Is the Kinesis RTD the ultimate endurance road bike? Plus a bike lock with no key and loads more new tech that’s coming your way

The UK’s bike trade has been gathering at the annual Corebike show over the past few days, and here are some of the highlights that we spotted, including unreleased shoes from UDOG, cutting-edge lock technology, and a first official outing for what could be the ultimate endurance road bike…

Is the Kinesis RTD the ultimate endurance road bike?

We told you about the new Kinesis RTD (Race The Distance) road frameset a couple of weeks ago, and we’ve now had the chance to see it in the flesh.

Kinesis calls this “the ultimate endurance aluminium road bike frameset”, and we like the look of it.

The Kinesis RTD frameset pairs an aluminium frame –  super plastic Formed 6069 aluminium – with a carbon fork. It’s a disc brake bike built to an endurance-focused geometry with clearance for tyres up to 34mm (30mm with mudguards).

The new RTD carbon fork features internal routing for brake hoses and dynamo cables, and threaded mounts. Adaptable cable ports allow it to be configured for both mechanical and electric drivetrains, in both 1x and 2x setups. The bottom bracket is BSA threaded so it should be easy to service or replace at home with simple tools.

Kinesis describes the RTD as a do-everything, four-season road frameset, in a similar vein to its well-regarded 4S platform.

The RTD frameset costs £950 and the complete bike in the build you see here is £4,000. We’re doing our best to get one in for review here on road.cc.For more information, head over to kinesisbikes.co.uk

Sneak peek: UDOG to release new Forza gravel shoes

Italy’s UDOG has a new gravel shoe on the way. The Forza will sit alongside the existing Distanza when it’s released next month, so this is a bit of a sneak peek.

While the Distanza features traditional-style laces – albeit in an unusual format – Forza uses UDOG’s Twist Tech micro-adjusting dial mechanism. The dials come with soft rubber edges designed to improve your grip even in wet conditions.

Like Distanza, Forza has a sole that wraps over the toe and around the heel “for increased durability, protection and grip”.

The upper is made from mesh with TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) reinforcement for stability and protection.

Udog claims a weight of 320g in a size 42. The Forza will be £175.

Black X smart lock technology comes to cycling

Are you familiar with the Black X smart security concept? It’s coming to cycling.

Black X already exists for home, office and marine security. Essentially, it’s a smart lock system. You can open locks using a smartphone app – so there’s no need for a physical key – the system can be set to open automatically when you approach, and you can open a lock remotely.

Anyway, it’s now coming to bike locks. The £269.99 Black X Titan Rocksolid Smart Shackle Lock is marketed as “the first smart lock on the market with built-in angle grinder resistance” and it has a Sold Secure Powered Cycle Diamond rating.

You do get two physical keys as a backup, but you can also unlock it via the app. You can control your bike lock and home security from the same app.

There’s a range of options to cover different price points, including this Titan Smart Folding Lock at £149.99. This one has a Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Gold rating.

Scope Artech 4.G wheels: inspired by fish

You can expect to see much more of Scope wheels now that it is sponsoring Ineos Grenadiers, although it was the Dutch brand’s Artech 4.G gravel wheel that really grabbed our attention.

Scope calls this “the fastest and lightest aero gravel wheelset developed for pure gravel, without compromising on stiffness and durability”.

The rim surface is covered in textured ‘scales’

“The patent-pending Aeroscales generate velocity streaks travelling at different speeds over our rim surface,” says Scope. “These velocity streaks have a stabilising effect on the airflow, thereby reducing drag.”

It’s a biomimicry thing, inspired by fish scales.

The Artech 4.G has a rim depth of 45mm, an internal width of 28mm, and a total wheelset weight of just 1,150g.

As you might expect, this is a premium product with a price of £3,499.99.

Pirelli P Zero Race RS: getting wider

We all know that road tyres are forever getting wider and Pirelli is now offering its P Zero Race RS – the top tyre in the P Zero Race range – in a 35mm option, to go alongside its existing 26-32mm widths. Yours for £84.99… and check out the legendary CoreBike carpet in the background. It’s a thing of beauty.

Altura offers new helmets

Britain’s Altura is getting into the helmets market, and we must say that the initial offerings look very good, and they’re extremely well priced.

This Altura Airstream helmet comes with reflective straps and is priced at just £25. It’s also available with a reflective shell for £30.

The urban-style Nightvision helmet looks neat, too.

The standard version is priced at just £40, although it is also available with an ERT (Energy Rection Technology) safety system, an integrated rear light (USB-C rechargeable), and a Fidlock magnetic closure for £70.

Santini and Mads Pedersen announce partnership

Italian cycle clothing brand Santini is teaming up with former World Road Race Champion Mads Pedersen of Lidl Trek on a new collection (you’re absolutely right, the pic above is entirely out of focus. Sorry). The line will be officially unveiled and available to buy from the end of April, but we got a sneak peek at the Core Bike Show.

The 2026 collaboration is based on Santini’s MADSS (Mega Aerodynamic Speed Shell) project, which is all about aerodynamics and speed. Santini says that Mads has collaborated closely with designers “to shape an aesthetic that expresses his grit and distinctive style”.

The collection will be available on santinicycling.com and at the cycling retailers worldwide.

Cool, dialled and lightweight: Gaerne’s G.Zephyr shoes

Gaerne’s G.Zephyr road shoe is a looker, with a knitted upper that’s perforated up front to keep your toes cool in hot temperatures. Tension is handled by Boa Li2 dials – two on each foot.

If the white is a bit too much for you, the Gaerne G.Zephyr is available in black too.

Price? £269.99.

These are light too – Gaerne claims a weight of 260g per shoe in a size 42.

Bivo’s Trio insulated bottle

We reviewed the Bivo One recycled stainless steel bottle here on road.cc a few weeks ago and gave it a big thumbs up. The Bivo Trio is different in that it’s insulated.

We guess you could ride around with a hot coffee for hours, but you’re much more likely to want to keep a cold drink from warming up in high temperatures (we’re assured that summer will return later in the year). It’s double-wall vacuum-insulated with a high-flow nozzle up top.

A Bivo Trio is priced at £39.99 (500ml) or £44.99 (621ml). On the plus side, it’s not plastic.

SKS unveils EMP Electric Mini Pump

Electric mini pumps have been taking over the world for the past few years and Germany’s SKS is about to enter the fray with its new EMP.

It measures just 83x33x52mm – easily small enough for your jersey pocket – weighs a claimed 151g, and SKS reckons it’ll inflate your tyres up to 120psi (8.3 bar). Powered by a 500mAh battery, it can inflate three 700 x 28 tyres on a single charge, according to SKS.

You set the target pressure on the digital display and the EMP does the rest. It works with both Presta and Schrader valves and includes an extension hose (suitable for TPU tubes with plastic valve stems), a silicone sleeve, storage bag and USB-C charger cable. It can be fully recharged in about 25 minutes.

We don’t yet have a UK price, but we’re talking about €79.99

Prologo introduces Myown Pressure Map

If you’re struggling to be comfortable in the saddle, Prologo has a new Myown Pressure Map system to help.

Essentially, it’s a cover that goes over the saddle, linked to a box of tricks underneath the saddle that sends real-time data via Bluetooth to a display. There are 64 nodes in a grid on the saddle cover, allowing you to see where you’re applying pressure (there are various other systems already out there which do a similar job).

You ride on a static bike and can see the pressure map displayed in front of you. By reading the data, you can see whether the saddle shape and position are correct.

This system is being rolled out right now with several UK dealers already offering it.