This week, hundreds of you have been talking about Zipp’s new tyre pressure monitoring wheels (and not all in the most polite fashion), while Magene’s new power meter pedals at a more palatable price point have also been piquing your interest. We’d hate to sell you short and not report on the rest of the cycling tech news that’s landed in our inbox this week, so here’s the best of it to peruse/get very passionate about in the comments section at your leisure…
BMC’s new VAR0 offers riders “the ultimate blank canvas for customising their ride”*
* or, as suggested by an anonymous road.cc staffer, saves BMC the cost of painting frames (they could do with saving some cash by the sounds of things)… but hear the Swiss brand out and see what you think.
Anyway, BMC has introduced what it calls the ‘VAR0’ concept, essentially a BMC Teammachine R 01 frameset that has been stripped down to the bare essentials.
“Launching with the Teammachine R 01 platform, VAR0 invites riders to personalise their bike by offering a blank canvas upon which they can design the paint scheme of their dreams”, says BMC.
So, it’s a custom bike without BMC itself offering any of the customisation? The cynical among us might say that, as our anonymous staffer did, but there’s also something to be said for giving the customer a completely raw frame to build up however they’d like. Those in the market for a custom bike who have a lot of money to throw at it will likely want it to be a whole lot different to any other bike out there, and VAR0 offers this. Plenty of the big bike brands offer high-end customisation – such as Trek’s Project One – but you’re still working within some parameters set by the brand.
Below is a VAR0 frame that has already had its custom paint treatment, by artist i.draw.on.bikes and inspired by the work of Paul Klee.
The price is a not-too-outrageous-sounding 4,999 CHF (just over £4,500), but you’ll need to factor in the price of a full custom paintjob on top of everything else you need to make it into a bike. Alternatively, if you’re just after something minimal without the extra weight of pesky paint, you can just ride it ‘naked’ according to BMC. But then again, if you just want as light as possible, then BMC’s Teammachine R Mpc frame is even more feathery (for 8,999 CHF).
Ineos Grenadiers ride Pinarello Dogma F Edizione Speciale in the Giro
Ineos riders are currently (at the time of publication) riding Stage 14 of the Giro d’Italia on Pinarello Dogma F Edizione Speciale bikes, intended to mark the 50th anniversary of the Italian brand’s first Grand Tour win. The bikes are available in a limited edition.
Italian rider Fausto Bertoglio won the Giro when riding for Joolj Ceramica back in 1975. Times have changed since then; Pinarellos have now been ridden to 30 Grand Tour wins, 12 of them by Team Sky/Ineos Grenadiers.
> Check out our review of the Pinarello Dogma F Dura Ace Di2
Why ride the bikes on the Giro’s Stage 14 in particular? Because it starts in Pinarello’s home city of Treviso, with the flag dropping outside the company’s HQ.
“The bike features a distinct fade paint scheme encompassing Gloss Midnight Blue and Borealis Luxter Venice, both colours which resemble the original bike ridden to success by Bertoglio,” says Pinarello.
“In addition to the striking livery, the Dogma F Edizione Speciale features a special GPT (Giovanni Pinarello Treviso) detailing on the fork – a nod to the brand’s founder and origins – as well as the 50th anniversary decal on the top tube. The bike is also equipped with custom-painted Princeton Wake Wheels.”
We’ve requested prices but don’t have them yet. A limited run of the Dogma F Edizione Speciale will be available to order at Pinarello dealers between now and 15 June 2025.
Quoc and MAAP reunite for M3 Pro road shoe collab
Britain’s Quoc has teamed up with Australian cycle clothing brand MAAP for a second time after releasing a Gran Tourer XC gravel shoe together last month. This time, it’s Quoc’s M3 Pro road shoe that gets the collaborative treatment.
> Check out our Quoc M3 Pro review
What’s different from the standard M3 Pro?
“Distinctive MAAP detailing elevates the M3 Pro’s performance silhouette, with two new colourways and features exclusive to the collaboration,” says Quoc. “Triangular laser-cut perforations for enhanced breathability, unique panel detailing and a contrasting TPU heel pad and reinforced toe guard—styling that nod to both form and function.”
You get a unidirectional carbon-fibre outsole, a tongue-less wrap construction, and a dual-dial micro-adjustment closure.
Like the original version, the MAAP x QUOC M3 Pro is available in white, and also in Musk – or ‘pink’, to you and me. The price is £340, meaning you’re paying 20 quid more than normal for the MAAP-ness of the design
More shoes news: Fizik unveils top-level Vega Carbon
Italy’s Fizik has released a new Vega Carbon shoe, complete with a new ergonomic shape and an integrated carbon sole.
The Vega Carbon is straighter than previous Fizik designs, with a reduced heel-to-toe drop and an expanded toebox. Fizik reckons this improves stability and comfort.
The full-carbon outsole is partly “concealed beneath the upper fabric to reduce overall stack height in the cleat area”. Fizik says this maximises power transfer.
The upper uses Fizik’s Aeroweave PRO woven fabric – as used for the Vento Powerstrap R2 Aeroweave shoes we reviewed, for example – coupled with a thin translucent mesh for weight saving and breathability. Double BOA Li2 dials take care of closure.
Available in White and White/Yello Fluro finishes, the Fizik Vega Carbon is priced at £389.99.
Santini launches retro-inspired cycling clothing with Pirelli
In a week when it introduced a new ‘road enduro’ category with slick Cinturato Evo TLR tyres up to 55mm wide, Pirelli has teamed up with fellow Italian brand Santini for a “Sport Club” collection of cycle clothing, as it did last year.
The graphics are intended “to recall Pirelli advertisements from the 1960s”.
No, neither do we, to be honest, but it doesn’t really matter.
“The new items include two unisex cycling jerseys: the Ruota version (£130), with a wheel-shaped silicone detail on the back, made of ultra-light and elastic fabric to ensure a slim fit and a second-skin feel; and the Tape version (£110), featuring coloured stripes inspired by the iconic Pirelli posters of the 1960s, made of Polartec Power Stretch with lightweight raw-cut sleeves, reflective details and a covered zip for comfort and functionality,” says Santini.
They’re each available in black and white.
ICYMI, here’s the rest of the week’s top cycling tech news (if you didn’t spot the Zipp wheels with built-in pressure sensors, you’re in for a treat)…
> Zipp’s new wheels offer integrated tyre pressure monitoring
> How wide? Pirelli introduces new ‘road enduro’ category with slick tyres up to 55mm wide
> Will these cut-price power meter pedals make pricier rivals obsolete? Magene launches P715 dual-sided pedals with +/-1% claimed accuracy
> Best value bike upgrades we’d actually spend money on
> How to lock your bike when you’re out and about so it’s there when you come back
6 thoughts on “Is this bare essentials BMC concept the best way to build your dream custom bike? Plus new shoes from Fizik and Quoc x MAAP, special Giro edition Pinarello Dogma, Pirelli x Santini retro kit + more”
This BMC “concept” is not
This BMC “concept” is not exactly new, Specialized have been offering RTP (ready to paint) versions of various framesets for a while now.
And Specialized was far from
And Specialized was far from the first – or only – brand to do so either. OPEN, for example also offers that option.
As to: “as suggested by an
As to: “as suggested by an anonymous road.cc staffer, saves BMC the cost of painting frames“
Yes, it may save BMC some money. But even if BMC don’t pass that saving on to the customer, it will likely still save them money because they won’t have to pay the custom painter to sand all the original paint off first.
BMC: “Built on our most
BMC: “Built on our most advanced racing platforms: Teammachine R, Fourstroke and something new that will redefine gravity.” New bike coming?
A hoverbike?
A hoverbike?
Ha, it really does say that.
Ha, it really does say that. Ideas about gravity are changing, but somehow I don’t think BMC will be contributing.
Anyway, custom means an individual frame for you, not what paint and bits you hang on it. To be fair BMC are refering to a custom ‘paint job’, not a custom bike.