It’s the end of the week and time for another edition of FIrst Look Friday, our round-up of all of the best news and reviews from the week, plus a look at some of the hot new tech to arrive at BikeRadar HQ.
First off, Bianchi announced a new disc-brake version of its Aquila RC time trial bike, killing off the last remaining rim-brake bike (the previous version) in the WorldTour – it’s truly the end of an era.
On the subject of time trial bikes, former British national champion David Millar shot down my contention that the UCI should ban TT bikes, saying doing so “would be a huge step backwards”.
One area where TT bikes are showing their influence is with aero bikes – many of which have adopted the enormous head tubes and integrated cockpits previously reserved for racing against the clock.
Away from racing, a survey conducted by Scrap Car Comparison revealed the car owners that are least friendly to cyclists. According to the responses, Mazda and Mercedes drivers scored the highest for ‘cycling negativity’, with BMW and Audi owners tailgating them (as usual).
It’s not just on the road where safety matters for cyclists, though. This week, Laura Laker explained why cycle paths are pointless if women don't feel safe using them at night, for example.
On the mountain bike side of things, BikeRadar’s senior technical editor, Alex Evans, published his key takeaways from testing four different MTB suspension platforms. If you’re looking to improve your speed and control on the trails, it’s well worth a read.
Last, but certainly not least, fresh reviews of new winter road bike tyres have been trickling out onto the site this week courtesy of BikeRadar’s road tech lead, Ashley Quinlan. He’s been putting in the hard miles in cold and dreary conditions in recent weeks, to bring us definitive takes on models such as the Specialized S-Works Mondo and Teravail Telegraph ‘Durable’. Look out for more reviews from this test in the coming days.
Now, though, let’s dive into some of the latest tech and kit to arrive at BikeRadar.
Tacx Neo 3M smart trainer
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At a whopping £1,749.99 / $1,999.99 / €1,999.99, the Tacx Neo 3M is one of the most expensive smart trainers available.
Announced in December 2023, it offers a number of updates over its predecessor, the Neo 2T, including integrated fore-aft movement and – according to Tacx – “enhanced accuracy and power… across a broader range of power outputs”.
As before, the Neo 3M uses a virtual flywheel (in place of a physical weight) that’s generated by electromagnets. This, the brand says, enables it to vary the effective flywheel weight according to the terrain – so climbing a steep virtual hill should feel different from riding along a flat road, for example.
The 2,200 watts maximum power, 25 per cent maximum simulated gradient and +/- 1 per cent power accuracy are identical to the Neo 2T, as is the overall build and appearance (at least at a glance).
Two curious omissions from the Neo 3M’s spec are WiFi connectivity and a high-speed data transfer mode (or Race Mode, as it’s often referred to).
The first of those can be remedied by the addition of the Tacx Smart Network Adapter, which is available separately for £129.99 or as a bundle with the Neo 3M for £1,879.98, but we’ll have to wait and see if Tacx can add Race Mode via a firmware update at some point.
We’re more than a year after the Neo 3M was announced, though, and it hasn’t been added yet, so I’m not holding my breath.
Having got the Neo 3M out of its box and set it up, I can confirm it’s as enormous as previous versions and retains its unique design – looking like something you’d see flying out of an imperial star destroyer in Star Wars. This is no Wahoo Kickr Core copy.
At 23.6kg, it’s also very heavy, although it’s nowhere near as hefty as the 29.5kg Wahoo Kickr Move.
My initial test rides suggest the data accuracy and ride feel are as excellent as Tacx claims, but with the ever-increasing competition from cheaper options, such as the £399 / $399 / €449.95 JetBlack Victory (which scored a full five stars just a few months ago), can the Neo 3M justify its high price?
To find out, stay tuned for a full review coming soon.
- £1,749.99 / $1,999.99 / €1,999.99
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Velocio Men’s Alpha Zero Jacket
If you’d rather ride outdoors than indoors through the winter, Velocio might have just the jacket for you.
Rated for temperatures down to a staggering -17.78ºC / 0ºF, Velocio’s Men’s Alpha Zero Jacket is designed for the worst winter riding can throw at you.
According to the American brand, which was acquired by SRAM in 2022, the Men’s Alpha Zero Jacket uses a breathable-waterproof softshell exterior, paired with a 'high-loft' Polartec Alpha Insulation lining.
It’s also “designed without PFAS chemicals” (so-called forever chemicals often used to make waterproof membrane and non-stick coatings, among other things) in both the waterproof membrane and Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating.
BikeRadar’s in-house ultra-distance rider, Oscar Huckle, has this in for testing and I was surprised to see it’s relatively lightweight and not at all bulky. Given its recommended temperature range (-17ºC to 0ºC), I’d expected it to be a thick, heavy jacket, but in reality it looks no bulkier than a standard winter cycling jacket.
- £257 / $329
Elite Zona smart trainer controller
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As indoor cycling becomes increasingly gamified, it’s little surprise more brands have released accessories that aim to streamline riders' interactions with smart trainers and indoor cycling apps.
Elite’s Zona controller mounts to your handlebar via a Garmin-style quarter-turn mount, and is designed to control a smart trainer, so you can switch between resistance levels or power training zones with the press of a button.
If you want to do a classic 2x 20-minute sweetspot workout, for example, you can switch between zones one or two (active recovery / endurance) and zone four (threshold) simply by pressing the right buttons.
This removes the need to build workouts in advance, either using an ANT+ FE-C compatible bike computer or an indoor cycling app.
According to Elite, the Zona “provides a simple, easy to use, custom training experience with no constantly updating software or set-up complications”.
Its £99.99 price might seem a little steep at first glance, for what is essentially a glorified remote control.
However, with a TrainerRoad or Zwift subscription costing around $200 per year, it could work out as good value in the long term, assuming you know what workouts you want to do (and can live without the other features such apps offer, of course).
Handily, the Elite Zona also offers compatibility with any smart trainer with ANT+ or Bluetooth connectivity – it’s not limited to use with Elite’s own smart trainers, such as the Justo, Suito and Direto XR.
Unlike the Zwift Play controllers (which use internal rechargeable batteries), though, the Zona runs on a coin-cell battery. It has a claimed battery life of 80 hours.
- £99.99 / €99.99
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