Canyon Factory Racing (CFR) marque, which sits at the top of Canyon’s frame development and is claimed to weigh 960g for a size-medium frame.
Van der Poel’s bikes use a Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and wheelset (booted in Pirelli P Zero Race RS tyres), while Canyon’s in-house finishing kit provides a clean, homogeneous look.
MyCanyon enables buyers to customise specs as well as aesthetics, with multiple stem options available in addition to saddles.
Hitman World of Assassination received a new gameplay trailer before this month’s launch on PlayStation VR2.
Scheduled to launch on March 27, IO Interactive released a fresh look at the upcoming PS VR2 adaptation of Hitman: World of Assassination. Today’s new trailer shows footage from ‘The Finish Line’ level in Hitman 2, the second mission where Agent 47 is tasked with infiltrating an endurance racing event in Miami. Here’s the new trailer from today’s VR Games Showcase.
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Revealed during September’s State of Play presentation, this marks the third time we’ve seen IO Interactive adapting its hit series for VR, following Quest 3 and PC VR/PSVR releases. While the upcoming PS VR2 release originally targeted a December 2024 launch, that was later delayed to further polish the experience and “add a few extras” like manual reloading.
On PlayStation VR2, you can access all of Hitman World of Assassination’s levels across the rebooted trilogy. Promised changes from the flatscreen release include dual-wielding, room-scale gameplay, positional interactions like directly pouring poison into a glass from a vial, and physical items you can hold.
Hitman World of Assassination arrives on March 27 on PlayStation VR2 as paid DLC for $10, which requires owning the base game on PS5.
Komoot has changed the way users can send routes to external devices.
New users will be required to have an active Komoot Premium subscription (currently £4.99 / $4.99 a month) to sync routes to their devices, such as bike computers and smart watches.
Previously, users who had purchased or unlocked a specific Komoot map, such as a single region, region bundles or the ‘World Pack’ could sync routes to external devices.
Now, however, new Komoot users will need an ongoing premium subscription to sync routes.
Existing users can relax
Fortunately, if you purchased or unlocked a map from the route-planning app before the end of February 2025, you will still be able to plot and send routes to your device.
But new Komoot users will have to start an active subscription to sync routes.
The premium subscription currently costs £4.99 per month in the UK or £59.99 annually ($4.99 / $59.99 in the US). Previously, you could unlock single regions for £3.99, region bundles for £8.99, or the whole world for £29.99.
Komoot is one of the most popular route-planning apps. komoot
In a statement published on its website, Komoot said: “At Komoot, we’re always working to improve our product so explorers like you can make the most of your outdoor adventures.
“Previously, syncing Komoot routes to external devices was available to all users who had purchased or unlocked specific Komoot maps products, like single regions, region bundles or the World Pack. This is still the case for all existing accounts that have purchased or unlocked Komoot maps before the end of February 2025. After this, all accounts that had not purchased or unlocked a maps product will require an active Komoot Premium subscription to enjoy this functionality.
“With a Komoot Premium subscription, you gain the ultimate flexibility to tailor your experience, for example, with your own customised route Collections, your favourite sport-specific maps, or now, sending your Komoot routes instantly to your GPS devices via Profile Connect or Live Sync.”
The subscription unlocks features such as multi-day route planning, personal route collections, live tracking and weather updates.
It also provides a range of extra map functions, such as 3D maps, sport-specific maps (including mountain biking and long-distance cycle routes), and Komoot maps on Garmin devices.
Let’s be real, winning a Zwift race isn’t just about “pushing big watts”. If it were, we’d all just go full gas and hope for the best. But the truth is, the smartest riders beat the strongest riders all the time.
In my latest video, I break down “six essential tactics” to help you conserve energy, race efficiently, and drop your rivals when it counts. Watch the full video (below) for all the details, but here’s a sneak peek of the biggest takeaways.
#1: Learn to Dangle
Hanging just off the back of the group, what I call “dangling”, is an underrated but killer tactic. It lets you stay in the draft without getting caught in the “watt wasting window”. Think of it as energy banking: while the front riders are burning matches, you’re recovering and getting ready to strike.
#2: Stop Overshooting Yourself Into the Wind
When a group slows after a surge, some riders overshoot straight to the front, big mistake. That’s like volunteering to do extra work when no one asked you to. Ease up early, settle in, and let others waste their watts.
#3: Master Pack Flow
Reading the group’s rhythm is game-changing. If the front is accelerating, match it early to avoid getting dropped. If they’re slowing, back off your effort so you don’t waste energy surging forward. Smart pacing = less wasted effort.
#4: Attack Over the Top, Not From the Front
Want to break away? Don’t just blast off from the front position. That’s a free tow for everyone behind you. Instead, use momentum to roll past the group at just the right moment, forcing them to react after you’ve gained free speed.
#5: Soft Attacks Drain the Pack
Instead of going all-in too early, make a few jabs. If done right, this wears down the competition without completely draining yourself. When it’s finally time to go all-out, they’ll be too cooked to chase you down.
#6: Fully Commit to Your Final Move
When you decide to go, GO! No half-measures. If you hesitate, the group will smell blood and reel you back in. Make them think, “Nah, we’ll never catch that guy.” Even if it doesn’t work, you’ll know you gave it everything.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to be the strongest rider, you just have to be smarter than the strongest rider. Learn to conserve energy, read the race, and strike at the right time, and you’ll start bagging way more wins.
Want to see these strategies in action? Watch the full video and start racing smarter today!
The Arizona edition of the Belgian Waffle Ride acts as the unofficial curtain-raiser for the US gravel racing season and Sofía Gómez Villafañe used this year’s edition to test what appears to be an unreleased Specialized tyre.
Gómez Villafañe rode to a convincing win in the elite women’s field, finishing 20 minutes ahead of Courtney Sherwell, on a Specialized Crux fitted with a new Specialized Tracer gravel tyre on the rear.
The Tracer is part of Specialized’s current line-up of gravel tyres, but this new model looks to have a revamped tread pattern, with more aggressive and widely spaced lugs compared to the existing tyre.
For gravel racers, it’s likely to be better suited to loose conditions than the Specialized Pathfinder – one of the most popular gravel tyres out there, but best saved for hardpack conditions.
We can’t quite make out the size of Gómez Villafañe’s tyre but, with the trend in gravel being for ever-wider rubber, we’d expect Specialized to reflect that in the options available.
You can just about make out the tread pattern on the new Tracer. @dhughes101
Specialized simply pointed us to its stock ‘Project Black’ statement when we asked about the prospect of a new Tracer: “Specialized relies on feedback from professional athletes in both developing and testing advanced pre-production products in real-world applications,” reads the statement.
“With this top-level feedback, some of these design elements and products eventually show up in future retail product offerings. We call this Project Black.”
Business up front, party at the rear
Sofía Gómez Villafañe is one of the stars of gravel racing. She rode a Specialized Cruz with the new Air Trak front tyre, and an unreleased Tracer rear tyre, at the Arizona Belgian Waffle Ride. @dhughes101
Gravel racers are getting ever-more experimental with their tyre setups, with big rubber now commonplace – and some riders even opting for mountain bike tyres, if their frame offers the required clearance.
Gómez Villafañe used something of a mullet setup in Arizona, with Specialized’s new Air Trak MTB tyre on the front and the Tracer gravel tyre on the rear.
Mullet bikes are more common in mountain biking, pairing a 29in front wheel with a 27.5in rear – business at the front, party at the back – while it’s also common for mountain bikers to use front- and rear-specific tyres to fine-tune speed and grip.
The Air Trak is Specialized’s latest XC race tyre. @dhughes101
While we’re familiar with mullet gearing in gravel, a mullet approach to tyre choice is less common. However, Lachlan Morton used a 50mm-wide Vittoria Terreno Dry and 44mm Vittoria Mezcal en route to winning the 2024 edition of Unbound, taking advantage of all the available clearance on his Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX SE frameset.
Back to Gómez Villafañe’s bike, and the Air Trak, which pairs a low-profile centre tread with more pronounced cornering blocks, has just been released and is part of a new XC line-up that also includes the Fast Trak.
The Air Trak is said to be the faster of the two and has a claimed weight of 575g in a 2.2in width. It’s also available in a 2.35in width, at a claimed 585g.
We won’t mention the mismatched sidewalls… @dhughes101
Specialized is offering the Air Trak and Fast Trak – the latter more of an XC all-rounder with chunkier tread to match – in Flex Lite and Grid Lite casing options. Flex Lite is the lightweight, supple option, while Grid Lite adds sidewall protection.
MTB tyres in gravel races appear to be here to stay, so expect to see more of the Air Trak this year. As for the Tracer, watch this space for more.
We love the marbled finish on this Crux. @dhughes101
An anonymous reader shares a report: The average American workday now concludes at 4:39 p.m., a notable 36 minutes earlier than it did just two years ago when the clock-out time hovered around 5:21 p.m, according to the latest data from the workforce analytics and productivity software company ActivTrak.
The new report tracked the workplace behaviors of over 200,000 employees across 777 companies. Despite the shorter workday, the data suggests that overall productivity has increased by about 2%. Per ActivTrak, employees now engage in focused, 24-minute spurts of productivity.
“I hope to see these numbers remain consistent year-over-year when it comes to workday span and productivity,” said Gabriela Mauch, the head of ActivTrak’s Productivity Lab. “These are healthy numbers. We’ve adapted to a traditional workday on average, while offering flexibility and fluidity in a way that meets employees where they are.” Seasonal fluctuations are another notable factor, the report found. Workers tend to put in longer hours during August and December. The August increase aligns with employees returning from vacation and starting to scramble to meet end-of-year goals, Mauch said. It may be that organizations also see the month of December as another chance to catch up, she added.
BikeRadar was on hand for Bike Connection’s Winter 2025 MTB event in Massa Marittima, in the heart of Italy’s beautiful Tuscany region.
The event is designed to bring prominent mountain bike brands and journalists from across the globe together in one place, where new bikes, products and brand philosophies can be showcased.
We’ve rounded up some of the most eye-catching bits of tech from 2025’s early-season event.
Leatt’s magnesium Ceramag pedals and stems
The Ceramag 8.0Ti pedals and stem come in a fancy and incredibly costly package. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
In a flurry of product announcements, Leatt’s moving into – or at least testing the water with – products including pedals, stems, handlebars and grips.
The science and data-focused South African brand is first to admit it doesn’t plan on selling these products by the bucket-load, thanks to the lofty price tags that accompany new, high-tech construction techniques.
Leatt’s logo is laser-etched, but rather than the etching ‘damaging’ the surface, it has simply changed the ceramic coating’s colour. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
Leatt’s Ceramag pedals and stems – which get their name thanks to the ceramically coated magnesium they’re built from – are, as a result, super-light compared to traditional aluminium alloy models.
Available in two sizes – narrow and wide – the Ceramag pedals spin on an optional titanium spindle and have 10 removable pins per side.
Leatt admits these aren’t likely to appeal to the mass market, given their £279 / $319 / €319 asking price. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
According to the brand, the narrower flat pedals with titanium axle weigh only 266g a pair, while the equivalent clip version – which uses the same construction techniques – weigh 298g a pair.
You pay a premium for the tech though, with retail prices sitting at £279 / $319 / €319 for the titanium axle flats and £299 / $339 / €339 for the equivalent clips.
Leatt’s ceramic-coated magnesium stem is impressively light. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
There are also gravity stems, using the same magnesium construction tech.
Playing to magnesium’s strengths, Leatt has taken advantage of the material’s molecular grain by orientating in a way that should help with “transferring less vibration [to the rider]”.
The stem’s ceramic finish is designed to be tough and prevent corrosion. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
The jury’s still out on that, but there’s no denying they’re light. At 100g for a titanium-bolt, 33mm-long version, they’re going to be a weight weenie’s dream.
Again, they’re not cheap, with the priciest 50mm version costing £199 / $229 / €229.
Atherton Bikes A.170
The A.170 is a high-speed enduro and gravity-focused machine. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
We haven’t had a shortage of Atherton Bikes coverage here on BikeRadar in recent times – and for good reason.
The A.170 is a long 170mm-travel, six-bar DW-link, descent-focused enduro bike that – according to the brand – is its best-seller.
The DW6 six-bar suspension design is a thing of beauty. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
You only need to glance over the frame spec, suspension and geometry to see why, although riding it for yourself may well lead to a sale; Atherton says it has a 100 per cent conversion rate from demo days to sales for the A.170.
Firstly, the additive manufacturing frame uses 3D-printed titanium lugs at each of the bespoke carbon tubes’ intersections.
The lugs – the sections at the end of each carbon tube – have been 3D-printed using titanium alloy. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
Rather than traditional welding or a full-carbon mould, this means Atherton can adapt the geometry of its frames more easily; there are no jigs or expensive moulds.
This results in a 22-size range, with reach figures spanning 410mm to 530mm. While this incredible number of sizes means riders should be able to find a bike that fits perfectly, further personalisation is possible – for an extra fee.
The A.170’s frame isn’t cheap, at £4,750 with a rear shock. Geometry customisations will cost you extra. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
Thirdly, the DW6 rear-suspension design has seven pivot points, more than both the four-bar Horst-link and twin-link designs.
The claim of no performance losses is bold, but stands strong and true on the trail.
The lower linkage adds to the number of ‘bars’ in the design. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
However, there’s a catch (there always is).
Costing from £4,750, the A.170 is expensive. Add an extra £650 for any additional customisations you may want to make and it’s firmly in superbike territory.
Feedback Sports Pro E Lift bike repair stand
The electronically lifting stand will suit people with bad backs. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
Feedback Sports – a company famed for its high-quality workshop kit – now has an electronically raising bike repair stand.
While its 45kg maximum weight limit is clearly aimed at chunky electric bikes, it also means lifting your standard mountain, road or gravel bike will be a doddle for the stand.
It features Feedback Sports’ highly revered clamp. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
At full extension, it can lift bikes to 1.85m – which should be plenty high enough to work on an ebike motor – and compresses to a low 0.9m.
With your seatpost at full mast, you shouldn’t need to lift your bike into the clamp’s quick-release and quick-clamping jaws.
The wheels make it manoeuvrable around your workshop. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Rupert Fowler
Wheels and a handy foot paddle make moving the stand’s 24.5kg weight around easier than you’d expect.
It’s on sale soon and retails for a handsome $1,195.
Selle San Marco Mantra saddle
The Mantra has a large ‘delta’ shape, designed to be suited to the demands of modern-day MTB. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Mirror Media
Selle San Marco hopes its new Mantra saddle will be the perfect pew for your peach.
Designed specifically for the rigours of more extreme riding, its wide, stubby nose is said to provide control and support whether you’re seated or standing.
It’s wide along its entire length, helping riders find their perfect position. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Mirror Media
Taking note of ebikers and enduro riders, who tend to sit towards the front of their seats when climbing, Selle San Marco has adopted what it calls the ‘delta’ shape and a flat – rather than banana-shaped – front-to-rear profile.
The saddle’s shell has been tuned to be comfortable and flexible, helped by the wide rail placement. Mountain Bike Connection Winter / Mirror Media
This is claimed to boost comfort, along with a generous and long perineum pressure-relief channel.
Three rail options are available: stainless steel ‘manganese’, stainless steel ‘Xsilite’ and carbon fibre. They retail for £119.99, £134.99 and £179.99 respectively.
Zwift’s Big Spin 2025 kicked off March 3rd, and with it the much-loved prize spinner. This year’s big prize is the BMX Bandit, the first-ever BMX-style bike in game. Knowing I needed the bike in my garage in order to test it, I put the bot to work, and unlocked the Bandit on our first try. Lucky!
Here’s how it’s described in the Drop Shop: “Rip through the pack on this throwback special that’s perfect in the dirt, the pump track, the streets, and everything in between.”
The bike is rated just 1 star for aero and weight, meaning it’s not going to perform particularly well on flat or climbs. And you can’t upgrade the wheels, since there is only one special BMX-sized wheelset in game. But you can pair it with Fire Socks and have fun laying down rubber all over Watopia, which is what I’ve seen lots of Zwifters doing in the past few days!
While riders will intuitively know that using the BMX Bandit in races against road bikes isn’t a good idea, we also know it’s fun to pull a “funny bike” out for the occasional Zwift group ride or recovery spin. So we put it through our typical speed tests, to see just how fast (or slow) it is.
Here’s everything you need to know about the performance of the new BMX Bandit bike in Zwift.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
The BMX Bandit isn’t the best aero performer, but to be fair, it’s probably quite a bit faster in game than it would be in real life!
It turns in a time of 52:02 on our flat test course. Compare that to a time of 51:39.5 for the Zwift Steel road frame, and you’ll probably agree that the Bandit’s performance is a bit optimistic. Which isn’t a bad thing. Because if it was slower, nobody would ever use it!
In terms of overall ranking, the BMX Bandit’s aero performance on flat tarmac places it behind all in-game road bikes, but ahead of all in-game gravel bikes. It is 37 seconds behind our “baseline” Zwift Aero frame + 32mm Carbon wheels on our test course, which is two laps of Tempus Fugit totaling 34.6km.
Climb Performance
Can you imagine climbing Alpe d’Huez on a BMX Bike IRL? At least on Zwift you can change gears!
The in-game BMX Bandit turns in an Alpe du Zwift climb time of 53:05, meaning it is slower than all of the road, TT, and gravel bikes in game. It is 3 minutes and 37 seconds behind our “baseline” Zwift Aero frame + 32mm Carbon wheels on our test course up Alpe du Zwift, but it does come in over 2 minutes ahead of the mountain bikes.
Note: all test results above are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady.
Conclusions
Like last year’s Big Spin bike, the Atomic Cruiser, it’s probably best to treat the BMX Bandit like you would if it was in your real-life garage. It’s a novelty frame that will grab eyes and stir up nostalgia, but you definitely don’t want to ride it if you’re looking for speed!
So pull it out of your garage on recovery days and fun group rides, pop a few wheelies, nail a rad bunny hop, and remember that bikes are fun.
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike’s performance relative to others may also change. We don’t always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.
A Wide Rim Optimised Corsa Speed TLR time trial tyre is also set to follow “in the coming months”.
A perfect and cohesive profile
Vittoria contends its Wide Rim Optimised tyres allow for a highly aerodynamic profile on 25mm-wide rims. Vittoria
Vittoria says the combination of its Wide Rim Optimised tyres and a 25mm-wide rim offers “a perfect and cohesive profile which minimizes micro-turbulence”, thereby reducing drag and improving performance.
According to the brand, the difference can be as great as five watts at 55kph, compared to a 28c tyre on a ‘standard’ 19mm-wide rim.
It also says the change in tyre profile affords slightly better grip and puncture resistance, although it notes they’re slightly heavier and less comfortable than its 28 or 30c tyres.
According to Vittoria, the Wide Rim Optimised tyres offer a boost to speed, grip and puncture resistance. Vittoria
It’s fair to say the concept of using Wide Rim Optimised to manage the airflow off tyres is well established in road cycling.
During his time at Zipp, for example, Silca’s Josh Poertner coined ‘the rule of 105’ – which states the rim should be 105 per cent of the width of the tyre for optimal aero performance – although that ‘rule’ concerned the external width of a rim, not its internal width.
Vittoria says the Wide Rim Optimised versions of the tyres will cost as follows:
Vittoria Corsa N.EXT Wide Rim Optimised: €71.95 / $91.99
Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR Wide Rim Optimised: €95.95 / $106.99
Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed TLR Wide Rim Optimised: €95.95 / $106.99
These new tyres can be used on rims with narrower internal widths, although the tyres will size up smaller than 29mm wide, Vittoria says. All three of the tyres are tubeless-ready and compatible with hookless rims.
Vittoria claims a Corsa Pro TLR Wide Rim Optimised tyre will weigh 290g, around 15g more than a standard 28c version, with a Corsa N.EXT Wide Rim Optimised coming in at 310g.
Is there more here than meets the eye?
We first spotted 29c Vittoria tyres at the 2024 Tour de France, on Jonas Vingegaard’s Cervélo R5.
Given Vittoria already had 28 and 30c tyres in its ranges, you could be forgiven for thinking the addition of a 29c option was a slightly odd turn of events.
We suspect Vittoria created these 29c tyres to help its pro teams comply with the latest UCI technical regulations. Simon von Bromley / Our Media
The issue was complicated, though, by the fact that the latest international standards (issued by the ETRTO and ISO) stated the minimum nominal tyre size for a 25mm internal width rim was 29c.
Following the incident, the UCI (the sport’s governing body) issued a statement reminding teams that its technical regulations “imposes compliance” with the relevant ISO standards in this area.
While most teams using 25mm-wide rims simply switched up to 30c tyres, or paired their 28c tyres with narrower rims, we spotted a set of 29c Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR tyres on Jonas Vingegaard’s Cervélo R5 at the 2024 Tour de France.
At the time, we speculated Vittoria had created this to satisfy the demands of its pro teams – and it looks as if we were right.
Forefront is a competitive 32-player VR FPS that’s inspired by Battlefield, and we interviewed the developer to learn more.
Developed by Triangle Factory, whose previous work includes tactical 5v5 shooter Breachers and Hyper Dash, Forefront is a more expansive shooter focused on near-future warfare that splits you into two larger teams. Featuring land, air, and sea vehicles for traversing and fighting, the studio promises “large-scale maps” with semi-destructible environments. Here’s the announcement trailer.
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Before today’s reveal at the VR Games Showcase was also accompanied by news of the
UploadVR interviewed Triangle Factory producer Jeroen Dessaux to learn more. After shipping Breachers, the studio wanted to go even bigger for its next game while looking for a hole in the market. Development began roughly a year and a half ago.
“We always say we make our childhood shooters. Hyper Dash was like Unreal Tournament and Quake, Breachers was Rainbow Six Siege with Counterstrike. Now we’re looking at games like Battlefield with Forefront, it’s the type of game that we really wanted to make.”
Going from smaller scale arenas to such an expansive battlefield presented challenges, with Dessaux noting how vehicles would be controlled as one example. Because Forefront is also targeting Quest 2, the rendering “needs to be efficient” while using “some smart tricks” and optimization remains ongoing.
Forefront features two gameplay modes for 16v16 matches, dividing each team into squads of four. The factions in the game are said to be a country’s military pitted against a private military group called Orpiment Renewable Energy (O.R.E.), hired to protect different mining sites against takeover.
One mode is ‘Rush’, where you attack two sites and move onto the next two if you successfully destroy them. Dessaux describes this as “very linear and less vehicle focused,” while ‘Conquest’ goes heavier on vehicles with less focus on walking around and shooting.
With gunplay, Dessaux describes Breachers as being “more arcade-like” for better focus on the action by comparison. Forefront features more realistic reloading while also offering an option for automatic reloading, though the latter is “a bit slower than somebody who’s really trained into realistically reloading their gun.” The aim is to equal out any potential competitive advantages.
“We want it to feel realistic but also cater to people that are not interested in that. It’s not that hardcore if you don’t want it to be.”
Weapons and gadgets are tied to your chosen class. Dessaux offers an example of the Medic class charging up shock pads before applying them, or the Recon class having grappling hooks available. He believes these gadgets are “perfect for VR,” and there are four classes available. If you die, you can respawn into the match.
At the early access launch, Forefront will ship with four maps alongside land, sea and air vehicles, with an update plan already charted out.
“There’s still more content that we want to add, and we’ll keep supporting the game for many years. We hope that people know us from Hyper Dash and Breachers and that we’ve proven that we keep supporting our games. We aim to do the same with Forefront, so there’s a lot more in store after the early access release.”
Considering Hyper Dash later pivoted to a free-to-play model over a year after launch, I asked about Triangle Factory’s plans for its latest game. While Dessaux says that “things on Quest are shifting more towards free to play,” Forefront will be a paid app, and he detailed the studio’s experiences with Hyper Dash.
“[Hyper Dash] was a good experiment for us. It’s very interesting to see the numbers that it gave from that, and there’s still a ton of players playing Hyper Dash. But it’s a different kind of monetization, and it’s something that’s difficult for us to do. It’s a strange market and we are not super focused on getting that maximum return of investment. We just want to make the games that we want without focusing on too much monetization.”
Dessaux believes Forefront will be “a good investment” with its planned free updates, and he mentions that in-app purchases will be available if anyone wants to further support the studio.
With platforms, Dessaux addressed Triangle Factory’s decision to continue supporting Quest 2 given its recent discontinuation. Stating that “over 50 percent of players” in the ecosystem still use Quest 2, he believes it shouldn’t be forgotten just yet. Bots will join if a game doesn’t have the full 32 players, and cross-platform multiplayer will be supported.
“We want to get as many people as we can in this game, and it’s already tough to fill up servers for other multiplayer titles.”
The studio can’t commit to PlayStation VR2 release yet, but they are looking at the idea. Dessaux explained that the Breachers PS VR2 port was “quite time-consuming” and faced delays before launching in December 2023. If such a port does happen for Forefront, it’ll be post-launch.
Forefront arrives in early access “at the end of 2025” on the Meta Quest platform, SteamVR, and Pico, while a full release window is unconfirmed. Playtest sessions will begin this summer, and more details will be shared nearer then via the studio’s official Discord server.
MET’s all-new range-topping Revo helmet has been awarded five stars in Virginia Tech’s coveted testing programme.
Using MET’s new in-house wind tunnel to help influence its design, the Revo is claimed to be 23.5 per cent cooler than the brand’s Roam lid.
Designed to meet the stringent NTA 8776 safety certification, it should better dissipate crash forces compared to mountain bike helmets with an EN 1078 rating.
The NTA rating was devised to replicate the increased forces riders of electric bikes or electric scooters may experience in a crash.
The Revo is a good-looking open-face lid. MET Helmets / Ulysse Daessle
Simply, it proves an NTA 8776-rated helmet is safer than one with an EN 1078 award.
Costing £169.99 / $230 / €200, the Revo isn’t cheap, but it’s filled with a host of premium features to help justify the cost.
These include MIPS Air padding, a Fidlock magnetic buckle and a 360-degree adjustable retention cradle.
Safety first
The Revo received five stars in the coveted Virginia Tech test. MET Helmets / Ulysse Daessle
Any helmet awarded the EN 1078 standard is suitable for cycling, skateboarding and skating.
But there are tougher tests brands can opt in to, such as NTA 8776.
For NTA testing, a line is drawn around the helmet’s circumference close to its lower rim – anything above that line falls within the test’s remit, anything below it doesn’t.
NTA 8776’s line is around 10 per cent lower than EN 1078, meaning the lid offers more coverage and is more robust overall.
The increased testing stringency means a safer helmet for the rider. MET Helmets / Ulysse Daessle
To ensure the lid stands up to the NTA testing close to the line, the whole of the helmet has to be reinforced.
But it doesn’t stop there.
According to MET, compared to EN 1078, helmets with an NTA 8776 certification must endure a 21 per cent increase in impact speed, a 43 per cent improvement in impact energy dissipation and see impact speed testing upped by 21 per cent.
These are all positive things for the lid-wearer.
Increasing testing stringency by passing a tougher test means MET is almost entirely replicating Virginia Tech’s six-impact testing protocol, boosting safety.
The Revo is also fitted with the MIPS AIR liner. This moves the MIPS friction-reducing material from between the cradle and comfort pads to the comfort pads’ backing.
Any helmet with MIPS must pass the brand’s own safety testing – further boosting impact force dissipation and rider safety.
This could be how the new Revo gets its five-star rating.
Blowing in the wind
How the new Roam compares to the MET Revo.
Investing a great deal of cash in its own wind tunnel – dubbed The Tube – MET has managed to increase airflow and ventilation on the new Revo by 23.5 per cent compared to the Roam.
Here, 23 vents with deep, internal channelling are key to keeping cooling air flowing over your head.
Air is funnelled in from the front of the helmet, getting directly blasted onto your head to cool it, before exiting out of the rear.
As a bonus, the outermost upper front vents double up as storage for your sunglasses, but the lower ones remain open to continue their purpose of cooling.
Even more features
The helmet has plenty of vents to help with cooling. MET Helmets / Ulysse Daessle
The main buckle uses a Fidlock attachment for speedy fastening.
A full-circumference retention cradle – with three vertical positions – should increase fit adjustability and comfort.
The height-adjustable visor – which is flexible – also has a quick-release function so it detaches in the event of an impact.
Thanks to a polycarbonate wrap – that extends over the helmet’s lower rim – the EPS foam is less likely to get damaged.
The MET Revo is available in three sizes, from small to large, catering for head circumferences from 52cm to 61cm.
How did you get into cycling? I used to attend spin classes in the gym. When COVID hit, myself and five others formed a group and decided to take our indoor cycling outdoors, and we’ve been doing it ever since.
How many years have you been racing on Zwift? Since COVID
Are you part of a Virtual team? Yes. The team is called ESRT and a fantastic team at that.
What do you love most about racing? Getting out of my comfort zone and surprising myself (I’m stronger than I think I am).
What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? My favourite race style is TTT. I love the teamwork, the collaboration, the inspiration I get from the ladies in the team.
What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? I love the woman’s mini races. Women across the globe, all backgrounds and experiences coming together as one. Pushing each other and supporting each other.
What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH Having technical issues on Zwift which resulted in me joining the pen after the race started. Being at the back and really having to work the legs and heart whilst not losing motivation. Eventually seeing other riders and catching up one by one. Whilst I didn’t come first, it was memorable because I could have given up before I started. I could have given up on not racing anyone for the first few km but I didn’t. Perseverance and riding my own race.
What is your favourite food to eat post race? Whatever is the nearest thing.
What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Someone once told me “You lose every race you don’t enter,” and that has stayed with me. There’s no losing in entering. It’s OK to be nervous, but remember to have fun.
Any upcoming race you are looking forward to? Iceni which is due to start in March. I’m really enjoying the ZRL races currently in Zwift.
Where can people follow your racing adventures? Natasha Booth on Zwift!
UploadVRHenry Stockdale
