Castelli has launched the “ultimate winter jacket”, so it claims (and it’ll cost you £360) — plus SRM’s new aero cranks with adjustable lengths, new Canyon gravel wheels, new TUBULAR wheels (yes, really!) + more

If you’re in the stormy UK like us this weekend, maybe you’re best off just reading stuff about cycling rather than heading out (or ride indoors, and take advantage of Zwift’s birthday sale to upgrade your set-up for next time)… so, until nasty Storm Amy calms down a bit, here are some of the coolest new cycling things we’ve spotted in the past week or so. 

Castelli launches “the ultimate winter jacket”

Castelli reckons it has produced “the ultimate winter jacket” in the shape of its new Alpha 150, combining the brand spanking new Polartec AirCore fabric that we told you about last month with extra insulation for the cold weather.

Check out our previous story to find out about AirCore but, in short, it’s designed to be windproof, water repellent, and highly breathable, while being free from PFAS-based chemicals.

> Castelli unveils first clothing made with Polartec’s “revolutionary” AirCore fabric 

The original Alpha jacket was introduced back in 2014, and this new Alpha 150 is said to be ideal for cold, dry days, while also being capable of standing up to wet weather – anything but prolonged driving rain. 

As well as using the new Polartec AirCore fabric, Castelli gives the jacket a separate Polartec Alpha insulation layer and says it’s suitable for temperatures from -2 to 10°C.

Castelli’s Steve Smith says, “As well as being incredibly breathable, lightweight, windproof and water repellent, the Alpha 150 has some amazing practical features too. The double-opening front means you can open the outer layer further during high-intensity efforts to accelerate moisture diffusion over a wider area, while keeping the inner layer closed to keep the core warm. By separating both layers, Alpha acts as a free-floating layer which wicks better and dries quicker, whilst also being softer and more comfortable than traditionally bonded, three-layer fabrics. 

“The high collar also helps with heat retention, while the double cuff helps seal the glove, preventing both cold air and water from seeping in. Quite simply, the Alpha 150 is in a class of its own.” 

The Castelli Alpha 150 is priced at £360, and we have a sample here at road.cc so stay tuned for a review over the coming weeks.

www.castelli-cycling.com

As fast as a hurricane! Check out Dynamic’s new electric blower

With wetter weather here and the need to clean your bike more frequently, Dynamic has launched the AirForce Max electric blower that’s said to blow at the speed of a hurricane. The idea is that you can dry your bike quickly and precisely, and blast moisture out of all those hard-to-reach places you can’t reach with a cloth.

Air blasters and air blow guns are nothing new, of course – Muc-Off offers the It Blows!, for example, and you can buy compressed air spray all over the place – but we like the look of the Dynamic AirForce One, and we’ve just got one in for review.

“The AirForce Max is developed as the perfect complement to using a microfibre cloth, drying derailleurs, bearings and chain links thoroughly, to prevent rust and corrosion. The powerful, constant airflow blows with a force of up to 12 on the scale of Beaufort, equal to the power of a hurricane.”

If that’s too much, you can choose between three other settings, and use the nozzle to direct the air exactly where you need it (making sure you don’t force moisture into bearings and other moving parts, of course).

The AirForce Max is cordless and made from brushed aluminium.

Dynamic says that the 2000 mAh 3S battery provides up to 75 minutes of continuous airflow. After use, you recharge it with the included USB-C cable.

The Dynamic AirForce Max is £119.99 from dynamicbikecare.co.uk

Canyon rolls into the wheel market in collaboration with DT Swiss

Bike brand Canyon has entered the wheelset market with a gravel option produced in collaboration with DT Swiss, and more are planned for next year. We’ll be interested to see where this one goes. Canyon’s first after-market wheelset is the GR 30 CF.

Canyon says, “These wheels combine low weight, a progressive wide rim design, and ever-dependable reliability. The 30mm deep carbon fibre rim boosts aerodynamics and ensures crosswind stability, while the 27mm internal and 33mm external hookless rim width is the ideal interface for wide, tubeless gravel tyres, run at low pressures for comfort, speed and grip.”

Canyon claims weights of 715g (front) and 810g (rear).

The hubs are DT Swiss 350 Spline, laced with DT Swiss Aerocomp spokes. 

At launch, the Canyon GR 30 wheelset is priced at £859.95.

www.canyon.com

SRM unveils Origin Aero cranks with swappable tips

SRM – the OG of powermeters – has unveiled Origin Aero cranks where swapping the tips allows you to adjust the crank length.

What’s the benefit?

SRM says, “Your riding style, your discipline, your position on the bike, your hip-angle, your mobility and many other factors, determine what crank length is right for you. And static tests, on the indoor trainer, don’t always tell the whole story.

“To make finding the right crank length easier than ever before, we developed the SRM Origin Aero Aluminium cranks. This unique crank design gives you the ability to change the crank length on the fly by exchanging the whole tip of the crank, while the Powermeter stays on the bike.”

This allows you to select crank lengths from 160mm to 175mm (in 2.5mm steps). SRM claims a weight of 437g for the cranks in a 170mm length.

The SRM Origin Aero Aluminium crank arms are priced at €2,015. You’ll also need the Origin Road Spider – which provides the power measurement – which is currently priced at €1,210, plus chainrings and a bottom bracket spindle.

Oh, and if you’re buying direct from SRM to the UK, you’ll also need to factor in fees and duties. So not cheap, then, but an interesting option.

onlineshop.srm.de

MAAP and QUOC team up again

British shoe brand Quoc has been collaborating loads with Aussie Cycling apparel brand MAAP recently, and the love-in continues with a new finish for the Gran Tourer XC, a shoe aimed at mountain bikers and gravel riders. We must say, it does look pretty cool in this Graphite version.

> Read our review of the Quoc Gran Tourer XC 

The MAAP x QUOC Gran Tourer XC is from MAAP, Quoc and various retailers for £250.

New tubular wheels? In 2025?

It’s not often we tell you about new tubular wheels these days, but that’s exactly what’s on offer from FFWD.

You might have thought tubular tyre/wheel systems were on the way out – there are certainly fewer of them being raced on the road than ever before – but they’re still a thing in cyclocross racing, and Dutch brand FFWD has just released a new RYOT44T wheelset that, it says, sets new standards.

“As full focussed wheel builder on carbon wheels we know that these models are only for a small niche”, says FFWD. “But it’s a niche which we feel connected to through heritage as well as passion for the sport.”

> Read our review of the FFWD RYOT44 wheelset 

The standard RYOT44 rim has been redesigned “with a new, rounded edge profile”, according to FFWD, to improve impact strength, which is a high consideration when running cyclocross tyres at low pressure.

FFWD says, “For the first time, the RYOT44T features our brand-new Laminair Airflow Wing (LAW) Technology. This wider rim profile isn’t just more aerodynamic, it adds comfort and control, letting you ride faster and smoother no matter the terrain.”

The RYOT44T is available with FFWD’s own N/Gage hubs – “engineered to withstand heavy use and power-washing without compromise” – for €1,499, and with DT Swiss 240 hubs for €1,799.

For roadies among us, FFWD has the Raw 44 Tubular that was developed with Team Flanders-Baloise for this season and is now available to the public. 

Bkool transforms into Rouvy

We told you back in July that the Rouvy Group had acquired the Bkool indoor riding app, the immediate plan being for Bkool to continue as a standalone brand with Rouvy developing a longer-term plan for its future. Now users have been told that Bkool will gradually transition into Rouvy.

An email from Petr Samek, CEO of Bkool & The Rouvy Group, said, “The biggest change will come on 30 November 2025, when the Bkool app will be retired and no longer accessible. Your subscription and billing will remain in the Bkool portal under My Subscription, and with the Career Carryover feature, some of your progress will follow you to Rouvy.

“We came to the conclusion that Bkool will not continue as a separate app since the two platforms overlap in many ways and running both at a high standard is not sustainable in the long term.

“For you, this means a single platform where our full focus goes into reliability, innovation, and support. By bringing Bkool into Rouvy, we can give you more routes, more events, and a larger community to ride with.”

Meanwhile, Rouvy will introduce timed segments from 20th October.

It says, “As with riding outdoors, Rouvy riders will find a selection of pre-defined segments across climbs, rolling road sections and shorter sprints to test themselves on and set a new personal best.

“Additional motivation comes in the form of avatars representing the segment leader, your friends’ and your own past best efforts.”

These new segments will feature on current routes as well as a range of new roads.

Whoa! That’s a daring look

If you’re not afraid to take a fashion risk now and again, check this out. Italy’s Q36.5 has unveiled a bold new pattern that’s said to be inspired by a Porsche fabric from the 1970s, among other things.

Q36.5 says, “The Dottore Hybrid Bib Tights use a minimalist panel pattern refined over 10 years – featuring no frontal-facing seams, thus improving comfort and aesthetics.

“Unlike previous nylon-only versions, the new tights incorporate polyester, enhancing moisture management and delivering a performance advantage through the unique interaction of the two fibres.”

The Dottore Hybrid Bib Tights are said to be suitable for temperatures from 5-15°C and are priced at £320. 

The Dottore Hybrid Que Long Sleeve Jersey is £270. 

Q36.5 describes it as “a versatile hybrid jersey/jacket designed to perform across fluctuating temperatures and conditions”. 

You might be interested to know that as well as the orange check and grey check options, both items are available in more conservative, less Euro versions.

Missed the rest of this week’s cycling tech news? Here it is again… 

• “Specialized has revamped the Aethos for the greater good… but after a test ride, I’ve decided I won’t be upgrading (yet)”
• Strava demands that Garmin stops selling devices over alleged patent infringement
• “The first truly bespoke monocoque carbon frame”: the Gregario Vera AR can be customised to your exact size thanks to patented tech
• Roval unveils brand new 1,131g Alpinist CLX III wheels and integrated cockpit
• Five cool things for winter cycling 
• Rapha launches PFAS-free Pro Team Shadow range for rough weather conditions