Gear Break: Swiftwick Socks, Zwift Cog and Click Wahoo Upgrade, Northwave Revolution Shoes, Santini & Bianchi Milano Apparel, LOOK 795 Blade Campagnolo & Ass Savers x Papersky

Gear Break: Swiftwick Socks, Zwift Cog and Click Wahoo upgrade, Northwave Revolution shoes, Bianchi partners with Santini Cycling for the production and distribution of Bianchi Milano apparel, LOOK 795 Blade RS Campagnolo Super Record – If only one bike were to remain, it would be this one and Ass Savers team up with Japanese travel outlet Papersky for colorful new collection.

 

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Swiftwick Socks

Stephen Cheung PEZ Sez: What better morale boost for a big ride or race than a brand new shiny pair of socks?

Swiftwick is a sock brand that’s proudly American and made in Tennessee. They make socks for a wide range of activities, from cycling and running to trail running, golf, hiking, and hockey. Their Aspire range are their ultra-thin sock that’s meant to provide firm compression along with moisture-wicking and breathability, and are made with 78% nylon / 18% Olefin / 3% Spandex. Coming in a variety of heights from ankle through to knee, I went with the “Crew” mid -calf height.

Despite their targeting ultra-thinness, the socks feel pretty sturdily built. There’s a decent amount of material in the toe area, and the Y-shaped heel helps with a tight fit that avoids slipping and bunching. You can also see the channels on the upper that help with breathability.

And if high-viz yellow isn’t show-offy enough, Swiftwick has a new “National Parks” collection. Featuring medium cushioning and moderate compression (75% Nylon, 21% Polyester, 4% Spandex; crew height only), each of the 11 socks in the collection features a 360° image of an American national park. I received the Yosemite one, with the famous Half Dome featured. Others in the collection include Yellowstone, Zion, Arches, Shenadoah, Great Smoky Mountains, Glacier, and more.

An undeniable bonus with Swiftwick is their lifetime warranty (original purchase made in the USA) on all their socks. The fine print is simple: “If your Swiftwicks wear out for any reason, we’ll replace them. Simple as that.”

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Zwift Cog and Click Wahoo Upgrade
If you want to go ‘Full Zwift’ with your multi-gear home trainer, it has never been easier. With the Zwift Cog and Click, you can quickly swap your cassette and freewheel body for a single speed sprocket and with the Zwift click, you have virtual shifting.

The video makes it look easy – And it was

Alastair Hamilton PEZ sez: I’ve been addicted to Zwift (other platforms are available) since around 2019, when I did ‘Zwift on a Shoestring’. Things have changed a lot since then. Now I have a Wahoo MOVE and CLIMB, run through an Apple TV onto a big screen TV, but for me the biggest advance has been the invention of Zwift’s virtual gear system.

Ready for the upgrade – Maybe it’s time for a new training mat?

All you need is in the box

On different home trainers, I’ve always had a cassette, handy if you want to ride one of the other virtual training platforms, but I’ve always come back to Zwift, especially with the virtual gears and the ‘Zwift Play’ shifters. So, why have the cassette? It was time to upgrade to the ‘Zwift Cog and Click’.

The spanner does the job

All like new in there

The upgrade looks easy to do in the video by Zwift, but you never know, anything where sweat and power (not much in my case) are involved, there is the chance of seizing. I shouldn’t have worried, the inside of the hub was still like new.

The Zwift Cog just slides on

Nearly ready to go

The ‘Cog and Click’ box includes: The Zwift Cog v2 (mine with freehub), Zwift Click (and bar fittings), two spacers and a tool. I took the cassette off the freehub on my Wahoo MOVE, you don’t need to, as the cassette and freehub come off together, but it was easier for the photos. With the 14mm spanner on the tool you undo the freehub retainer, which is bellow whichever adapter you use for your frame to fit the trainer. I thought it would be ultra tight and the tool wouldn’t manage, but it unwound without a problem.

Dial in the best chain line

The freehub and cassette just slide off the axle. There is a spacer to swap, then the ‘Zwift Cog’ just slides on. I put a little bit of grease on the freehub pawls, but there was some already there, so you probably don’t need to do this. There is a little spacer to go in and then screw the retainer back in place. Then it’s just a case of putting your bike back in place and you are nearly ready to go.

Pair in the usual way

You do need to dial in the correct position for the Cog to get the chain line right. I went through all the numbers and found ‘8’ was just right, no ticking as the gear is trying to change up or down. Next you have to pair the ‘Zwift Click’, which is a case of just clicking on it on your device, in my case the Apple TV, and away you go. I tried the ‘Zwift Click’ and it changed up and down the gears as it should, but I use the ‘Zwift Play’ shifters, so I paired them as usual and everything worked perfectly. The feel is the same as before, but I would say it is quieter.

Gear 8 and gear 17 – All working well

Apart from it looking nicer and being quiet, it does mean I can use my other bike with Shimano 11sp as well as my old bike with Campagnolo 10sp, without having to change the cassette. Yes, I’m tied to Zwift due to the virtual gearing, but it was so easy to change from the cassette to the ‘Zwift Cog’, 10 minutes maximum, if I wanted to swap back, it’s no big deal, but as I wrote when I started this review: ‘I am addicted to Zwift’.

Time to Zwift

What Zwift sez: Unlock the full Zwift experience with the Zwift Cog and Click Upgrade Kit. Enjoy seamless virtual shifting and a smooth ride with adjustable sprocket alignment for optimal chain positioning. The new Zwift Cog multi-trainer freehub expands compatibility, ensuring it fits a wide range of smart trainers and bike types, so you’re always ready to ride.

Zwift Cog
Our second-generation Zwift Cog comes with a multi-trainer freehub or with no freehub. The multi-trainer freehub is for easy installation for a wide variety of smart trainers. Check the extensive list here.

Experience compatibility with almost any 8-12-speed bike and enjoy the ease of virtual shifting. It even comes with a chain guard for mess and maintenance-free riding, keeping your drivetrain smooth and secure.

Multi-Trainer Freehub
Majority of smart trainers come with a pre-installed freehub body. This is what the cassette or Zwift Cog is installed on. Zwift has developed a multi-trainer freehub that is compatible with the majority of Zwift Ready trainers.

No Freehub
The No Freehub Zwift Cog is the right choice for trainers that are not compatible with the Multi-Trainer Freehub. Instead, you can mount the Zwift Cog on the freehub that’s already on your trainer. You will require a cassette chain whip and a lockring tool to remove your cassette and replace it with the Zwift Cog.

Adjustable Sprocket Positioning
Zwift Cog v2 offers adjustable sprocket alignment for wider bike compatibility and optimal chain positioning. The anti-chain drop housing ensures secure rides, while compatibility with 8-12 speed drivetrains and a multi-trainer freehub expands your options. Finished in Zwift’s signature orange, it adds style to your setup.

Zwift Click
Take control of your ride with wireless, virtual gear shifting through Zwift Click. Easily mount it wherever you prefer—on drop bars, flat bars, or aero bars—and enjoy shifting control right where you need it.

Virtual Gears
Conquer any terrain with a full range of 24 silent and instant virtual gears. Whether you’re spinning up climbs or flying down descents, virtual shifting adjusts trainer resistance to perfectly emulate a real gear shift, all triggered by your Zwift Click or Zwift Play controller.

Zwift Play Compatible
Elevate your Zwift experience by pairing Zwift Play wireless controllers with Zwift Cog. Unlock the ability to navigate menus, steer, brake, and shift gears—all from the convenience of your handlebars.

Tech Specs

• Zwift Cog v2 Specs
• 14-tooth single sprocket
• 10 sprocket positions for quick chain alignment
• Designed to fit a Shimano/SRAM freehub body
• Weight: 140 grams
• Dimensions: 103 mm x 42 mm H
• Product Life: Tested for > 25,000 miles
• Material: Plastic housing and lock ring with steel sprocket
• For use on Direct Drive Indoor trainers only

Zwift Click Specs

• Communication: Bluetooth®
• Power: Battery, coin cell CR2032
• Product dimensions: 47 x 47 x 13mm
• Product weight: 51 grams
• Battery life: > 100 hours

• Click here to see if your smart trainer is compatible.
• More info on Zwift at: www.zwift.com.

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Northwave Revolution Shoes

Alastair Hamilton PEZ sez: New shoes! Not much can beat that. The Northwave Revolution shoes are the second pair from Northwave that I have tested. In April I reviewed the Northwave Veloce Extreme in a PEZ ‘Gear Break’, they are a top-end pair of cycling shoes, with a 400 €/$ price tag. The Northwave Revolution are cheaper, around the €/$225 mark.

The Revolution shoes may be more affordable, but no corners have been cut to save money, the Northwave quality is still there. Starting with the colour: I have said many times that there is only one colour of cycling shoes, white. The Northwave Revolution’s I have are not quite white, they call them ‘Light grey Sage’, but they look white to me. You can buy ‘White’ Revolution shoes, but they have black dials, a black stripe down the heel, black toe and heel and a white tongue, where as the ‘Light grey Sage’ Revolutions have fluro yellow dials and rear stripe and contrasting heel, toe and tongue in a ‘Bianchi blue’ colour. Much more interesting.

The carbon sole feels as stiff as any top race shoe at twice the price, it has a replaceable heel and added toe protection. There is an air inlet at the front and an outlet in the middle. I use LOOK shoe-plates, but there is a Northwave Speedplay/Wahoo adaptor available. The set-up of the plates was as easy or as hard as any other shoe. They come with the usual thin, but well shaped insole, depending on your feet, and if you have a problem/preference, you might want to change them, although there is some arch support built into the sole and a raised section along the middle. No complaints about the sole.

As I said, the upper isn’t white, but not far off and with the contrasting details, this is a good looking pair of shoes. The upper is made of PU, it had me fooled as I thought it was leather and it is stitched around the dials and other parts. There is sufficient ventilation, although it would take a summer’s day to find out how they perform in the heat. The tongue is also ventilated and thick enough so that you don’t feel the strings on the top of your foot. The toe and heel areas have been strengthened and are solid. The toe area is quite ‘boxy’, so no squashing and there is wiggle-room. There is also sufficient padding around the ankle for comfort. On the inside of the heel there is rubberised section that holds the foot in place. I’ve seen this in other shoes, it is normally just at the top, but in the Revolution, it starts at the insole and goes all the way to the top. The dials are different to the more common BOA, but once you get used to them, they are as good, just different.

The Northwave Revolution shoes are very well made, well shaped (for me) and at a reasonable price. I’ve ridden them on Zwift and in the real world and they are, for sure, comfortable. The stiffness is also there and you feel part of the bike. There is no cramping or pinching, no pressure points and all good so far. They are not bling white, but they are classy and look the part, I honestly can’t find fault in them. I like them a lot.

Northwave sez: Style and performance come together in Northwave’s Revolution.
Don’t call it ‘mid-range’: completely revamped, Northwave’s new road shoe is aimed at ambitious cyclists who pay attention to detail and aim high with a ‘Pro’ look: a responsive and comfortable shoe, also available in a wide last version.

• Morph Carbon composite sole Compatible with Northwave Speedplay/Wahoo adaptor
• Double air vent on the sole Two-layer construction composed by innovative PU and breathable, yet resistant Airnet mesh Breathable tongue featuring an open mesh
• Double X-Dial SLW3 for micrometric adjustments
• New lining characterized by differentiated areas
• Replaceable heel pad

There are two options for developing a new product. One is based on a simple update of an existing one. The other involves combining experience and daring to create something completely new, a product that aims to test new ideas towards an innovative path in terms of components and solutions. With the Revolution, its new road shoe model, Northwave has chosen the second option.

Northwave has integrated materials, solutions and technologies from decades of experience at the top of competitive cycling into the Revolution, working with some of the sport’s greatest champions, as well as for a growing number of cycling enthusiasts. The result is a shoe with a “Pro Fit” , remarkable aesthetics and technical solutions inspired by the needs of the Pros, but without the extreme stiffness and price of a World Tour shoe.

The Revolution is a brand new shoe for demanding and ambitious road cyclists , those who know which details can make the difference in performance, but for whom comfort and durability never take a backseat. The Revolution is designed to respond perfectly to every pedal stroke, whether in a sprint for a KOM or during the longest rides.

The Revolution integrates innovative elements, including the new Morph Carbon sole , and incorporates Northwave’s distinctive star technologies, such as the double SLW3 rotor with micrometric adjustment and the patented Powershape system for optimal arch support.

On the Morph Carbon Sole, Stiffness and Comfort Pedal Together
The Morph Carbon is the essence of Northwave’s Revolution, the solid foundation of the shoe’s innovative solutions. It is a carbon composite sole with a stiffness index of 13 out of 15 , developed to find the ideal balance between comfort and performance, thanks to the surprising mix of light but rigid and durable materials that make it highly effective . The stiffness of the sole with injected carbon fiber guarantees optimal power transmission in every pedaling phase, and its geometry perfectly reflects the anatomical shape of the foot.

Thanks to the Powershape design, the sole follows the anatomical shape of the arch of the foot to provide support and comfort: in the Morph Carbon, stiffness and comfort pedal together. The two vents on the sole optimize the incoming and outgoing airflow, ensuring both ventilation and breathability, helping to keep feet dry.

On the Morph Carbon, the cleat adjustment possibilities, essential for correct positioning and optimal power transmission, are even greater than before. Speedplay/Wahoo compatibility is guaranteed by the specific Northwave adapter. The external rubber heel studs can be replaced, which will greatly extend the useful and practical life of the shoes.

A Lightweight Upper With an Unmistakable Style
The upper of the Northwave Revolution is made of PU synthetic leather with breathable mesh and laser holes. Textile eyelets allow for a wraparound fit and the tongue is made of open Airnet mesh, providing an even more comfortable and lightweight fit, without pressure points.

In addition to contributing to an overall feeling of comfort and lightness, the external materials of the upper are specially designed to be easy to clean and wash, even in cold temperatures.

The heel liner features silicone inserts that prevent the foot from lifting while pedaling, keeping it always in the correct position. The X-Dial SLW3 dual-rotor system, the same as that used in top-level World Tour shoes, allows for a high-precision dual-zone closure that is fully customizable and adjustable even while pedaling, with micrometric adjustment.

Price, Fitments and Colours
The Revolution is available in four colorways: black, white, light grey/sage and a bolder one with fluorescent red inserts. Since feet vary not only in length but also in shape, the Revolution is also available in a Wide Fit version. To accommodate those who need more volume in the fit, without sacrificing performance, the toe, metatarsal and instep sizes have been completely revised and reshaped.

• Northwave’s Revolution is also available in a Wide Fit version, from size 36 to size 50 , at a recommended price of €224.99 .
• More info at: www.northwave.com

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Bianchi Partners with Santini Cycling for the Production and Distribution of Bianchi Milano Apparel
Bianchi enters a new five-year partnership with Santini Cycling to enhance the global presence and distribution of the Bianchi Milano brand, focusing on performance and design

Bianchi and Santini Cycling are two leading names in Italian cycling, recognized worldwide as benchmarks in their respective fields – one in bicycle manufacturing, the other in technical cycling apparel. Drawing on this shared legacy, Bianchi and Santini are joining forces to develop the Bianchi Milano project, on the year of the 140th anniversary of Bianchi’s founding in Milan, a city synonymous with industry, design, and fashion.

The new collections under the Bianchi Milano brand will be designed, produced, and marketed by Santini Cycling as part of a five-year agreement between the two companies. The goal is to elevate Bianchi Milano through a strategic presence that connects with the international Bianchi community and beyond, offering technical cycling apparel for road, gravel, and mountain biking, as well as a range of casual wear for leisure activities.

Bianchi has chosen to entrust Santini Cycling with the exclusive management of sales and distribution for the Bianchi Milano collection, recognizing the Bergamo-based company as a global leader with exceptional expertise in both manufacturing and distribution.

“The agreement with Santini will enable Bianchi to pursue a strategic brand extension into cycling apparel, thanks to Santini’s proven production expertise and extensive distribution network,” said Marco Gentili, CEO of Bianchi. “We are particularly pleased to launch this long-term collaboration with an outstanding Italian company that, like Bianchi, has achieved global success. Together, we will work in synergy to meet the needs of cyclists worldwide, delivering style and performance for every occasion.”

“This agreement marks a new chapter in the relationship between Santini Cycling and Bianchi,” said Monica Santini, CEO of Santini. “By combining our expertise, we aim to offer cyclists a collection that best represents both the tradition and the innovation of Italian cycling.”

• The new Bianchi Milano collection under the new agreement will be available from April 2025 on the official Bianchi Milano e-commerce platform (bianchimilano.com) and through authorized retailers worldwide.

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LOOK 795 Blade RS Campagnolo Super Record

If only one bike were to remain, it would be this one.

The ultimate competition bike, the fastest bike ever to come out of our workshops. In the hands of the riders of Team Cofidis for the 2025 season, our iconic colors are once again ready to shine in this Iconic Platinum White version, equipped with a Campagnolo groupset and wheels.

Lightweight, aerodynamic, and rigid, the 795 BladeRS is a concentrate of technology and craftsmanship. With this bike, you’ll experience a machine made for professional competition and enjoy the privilege of riding a unique product born from the partnership between two iconic brands in global cycling.

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Ass Savers Team Up with Japanese Travel Outlet Papersky for Colorful New Collection
Just ahead of the gift-giving season—and smack in the middle of the darkest, wettest riding months—the team at Ass Savers are introducing a bright new collection together with Japanese travel magazine Papersky.

Founded by Lucas Badtke-Berkow in 2002, Tokyo-based Papersky is a travel and lifestyle online and print magazine focused on exploring Japanese culture and environments from a different perspective. Or as founder Badtke-Berkow describes it, Papersky shares “unique ethno-travel content that seamlessly blends and bends time, culture, and nature into a fresh new flavor for the future.”

This latest collaborative launch consists of three colorfully patterned Win Wing fenders, available in both Road and Gravel widths, together with three coordinating caps. The designs for each set are inspired by Papersky’s iconic travel towel, or tenugui—a brightly printed woven cotton cloth that has been a staple for Japanese travelers dating back to the country’s Edo period.

The patterns of the tenuguis themselves are inspired by Papersky’s “Tour de Nippon” series of bicycle rides, which explores Japan’s rural prefectures, with each pattern connected to a specific place. For this collection, the selected patterns symbolize the Niigata, Tochigi, and Nara prefectures.

Representing each half of the collaboration partners’ respective home countries, the fenders are produced by Ass Savers in Sweden while the caps are hand crafted by Keisuke Kawashima of Velo Spica in Japan.

You can shop the Ass Savers x Papersky collection now at ass-savers.com or learn more about Papersky through a short interview with its founder, Lucas Badtke-Berkow, out now on the Ass Savers blog.

• To explore the original inspiration behind the project, check out Papersky’s extensive tenugui range here: store.papersky.jp.

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