Called InjectEave by a joint research team from the Hong Kong University of Science and
Called InjectEave by a joint research team from the Hong Kong University of Science and
Located about 450 light-years from Earth within the star-forming ρ Ophiuchi cloud complex, Elias 2-24 b orbits around a young, orange dwarf star.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a lower court’s dismissal (per an early report by the LA Times), giving roughly 200 insurance companies another chance to pursue
Official deemed McGetchin, the new crater spans roughly 728 feet (222 meters) across and up to 141 feet (43 meters) deep. Larger than the Roman Colosseum, it
Get ready for the next step. pic.twitter.com/gvB8BV2z7Q
— Microsoft Surface (@surface) September 15, 2026 The high-profile gathering will bring together
Canyon has launched the third generation of its Grail gravel race bike, increasing tyre clearance from 42mm to 57mm, which enables the use of 2.25in tyres.
The new Grail’s aerodynamics have been reworked for the larger tyres and typical 35km/h gravel racing speeds.
There are three frame grades: CFR, CF SLX and CF, with the top-spec CFR AXS bike having a 7.9kg claimed weight and £7,600 / $8,999 / €8,000 price tag.
Canyon points out that Ted King’s winning time for the men’s 2018 Unbound 200 (then called Dirty Kanza) was 10 hours 44 minutes. In 2026, Mads Würtz Schmidt won the race in 9 hours 14 minutes, despite the mud.
King rode a Cannondale SuperX cyclocross bike with 38mm tyres; Schmidt rode the recently updated Specialized Crux 5 with 50mm tyres.
Canyon says there’s less of a disconnect in gravel between the requirements of the pros and what amateurs need than on the road. It says the design of the new Grail was heavily influenced by gravel pro Rosa Klöser, who made clearance above 50mm a stipulation when she discussed joining Canyon’s roster.
That in turn required a 1x-only design, as well as a solid driveside chainstay to provide sufficient clearance, a first for Canyon. The frame has a PF86 bottom bracket, which it says it chose for tyre clearance and stiffness, as well as minimal issues with the standard on its previous bikes.
Canyon reckons there are issues with bonding BSA threads into a carbon frame that mean it’s not a remedy for all bottom bracket ills, despite its increasing adoption.
Canyon says it has tuned the Grail’s aerodynamics to a gravel-race pace of 35km/h, using its pedalling mannequin to simulate riding across yaw angles of up to +/- 20 degrees. It used the GST wind tunnel to test the new Grail against the now-superseded Factor Ostro Gravel, Cervélo Aspero-5 and Rose Backroad FF, with the Grail coming out fastest when all were set up with the same 50mm-deep wheels and 45mm tyres.
Against the generation 2 Grail with 40mm tyres, the new Grail was up to 5 watts faster. It was still faster when it was fitted with 55mm tyres.
As with its predecessor, Canyon will sell the generation 3 Grail in three carbon grades: CFR, CF SLX and CF. It quotes a raw size-M frame weight of 989g for the CFR, 1,095g for the CF SLX and 1,128g for the CF, which it says is heavier than the second-generation bike, although the extra tyre clearance and aero profiles make it faster in reality.
All specs come fitted with 45mm Schwalbe G-One tyres, although Canyon states this is a baseline, enabling riders to go wider should they wish. The CFR and CF SLX include in-frame storage, while the CF SLX and CF can accommodate Canyon’s Defend mudguards.
Canyon says that since the gen 2 Grail’s geometry was well received, it has only made small changes to the new bike, adding 10mm to the wheelbase to allow the wider clearance, but keeping the handling dynamics the same. Mid-sized frames have a 71.5-degree head tube angle and 69mm trail. It says that, paired with the wider tyres, this enables its sponsored athletes to push harder through technical sections.
It has, however, lowered the stack by 15mm, while keeping the frame reach the same and fitting shorter stems. There’s no suspension fork option, because Canyon claims it’s not needed with the wider tyres.
The CFR and CF SLX frames are fitted with Canyon’s Pace variable-width, adjustable-height cockpit. There’s a new drop shape though, called Control Drops, offering 17 degrees flare and 370mm, 395mm and 420mm widths at the drops.
The Control drops join the Classic, Race and Compact drop shapes compatible with the Pace cockpit, together enabling riders to choose a different drop shape, which will adjust the effective reach by 10mm. The Gear Groove continues, enabling the addition of bar extensions, lights or a computer.
Canyon has ported over its VCLS Aero seatpost to the new Grail, as used on the new Endurace CFR, which it claims increases compliance by 25% over a rigid post. For hardcore racers, the Race cockpit from the Endurace CFR is also compatible with the Grail.
Canyon has looked to keep the race-ready bike’s weight low by partnering with Cyclite to design low-weight luggage for the new Grail.
While it claimed the gen 2 Grail’s luggage made it more aero, its objective with the new packs was to avoid any aero penalty. It also wanted fast removal and attachment, so ground crews can swap out a pack quickly at a feed station, to refresh riders’ nutrition.
The new Midloader frame bag is claimed to weigh around 100g, as against 300g for the gen 2 bike’s bag. It’s secured with a push-to-release mechanism, rather than the Fidlock system used previously and comes with internal organisers.
There’s a different pack size to match each frame size and a matching top tube bag for extras or to carry lighter loads.
Canyon has also introduced carbon gravel wheels to match the new bike. The Canyon GR 50 CF wheels have a 1,675g a pair claimed weight and a 27mm internal/38.5mm external width hookless rim.
They sit on DT Swiss 350 hubs, with Aerocomp II spokes and are delivered with an HG11 freehub fitted and an XDR freehub and valves in the box. They can also be set up Micro Spline.
The new wheels come ready-fitted to the CF 7 AXS and CF SLX 7 Di2 specs and can also be bought aftermarket for €999. If you’ve bought a Canyon gravel bike with alloy wheels in the last three years, Canyon will offer you 10% off the price of its new wheels.
Canyon points out that as tyre pressures decrease, the effect of a similar variation in pressure increases, so correct tyre pressure becomes more critical. It says a 20% tyre sag is optimal for a gravel tyre, although that’s difficult for a rider to assess.
It says many riders are still over-inflating their tyres, so it has worked with Pirelli to develop a customisable pressure calculator to help them set the right pressure and optimise bike performance.
Canyon will sell the Grail in seven sizes, from 2XS to 2XL, which it says will fit riders from 158cm to 204cm in height. There are six specs available, as outlined below. As well as stock colours, EMEA buyers can use MyCanyon to opt for one of four additional colourways. They can also choose different wheels, including Zipp 303 XPLR SW and Scope Artech 4G wheelsets.
There’s the option to choose a different cockpit model and dimensions, and a different saddle, crank length and chainring size, including aero options.
Canyon says MyCanyon customisation will come to other geographies in future.
Shimano has launched its new road pedal and cleat system, SPD-SLR. The system offers lower weight, lower pedal/cleat stack height, easier engagement and added lateral adjustability relative to the long-running SPD-SL system.
The new pedals will be available at Dura-Ace and Ultegra spec levels, and there are new red, blue and yellow cleats with similar degrees of float to the current ones, although the new cleats aren’t compatible with SPD-SL pedals.
There are new shoes at the S-Phyre RC9 and RC8 spec levels, designed to complement the new pedals and cleats. Shimano states SPD-SLR pedals are compatible with its current SPD-SL road cycling shoe range, although it says its new shoes will help realise the full performance benefits of the new system.
There’s also a new grey cleat, which is claimed to be compatible with most non-Shimano SPD-SL shoes and offers the same float as the yellow cleat, although without the reduced stack height of the other new cleats.
Shimano says the new SPD-SLR system lowers the stack height for the pedals plus cleats by 2.3mm. It also enables easier clipping in with a wider catch area for the cleat and a reduced engagement angle of 10.5o versus 15.5o for SPD-SL. The lower stack height is claimed to increase foot stability, and improve power transfer and control of the bike.
Along with the redesigned pedals, the new cleats have a different shape. They’re lighter because they fix to the base of the shoes without the washers that were needed with SPD-SL. Shimano claims the weight of the cleat plus hardware has been reduced from 71g to 55g. It has added extra markings to help you align the cleats more easily.
The 6o of float for the yellow cleats, 2o for the blue cleats and zero for the red cleats is the same as for the SPD-SL cleats. The new cleats offer greater side-to-side adjustability though, so it’s easier to alter your stance width. They can also be used with cleat spacers.
As with the SPD-SL system pedals, the new Dura-Ace PD-R9300 pedals have their inner bearing positioned to the side of the pedal’s top surface, while the Ultegra PD-R8200 pedals have it placed under the pedal platform.
This slightly raises the stack height above the pedal axis for Ultegra, to 13.3mm, and reduces pedal stiffness by 11%, Shimano claims. Dura-Ace’s fancier bearings are also claimed to reduce rotational resistance for the new Dura-Ace pedals by 53% relative to the new Ultegra pedals.
Both pedals are made of injection-moulded carbon composite and include steel contact surfaces to reduce pedal wear, as with Shimano’s older SPD-SL pedals. The new Dura-Ace pedals weigh a claimed 227g a set and the Ultegra pedals 1g more.
Old SPD-SL Dura-Ace and Ultegra pedals were available in two spindle lengths, and the same 4mm-longer option will be available with the new pedals.
Along with the new pedals and cleats, Shimano has launched updated shoes. It says the new SH-RC901 S-Phyre shoes are lighter than their predecessors and provide greater cleat adjustability. They have a new Dynalast 2.0 fit that’s claimed to reduce foot fatigue.
In addition, there’s a carbon fibre heel cup for increased foot stability and a new upper design, closed by two Boa Li2 dials, that is claimed to wrap more closely round the foot, increase stability, and improve fit and pedalling efficiency. There’s increased ventilation too.
Similar features are carried over into the lower-priced SH-RC810 shoes, which also include two Boa Li2 dials and share the new Dynalast 2.0 fit. Shimano points to the hollow-channel carbon sole, which aids ventilation and helps drain water from the shoes in the rain.
It’s not only Shimano that has persisted with a similar pedal design for years, but recently two new pedal systems have stirred up what has been one of the least progressive aspects of bike design. Here are three low-stack alternatives.
Among established brands, Wahoo Speedplay offers the lowest stack height of 8.5mm for a shoe with four bolt drillings, but three-bolt shoes require an adapter plate between the shoe and the Speedplay cleat, increasing the stack height to 11mm.
Shimano hasn’t provided a stack height for SPD-SLR, but based on the 14.6mm stack height for old Dura-Ace pedals, the claimed 2.3mm reduction would bring this down to 12.3mm – still higher than Speedplay, even with an adapter plate.
Ekoi’s PW8 pedal system has a much larger shoe contact area than competitors and the pedals weigh only 105g each, because they have no moving parts, just a replaceable tongue at the rear that engages with the shoe’s cleat.
The system requires a specific Ekoi shoe though, which incorporates the anchor points for the pedals. The cleats come in front and rear parts that bolt to these, resulting in an 8mm stack height.
When Warren tested the system, he was won over by the stability of the large platform and ease of clipping in and out. He was less enamoured of the Ekoi PW8 C12 shoes, though – or at least their elevated price. They’re comfortable and fit well, although their weight isn’t market-leading at their price.
There are cheaper alternatives available from Ekoi now though and, as is typical of the brand, all PW8-compatible shoes are heavily discounted on its site.
Q36.5 collaborated with German power meter maker SRM to develop the X-Power Direct pedal system (without a power meter) that it says lowers stack height by over 6mm relative to mainstream systems. It doesn’t state an actual stack-height value, but this probably betters Shimano’s new SPD-SLR.
As with Ekoi’s system, the X-Power Direct pedals only work with specific shoes, in this case Q36.5’s Unique Pro 4.0 model.
The system is even more expensive than Ekoi’s, with a £500 price tag for the SRM pedals and the same again for the shoes.
Q36.5 performed an analysis of the effect of stack height and claims three principal advantages.
First, the foot is closer to the centre of pedal rotation, which it claims increases the effective area of force transmission. As with Shimano, it claims this increases foot stability and improves power transfer. It also claims a lower stack height reduces shear forces through the shoe’s sole.
Second, the rider’s centre of gravity is lower, which enables them to get more aero. This is only going to be by a few millimetres though.
Third, Q36.5 suggests, with the trend for shorter cranks, the rider’s saddle needs to be raised, which in turn raises their centre of gravity. This is counteracted by the lower stack height.
It concludes that the further the rider’s foot is from the centre of force generation, the more shear forces occur, resulting in a greater loss of power. The optimum, it states, would be a pedal system with zero stack or even a -5mm stack.
These changes are tiny though and we’re not convinced they make a significant difference for most riders. Moreover, we’ve been told by a major pedal brand that its studies don’t confirm that small reductions in stack height result in a material increase in pedalling efficiency.
The next few months are shaping up to be pretty busy with new roads, features, and epic events. In this week’s top video, learn all about Zwift’s upcoming updates.
Also included in this week’s post: videos about the Zwift Ride V2, FTP tests, riding 100 kilometers, and Zwift settings.
Join her on September 19th: zwift.com/events/view/5686127
Share the link below, and we may feature it in an upcoming post!