We’ve got loads of shiny new cycling kit to tell you about this week, whether you’re eyeing up a new bike or wondering whether £350 shoes really can improve your climbing. We’ve also got a new app that turns your local roads into a game of territorial conquest, a rear light that looks suspiciously familiar, an unconventional wheel-truing technique, and even a guest appearance from SpongeBob SquarePants.
If you’re chasing marginal gains, though, how about this ceramic derailleur cage from Kogel that gave a reading of zero watts friction losses on the brand’s its standard test rig.
Are you ready for Kogel’s “fastest derailleur cage upgrade”? It’ll cost you £630
Kogel Bearings says its new Kolossos Pulsar full-ceramic oversized pulley system is so efficient that early tests recorded zero measurable watts of friction. You’ll have guessed that Kogel hasn’t broken the laws of physics here and stumbled across the secret of perpetual motion because… well, obviously – but it says that losses only became detectable after switching to higher-precision equipment. The bad news is that it’ll set you back between £630 and £840, depending on the version you go for.
Most of us are happy to stick with a stock rear derailleur, but there are plenty of upgrade options out there for those looking to maximise drivetrain efficiency. You know, marginal gains and all that.
Kogel says, “The Pulsar pairs [our] ultra-stiff oversized pulley cage platforms with full-ceramic, grease-free bearings to deliver unprecedented friction reduction.
“While traditional hybrid-ceramic bearings utilise ceramic balls inside hardened steel races, the Kolossos Pulsar upgrades both the balls and the races to high-precision ceramic.
“Because ceramic components will not oxidise or corrode, the Pulsar system operates completely dry — eliminating the viscous drag caused by standard grease, heavy oils, or protective rubber seals… The result is an ultra-low friction system that delivers an effortless 30-second free-spin on the repair stand, while translating directly into wattage savings under real-world riding conditions.”
2026 Kogel Kolossos Pulsar Aero studio (Image Credit: Kogel Bearings)
The Kolossos Pulsar takes up a position at the top of Kogel’s range and is available for current Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 / Ultegra R8100 and SRAM Red / Force AXS 12-speed electronic drivetrains.
Prices start at £630 for the Speed version (pictured at the top), and at £840 for the Aero version (above), and even £892 if you want a custom finish.
Still, there are more expensive options out there. CeramicSpeed’s OSPW pulley systems top out at €1,800, for example, although most of its models are priced €529-€579.
“Turn every ride into a battle”: Atlas turns your local roads into claimable routes
A new app called Atlas Cycling comes with a ‘Territory Claim’ function, which allows you to win areas for yourself.
Co-founder Cai Harrold says, “Real roads become 45-day claimable territories. Ride a loop, you own the land inside it. Defend it by riding again, or lose it to anyone who rides it faster. Individual and club-vs-club leaderboards run in parallel.”
The app works as a cycling computer, and is also compatible with common head units. You get all of the usual stats (speed, elevation and so on) plus turn-by-turn navigation, route planning with elevation, weather, wind direction, kit recommendations, and PR probability.
It’s the Territory Claim function that sets Atlas Cycling apart from traditional ride-tracking apps, though. What starts as a recovery ride could end as a full-scale territorial dispute.
3T marks Exploro’s 10th anniversary with Primo2 WPNT special edition
3T described the Exploro as “the world’s first aero gravel/adventure frameset” when it was launched a decade ago, and it has now unveiled a special edition to mark its 10th birthday.
> 3T launches Exploro – the world’s first aero gravel/adventure frameset
The Exploro has evolved over the years with Flat Mount brakes, a cleaner-lined fork, slimmer thru axles, and so on, but it’s still an aero gravel bike, whether for bikepacking, racing, or something in between.
“The graphics of the Primo² WPNT 10th Anniversary are created through layers of the visual identities that have accompanied the project from 2016 to 2026,” says 3T. “Liveries, logos, and graphic elements overlap like chapters in a single story.
“Set against a glossy chalk-white background, the frame also features reproductions of original project photocopies, including technical notes, colour names, paint codes, and finishes that were genuinely used throughout the bicycle’s development over the years.”
The Primo² WPNT 10th Anniversary is available on the 3T website as a frameset (£2,515) and as a complete bike in a SRAM Rival XPLR AXS build priced at £5,031.
Giant and Liv update their top-end shoes
Giant and Liv have released updates to their flagship shoes: the Giant Surge Pro road shoe, the Charge Pro XC/gravel shoe and their women-specific equivalents from the Liv range: the Macha Pro and the Tesca Pro (above). They’re all priced at £324.99.
Our man Stu Kerton loved the previous generation Surge Pro, giving it a stellar review and a 9/10 rating.
Giant says its new ergonomic fit platform accommodates a broader range of foot shapes than previously.
“A roomier toe box and Giant’s Three-Dimensional Arch Support system work together with tunable EPS footbeds to stabilise the foot throughout the pedal stroke,” says Giant. “Available in both standard (D) and wide (E) widths, the new platform reduces unwanted movement while improving comfort and pedalling efficiency.”
Two BOA Li2 dials handle closure.
Find out more here (Giant) and here (Liv)
Sidi dials up performance with new Wire 3 road shoe
Sticking with shoes news, Sidi has pulled the wraps off its new Wire 3 road cycling shoe, promising ventilation, rock-solid power transfer and enough support to keep your feet happy when you’re questioning your life choices halfway up a climb. It claims a weight of 230g per shoe (EU size 42).
“The new Micro Matrix and Kevlar upper, featuring differentiated densities, ensures continuous airflow while providing targeted support where it is needed most, keeping the foot cool, dry and responsive even during the most demanding efforts,” says Sidi.
Two NUUN 001C dials are designed to keep things snug, while an adjustable (or removable) heel retention device helps dial in the fit. Underneath, the carbon outsole should make sure your power gets transferred efficiently.
The only snag is that until recently UK distribution was handled by Saddleback, which entered administration earlier this year, leaving Sidi temporarily without a UK distributor. Fortunately, you can find the Wire 3 at some UK retailers or buy direct from Sidi for £349.
Silca’s new lube “combines hot-melt wax efficiency with enhanced wet-weather durability”
Silca reckons its new Super Secret 2.0 Chain Lube is significantly better than its predecessor in every way, offering the efficiency of a hot-melt wax with the durability of a wet-weather lube.
If you want to get technical about it, Silca says, “The original version contained a water-based emulsifier to help suspend the wax in solution, which we found could be reactivated in heavy storms and cause the lube to wear off quicker than in dry conditions.
> Read our review of the original Silca Super Secret Chain Lube
“Super Secret 2.0 ditches the water-based emulsifier for a wax-based emulsifier, resulting in 2-3x better wet weather performance. We also shrank the wax particles down to pack a higher percentage of wax into the bottle and upgraded the friction modifier from standard tungsten disulfide to a stacked fullerene platelet structure. This provides better penetration into chain surfaces for longer periods of time.”
Long story short, Silca reckons Super Secret 2.0 is on par with its Secret Blend hot wax in terms of efficiency, while requiring only 15-20 minutes to achieve peak performance. It also claims double the lifespan in mud and wet weather, promising about 350km (217 miles) per application.
A 100ml bottle is priced at £25. We have some for review here at road.cc
ECM’s lightning-inspired rear light looks, um… familiar
This is a “lightning-inspired” tail light from ECM Bicycle Accessories. It’s not a Specialized S logo, then?
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All we can tell you is that Specialized isn’t mentioned on the product’s webpage or Insta post, which would be pretty odd if there was an official connection.
What we have here is a light that runs on a rechargeable 1500mAh battery with a claimed runtime from 10hrs to 150hrs depending on the lighting mode. You control the lighting mode, colour and brightness via an app. It’s said to be IPX4 water resistant, which means it should stand up to splashing.
We know nothing of ECM but the light is priced at $69.99.
Would you ride this wheel?
Cycling mechanics sometimes develop different wheel repair and truing techniques based on their training and experience.
View this post on Instagram
This forehead-focused approach isn’t one that you’ll find in many maintenance manuals. Still, it’s straighter than it was.
SpongeBob makes a splash in Tour de France Femmes
SpongeBob SquarePants has been all over the cycling media in the last week (which is the first time those words have ever been written in the history of the universe), and we didn’t want to be left out. Apart from seeing his picture pop up all over the place, I don’t know much about Mr SquarePants, in all honesty, I just wanted to use the photos in Tech of the Week.
In case you missed last Friday’s road.cc Live Blog, two teams have been riding special edition Factor One bikes in the Tour de France Femmes, which finishes in Nice this weekend.
Human Powered Health have been riding a blue and yellow version of their Factor One aero bike, with SpongeBob himself making an appearance on the fork.
Meanwhile, Ma Petite Enterprise pay homage to SpongeBob’s starfish friend Patrick Star with a pink and purple colour scheme.
“Marrying the imagery with the most advanced UCI-legal road bike in the WorldTour peloton introduces a level of sensory dissonance that shocks first, and then delights,” says Factor.
“This limited-edition collaboration celebrates design innovation, craftsmanship, and character, showing how two worlds of engineering and art can collide in a way that surprises and inspires.”
Okay, that’s enough of that. Complete bikes start at £10,899.
Bianchi launches six new Officina custom paint finishes for flagship bikes
If owning a top-level Bianchi isn’t exclusive enough for you, the Italian brand has added six new colours to its Officina collection.
Officina is Bianchi’s customisation programme covers its five flagship road, gravel and time-trial/triathlon models: the Oltre RC, Specialissima RC, Impulso RC, Infinito Pro, and Aquila RC.
Each bike is hand-painted by Bianchi’s most experienced craftspeople so no two are the same. They’re variations on a theme, though.
Anima Celeste (above) is the most exclusive of all, with an annual production of just 50 pieces worldwide.
Bianchi says, “Intricate CK16-coloured filaments unravel across a metallic celeste base like veins in muscle tissue.”
It’s not the most obvious colour to go for if you’re trying to invoke veins, but Bianchi and celeste go hand in hand, so we can go with it.
If you’d like something entirely different, Venere is said to be “inspired by the planet Venus [with] an earthy yellow base with subtle, mottled reddish hues”.
What’s the relevance of Venus? Absolutely no idea, but it’s pretty.
You can buy an Officina as a frameset only or complete bike with an upgrade price typically £867.
CANYON//SRAM riders launch We Femmes movement
If you’ve caught any of this year’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, you might have spotted the We Femmes jersey being worn by CANYON//SRAM riders.
We Femmes is something that’s backed by Canyon, SRAM, Zwift and Ryzon, among others, intending to elevate women’s cycling to new levels of popularity and participation.
SRAM says, “It has one central idea, and it is deliberately the simplest one available: If you ride, bring a woman who doesn’t.
“This is not intended to be an advertising campaign towards women. It is a chain of invitations between women. Behind almost everyone who started cycling is someone who has already been through it – We Femmes is built on that concept.
“Every We Femmes ride is open, free, and nobody gets dropped. It just asks you, as a rider, to do one thing: bring someone who doesn’t. And next year, that new rider can bring someone else who doesn’t.”
Canyon has committed to bringing a minimum of 1,000 women a year to We Femmes rides and events, every year for 10 years. If each new rider then brings another new rider next time, the whole thing is cumulative.
There will be We Femmes rides led by CANYON//SRAM riders in key European cities this autumn, plus focus groups and open sessions.
The new We Femmes jersey from Ryzon, priced £129.99 in both men’s and women’s cuts, is available now via Canyon.com, the Canyon App and ryzon.com.
In case you missed it earlier in the week…
- I tested the worst bike saddle ever, and it was even stranger than I expected
- “One of the best aero race machines” from Merida, special tyres from Specialized and a glorious Gloria gravel bike: road.cc Recommends updated with 11 top products
- “Drag-reducing” cycling backpack actually makes you slower, says AeroCoach wind tunnel test
- Shimano 13-speed leak on retail website suggests a possible new freehub standard
- Cross country bikes are getting damn light… but Dangerholm might have created the lightest one yet
- Shimano launches lighter, more aero Dura-Ace wheels
1 thought on “This derailleur cage has almost zero friction (but will cost you at least £630) – plus, SpongeBob goes aero, new shoes from Sidi and Giant, and loads more from Bianchi, 3T, Silca…”
ECM shut down in 3, 2, 1…