Table of contents for September 2025 in Cycling Plus

WELCOME… When you read this, the Tour de France will have concluded with the customary sprint down the Champs-Élysées and the Femmes edition will likely be drawing to a close too. Yet, as we go to press, those four weeks of triumph, tragedy, drama and dented egos have barely begun. So, this issue, we’re focusing on the wider world of cycling, some reminiscences from Ned Boulting (p42) and a Big Pic aside. We’ve got tests of the new Cervélo S5 and Scott Addict, Campagnolo Super Record 13 and SRAM Force AXS XPLR, as well as an epic Swiss ride, a trip to the London lab improving helmet safety and a look at the upswell in women on bikes. All this, plus how to set your saddle height – something many…

The latest 12-speed electronic road bike groupsets are excellent – but I reckon the eight year-old, 11-speed Shimano Ultegra R8000 is a better choice. Why? Firstly, Ultegra R8000 offers rim brakes or disc brakes, with mechanical or electronic shifting. That choice has been lost with modern top-end and disc-only electronic groupsets. Modern disc brakes are good, but in most cases, rim brakes were good enough. They had plenty of power and worked well on both alloy and carbon brake tracks. Secondly, the levers are your only point of contact with your groupset, and the R8000s have great ergonomics. There’s reach and lever-pull adjustment, while the R8050/R8070 Di2 levers have the extra hood buttons to control your bike computer. Then there’s the shifting. Shimano upped their game with the R8000 groupset,…

FAVOURITE Tour de France moment “The stage 20 time trial in 2020, on La Planche des Belles Filles [between Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar]. I’d never seen a stage 20 reversal on GC and I didn’t see this coming. And to have the honour to try and find the words for the moment…” TOP Place to stay at the Tour “Anywhere that isn’t the Alps. Humanity has ruined it. Give me the Pyrenees any time. I love spending a night in Pau too.” ONE RIDER He’d bring out of retirement “Robbie McEwen was one of the earliest riders I came across and was such an interesting man to interview. I like his style too, on the road – he never had a leadout train and would jump around during the…

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 Ashley Quinlan Road technical lead Ash gives his verdicts on the latest Scott Addict and Cervélo S5 Simon von Bromley  Senior technical writer  Campagnolo’s new Super Record 13 groupset is on Simon’s testing agenda Katherine Moore Cycling journalist Katherine has tested six cargo bibs, including options from ASSOS, MAAP and Rapha…

Little more than two years after their previous effort, Campagnolo have come out swinging with Super Record 13 – the world’s first 2x13-speed wireless electronic road bike groupset. It’s fair to say the outgoing Super Record Wireless had a lukewarm reception at launch. Super Record 13, though, sees the historic Italian brand take several steps forward in terms of performance, while reviving fan-favourite features such as larger chainrings and, most notably, their iconic thumb shifter. Of course, it’s still expensive, but a reduced price of £3,900 (without a power meter) at least makes it competitive with similar offerings from the likes of big rivals Shimano and SRAM. An Italian job To showcase the new groupset, Campagnolo took me on their classic post-work route – a rolling 38km or so, with…

When SRAM released their redesigned Red XPLR AXS groupset last year, I was impressed. It paired the brilliant shifter ergonomics and brakes from the road-going Red AXS with specific gravel parts – a winning combination. Also, it integrated a new 13-speed cassette that worked with existing 12-speed chains and chainrings, plus the derailleur used similar direct-mount tech to SRAM’s Eagle Transmission mountain bike drivetrains. As good as it is, though, SRAM Red XPLR AXS costs a whopping £3,896 with its power meter option, which means it’s not a groupset many of us could afford. Now, though, Force XPLR AXS has been updated and brings the same tech (bar some small omissions), the same ergonomics and the same performance as Red XPLR AXS, at a much lower price. 01 Updates You’ll…

In June, the UCI (International Cycling Union) announced sweeping revisions to their technical regulations, aimed at combating technological fraud and enhancing rider safety through stricter equipment standards – and not everyone in the industry is on board. Set to come into force from 2026, the changes cover everything from rim depths and handlebar widths to helmet standards and frame dimensions. This represents one of the most comprehensive overhauls of technical regulations in recent years. The new rules, which were published in a statement on the UCI’s website, stem from work by the governing body’s Equipment and New Technologies Commission and consultations with SafeR, the rider safety body. Despite claims of industry input, some insiders say their concerns were ignored. “We’ve been in meetings about all these rules for ages now…

Rim-brake fans and gear magpies will love this new wheelset, which combines modern tubeless construction and technology with looks inspired by Mavic’s racing past. Originally developed solely for the Japanese market, the Ksyrium Heritage SL wheels impressed Mavic’s team so much during prototyping that the French brand opted for a full global launch at the huge Eurobike trade show in Germany. The alloy rims are based on Mavic’s existing Open Pro, with weight-saving machining, while the brand’s proven ID360 ratchet system is used at the rear. In keeping with the heritage theme, a retro Mavic logo adorns the beautifully shiny hubs and rims. “We know it’s a niche market,” says Cyrille Kurtz, Mavic’s sports marketing and PR manager. “But we wanted to do something that connects with the DNA of…

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This new race tyre was developed in partnership with Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG for the 2025 Tour de France. Designed to be faster than Continental’s existing Grand Prix 5000 TT TR, the Archetype is available in a Tour de France-branded, limited-edition run in only a 30mm size, optimised for the team’s specific use case. “Is it faster? You’ll have to ask the most successful team in the UCI world rankings,” says Continental’s press material. This gets short shrift from us – in fact, the brand don’t offer corroborating data of any kind to shore up their claim that the Archetype is the fastest race tyre they’ve ever produced. It features a 2x220 TPI (threads per inch) carcass – the same as the Grand Prix 5000 S TR, which…

Weight 7.36kg (L) Frame HMX carbon fibre Fork HMX carbon fibre Groupset Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 (52/36t, 11-34t) Wheels Syncros Capital 1.0 40 Tyres Schwalbe One TLE, 700c x 30mm Finishing kit Syncros R100-CF handlebar (40cm), Syncros R100-AL stem (110mm), Syncros R101-CF seatpost, Syncros Belcarra Regular 2.0 saddle Scott’s Addict RC 20 sticks in the mind, simply because there isn’t a lot I can criticise it for. Sure, there are a couple of niggles, but this doesn’t ruin the bike’s ride. It’s light and stiff yet compliant and delivers excellent handling, while feeling as fast as many of the best all-round race bikes on the market. Above all, the RC 20 feels very refined – this might sound boring, but unless you want something more extreme, this lightweight bike ticks…

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Trusted content Here at Cycling Plus, we take great pride in producing high-quality articles. We do this by rooting out credible research from respected institutions, interviewing top experts in their field and using our own hard-won expertise when it’s relevant. Your Experts Mark Bailey Boost your ride Mark explores the benefit cross-training will have on your riding Jack Evans Workshop wisdom Jack talks you through setting your saddle height to the perfect level Jack Luke Pro cycling column BikeRadar’s digital editor discusses the changes to the UCI’s technical rules…

Colnago’s Y1Rs turned many heads with its radical looks when it was unveiled late last year, alongside bold claims that it was the fastest bike in the pro peloton. Since then, it’s been used by Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates XRG for some flatter races, although the majority of Pogačar’s (and his teammates’) major wins up until the Tour of Flanders were taken aboard the V4Rs, and since then, on the newer V5Rs all-rounder. Radical tubes The Y1Rs has been designed to be just as stiff as the old V4Rs, but also more aerodynamic (Colnago found it to be 20w faster at 50kph with a block headwind in wind tunnel testing). They also say the “best competitor” (other aero bike they tested) was 1w slower than the Y1Rs in…

Something occurred to me when reading Ned Boulting’s latest book – it was possible that ITV’s long-serving commentator and reporter has never watched the Tour de France on television. So, I put it to him… “I have never… watched… the Tour de France,” confirms Boulting, haltingly – seemingly as curious as me about whether it could possibly be true. With 23 Tours behind him, few on the planet have been as close to the race, yet he’s never sat down to watch it at home. Boulting’s lack of sofa-side experience is explained by his (now well-told) entry into the sport. His debut covering the race came in 2003 when he was despatched, grudgingly, to France by ITV bosses to be their roving TV reporter, with scant knowledge of the sport.…

DESPITE THE POSITIVE MOMENTUM, BRITISH CYCLING MEMBERSHIPS ARE STILL ONLY AROUND 20% FEMALE Recreational and competitive cycling are enjoying huge popularity worldwide, and this has rubbed off on the women’s side of the sport. From road races to mountain biking and everything in between, more women are embracing the joys and challenges of two-wheeled adventures. However, despite this positive momentum, women remain hugely underrepresented in cycling compared to men. British Cycling memberships, which are only around 20% female, prove this point. So, why is the number of women riding bikes so low, and how can we further enhance and encourage female participation in cycling? A male-dominated culture Cycling culture has historically been dominated by men, and shaped by longstanding gender norms that often expected boys to be strong, aggressive and…

01 Castelli Unlimited Cargo W Bibshort £135 Sizes: XS-XL Colourways: Black, Smoky Gray ● The cargo pockets are limited to the thighs here, because these shorts have a great easy-pee design, with a stretchy pull-down panel at the rear and crossover bib straps above. Each pocket is constructed with a mesh middle panel flanked by strips of Lycra – one at the top, to provide a flap to secure your items, and the other at the bottom, for reinforcement. This may seem overkill, but if you’re carrying valuables such as a smartphone, it gives you peace of mind, especially on rougher gravel rides or badly potholed roads. The stretchy cargo pockets can fit a lot in too. These shorts come up true to size, with a medium pair giving a…

Changing your saddle height is the most important adjustment you can make to the fit of your bike. In this guide, we’ll explain how to find your correct height, which also includes setting the tilt of the saddle. First steps We’d recommend you document your saddle’s starting position before doing anything. This will come in handy if you find that any changes you’ve made aren’t working for you. That way, you can quickly reset and try again. Measure the length of your saddle from front to back and find a mid-point. Mark this spot (the centre-top of your saddle) with chalk or tape (1). Next, from this point, measure in a straight line to the centre of your bike’s bottom bracket (BB) (2). Record to the nearest millimetre. This is…