So, what's been happening in the world of tech this week? Well, Cube launched a range of new bikes, including what we reckon might be the best value road bike of the decade so far. During that launch it also appears an unreleased drop-bar Shimano Cues groupset was leaked, something Shimano followed by telling us to expect more info in early 2025...
We've got plenty for you in Tech of the Week too, the big news being that Aldi's cycling Specialbuys are back, including an intriguing range of Merino wool baselayers. No, really...
Cycling kit is back at Aldi
Sorry, Lidl — Aldi is our favourite budget supermarket this week, cycling products aplenty in the brand's latest set of Specialbuys. Admittedly, you might want to steer clear of some of it, there are some things it's probably worth spending a little bit extra on, even if you're being offered locks for £5.99 and lights sets for £2.99.
There is, however, plenty of stuff worth considering, not least an eye-catching range of Merino wool baselayers and tights, with men's and women's items, all priced at £19.99.
Elsewhere, the 'Tru-Tension' range has a host of products, including drivetrain degreaser, brake cleaner, bike cleaner, bike-cleaning brushes, saddlebags and multi-tools, all priced at £4.99.
Good news: Wahoo "increases customer value for money across popular Kickr indoor training range"... (although you'll probably find that some retailers were already selling products at these reduced prices anyway). Wahoo is excited to announce the Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One, with Zwift Cog pre-installed, is available at retail now for the first time, and is priced at £449.99. A Zwift annual subscription is not included but available to add to the purchase for an additional £130.
This week, Wahoo announced that "as part of its ongoing commitment to increasing customer value for money" it would be issuing "significant" price reductions across its Kickr range just in time for for those cold, dark winter months.
The RRPs have been slashed across the board on Wahoo's website, the Kickr Bike down to £3,199.99 from £3,499.99, the Kickr Bike Shift with £500 off and down to £2,199.99. The Kickr Move is down to £1,149.99 from £1,399.99, the Kickr V6 down to £849.99 from £1,099.99, the Kickr Rollr down to £549.99 from £699.99. The Kickr Core (not the Kickr Core Zwift One which is technically a different product) has not been included, but Wahoo says that is because it has been dropped in price multiple times in recent years, and is down to £449.99 anyway. You get the idea, there is plenty of price-slashing going on.
It has been pointed out to us that, well, many of these savings were already available with a bit of shopping around. It's also been noted that the old Kickr Core £549.99 price included a Zwift subscription (£129.99 per year in the UK), something that no longer is, meaning the same deal now (£449.99 trainer + £129.99 Zwift sub) would work out at £579.99, a £30 price hike. However, Wahoo is keen to point out this is only because the Zwift sub has gone up £30 in that time and isn't to do with them...
A "bold and eye-catching" colourway for Van Rysel's RCR Pro
Van Rysel has made quite the impact this year, a disruptive range of road bikes at more affordable prices than can be said for much of the industry has got the brand plenty of attention. Talking of eye-catching and attention-grabbing, check out Van Rysel's new "Abyss Green" colourway for its top-tier performance machine, the RCR Pro.
Adding some extra bling to the £5,500 racer "engineered for maximum efficiency" and "exceptional aerodynamics", the green colourway looks perfect for anyone with plans to contest the green jersey at next year's Tour de France. You've got the bike, now we just need the legs...
Madison's Autumn Winter range
Designed with British winter riding conditions in mind? That sounds ideal, Madison.
The brand's updated AW24 (Autumn Winter range) clothing consists of DTE bib tights, DTE thermal jersey, Freewheel waterproof jacket, Roam 2 layer waterproof jacket, all in men's and women's sizes, as well as some DTE Primaloft glovesand Flux overshoes. Essentially what you need to get through the chillier months here in the UK. Oh, and the best-selling Roam Isoler Merino 4 sock is back too.
"Ride. Restore. Renew": Hunt offers up to 50 per cent off refurbished wheelsets
The other week we told you all about Hunt's development to use recyclable carbon fibre in its new gravel wheelsets, with plans to implement the tech more widely "over time". Well, with an eye on sustainability the brand has also got its "Ride. Restore. RE:NEW." programme offering up to 50 per cent off refurbished wheelsets.
"We've been working hard to get wheels back on bikes, our qualified in-house wheel building team have been thoroughly inspecting and refurbishing wheelsets for the RE:NEW programme," the brand said.
"This allows riders to benefit from significant savings on lightly used Hunt wheels, helping us keep perfectly functional wheels on bikes where they belong. The process also allows us to reuse materials and components, helping us reduce our carbon footprint, while offering an option for riders seeking more sustainable post-consumer products with lower environmental impact."
All RE:NEW wheels come with 60-day ride and return and a three-year warranty, with wheels graded into three categories:
No Grade (25 per cent off) - as new - meaning you shouldn't be able to tell they have been ridden.
Grade A (35 per cent off) - light use - amounting to slight cosmetic marks on the wheels.
Grade B (50 per cent off) - used - may have cosmetic marks to hub or rim and will show signs of use - "they have been serviced and checked by our master wheel builders and will provide many more miles of use".
Fausto Talks: New six-part series revisits some of Pinarello's most iconic bikes
Pinarello has launched a new six-part documentary series called 'Fausto Talks' which sees company President Fausto Pinarello shine a light on some on the most iconic bikes in his vast personal collection.
The first episode focuses on the Espada which Miguel Induráin broke the Hour Record on 30 years ago this week – at the Velodrome du Lac in Bordeaux, France on Friday 2 September 1994.
WolfTooth expands range of chainguards to include direct mount options for select Enve, Rose, Ridley, and Scott bikes
WolfTooth has expanded its line-up of braze-on chainguides, with the LoneWolf Direct Mount Aero Chainguides now available for select Enve, Rose, Ridley and Scott models. There's more info here...
In case you missed it, here are all the tech news and features from the past week:
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Dan is the road.cc news editor and has spent the past four years writing stories and features, as well as (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. Having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for the Non-League Paper, Dan joined road.cc in 2020. Come the weekend you'll find him labouring up a hill, probably with a mouth full of jelly babies, or making a bonk-induced trip to a south of England petrol station... in search of more jelly babies.
I bought my Hunt Aero Light Disc wheels in 2016, still going strong, no corrosion, I have recently replaced the rear wheel bearings. That's not too shabby imo or am I missing something?
I bought my Hunt Aero Light Disc wheels in 2016, still going strong, no corrosion, I have recently replaced the rear wheel bearings. That's not too shabby imo or am I missing something?
Well you must have just got lucky, because for sure a custom wheelbuilder would have no motivation for telling you that a mass-market product is rubbish, now would they? Never used Hunt wheels myself but know several people who have and are delighted with them and most reviews seem to rate them highly. So that's what I know...
Coincidentally, I bought the new Aldi Premium light set last night- in some respects it's less useful than the previous model in that it doesn't have flashing modes. It does have the not very useful feature of a rear light that flashes when braking- this may be a reasonable substitute for the formal rear flashing mode
To be fair, merino wool can do both of those. They trap air which can keep you warm, and if you're sweating, the sweat will get wicked to the surface where it can evaporate more effectively and thus keep you cooler.
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11 comments
Was in Aldi yesterday, got this reflective belt. They also had it in orange.
Well that me laugh, a lot.......!
Hunt finally doing something with all the returned cheap, crap, Chinese wheels that get sent back with problems.
Hey, you can now get the same cheap, crap, Chinese wheel which has already been returned with issues 'refurbished' at a cheaper price.
Unfortunately, people do fall for this marketing bollocks.
Several decades worth of wheelbuilding under my belt and people still insist on buying rubbish.
What do I know.......
Well you don't know that Hunt wheels are made in Taiwan, not China, for a start...
I bought my Hunt Aero Light Disc wheels in 2016, still going strong, no corrosion, I have recently replaced the rear wheel bearings. That's not too shabby imo or am I missing something?
Well you must have just got lucky, because for sure a custom wheelbuilder would have no motivation for telling you that a mass-market product is rubbish, now would they? Never used Hunt wheels myself but know several people who have and are delighted with them and most reviews seem to rate them highly. So that's what I know...
Typical of Aldi and Lidl. They never disclose the percentage of Merino Wool in their products.
Turns out that Aldi actually do...
Coincidentally, I bought the new Aldi Premium light set last night- in some respects it's less useful than the previous model in that it doesn't have flashing modes. It does have the not very useful feature of a rear light that flashes when braking- this may be a reasonable substitute for the formal rear flashing mode
They've got some rather special merino leggings. They boast of, amongst others, the following benefits:
*Stay warm
*Keeps you cool
https://www.aldi.co.uk/merino-men%27s-baselayer-bottoms/p/835098809904602
To be fair, merino wool can do both of those. They trap air which can keep you warm, and if you're sweating, the sweat will get wicked to the surface where it can evaporate more effectively and thus keep you cooler.
The Aldi front light looks a lot like a Busch and Müller