Life Time is investing in the future for 2025 by launching the Life Time Grand Prix U23 Development Program. Its a new initiative aimed at cultivating the next generation of elite off-road cyclists, while hoping to add dimension to the dwindled 2025 roaster. The program will provide young riders aged 18-22 a shot at competing alongside the sport’s biggest names, with a clear path to earning a coveted spot in the 2026 LifeTime Grand Prix.

The Program Breakdown

The U23 Development Program challenges athletes to compete in four of six marquee events within the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix series. The top male and female finishers will be awarded entry into the 2026 Grand Prix. Riders will race on a separate U23 leaderboard, with their best four results counting toward their overall standing. Two events can be dropped, but a minimum of four starts are required to qualify.

What if there’s a tie?! In case of a tie, Big Sugar Gravel will serve as the tiebreaker—though participation in that race is optional.

Here’s the full 2025 race calendar:

• Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel – April 11, 2025
• Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200 – May 31, 2025
• Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB – August 9, 2025
• Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival – September 13, 2025
• Life Time Little Sugar MTB – October 12, 2025
• Life Time Big Sugar Gravel – October 18, 2025

Mentorship and Development

A standout feature of the program is mentorship. Current Life Time Grand Prix athletes will be encouraged to connect with U23 participants, offering guidance and insights gained from racing at the highest level.

“As the owner and producer of 15 off-road cycling events, Life Time is dedicated to growing the sport of cycling. We look forward to playing a direct role in this development with the launch of the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix U23 Program and providing young athletes with a platform to compete and grow at a high level.”

Kimo Seymour, President of Media and Events at Life Time.

Want to Apply? Here’s How

Interested U23 athletes must complete these steps by January 15, 2025:

1. Submit the U23 Development Program application by the deadline.
2. Meet the age requirements:
   • Minimum age: 19 by December 31, 2025
   • Maximum age: Must not turn 23 before January 1, 2026
3. Register for at least four events from the Grand Prix calendar.

For more information and application details, head to lifetimegrandprix.com.

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The 1x pioneering 3T Strada aero road bike returns to its single chainring roots, now fueled by the latest SRAM Red Xplr groupset, ostensibly developed for gravel racing, not the road. But now, with 1x drivetrains much more mainstream – fueled both by gravel racing and time trialing – 3T has put together another killer single-ring road racer…

3T Strada Italia Red Xplr 1x 13-speed aero road bike

3T’s Strada aero road bike made big waves 7.5 years ago when it hit the scene as the first real 1x production road bike, touting the streamlined aerodynamic benefits, plus some of the first 30mm wide road racing tires. Even with their own unique cassettes and a bit of Aqua Blue pro road racing on the 1x setup, it was soon evident that roadies just weren’t ready for 1x. And a year later 3T acquiesced with a 2x compatible version of their road bike. The 1x was still there, but it was clear that the market wasn’t quite ready.

Then, earlier this summer, 3T rolled out an all-new lighter Strada made in Italy. It aerodynamics ratcheted performance up a notch, with deeper & wider tubes, fully integrated cable routing, and mega 35mm tire clearance. But it still had a 2x drivetrain, although with a bolt-on front derailleur tab that hinted a 1x build would be coming.

What’s new?

Matching up the new aero road bike’s even bigger tires on wide & deep aero wheels and its even deeper aerodynamic tube shapes, this new Strada Italia features a 1×13-speed Red Xplr groupset with tighter gearing steps but a wide 460% (10-46T) spread that rivals modern 2x setups.

3T Strada Italia 1x – Pricing, options & availability

The new 1x 3T Strada Italia essentially comes in just one premium, ultra-expensive build since its key component is SRAM’s top-tier wireless gravel group and 3T’s handmade Italian carbon Torno crankset or a Red powermeter. But you do have at least the option for a couple different wheelsets depending on the depth of your pockets.

Or you can always buy a new Strada Italia frameset on its own for 5950€, and build it with a more affordable electronic 1x gravel groupset yourself.

The new 3T Strada Italia 1×13 Red AXS XPLR build starts at about $12,000 / 11,705€ with 3T’s own 25mm hooked internal x 32mm external x 45mm deep x 1640g Discus 45|32 LTD wheelset.

Or for a whopping $13,400 /13,167€ you get a 3T Strada Italia 1×13 Red AXS XPLR with 25mm hookless internal x 45mm biomimicry variable depth x 1308g Zipp 353 NSW wheels.

Either one you pick, 3T builds them to order with a claimed 8-12 week lead time… plenty of time for your check to clear, I hope.

3T.bike

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Just last spring Bike Ahead launched their surprisingly affordable, EU-made carbon mountain bike frame, and now they’re back building up The Frame HT into superlight 8kg production hardtails. While wildly light premium bike builds are most often left to the dedicated weight weenie with time on their hands and money to burn, Bike Ahead is making it easier to get a killer lightweight mountain bike.

The new The Frame HT builds aren’t exactly affordable, but in a world where you can easily spend $5000-15,000€ on a stock carbon XC bike from the likes of Specialized or Trek, maybe a 5000-8500€ hardtail made in Germany isn’t so far-fetched!

Bike Ahead The Frame HT complete hardtail mountain bikes

Bike Ahead says their new 8kg Bike Ahead The Frame HT complete hardtails are basically the lightest production mountain bikes that you can buy. The only thing they say trumps the new bike is the 7.84kg Stoll R1, which not coincidentally Bike Ahead actually manufactures the frames for Stoll and outfits them with plenty of Bike Ahead Composites components.

8 kilograms for an off-the-shelf production mountain bike is crazy light. This is the type of bike that will change how you ride off-road, glancing off rocks & rocketing up climbs like you never have. In fact, 8 kilograms is still just one of Bike Ahead’s lighter complete bikes, still with a 120mm fork for Trail riding.

But with plenty of options & upgrades available, you can easily shed more weight if your wallet allows. They claim the lightest complete build weighs 7.85kg with the options outlined below.

Where did it come from?

The Frame itself was several years in development, as Bike Ahead collaborated with Carbon Team to bring premium carbon bike manufacturing back to Europe, since just before the pandemic. Bike Ahead debuted The Frame last March – weighing under 800g and selling for less than 2000€, a pretty impressive combo for a bike made entirely between Portugal & Germany.

Now, building that EU-made frame up into customizable complete bike builds dripping with more German-made carbon components, this is a simple way to get what Bike Ahead describe as “the ultimate hardtail for racers and purists.”

“We at Bike Ahead are big fans of hardtails. They are light, uncomplicated and offer a huge range of uses, from everyday rides and Alpine crossings to marathon races. With THE FRAME HT, we offer the ultimate complete package.”

– Christian Gemperlein, Bike Ahead Composites founder & CEO

Tech details

• One of the lightest production race bikes in the world, 8.00kg in size M with 120mm fork (claim)
• as low as 7.85kg in the lightest configuration with 100mm fork & BiTurbo wheels
• one-piece monocoque carbon The Frame made entirely in the European Union
• frame manufactured in Portugal by Carbon Team, finished by Bike Ahead Composites in Germany
• no-paint, matte UD carbon finish with simple decal graphics
• 795g carbon frame weight (size M, claim)
• rated ASTM Category 3 for Cross-country & Downcountry riding
• max 29 x 2.4” tire clearance
• unguided internal cable routing in the side of the headtube
• 34.9mm seatpost and Intend Corona external seatpost clamp
• 12x148mm Boost spacing & 180mm post mount brake
• BB92 bottom bracket
• UDH universal derailleur hanger
• 105kg max rider weight
• 120mm max fork travel
• 4 sizes available (S-XL)
• customizable complete Race or Trail bike builds

2025 Bike Ahead The Frame HT – Pricing & Options

Bike Ahead offers the new The Frame HT complete bike in two semi-customizable builds – Trail or Race – depending on your budget and extremity of your weight weenie tendencies. And of course, you can still buy the 1979€ frame-only if you have other ideas for your own weight-weenie build.

The Frame HT GX AXS is the trail allrounder, starting at 5000€ with a 120mm Fox 34 SC Performance fork, SRAM GX AXS transmission, Shimano XT brakes, Bike Ahead carbon The Flatbar & The Straight seatpost, and an alloy DT Swiss XM1700 wheelset with 2.4″ Schwalbe Racing Ralph tires, at 9.2kg complete. For a bit higher budget, you can upgrade to a BikeYoke Divine SL (+80€) dropper, an ultralight Bike Ahead saddle (+300€), conventional lightweight carbon Three Zero XC (+1500€) wheels, or ultralight 6-spoke monocoque carbon BiTurbo RSX (+3000€) wheels.

But the absolute lightest stock build is the Bike Ahead The Frame HT- XX SL AXS Race setup. Starting at 8500€ you get a superlight reverse arch 100mm Fox 32 SC Factory fork, the top-tier SRAM XX SL wireless transmission build, XTR brakes, 1-piece carbon Bike Ahead The Unit ICR handlebar/stem combo & The Straight seatpost, and light carbon Three Zero XC wheels wrapped in 2.25″ Racing Ralphs at <8.00kg complete. There are plenty of optional upgrades here too. You can bump travel up to 120mm with a 34 SC Factory (+150€) fork, get a BikeYoke Divine SL (+80€) dropper post, or shave more grams with a Bike Ahead The Hypersaddle (+300€) or their wild ultralight 6-spoke monocoque carbon BiTurbo RSX (+1500€) wheels.

Availability?

The new The Frame HT complete bike builds are available to customize your order now through a local Bike Ahead dealer bike shop, with deliveries starting in February 2025, now just a couple months away.

Bike-Ahead-Composites.de

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The French suspension engineers and tuners at Fast have a new version of their top-tier enduro coil shock – the new Fast Fenix 2.0. It keeps everything that made the hi-, mid- & low-speed tunable original loved by dial turners and EWS racers. But now it picks up the hydraulic bottom-out circuit that lower cost & less adjustable Ride shocks, plus the new Fenix 2.0 is more compact so you can fit it onto more bikes.

Oh, and did we mention that it debuts with a limited edition purple version, too!

Fast Suspension updated Fenix 2.0 enduro MTB coil shock

From the start about 6 years ago, what made the Fast Fenix coil shock unique was its 3 independent compression circuits. Essentially you got pro-level DH suspension, but with a Climb switch-activated platform so you could then efficiently pedal it back to the top of the mountain.

That gives you independent adjustability to really fine-tune the feel of your bike’s suspension, perfectly tailoring it to offer the best balance of support and suppleness to expertly match the individual kinematic design of your bike. That stays the same, just now you get a new hydraulic bottom-out feature to ramp up support in the last 1/4 of your bikes travel and prevent a harsh bottom when you finally smash through all the travel.

Fast also slimmed down the new shock by 6mm in width, then shifted the piggyback 3mm further from the mount. First by narrowing down the damper head, and then rotating the main body of the Fenix 2.0’s piggyback reservoir, to tuck it in closer to the coil to reduce overall size a bit, to fit more of today’s enduro and all-mountain bikes.

Tech details

• monotube damper coil shock with piggyback reservoir
• fully CNC’s 7075-T6 aluminum construction
• anodized with PTFE impregnation for reduced friction
• alloy shaft standard, or optional chromed steel shaft for bikes with a shock yoke
• bladder inside the piggyback for reduced friction and temperature build-up
• Viton seals for improved temperature resistance
• “Velocity-Dependent Piston (VDP) = improved bike control and traction”
• 3 independent VDP compression damping circuits – Low-speed, Mid-speed & High-speed for finer tuning control
• tool-free external Low- & Mid-speed compression damping adjustment + High-speed factory set internally by the custom tune
• tool-free external Low-speed rebound damping adjustment
• external Climb Mode switch for the independent Climb circuit with its own dedicated shim stack to provide more efficient pedaling without being fully locked out
• hydraulic bottom out (HBO) active for the final 25% of shock stroke

• standard or trunnion mount in pretty much all common sizes possible, and 50-62.5mm stoke options
• 2-year original warranty
• plus, the original owner extends the warranty an extra 12 months every time you send it back to Fast or their authorized service center for annual service… so it’s essentially a lifetime original owner warranty if you service it properly!

Fast Fenix 2.0 coil shock – Pricing, options & availability

The new Fast Fenix 2.0 enduro coil shock retails for 995€ in standard all-black or black with purple dials & pink piggyback decal. Or, you can splurge for one of the 30 rare limited edition purple anodized Fenix 2.0 shocks, where for 1200€ you get a more magenta-hued purple ano finish to the head and eyelet, a rainbow Chroma+ ano shaft, and otherwise black & white dials and graphics.

Either option includes the lightweight ICHU XLS coil spring for your weight and mountain hardware to fit your bike. Plus, every Fenix is custom-tuned for the individual bike and rider, based on the buyer’s own preferences.

Pick one up directly from Fast, or also from one of their authorized resellers and service centers.

The Fenix 2.0 shock is also rebuildable and upgradeable. So even if you change bikes, Fast can rebuild your shock – changing shock length, stroke, and even swapping between standard & trunnion mounts – so you can move the Fenix 2.0 to your next bike.

On a note to that, Fast is additionally offering a 149€ upgrade kit to owners of the original Fenix, which they suggest is best upgraded as the do their next annual service.

So, take care of it with authorized annual service and you have a highly adjustable coil shock that could last you a lifetime and can surely outlast your current mountain bike!

Fast-Suspension.com/en

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Argonaut Cycles is excited to announce its new R43 Road Wheels. Hot on the heels of the recently launched D33 gravel wheels, the R43 wheels are designed for the ultimate performance and ride quality on the road.

The new R43 Wheels are built with proprietary rim profiles and Argonaut’s “thoughtful selection” of spokes and hubs, keeping serviceability and longevity in mind.

Keep it Stiff

At the core of the R43 wheel design philosophy is stiffness. The Argonaut R43 hoop was engineered to be “incredibly stiff”, ensuring all of the power from the rider gets fully delivered to the road.

When the rider uses Argonaut’s compliant frames, they can experience a smooth ride that doesn’t sacrifice the rigidity and responsiveness of the wheel.

Keep it Aero

The Argonaut R43 Wheels feature a 43mm rim depth. They chose this depth for its balance between being aerodynamic and lightweight. After extensive research and testing, Argonaut found that a 43mm rim depth offers significant aero benefits compared to a shallower rim. But any deeper, and you start paying a more significant weight penalty, which is why they feel 43mm is the sweet spot.

Superior Build

Every move made during the design of the R43 was focused on performance. The wheels are built with incredibly strong and light DT Aerolite spokes. The construction is said to be completed to a precise tension of 125kg. This ensures durability and performance under the most demanding scenarios.

On top of that, the hidden nipples will further enhance the R43 Wheels aerodynamic profile, further reducing drag (and possibly irritating mechanics who have to work on them). The DT Spokes are paired with DT Swiss 180 hubs.

The DT Swiss 180 hubs have a reputation for being reliable and easy to service. The hubs are light and durable with the total wheelset weight a claimed 1266 grams.

Argonaut R43 Retail & Features

Retail: $3400

• Tire Range: 28-35mm*
• Rim Depth: 43mm
• Internal Width: 23.5mm
• Thru-Axle: 12x100mm front – 12x142mm rear 
• Hubs: DT Swiss 180 Centerlock
• Spokes: DT Aerolite
• Weight: 1266g – Pair
• Freehub: Shimano – SRAM – Campagnolo
• Hookless Rim
• Hidden Internal Nipples
• Built in Bend, Oregon

ArgonautCycles.com

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The Schwalbe G-One race gravel tire family finally adds a rocky, loose & wet conditions tire with the all-new RX. Certainly much more aggressive than the tightly packed low-profile arrows and the semi-slick tread you’ll already find in their gravel race tire line-up, the new Schwalbe G-One RX manages a well-balanced combo of smooth rolling performance backed up with plenty of grip for fast riding or racing in soft and loose conditions, or even wet weather and mud.

Schwalbe G-One RX Pro aggressive gravel bike race tire

Schwalbe calls their new G-One RX, their ideal gravel race tire for “maximum off-road performance”. What that means is a versatile tire designed to offer grip on everything from rocky trails to slick muddy tracks. But at the same time, Schwalbe creates a new gravel tire with high-speed racing in mind. They designed this tire to go fast.

If you have dry, hardpack, and even tarmac racing… the almost slick G-One RS is gonna be your fastest option. Then, if your racing is on dry tracks and roads, but with bits of soft dirt, sand, or deep gravel mixed in, the all-rounder G-One R is probably still your best bet.

But if that smooth gravel is likely to deteriorate more into MTB single track, or there’s going to be more proper rocks & roots to tackle, or that perfect dirt devolves into slick mud… you’ll be hard-pressed to find a quicker, grippier gravel race tire than this new Schwalbe G-One RX.

What’s new?

The all-new RX has hints of the tightly-packed arrows & boomerangs of the original G-One R. But in fact, its tread design is completely new, taking inspiration both from past Schwalbe gravel and cyclocross treads.

The center blocks are close enough to roll quickly on hard surfaces, while still spaced enough to dig into soft terrain. Then, teardrop transition knobs radiate out for support as you lean the bike over. Finally, alternating shoulder rows of tall tapered teardrops, separated by tall longitudinal blocks deliver big support and Ideal center tread pitch for easy rolling Boomerang center blocks for excellent traction and braking as proven by the G-ONE R Tear shaped intermediate tread knobs with long contact patch for strong support under load Curved outer blocks for improved traction as proven by the X-ONE R Longitudinal outer blocks for lateral stabilization and off-camber grip Wide gap designed for self cleaning stability when cornering in loose terrain. Then, ample free space in the transition zone helps clear debris away from those central triangles for consistent grip even in soft mud.

And yet, this new aggressive gravel race tread is still faster than both the G-One Bite or Overbite.

While the rubber keeps the same Addix Race name, Schwalbe says it is a new rubber formula – now using more sustainable recycled carbon black and fair trade natural rubber. And it is their fastest Addix compound rubber yet, decreasing rolling resistance by 10% while keeping the same durability

Newly tweaked Pro casing construction

Schwalbe also sneaks some tweaks inside the Pro tire’s construction, compared to the previous Super Race construction for improved performance. The 3-layered sidewall casing reinforcement, 2-layer casing under the tread, V-Guard anti-puncture belt under the tread, and dual-compound Addix Race rubber construction don’t really change that much. But now, both that extra 3rd sidewall layer and the 5mm wider V-Guard breaker extend a bit until they overlap.

The result, curiously, is both increased puncture protection AND lower rolling resistance. But with no extra weight penalty. Those changes combined with improved rolling performance seems counterintuitive. But when pressed on how that could work, Schwalbe alluded that maybe the materials themselves weren’t exactly the same from one generation to the next. But they did elaborate that tire construction-to-performance characteristic relationships aren’t always as straightforward and logical as one might hope. And it’s not that uncommon to see what should be a stiffer tire actually exhibit decreased rolling resistance in the end.

Only available in Schwalbe’s new Pro line with blue graphics like their professional team riders, the new G-One RX is their gravel tire offering the “best possible off-road performance with more grip in difficult conditions“.

“Off-road, especially on rocky and muddy terrain, enormous amounts of grip are required – this is where the G-ONE RX feels most at home.”

Schwalbe G-One RX – Pricing, availability & options

One of the greatest things about the new Schwalbe G-One RX is that there are tons of options, ready to suit almost any gravel rider or racer. It is the top-tier of Schwalbe gravel tires performance-wise, so it won’t come exceptionally cheap. But my general thinking is always that a good set of high-end tires is probably the best value upgrade you can get when you figure the ride improvement-to-cost ratio.

All sizes & colors of the new G-One RX Pro retail for the same $83 / 75€ price. All you have to do is pick the perfect match for your bike.

The new tubeless-ready Schwalbe G-One RX Pro comes in tan wall (dubbed transparent) or all-black sidewall versions, and three 700c sizes: 40, 45 & 50mm. If you need smaller sizes, say to squeeze into an old CX bike, the R & RS also come in 35mm variants.

Schwalbe.com

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Mason Cycles’ all-new Macro is a lightweight modern aluminum hardtail mountain bike, built for adventure riding. It gets all the latest modern tech you could ask for, unique flexibility to build it however you want to ride, and of course enough mounting points to haul as much gear as you could want – whether for a weekend trip with friends or tackling one of the toughest ultra-distance bikepacking races in the world.

Mason Macro affordable alloy adventure MTB hardtail

Calling it a bit of a celebration of their 10th anniversary of building bikes under the Mason brand, the Macro is Mason’s 10th model. And it manages to adopt much of the latest tech trending in the bike industry – like progressive geometry, wide XC tires, integrated routing & UDH standards – but still retains full flexibility to let riders build it up how they really want. You can even pick from a rigid carbon fork or XC suspension fork depending on how you ride – or get both to adapt from race to race.

Plus, like their other adventure-ready alloy bikes, it is handmade in Italy from custom Dedacciai tubing and gets tons of mounts to hang your gear on it, all while still managing to hit a quite affordable pricepoint.

Developed for ultra racers looking for a lightweight but tough hardtail, the Macro is built to run either Mason’s burly HotShoe2 carbon fork for smoother bikepacking or a 100-120mm cross-country suspension for more gnarly off-road tours.

“I’m really excited about the Macro. It totally embodies all aspects of our ‘Ride Driven Design’ ethos and progressive philosophy. From the full custom tubeset and HotShoe2 carbon fork through to details like UDH compatibility and innovative routing, the MASON Macro provides a cutting edge tool for those who want to adventure with purpose. This is all about configurability. I wanted the rider to have as much control as possible over the way they set this bike up. That’s why I’ve spent lots of time working on the cable routing, the accessory mounts and the readiness for suspension forks. The Macro can be easily switched around for different adventures.”

– Dom Mason, founder & bike designer

Tech details & unique adaptability

• alloy frame welded in Italy from custom-drawn, heat-treated 7000-series Dedacciai aluminum tubing
• Cataforesi anti-corrosion-treated frame inside & out, before acrylic primer, topcoat & 2 tough clearcoats
• standard suspension-corrected tapered steerer full carbon Mason HotShoe2 fork with Anything cage, rack & fender mounts, dynamo routing, direct-mount for optional Shutter fender or Condenser mini rack, and flat mount 160 brake mount
• optional 100-120mm XC suspension forks available

• straight 56mm headtube for 1.5″ headset
• versatile, futureproof internal cable routing: pick from integrated fully internal routing through the upper Deda DCR headset bearing to get cables out of the way of external bags, or conventional internal routing through modular cable ports on the side of the downtube
• all the mounting points you would need: 3-pack anything cage mounts on top & bottom of the downtube, seattube bottle cage, top tube bag, and rear rack mounts

• 73mm BSA threaded bottom bracket
• 31.6mm seatpost with internal dropper routing
• 12x148mm & 15x110mm Boost spacing
• 160mm post mount rear brake, and
• UDH dropouts for maximum drivetrain compatibility
• max 29 x 2.4″ mountain bike tire clearance

• flat bar or dropbar ready
• available in 4 stock sizes (S-XL)
• frame weight from 1875g, carbon fork from 700g (claimed)

Mason Macro MTB – Pricing, options & availability

The new custom Dedacciai tubesets for the Macro are currently being shaped now, and will get welded into the new frames in the coming weeks. Mason has now officially offered their new Macro adventure hardtail up for pre-orders, with the first bikes slated for delivery starting next month, from January 2025.

The new Mason Macro is available as a frameset for £1500 including Mason’s own carbon Hotshoe2 fork. And you get to pick from 2 ‘launch edition’ paint jobs – blue-grey Grigio Tecno and a limited-release TiltShift Metallic deep, dark brown.

If you are looking for a complete bike, Mason offers 4 stock builds, all of which are also customizable. And you can configure extra add-ons like Mason’s “load-bearing” Shutter fender for the riding fork that incorporates a small but effective mini rack shelf, or their still tidy but stringer direct-mount Condenser fork rack.

Pricing starts a £3000 with a mechanical Shimano SLX groupset and the rigid carbon fork, or £3400 with a 100mm travel DT Swiss F232 ONE suspension fork. If you prefer a wireless electronic drivetrain, get a SRAM GX AXS build for £3800 with the carbon Hotshoe2 fork or £4200 with the DT F232 One suspension.

MasonCycles.cc

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While pro rider team transfer news isn’t often big on our tech-focused priority list, Tom Pidcock’s move to Q36.5 Pro Cycling for the next three years brought up an interesting question.

Would he now race on all of the Scott bikes of Q36.5? Or would he somehow still race on those all-new off-road bikes that Pinarello developed especially for the multidisciplinary talent over the last few years while he raced with the INEOS Grenadiers team?

The simple answer is… why not both?

Tom Pidcock to join Q36.5 Pro Cycling and race Scott road bikes

We found out on Friday that Tom Pidcock signed with Q36.5 Pro Cycling to race for the next few years on the two-year-old Swiss UCI Pro Team. A team that is pretty much road-only as far as I know (quite similar to Ineos a few years ago, in fact). And then promptly, Scott Sports sent out a press release saying they were excited to see the 25-year-old Englishman racing on their bikes next year.

But that Friday PR burst had some curiously vague statements…

Q36.5 referred to Pidcock as “Double Olympic Champion” as their highlight, but they only mentioned a couple of road Classics. And they failed to utter any of the words: cyclocross, cross-country, or mountain bike… even though that is where Pidcock won his 2 World Championships and 2 Olympic Gold medals over the past few years.

Also, Scott’s co-CEO Pascal Ducrot was only a bit clearer, stating that they were “delighted that Tom Pidcock will be joining the team, and will be riding SCOTT road bikes and Syncros components from 2025.” Elaborating just a bit more detail, Scott reiterated that the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team will ride their Foil RC, Plasma RC TT & all-new ultralight Addict RC road bikes in competition in 2025. No mention of anything off-road since that’s out of the team’s racing scope up to now.

So far, Q36.5 hasn’t shown any off-road ambitions, so Scott have not really had any reason to expand on that list. But Pidcock is clearly a different story, right?

Pidcock will actually race Scott AND Pinarello bikes in 2025

Well, today Pinarello has cleared up the matter a bit more, announcing that the “multiple world and Olympic champion [will] continue riding Pinarello’s flagship off-road bikes for the next three years.” The keywords there being ‘off-road‘ bikes.

Although team and sponsor negotiations must have been a bit more complicated than usual, it makes sense that Q36.5 & Scott were willing to make some concessions to lock in their new star rider, as they look to boost their young team and move up in the ranks of the peloton. Pidcock has shown promise on the road after all, with a 2022 Tour stage win up Alpe d’Huez, Amstel Gold & Strade Bianche.

Back off-road though, Pidcock did after all work closely with Pinarello to develop 2 completely new off-road bikes for the Italian bike maker while racing for Ineos. In fact, when he started with Ineos, he was racing on BMC bikes with blacked-out logos to keep those sponsors happy. But it looks like things might be a bit more transparent next year.

First, Pinarello created an all-new Crossista F cyclocross bike just for Pidcock. And then he proceeded to win the World Championship on it, right away.

Next, Pinarello developed an all-new Dogma XC full-suspension mountain bike just for Pidcock (and a companion XC hardtail for Ineos teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prévot). And again, Pidcock immediately rode his new cross-country bike to another World Championship title, then followed it up with an Olympic Gold medal the next summer.

He wasn’t specifically involved in their Grevil F, as far as I remember. But Pinarello notes that if Pidcock races gravel in the new 3 years, that will be his weapon of choice.

Fausto Pinarello told me in person last spring when I was test riding the new Dogma XC, that his team put a lot of time and work into developing new off-road bikes together with Tom Pidcock. So, it’s interesting to hear that this off-road bike development partnership will apparently continue, even after Pidcock joins a team sponsored by another road bike maker.

And so I’ll be paying special attention to how the new team and these two competing bike makers work it all out over the next few race seasons across road, gravel, cyclocross, and mountain bike racing. It’s certainly uncommon to see a professional athlete racing 2 different bike brands in different disciplines, when their team bike sponsor already makes absolutely top-tier race bikes across all categories.

But, I guess Tom Pidcock is an unconventional cyclist, so maybe I should be so surprised.

Q36-5ProCycling.com, Scott-Sports.com, AND Pinarello.com

Full PR texts below…

Double Olympic Champion Tom Pidcock Joins Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team

Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is proud to welcome Tom Pidcock, as he embarks on an exciting new chapter in his career. Known for his versatility and relentless drive, the 25-year-old Brit is set to bring his passion, ambition, and world-class talent to the team as they take on new challenges together.   

 Pidcock’s decision to join Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team reflects the shared vision for growth and the freedom to pursue big objectives.  Having already claimed five professional road victories, including the illustrious Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold Race, Pidcock is driven to reach even greater heights as he approaches the peak of his career.

“This isn’t just a change of jersey; it’s the start of something special,” said Pidcock. “The chance to work with a team that’s growing, with incredible partners and brands, is something that motivates me. I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together.”  

For Pidcock, this new start is not just about personal ambition; it is also about being part of a mission to elevate the team and its partners to new heights. “I know the challenge that we face getting to where we want to be but it’s an adventure and I’m excited for it,” he added.   

 Pidcock’s decision reflects the alignment of his personal goals with the team’s innovative and forward-thinking approach.    

 “We are honoured to welcome Tom Pidcock to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team,” said Team Manager Doug Ryder. “Tom is a true embodiment of passion and competitive spirit, qualities that resonate deeply with our team’s values. His extraordinary talent, both on and off the bike, and his proven ability to win at the WorldTour level make him a game-changing addition to our roster. We look forward to writing this next chapter together.”

 Pidcock’s arrival signals an exciting new era for Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and our partners, with plans to compete more consistently at the highest level and make its mark on the world of cycling.   

 “With his revolutionary, multi-disciplinary approach that has versatility at its heart, Tom is the perfect embodiment of our own approach to product development,” added Luigi Bergamo, Chairperson of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, Founder, and R&D Director of Q36.5. “Having Tom as part of the team offers us the opportunity not just to compete for victory at the world’s most prestigious races but also to continue to push the very boundaries of Q36.5’s vision of what the future of performance cycling clothing can be. I can’t wait to send him his first pair of Dottore bib shorts and hear what he thinks!” 

 Looking to take on new challenges, Pidcock is ready to embrace the opportunities ahead. “I love racing my bike, and I’m looking forward to making that a priority. Joining a team that believes in me and shares my vision of success makes this an incredibly important step in my career. Let’s make it happen.” 

Tom Pidcock has signed a 3-year contract and will join the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team squad in the upcoming pre-season training camp, which is set to take place in Calpe, Spain in January.

Tom Pidcock Joins Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team

SCOTT-sponsored Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is proud to welcome Tom Pidcock, as he embarks on an exciting new chapter in his career. Known for his versatility and relentless drive, the 25-year-old Brit is set to bring his passion, ambition, and world-class talent to the team as they take on new challenges together.

Pidcock’s decision to join Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team reflects the shared vision for growth and the freedom to pursue big objectives. Having already claimed five professional road victories, including the illustrious Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold Race, Pidcock is driven to reach even greater heights as he approaches the peak of his career.

“This isn’t just a change of jersey; it’s the start of something special,” said Pidcock. “The chance to work with a team that’s growing, with incredible partners and brands, is something that motivates me. I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together.”

For Pidcock, this new start is not just about personal ambition; it is also about being part of a mission to elevate the team and its partners to new heights. “I know the challenge that we face getting to where we want to be but it’s an adventure and I’m excited for it,” he added.

Pidcock’s decision reflects the alignment of his personal goals with the team’s innovative and forward-thinking approach.

“We are honoured to welcome Tom Pidcock to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. Tom is a true embodiment of passion and competitive spirit, qualities that resonate deeply with our team’s values. His extraordinary talent, both on and off the bike, and his proven ability to win at the WorldTour level make him a game-changing addition to our roster. We look forward to writing this next chapter together.” – Doug Ryder, Team Manager, Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team

Pidcock’s arrival signals an exciting new era for Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and its partners, with plans to compete more consistently at the highest level and make its mark on the world of cycling.

“We have been partnered with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team since the beginning, and together we have built an incredible platform for racing and performance at the highest level. We trust in the leadership of this team and their fantastic commitment to achieving great results together. We are delighted that Tom Pidcock will be joining the team, and will be riding SCOTT road bikes and Syncros components from 2025.” – Pascal Ducrot, co-CEO, SCOTT Sports

Tom Pidcock has signed a 3-year contract and will join the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team squad in the upcoming pre-season training camp, which is set to take place in Calpe, Spain in January.

SCOTT Sports continues as a committed sponsor of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. For the 2025 season, the team will ride SCOTT road bikes and Syncros components, including with the Foil RC, Plasma RC TT and all-new Addict RC bikes.

Tom Pidcock to Remain Part of the Pinarello Family

Multiple world and Olympic champion to continue riding Pinarello’s flagship off-road bikes for the next three years

Pinarello is pleased to confirm Tom Pidcock will continue riding and helping to develop its flagship off-road bikes for the next three years following his move from INEOS Grenadiers to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

Pidcock has enjoyed huge success on Pinarello’s off-road range over the last four years, winning world and Olympic cross country mountain bike titles on the Dogma XC. That bike was developed in both hard and softail models in the space of six months, specifically for him and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who also went on to achieve world and Olympic success.

The 25-year-old British athlete also triumphed on the Crossista F at the 2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, and will have that bike at his disposal again moving forwards, along with the Grevil F if he chooses to compete in any gravel competitions. The only occasions he will not compete on a Pinarello will be during road events.

Pinarello President Fausto Pinarello said: “We’re thrilled to confirm Tom will continue racing on our cyclo-cross, cross country mountain bike and gravel bikes. He is an amazing rider with phenomenal technical skills and it’s been a pleasure working with him on the Crossista and Dogma XC, both models in segments where we hadn’t had bikes for a long time.

“Tom is a rider who knows what he wants. His unwavering pursuit of excellence has challenged us a lot and enabled us to produce three incredible frames which he’s ridden to success on the grandest stages in the sport. We are delighted to keep this successful collaboration alive.”

Tom Pidcock said: “Working with Fausto and the team at Pinarello over the past four years has been a privilege, and a really enjoyable experience. I am so happy I get to stay working with them on everything off-road moving forwards.“

“So far, we have developed three cyclo-cross and XC MTB frames together and all of them exceeded expectations from the moment I sat on them, I could not have asked for more. I felt so confident on them that I was able to race and win after the first couple of rides.“

“To me, our relationship feels more like a partnership than a sponsorship. I’m looking forward to the next three years of racing and developing more great bikes with Pinarello.“

The post Tom Pidcock to Race Both Scott & Pinarello Bikes in 2025 with Q36.5? appeared first on Bikerumor.

This wildly shaped Colnago Y1Rs aero road bike feels like a seismic shift for one of the most well-known Italian bike companies in the world. While most big bike players have built full aero road bikes for years, Colnago had been something of a traditionalist holdout – sticking with subtle aero tweaks to their light all-road race bike, or only going completely aero for time trials. And thanks to the dominant riding of Tadej Pogačar, they still managed to win heaps of races and grand tours.

But the situation has changed. And now Pogi has a much more aero bike to take on those flatter, faster days of bike racing…

All-new Colnago Y1Rs proper aero road race bike

The new aerodynamic bike is a major technological shift for Colnago, interestingly at the same time they are modernizing steel road bike production and honoring their classics, too. With the all-new Y1Rs aero road bike, Colnago has created a new aerodynamic benchmark for themselves for top-tier racing. And it’s been a surprisingly long-time-coming, with multiple Tour de France wins in recent years. But maybe this wild all-new design explains a bit more why it took so long.

“Developed in close collaboration with Politecnico di Milano and Khalifa University, the Y1Rs represents a leap forward in design and technology, offering riders a bike built to meet the highest demands of speed and precision.“

Why did they wait so long to go fully aerodynamic?

It seems with the previous UCI regulation on tube shapes, Colnago figured they could get the most all-around benefit out of just evolving their V4Rs platform to balance lightweight and aerodynamics. But once the UCI ditched that 3:1 regulation, it was time to completely rethink how aero Colnago could go with this more flexible framework.

Limitations in CFD accuracy and reliability led Colnago to develop a better simulation model. So, this new aero road bikes was developed more in the wind tunnel than just CFD to ensure more realistic results. What they did was start in CFD then quickly move to 3d printed elements layered over a modular platform that they could take into the wind tunnel.

Then, adding tons of tiny pressure sensors in small holes drilled into the mock-up, Colnago measured the real airflow over the prototypes to collect more accurate data. And with that, they refined their CFD process creating a wind model they say was twice as accurate as anything else used in the bike industry.

“A bike that is, according to our studies, the most aerodynamic UCI-compliant road bike in the World Tour“

What’s new?

All of that led to an innovative new design that mashes up time trial-inspired aerodynamics to create a light and manageable aero road bike for everyday racing. As they describe it, “A bike that is, according to our studies, the most aerodynamic UCI-compliant road bike in the World Tour“.

• Bayonet fork with external steerer in front of the headtube
• DEFY seat cluster, decoupling the seatpost & seat tube
• WYND gull wing handlebar cockpit
• curved/kinked downtube to hug the front wheel
• integrated aero bottle cages
• frame geometry?

Bayonet fork

The Bayonet fork design is simply the result of being able to extend the narrow aero section of the headtube without running afoul of the UCI’s rules – inspired by the Colnago TT1. Longer narrower airfoils just have lower drag. The double steerer (1 inside & 1 outside the headtube) allows for increased stiffness, even with smaller headset bearings.

DEFY seat cluster

The Defy seat cluster is a 2-fold solution. First, without the conventionally-vertical tube shape, the two angled sections of seat tube get effectively deeper relative to the movement of air, while still fitting into the UCI tube shape limitations. Secondly, Colnago says that aero bikes are generally too stiff, so decoupling the straight line from saddle to bottom bracket introduces vertical compliance for improved rider comfort, especially with the now slacker angle of the short post. Once the proprietary seatpost is cut, the rider still has 1.5cm of height adjustment.

WYND bar

The Wynd bar is essentially the same solution just rotated horizontally, with upturned wings said to deflect air away from the turbulence around the centerline of the bike. Yet, while Defy aims for flex, Wynd is said to be the stiffest handlebar setup that Colnago has tested.

Aero downtube & cages

The all-new downtube shape manages to closely follow the front wheel in the upper half of the tube. Then, it gets a kink just at the end of the wheel’s curve to tuck the main water bottle neatly into the frame. Colnago explains that their CFD analysis showed aero benefit to having the front wheel tucked close to the frame or set further apart, depending on each portion of the spinning wheel. So their solution does both in what they describe as, “the final word on the optimal downtube configuration within the limits of current UCI regulations.“

In the end, all of the Colnago analysis showed that conventional water bottles are not very aerodynamic, but they are such a simple & effective solution. But, by tucking aero cages directly into the downtube like this (which we’ve also seen from BMC), they got aero gains with real-world practicality.

So, how fast is a Colnago Y1Rs aero road bike?

Ultimately, the refined aero solution resulted in a 19% reduced frontal area compared to the V4Rs. That alone was sure to make it faster. But then, testing the complete bike head to head with its “best” aero road bike competitor, Colnago says the new Y1RS “outperformed it in any wind conditions“.

The weighted average drag gains are pretty big according to Colnago data. The Y1Rs saves just a single watt straight into the wind, but 8W less compared to its best aero competitor. And a 25W savings vs. the all-rounder V4Rs, further quantifying the rationale for finally getting around to building a proper full aero road race bike.

Geometry

The new MY25 Colnago Y1Rs comes in 5 stock sizes (XS-XL) just like the V4Rs. But the new bike’s geometry has been refined, working with both the pro men of UAE Emirates and pro women of UAE ADQ to improve high-speed handling and control for flat and rolling racing.

This all-new aero road bike features a much steeper headtube angle at 73-73.5° for the larger bikes, and marginally steeper for smaller sizes that are more limited by toe overlap. Plus, a steeper effective seat angle and longer frame reach to put the rider further forward in their aero tuck.

Each frame size also gets its own fork, customized to make sure Trail is consistent for predictable handling in all sizes.

Tech details

Colnago assures that the Y1Rs is still a lightweight race bike. The raw unpainted Y1RS frame weighs 965g, plus 450g for the fork. At the same time, it equals the V4RS in stiffness, actually inching up 3.5% stiffer when out of the saddle sprinting.

• UCI approved
• full carbon Y1Rs frame & bayonet fork
• integrated fully internal cable routing
• straight 1 3/8″ carbon steerer tube with CeramicSpeed SLT headset bearings
• electronic shift, disc brake only
• proprietary aero cut-to-fit seatpost with 0 or 15mm offset
• wedge-style seatpost clamp
• 12mm thru-axles & flat mount brakes 160mm front/140mm rear
• threaded BSA bottom bracket
• 32mm max tire clearance
• 7.51kg race weight, complete size M bike with pedals in UAE Team Emirates pro team build

2025 Colnago Y1Rs – Pricing, options & availability

This slippery all-new Colnago Y1Rs is available from your local dealer now as a frame kit from $6750 / 6710€ if you feel like you need to completely customize your own unique aero road race bike build. That includes the all-new frame, fork, headset, forward-swept handlebars, seatpost, and integrated bottle cages.

Or you can pick from 1 of 5 premium complete bike builds, all with top-tier groupsets only. The most ‘affordable’ complete option features a SRAM Red AXS group & carbon Vision 45 wheels starting at 12,300€, or a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 build with the same wheels for 13,200€. Shimano C50 or ENVE SES 4.5 wheels (at a claimed 7.2kg complete) add 1800€ or 3000€, respectively.

Or opt for a complete Campagnolo Super Record Wireless gruppo like Pogačar had been racing on with Bora Ultra WTO wheels for a princely 16,500€ sum. (Although, UAE Team Emirates & UAE Team ADQ both switch to Shimano in 2025!)

There are even three paint jobs available for that full pro look – UAE Team Emirates’ black & white replica, the UAE Team ADQ women’s glittery white replica, or a Pogi World Champ Rainbow edition to take it over the top.

Colnago.com

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Segway just announced the creation of a dedicated eBike division in the United States. The new Segway eBike department is said to be an assembly of “bike-industry veterans”. They have a sales plan that will support independent dealers before launching their first two eBikes. First teased at CES 2024, the Xyber and Xafari will be officially available in Q1 of 2025.

“We’re committed to entering the e-bike market in a big way and doing it right,” said Nick Howe, head of e-bike. “This means doing something new and different with both our products and our sales model. We see an opportunity to redefine the e-bike and micromobility product categories and return to a true dealer-centric sales model in the process“.

Segway Dealer Network

For its new eBike division, Segway plans to grow a national dealer network in the US. The focus will be the IBD (Independent Bicycle Dealers) and the EBDs (Electric Bicycle Dealers). But they will also focus on what they are calling the OBDs (Other Bicycle Dealers). OBDs are shops that may not be “bike-specific” but may be a good fit for eBikes. These could include motorcycle, power sports, and outdoor retailers.

Besides purchasing directly through the dealer, Segway customers will be able to buy eBikes on their website, then shipped to their choice of local dealer for assembly. The receiving dealers will still earn a margin on these O2O (online to offline) purchases.

Segway promises competitive retail pricing, industry-leading margins, and exceptional retailer access to parts, service, and support. Segway’s new Xchange app, which will be available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play, will help with access.

The app is said to be a user-friendly, all-in-one mobile version of the Segway dealer portal. it’s designed to help retailers easily manage inventory, orders, warranties, test rides, service, and more.

What About the Bikes?

The first two eBikes to be released, the Xyber and Xafari, will feature what Segway calls the “Segway Intelligent Ride System”. They say it’s “industry-leading tech that has more in common with modern cars than other eBikes”.

“In many ways, we’re a technology company first,” said Howe. “Product conversations start with discussions of ‘tech stacks’ and expand from there. We are using our technology to create a more seamless user experience much like what has been done with automobiles.”

Along with the new eBike’s advanced smart tech and features, they are said to expect “category-leading safety and performance”. In its dual battery configuration, the Xyber will be capable of more than 100 miles of range on a single charge. And, the Xafari can go 88 miles before needing to be plugged in.

Full specs, features, and pricing for the Xyber and Xafari will be announced during CES 2025. Pre-orders are open here, and through select dealers on January 7, 2025, with an expected Q1 delivery.

Get on the mailing list and get updates on the new Segway eBikes here.

Segway.com

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