We love a trade show here at BikeRadar, especially one blessed with sunshine, beautiful scenery, great food and – of course – plenty of new bikes and kit to test out.
With that in mind, we jumped at the chance to attend Bike Connection’s Spring 2025 road and gravel event, held just outside of Massa Marittima, Italy.
As my colleague, Alex Evans, eloquently described in his tech round-up from the mountain bike-focused winter event, Bike Connection is designed to gather some of the best bike, component and cycling kit brands together in one place, so journalists like myself can report back on all the juiciest news.
Over the course of the week, I saw a gorgeous (and outrageously expensive) raw carbon BMC road bike, and met the founders of Avona bikes, before testing their new gravel bike, the Callis, on the region's incredible white gravel trails.
Beyond that, though, I saw blingy new carbon wheels from the likes of Campagnolo and Vision, Core's updated thermal sensor, a new range of short saddles from Selle SMP and much more, so read on for all of that.
Vision Metron RS 45 wheels
Launched last week, Vision’s new Metron RS wheelset is its new flagship option for road bikes.
The Matron RS range consists of two wheelsets, the Metron RS 45 and 60 – which have 45mm-deep and 60mm-deep rims, respectively.
Both wheelsets feature updated carbon rims with 23mm internal rim widths (up from 21mm on the Metron SL wheels), with external widths of 31.1mm on the 45s and 33mm on the 60s.
The headline feature, though, is the adoption of carbon fibre spokes, which help shave 108g off a complete wheelset compared to using steel spokes (each of the wheelset's 45 spokes saves 2.4g).
This brings the claimed weight of the Metron RS 45 wheelset down to a feathery 1,290g, with the RS 60 wheelset said to weigh only 100g more.
Vision says the differences in terms of aerodynamic drag are small – with only a 0.9-watt saving for the RS 45s and 1.6W for the RS60s – compared to Vision’s Metron SL 45 and 60 wheelsets.
However, it notes that the carbon spokes also offer a tangible improvement to lateral stiffness, which it claims helps to improve the wheelset’s ride feel and power transfer.
At £3,109 / $3,290 / €3,109 for the RS 45s and £3,179 / $3,390 / €3,179 for the RS 60s, the wheels are an undeniably expensive proposition. They do, however, show the attention to detail you’d expect at this price.
The V-1000 hubs, for example, feature ceramic bearings and tool-free maintenance, while even the freehub is machined to save another 8g.
The rim graphics are also applied in-mould, saving a further 22g in decals.
Vision was also keen to stress it's one of relatively few brands that owns the factories in which its products are produced. This, the brand says, gives it greater control over all aspects of production, allowing for higher quality and greater flexibility.
Core 2 thermal sensor
Back with its first hardware update since 2019, Core has just launched its new thermal sensor – the aptly named Core 2.
Just like the original Core thermal sensor, the Core 2 clips onto a heart rate monitor chest strap, contacting your skin and monitoring how much thermal energy is being released.
The sensor then uses an 'AI-powered algorithm', in combination with data from the heart rate monitor, to determine your core body temperature. This is then broadcast to a compatible bike computer or smart device via ANT+ or Bluetooth.
The point of all this is to enable you to perform heat training – where you raise your body temperature intentionally during exercise.
This has become increasingly popular among professional riders in recent years, with Core saying it has official partnerships with eight WorldTour teams, because it’s claimed to offer large improvements to performance in all weather.
Core claims its updated sensor has the same accuracy as the original one (within -0.01 to +0.23ºC of an ‘electronic pill’ sensor that you swallow), but features a number of quality-of-life improvements.
For a start, Core says it’s 48 per cent smaller and 30 per cent lighter than the original sensor. On my scales, it weighs only 11.6g.
Core says its new modular design makes it easier to remove from a HRM strap for charging, and then easier to reinstall, while a new LED indicator light has been added to let you know when it needs charging.
The Core 2 thermal sensor costs £264.95, but if you own an original Core sensor, you can trade that in for a 30 per cent discount until 30 June 2025.
Selle SMP short saddles
Having been making bicycle saddles for more than 70 years, Selle SMP is best known for its dramatically curved saddles, such as the Dynamic.
It’s fair to say it’s a divisive design, in part because of its unusual looks, but it remains a steadfastly popular option among riders who have tried it and found it works for them.
In recent years, though, short-nose saddles have grown rapidly in popularity, inspired by the likes of Specialized’s Power saddle.
In response, Selle SMP has released a new range of short saddles, that marry its unique approach to saddle design with a more modern shape and length.
The Selle SMP EVO20C and EVO30C are unisex saddles that retain Selle SMP’s curved shape, generous cut-out and 'eagle beak' tip (designed to help reduce soft-tissue pressure), but in a shorter 253mm length.
Built from carbon fibre, with a supportive layer of EVA padding on top, the EVO20C is 140mm wide at the rear, with the EVO30C measuring 150mm wide. As with many saddle brands, Selle SMP recommends measuring the width of your sit bones to determine which saddle width is best for you.
The EVO20C and EVO30C also have shallow indentations on the rear, which are claimed to provide improved support by matching the shape of your sit bones.
As with all Selle SMP saddles, the rails are also long, with 8.5cm of total adjustment range. The brand says this helps riders more easily achieve an optimal setback.
Both the EVO20C and EVO30C cost $299.
All of Selle SMP’s saddles are handmade in Italy, with the brand saying it ”works only with local suppliers” to prioritise quality and local jobs, and be environmentally friendly.
Campagnolo Bora Ultra Team Edition wheels
If Campagnolo’s standard Bora Ultra WTO wheels weren’t bling enough for you, Campagnolo has announced it is releasing a ‘Team Edition’ version with the same high-profile graphics as provided to the Cofidis WorldTour team.
On regular Bora wheels, the Campagnolo branding and graphics are subtle, but the bright white graphics (which contrast against the black carbon rims) on these are clearly designed to stand out in television footage or race photographs.
Graphics aside, the specs of the Team Edition wheelsets are otherwise identical to the standard Bora Ultra WTO wheels, with 45 and 60mm rim depths and 23mm internal widths.
The wheels also use Campagnolo’s carbon fibre hub shells and signature G3 lacing pattern, which the brand claims “improves load bearing, minimises weight and reduces vibrations and rim deformations”.
The hubs also roll on Campagnolo’s own CULT ceramic bearings.
Both wheelsets are priced at £3,300, which is practically identical to the £3,293.99 / $4,090 / €3,690 the standard versions cost.
The only question, then, is how badly do you want everyone to know you’ve got a set of Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO wheels?
Assos Equipe R road cycling kit
Having invented Lycra cycling shorts in the late 70s, Assos holds a special place in the history of the sport.
Over the years, Assos has impressed us with its high-performing products, but it’s fair to say the Swiss brand’s kit has remained steadfastly high-end – putting it out of reach of many riders.
To address this, the brand’s latest Equipe R range of road cycling kit takes inspiration from its premium ranges, but distills this into simpler and slightly more wallet-friendly packages.
At £130 / €150, the Assos Equipe R bib shorts are still an expensive proposition, but they are substantially more affordable than its high-end Equipe RS Schtradivari Bib Shorts S11 (£215 / €250) and its flagship Equipe RSR Bib Shorts S11 (£305 / €350).
Likewise, the Equipe R Jersey S11 costs £130 / €150, saving a similar amount compared to higher-end options in the brand’s range.
Adding to the value equation, Assos says its kit is backed by its 'gear to last a lifetime' philosophy – which sees all of its products backed by a two-year warranty and a repair policy for crash-damaged kit.
