BikeRadar was on hand for Bike Connection's Winter 2025 MTB event in Massa Marittima, in the heart of Italy's beautiful Tuscany region.
The event is designed to bring prominent mountain bike brands and journalists from across the globe together in one place, where new bikes, products and brand philosophies can be showcased.
We've rounded up some of the most eye-catching bits of tech from 2025's early-season event.
Leatt's magnesium Ceramag pedals and stems
In a flurry of product announcements, Leatt's moving into – or at least testing the water with – products including pedals, stems, handlebars and grips.
The science and data-focused South African brand is first to admit it doesn't plan on selling these products by the bucket-load, thanks to the lofty price tags that accompany new, high-tech construction techniques.
Leatt's Ceramag pedals and stems – which get their name thanks to the ceramically coated magnesium they're built from – are, as a result, super-light compared to traditional aluminium alloy models.
Available in two sizes – narrow and wide – the Ceramag pedals spin on an optional titanium spindle and have 10 removable pins per side.
According to the brand, the narrower flat pedals with titanium axle weigh only 266g a pair, while the equivalent clip version – which uses the same construction techniques – weigh 298g a pair.
You pay a premium for the tech though, with retail prices sitting at £279 / $319 / €319 for the titanium axle flats and £299 / $339 / €339 for the equivalent clips.
There are also gravity stems, using the same magnesium construction tech.
Playing to magnesium's strengths, Leatt has taken advantage of the material's molecular grain by orientating in a way that should help with "transferring less vibration [to the rider]".
The jury's still out on that, but there's no denying they're light. At 100g for a titanium-bolt, 33mm-long version, they're going to be a weight weenie's dream.
Again, they're not cheap, with the priciest 50mm version costing £199 / $229 / €229.
Atherton Bikes A.170
We haven't had a shortage of Atherton Bikes coverage here on BikeRadar in recent times – and for good reason.
The A.170 is a long 170mm-travel, six-bar DW-link, descent-focused enduro bike that – according to the brand – is its best-seller.
You only need to glance over the frame spec, suspension and geometry to see why, although riding it for yourself may well lead to a sale; Atherton says it has a 100 per cent conversion rate from demo days to sales for the A.170.
Firstly, the additive manufacturing frame uses 3D-printed titanium lugs at each of the bespoke carbon tubes' intersections.
Rather than traditional welding or a full-carbon mould, this means Atherton can adapt the geometry of its frames more easily; there are no jigs or expensive moulds.
This results in a 22-size range, with reach figures spanning 410mm to 530mm. While this incredible number of sizes means riders should be able to find a bike that fits perfectly, further personalisation is possible – for an extra fee.
Thirdly, the DW6 rear-suspension design has seven pivot points, more than both the four-bar Horst-link and twin-link designs.
The claim of no performance losses is bold, but stands strong and true on the trail.
However, there's a catch (there always is).
Costing from £4,750, the A.170 is expensive. Add an extra £650 for any additional customisations you may want to make and it's firmly in superbike territory.
Feedback Sports Pro E Lift bike repair stand
People with back pain rejoice.
Feedback Sports – a company famed for its high-quality workshop kit – now has an electronically raising bike repair stand.
While its 45kg maximum weight limit is clearly aimed at chunky electric bikes, it also means lifting your standard mountain, road or gravel bike will be a doddle for the stand.
At full extension, it can lift bikes to 1.85m – which should be plenty high enough to work on an ebike motor – and compresses to a low 0.9m.
With your seatpost at full mast, you shouldn't need to lift your bike into the clamp's quick-release and quick-clamping jaws.
Wheels and a handy foot paddle make moving the stand's 24.5kg weight around easier than you'd expect.
It's on sale soon and retails for a handsome $1,195.
Selle San Marco Mantra saddle
Selle San Marco hopes its new Mantra saddle will be the perfect pew for your peach.
Designed specifically for the rigours of more extreme riding, its wide, stubby nose is said to provide control and support whether you're seated or standing.
Taking note of ebikers and enduro riders, who tend to sit towards the front of their seats when climbing, Selle San Marco has adopted what it calls the 'delta' shape and a flat – rather than banana-shaped – front-to-rear profile.
This is claimed to boost comfort, along with a generous and long perineum pressure-relief channel.
Three rail options are available: stainless steel 'manganese', stainless steel 'Xsilite' and carbon fibre. They retail for £119.99, £134.99 and £179.99 respectively.
