Table of contents for May 2026 in Cycling Plus

It’s always good to come across new kit that does the job well and doesn’t cost a fortune, such as the Bryton Rider 650 cycling computer reviewed in this issue (p68), and the bikes we tested last month. I wish we could cover more budget-friendly products, but it’s not always easy to convince brands to send us their lower-tier gear when they have new top-of-the-line designs to promote, whether that be a flagship road bike (p74), a race-focused gravel rig (p56) or a 3D-printed saddle (p70). Thankfully, there are still companies out there making high-quality kit without a correspondingly stratospheric price tag – including Kinesis, on p20 – and we’ll continue to bring them to your attention as and when we can. Your experts George Scott Head of content, Our…

After a period of relative stagnation, dynamo lights are making a comeback, with cool new tech, and mainstream brands making noise about what was historically the preserve of tourers and audax riders. I’d even go as far as to say the technology is becoming a selling point for modern bikes – and I’m here for it! For those who don’t know, a dynamo is a type of alternator that converts your forward motion on a bike into electrical power. Either built into a hub or a separate component that’s bolted onto your bike, dynamos are used to power lights or charge devices. I’ve been a dynamo-botherer for a long time. The promise of self-sufficiency and the opportunity to fuss with simple DIY electronics tickles my brain like licking a 9V…

Ekoi’s radical PW8 pedal design has many merits, but its appeal will be limited until more compatible shoe options become available. The platform is huge – the pedal is more than twice the size of a Look Keo Blade, with a contact area of 1,500mm2. Its composite body spins on a steel axle, which sounds like a rather modest construction, but it all combines to produce a very low weight of just 105g per pedal. While the cleats add 15g per side, the PW8s are still among the lightest clipless pedals available, bettered only by the Mercury SL Pedal System, which has no platform. Wahoo Speedplay’s titanium Nano pedals weigh less, at around 170g a pair, but once cleats are included, the total package is heavier. The Ekoi pedals’ low…

Weight 9.77kg (L) Frame Carbon fibre Fork Carbon fibre Groupset SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 13-speed (40t, 10-46t) Wheels DT Swiss G 1800 Tyres Schwalbe G-One RX Pro, 700c x 50mm Finishing kit FSA A-Wing Pro AGX handlebar (42cm), FSA SMR-II stem (100mm), Argon 18 TDS-C carbon seatpost, Repente Quasar S 2.0 saddle This is Argon 18’s answer to what a gravel all-rounder should be. It’s designed to be raced at the highest level while offering class-leading tyre clearances and excellent handling to help it cope with more technical terrain. While it feels swift on tarmac, it really sings when it hits the dirt, with excellent large-volume Schwalbe tyres crushing any vibrations. The brand’s Topological Compliance System (TCS) aims to bring optimal stiffness and flex to the frame where they’re most needed.…

All three of these new race-ready gravel bikes are great options, so your choice largely comes down to what you want the bike to do. The Orbea Terra is the best all-rounder – it’s highly capable on and off road, but doesn’t quite have the same composure as Argon 18’s Dark Matter when it comes to the most challenging terrain, and its summer-only tyres let it down. Next up is 3T’s Racemax2 Italia. While it’s certainly the best combination of aero and gravel I’ve tried to date, it’s let down by its spec. The tyres aren’t up to the job on anything outside of hardpack or unmetalled roads, and the 2x drivetrain struggles in muddy conditions. “It proves you don’t need a range-topping groupset and pricey carbon wheels to get…

Weight 7.7kg (size 56cm, including aero bottle cages) Frame Carbon fibre Fork Carbon fibre Groupset SRAM Force AXS (48/35t, 10-33t) Wheels DT Swiss ERC LOG 45 rims on DT Swiss 370 hubs Tyres Schwalbe One TLE, 700c x 28mm Handlebar Vision Trimax Carbon Aero (38cm, 100mm) Stem Cannondale C1 Conceal (100mm) Seatpost Cannondale C1 Aero 40 Carbon V2 (15mm offset) Saddle Fizik Vento Antares R5 After lots of teasing at various pro races, the fifth-generation Cannondale SuperSix EVO has finally been unveiled – and it looks almost identical to the previous version at a glance. Nevertheless, small changes have made the latest bike even more of a racer’s choice. Does that mean it’s not the best option for those who aren’t pinning on a number at the weekend? I put…

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Weight 8.45kg (XL) Frame ‘OMR’ carbon fibre Fork Carbon fibre Groupset SRAM Force XPLR AXS 13-speed (40t, 10-46t) Wheels Oquo RC25 Team (updated to Oquo RC30 Team for 2026) Tyres Vittoria Terreno T30, 700c x 45mm Finishing kit OC Gravel GR10 carbon handlebar (44cm), OC Road Performance RP11 stem (100mm), OC Performance XP10 carbon seatpost, Fizik Terra Argo X3 saddle The latest Terra features improved aerodynamics, weight and versatility, plus an updated geometry for more rough-stuff capability. It’s been reshaped, with an oversized down tube for in-frame storage, a slimmed-down new fork (with a forward-facing crown) that adds compliance, plus clearance for 50mm tyres. While this Terra uses the brand’s ‘OMR’ carbon fibre, Orbea also offer the Terra Race, with a higher-grade ‘OMX’ frameset and an even more aerodynamic and…

This compact unit has a lot going for it, not least a large touchscreen, long claimed battery life and full Bluetooth and ANT+ support. It’s also compatible with electronic groupsets and e-bikes. That it has all this and plenty more for £139.99 is impressive – Garmin’s similarly sized Edge 550 is £469.99, Wahoo’s Elemnt Roam 3 costs £399.99 and Hammerhead’s Karoo 3 has an RRP of £450. Most of the trimmings The 2.8in colour touchscreen has a Garmin-style ambient light sensor so it can adjust automatically to conditions, while the claimed 33-hour battery life is longer than that of its more established rivals from Garmin and Wahoo. It has all the features I’d expect of a modern GPS, and its Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity means it can link to rearview…

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NEW GEAR Garmin Edge 550 vs Wahoo Elemnt Bolt 3, latest rearview radars tested – and more IN-DEPTH FEATURES Commute your way fit How to get big gains from your ride to work Does AI make a good PT? Charlie Allenby enlists Chat GPT as his coach Cycle to Work unravelled A deep dive into the discount bike scheme TOP ADVICE The latest health, training and workshop guidance – including how to cure noisy disc brakes ON SALE 07 May 2026…

Why do we persist with saddle packs? With the advent of down-tube storage (despite being sceptical at first, I’m now converted), I’m looking at erasing them from my cycling life. Not only do these sagging, soggy, pocket-sized packs look ugly on modern carbon fibre bikes of any persuasion – race, endurance or gravel – but they just don’t do a good enough job. None of my own bikes have down-tube storage, but it’s the number-one requirement for my next bike, without a doubt. I even want to see this feature come to race bikes. The pros can have a stripped-down version, but I want practicality blended with speed and light weight. A case in point My go-to saddle pack is a good example of why I’m done with them. It…

Trusted content Here at Cycling Plus, we take our testing seriously, sending highly experienced cyclists onto the roads and trails to see how each and every item stands up to their scrutiny. The result is independent and honest reviews to help make your next purchases easier. Your Experts Warren Rossiter Senior technical editor It’s a packed month for Woz, who’s taken to the greasy slop to test three gravel race bikes Simon von Bromley Senior technical writer Simon takes a spin on Cannondale’s new fifth-gen SuperSix EVO road bike…

Reach • The horizontal distance from the centre of the bottom bracket (BB) to the centre-top of the head tube. With the same seat-tube angle, a longer reach lowers your ride position while a shorter reach sits you more upright. Stack • This is the vertical distance from the centre of the BB to the top of the head tube. A taller stack means a more upright ride position, a shorter stack a lower one. Trail • The trail figure is derived from a combination of head-tube angle and fork offset, and shows how far the front tyre’s contact point ‘trails’ behind the steering axis. A small trail figure makes for a fast-handling bike; more trail slows down the steering response. SRAM XPLR • The XPLR range is designed for…

Weight 9.21kg (L) Frame ‘Jazz’ carbon fibre Fork 3T Fango Racemax2 Integrale, carbon fibre Groupset Shimano GRX Di2 12-speed (46/30t, 11-34t) Wheels 3T Discus 45|40 LTD Tyres Schwalbe G-One RS Pro, 700c x 45mm Finishing kit 3T Aeroghiaia Integrale LTD handlebar (42cm), 3T More stem (100mm), 3T Racemax2 Italia seatpost with integrated light, Fizik Vento Argo R1 Light saddle The Racemax2 Italia takes 3T’s original gravel-racing template and brings fully revised geometry, more tyre clearance and lower drag, making it the most aerodynamic gravel bike they’ve ever made, say the brand. That it’s handmade in Italy using bespoke carbon fibre brings it exclusivity, too. With its 51mm tyre clearance and low-drag design (it’s claimed to be 1.5% more aero than its predecessor), it bridges the gap between the Racemax model, which…

Your Experts James Witts Cycling journalist Could the sugar you consume when riding make you diabetic? James has the answer… Nick Christian Freelance writer Want to look younger than your age? Nick investigates whether cycling is the solution Mark Bailey Cycling journalist Mark has some handy tips on how men can spot the signs of low testosterone Warren Rossiter Senior technical editor Woz thinks gravel race bikes are cyclocross bikes in sheep’s clothing, in this month’s column…

Cyclocross remains a well-loved sport with wide participation at grassroots level beyond its Belgian heartland, despite the advent of gravel. So why have many mainstream bike brands disowned it? Even when participation rates have gone up here in the UK, while road racing has fallen in popularity, it has become harder to find a’cross bike to race on. Gravel bikes have taken their place at every price point, or so brand marketeers would have you believe. But I’ve tested lots of gravellers over the past couple of years, and it seems to me that the lightweight ‘race’ versions are just’cross bikes under a different name. Let’s start with the featherlight, headline-grabbing, stripped-down racer that is the Specialized Crux. Now, the original Crux was an aluminium’cross bike, with a carbon version…