Another busy week on BikeRadar and who'd have guessed before it started that the news agenda would be dominated by a cheery yellow sea sponge and my hand-drawn sketches of a bike that doesn't exist?
On Monday, we saw Tadej Pogacar debut his new custom Colnago Y1Rs, claimed to be the most aerodynamic bike in the pro peloton. Elsewhere, we updated our guide on how to lose belly fat for cycling and Tom Marvin ran the rule over the Evil Offering LS.
The following day, our bargain-hunting tech writers rounded up the best-value road and gravel bikes you can buy in 2025 and Stan Portus brought us news of an outrageous collab between streetwear brand Supreme and SpongeBob SquarePants.
As we rolled into midweek, I presented Cannondale with my wishlist and sketches for a new CAAD14. We also published a feature on the cycling citizen scientists trying to tackle air pollution, explained where you can and can't cycle legally in the UK and checked out a new film on Lachlan Morton's Around Australia Record.
There were plenty more reviews, features and news stories beyond that little lot, but let's get on with the show and take a look at the latest tech we're getting excited about at BikeRadar.
Newmen Streem Climbing Vonoa wheels
Newmen, the official wheel provider for pro tour team Intermarché Wanty, recently revamped its range.
This Streem Vonoa Climbing model caught my eye, not because of the ‘snappy’ name. No, it’s the specification that piqued my attention.
The aerodynamic-profile, hooked tubeless carbon rims are 35mm deep at the front and 38mm deep at the rear, and are laced with aero-wide carbon fibre spokes to minimal Fade R hubs.
The 29.5mm-wide external rim has a 22mm-wide inner designed to work with 28-30mm tyres.
Newmen has also included its 'aero valve kit' with the Vonoa wheels. The kit replaces a standard Presta tubeless valve with a short, stubby Schrader valve hidden inside the rim.
These short valves are locked into place with the included aero valve tool, which doubles as both a wrench to tighten the minimal valve in place and as a long converter to a Schrader valve to inflate the tyres. The tool sits inside its sleeve, so it can easily be carried in a saddle pack or jersey pocket.
Newmen claims improved aerodynamics because there is no protruding valve at the rim, and the Vonoas come with blanking plates that plug into the valve hole on the rim.
These valves weigh only 6g a pair, making them much lighter than standard tubeless valves. Prefer inner tubes to tubeless? Newmen also offers lightweight (42g) Tubolito inner tubes with the same hidden valve system.
The claimed weight for the wheelset is a scant 1,035g a pair. We weighed ours in at 472.9g (front) and 615.4g (rear) for a total of 1,088.3g including rim tape. That's 191.7g lighter than the Lightweight Obermayer Evo disc wheelset. Perhaps even more impressively, the Newmen wheels come with a 130kg system weight limit (rider and bike) compared to the Lightweights' 100kg.
If the £1,580 / €1,690 price tag is still a little steep, Newmen offers the same wheels with Sapim CX-Ray spokes instead of carbon for £1,280 / €1,390, weighing in 140g heavier.
- £1,580 / $N/A / €1,690
7mesh Mission jacket
I’ve been somewhat lost when it comes to lightweight rain jackets since the axing of Gore’s Shakedry, and yes, I get the environmental reasons for that. However, I still don’t want to get wet through when I'm riding in the rain.
7mesh seems to have come to the rescue with the Mission jacket. It’s made from a high-stretch PFAS-free knit fabric with a 20,000mm water column rating.
At 192g for my size-large jacket, it's very light, yet has bags of features. There are three large rear jersey-style mesh pockets, a large reflective strip across the dropped tail and a two-way zipper up-front.
Even with all these features, it’s easy to scrunch up and stash in a jersey pocket, thanks to the central rear pocket doubling up as a stash pocket with quick-release elastic straps to fit to your bike.
The fit is trim without being restrictive and it has fast become my go-to jacket for everything from drizzle to stormy weather.
- £300 / $350 / €350
Sidi Asper Laces gravel shoes
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13188488
I’m a sucker for a great-looking shoe and Sidi’s new Asper certainly fits the bill with its contrasting two-tone upper, natural rubber sole and funky high-contrast laces.
The Apser isn’t a reimagined mountain bike shoe. Instead, it has been built from the ground up purely for gravel.
Sidi says the upper is designed for a casual but reassuring fit and matched to a Nylon/glass-fibre sole that's rated at level six (out of 12) for stiffness.
The outsole is protected by a chunky natural rubber tread that incorporates a substantial toe bumper and heel protection that should make for easy walking and hiking besides riding.
My size-45 test pair weighed in at 827.6g.
Whatever the reasons behind the Asper shoes, they look the business and I’m looking forward to getting out and riding in them as soon as I can.
- £199 / $249.99 / €189
SQUIRREL_13188488
Hiplok BR1000 bracket
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13188489
Hiplok’s D1000 proved very tough in our latest bike locks test and, along with the DX1000, is a tough entry into the angle-grinder-resistant lock world.
Like any lock of this type, however, it's hefty to carry and on-bike mounts are often somewhat clumsy. The new BR1000 mount changes that.
This clever mount fits onto a standard front or rear rack and holds the lock horizontally, securely and rattle-free. The BR1000 can also be used in conjunction with a Klickfix or Ortlieb bag bracket to be mounted on your handlebar or frame.
- £24.99 / $29.99 / €24.99
SQUIRREL_13188489
Cadex GX Tubeless 40c gravel tyres
I was impressed by the tyres on Giant’s brilliant new Revolt when I tested it, to the extent that I wanted to spend more time on this Cadex GX. It's designed to be both fast and suited to all conditions.
The GX features a supple 170 TPI casing, yet still has a bead-to-bead puncture protection layer. The GX uses GX-S dual-compound formula with a harder-durometer centre section mated to short centreline knobs for fast straight-line speed on road or dirt.
It's paired with softer-compound flanks and chunky outer knobs for grip in the corners.
The Race Shield + protection layer runs through the centre, with a new tougher X-Shield protection on the sidewalls that's claimed to protect against cuts and abrasions.
The tyres weigh 408.6g each on my scales and come in 40c size only. They are compatible with all tubeless systems, including hookless rims.
- £59.99 / $85 / €75
