Christmas is nearly here, so it’s only right you take a break from wrapping presents and doing booze runs to catch up on all the latest cycling tech news. There’s been a surprising amount of it this week considering this is usually a quiet time of year!
Ribble launches ‘Custom Club Colours’ service, offering free custom paint inspired by your cycling club’s colours on all bikes over £3,000
“Celebrating the identity, pride and individuality of cycling clubs across the UK”, Ribble is offering customers who spend £3k or more on a bike the chance to have the paint customised to represent their club’s colours; or alternatively, “a completely unique design” according to Ribble, so really the brand is kind of just chucking in a custom paintjob to sweeten your purchase. You just need to be a member of a UK cycling club to get an unlock code for the service.
David Stacey, marketing director at Ribble, says: “Cycling clubs have always been at the heart of British cycling. This is about giving riders a way to celebrate that connection, while still creating something personal.”
Clubs can register their details with Ribble, and will receive a unique code for members to use online or in-store, unlocking the Custom Club Colours discount. All bikes in the range are eligible, and you can also get a 50% discount on custom colours for bikes under the £3,000 mark too.
Find out more here.
Brooks teams up with Paul Smith for special edition C17 saddle
Brooks x Paul Smith saddle December 2025 (credit: Brooks/Paul Smith)Brooks has been busy recently, following up those “exceedingly rare” (and exceedingly expensive) limited edition custom saddles with this Paul Smith collab.
The fashion designer is an avid cyclist and cycling fan, and this is the latest cycling product in a fairly long line to feature his brand. The C17 Paul Smith is available to buy now on the Paul Smith website, priced at £215. Good luck matching it with your bike or kit…
Storck unveils ‘Final Edition’ of its Aerfast.4 Pro to close chapter on long-standing flagship aero bike
Storck Aerfast.4 Pro (credit: Storck)The premium German bike brand says this limited edition version of its Aerfast.4 Pro is “a tribute to design, performance, and innovation”.
Featuring a fancy Imperial Blue Chrome paintjob and new carbon wheels from Storck’s own range, only 100 of these will be made, so Storck recommends enquiring ASAP if you want to make it your own. Prices start at a fairly reasonable-sounding €5,499.00 for the Ultegra version – more on Storck’s website here.
Colnago releases new winter clothing range
Colnago Ace winter kit (credit: Colnago)The Colnago Ace winter kit range features bib tights, jackets and long-sleeve jerseys in men’s and women’s sizes, promising a “specially designed panel system “to keep your warm and comfortable “even in the coldest season”.
That last statement presumably applies to Italians and their mostly less cold and nasty climate, because the suggested temperature range for the bibs and jacket is 0-10°c, and the jersey a balmy 10-18°c.
You’re looking at £280 for the jacket, £242 for the bib tights and £174 for the jersey, and if you live in our neck of the woods you’ll have to budget for some extra layers or alternative kit for when the temps drop below zero, of course.
Santini unveils official jersey for the 2026 edition of La Stelvio Santini
La Stelvio Santini official jersey 2026 (credit: Santini)If you’re entered into this event in June 2026 or just have a soft spot for the legendary Italian mountain pass, Santini may have just the thing for you.
Created in collaboration with Polartec, the official jersey for La Stelvio Santini has some impressively detailed graphics that pay tribute to the Stelvio, including some ancient illustrations of the mountain, plus “…an effect reminiscent of newspaper clippings” alongside those graphics.
“The contrast creates a clean, essential and harmonious composition, where past and present meet, evoking the charm of vintage prints and the evocative power of the Alpine peaks through a modern, refined design”, says Santini/Santini’s AI chatbot of choice.
Alongside the road event, there will also be a gravel option for 2026 – more info here.
After many requests, Zwift rolls out ‘Draft Indicator’ plus new Progress Report features
Zwift draft indicator December 2025 update (credit: Zwift)Zwift has announced two “quality-of-life improvements” (Zwift’s words not ours) to the platform, the first being a drafting function that the virtual cycling giant says is one of its most-requested features from users.
The Draft Indicator essentially allows you to seek shelter from another Zwifter to save energy. You can draft while riding solo or racing, and the indicator shows you how much shelter you’re getting from the rider(s) you’re drafting.
The Progess Report feature is said to give an overview of your performance, allowing you to track progress after every read. The updated screen will show you training score, status, progression towards your weekly goal, and streak totals.
Artist (and cyclist) selling range of oil paintings to help raise funds for Ride For Charlie charity
Tadej Pogacar portrait (credit: Full Gas Art)Alongside his day job as a renowned figurative oil painter, Vincent Kamp has started Full Gas Art, a “passion project” born out of his love for cycling.
Prints include numerous moments of glory for Tadej Pogacar, Pidcock winning on the Alpe d’Huez, Eddie Merckx, plus some mountain bikers from past and present.
There’s also a Ride For Charlie series, with all profits going towards a foundation set up by Nick and Sarah Craig in memory of their son Charlie.
Check out the website here, and the Ride For Charlie series here.
ICYMI, here’s the rest of the week in cycling tech:
> Building our own World Tour-ready wheels in the Basque Country: behind the scenes at Oquo
> Shimano launches new GRX RX717 components to bring electronic shifting on gravel bikes down to a (slightly) friendlier price point
> A rear light designed to reduce close passes, an electric mini pump from Truflo + more cool stuff from Rapha, Ortlieb and Pragmasis
> “A natural fit for how our community rides” – Alpkit adds Skarper e-assist to Sonder bikes
> Thru axles vs quick-release skewers: why modern road bikes made the switch