{"id":195912,"date":"2025-10-07T21:41:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T21:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/195912\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T21:41:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T21:41:11","slug":"specialized-aethos-v2-acol-and-top-prime-day-deals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/195912\/","title":{"rendered":"Specialized Aethos V2, ACOL, and Top Prime Day Deals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi, and welcome to Bike Tech Tuesday. Your quick overview of the latest gear news, what we are currently testing, and the stuff Bicycling\u2019s gear team is buzzing about.<\/p>\n

Recently Published Gear Stories and What We\u2019re Testing<\/p>\n

I hinted at it in last week\u2019s Tech Tuesday(special Wednesday edition), but on Thursday, I published my first look at the new Specialized Aethos (V2) road bike. Like V1, the V2 Aethos is light \u2014 the bike I rode weighed around 13 pounds \u2014 with a traditional look and no aerodynamic considerations. However, V2 introduces several updates that make this an even more compelling bike than V1. Read my first look here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"argon18<\/p>\n

Trevor Raab<\/p>\n

Trevor and Dan collaborated on this review of the Argon 18 Dark Matter gravel bike. The Dark Matter offers 57mm tire clearance<\/a>, allowing riders to use mountain bike tires when needed, but T&D also appreciated its versatility, unfussy nature, and value. Read the review here.<\/a> <\/p>\n

Prime Day has arrived and Bobby has found the best deals on cycling gear. Click over to his story now<\/a> for excellent discounts on cycling products, whether for yourself or as early holiday gifts.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, somewhat unexpectedly, Ekoi\u2019s PW8 pedal system and shoes<\/a> arrived at my door. This is the first new take on a clipless road pedal system I\u2019ve seen in decades. Claimed benefits include, among others, a lower stack height, improved aerodynamics, and more efficient pedaling. While all of this may be true, one feature that many riders will love about this system is the recessed cleats and significantly enhanced walkability\u2014especially when compared to Shimano, Look, Time, and Speedplay road pedal systems. I\u2019m starting my review testing now. <\/p>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

Trevor Raab<\/p>\n

Better Decisions on the Road Start with Knowing What’s Behind<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve had a lot of great content from my co-workers about cycling radars. Trevor wrote of his experiences<\/a> a while ago, and Tara recently put her journey to embracing radar into words<\/a>. Both are compelling stories that are worth your time to read.<\/p>\n

But since I\u2019ve been riding with radar longer than anyone on staff\u2014and longer than most cyclists, period\u2014I thought I should share my experiences.<\/p>\n

I started riding with a rearview radar in 2015, when Garmin launched its original Varia. Immediately, I was impressed and loved having the extra information about approaching cars. And I\u2019ve been using radar for road and gravel riding almost exclusively since.<\/p>\n

Alert! Bobby uncovered a deal on Garmin Varia radar for Prime Day. Click here to save money<\/a> on this electronic marvel the whole gear team recommends.<\/p>\n

What I often emphasize to those without radar is that having radar does not protect you. It doesn’t guarantee the driver will see you, nor does it change drivers\u2019 habits. It only tells you if a car or cars are approaching, roughly how fast they\u2019re closing in, and approximately how close they are. This information can help you make better decisions. <\/p>\n

Some examples: If cars are approaching, I know it\u2019s not a good time to take a drink or try to eat. If I know something is right behind me, I can make better choices about which way to swerve if there\u2019s a pothole or other obstacle I need to avoid. I can look at what\u2019s ahead and know, with something approaching from my rear, if it\u2019s a good time to take the lane. And my favorite: I\u2019m prepared to brake or take evasive action if, on the narrow two-lane roads I often ride, I know a car is impatiently trying to pass me from behind while another vehicle is approaching in the opposite lane.<\/p>\n

\"Play\"specialized<\/p>\n

It’s also really nice not to be surprised when a car passes on windy days when the noise hides the approach of vehicles (especially quieter EVs). <\/p>\n

\u201cSafety\u201d is a loaded term when discussing the complex dynamics of drivers and cyclists sharing space. Riding with radar will not change my outcome if I get hit by a car, so I don\u2019t think of my radar as a safety device. I see it as a tool that provides information I can use to make smarter decisions, which helps reduce risk.<\/p>\n

\"acolA Legendary Name Begins Again<\/p>\n

The first time I met Ernesto Colnago was also the first time I met his nephew, Alex Colnago. A long-time employee of his uncle\u2019s company, Alex served as Ernesto\u2019s translator and also my tour guide on my first visit to Colnago\u2019s Cambiago (a small town outside of Milan) headquarters.<\/p>\n

I found Alex to be a sweet man who, like me, was a lover of cats and good food. He also struck me as very smart, with arcane knowledge of the dark arts of navigating the international bicycle industry.<\/p>\n

Alex parted ways with Colnago bicycles around the time Ernesto sold his eponymous brand to Chimera Investments. <\/p>\n

Recently, I discovered Alex was back in the industry with a brand called ACOL<\/a> (Alex COLnago, I assume). Upon investigating the new brand, I uncovered some fascinating information. <\/p>\n

\"acol<\/p>\n

For this new venture, Alex partnered with Korea\u2019s WIAWIS<\/a>. Although WIAWIS initially focused on producing archery equipment, it has since expanded to include bicycle frames. It has achieved notable successes, including Olympic and UCI World Championship gold medals on WIAWIS-branded frames.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s significant is that WIAWIS owns its carbon production factories. While that alone puts them in select company, what truly makes them rarefied within the bike industry is that they manufacture their graphene-enhanced pre-preg carbon composites in-house. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s notable because manufacturing pre-preg in-house gives you an additional level of customization and control over the composites. Except for Giant, almost all carbon fiber factories purchase their composites from outside suppliers.<\/p>\n

ACOL offers a tidy line of modern road bikes \u2014 a super light, an all-arounder, and an aero offering \u2014 plus a gravel bike and a track bike. However, currently, most seem to be rebranded versions of frames that previously carried WIAWIS branding. But there are two exceptions.<\/p>\n

One is the Imperio (the all-arounder),<\/a>and the other is the DNA. The latter is the low-key star<\/a> of the line: A round-tubed and lugged carbon, rim brake (!) road bike. It\u2019s like a reissue of Colnago\u2019s legendary C40. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m keen to catch up with Alex and learn more about this new venture. And, of course, to ride an ACOL myself.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s it for this week. See you next Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Remember, you can contact me and the rest of the Bicycling gear crew by sending an email to gear[at]bicycling.com.<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt\u2019s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he\u2019s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling, Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you\u2019re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn\u2019t race often, but he\u2019s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hi, and welcome to Bike Tech Tuesday. Your quick overview of the latest gear news, what we are…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":195913,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[97266,97267,97265,97273,49,48,97272,635,18202,94299,97269,94302,97271,3850,39295,97270,53211,97264,82,97268],"class_list":{"0":"post-195912","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-acol","9":"tag-alex-colnago","10":"tag-argon-18-dark-matter","11":"tag-bike-tech","12":"tag-ca","13":"tag-canada","14":"tag-carbon-frames","15":"tag-cycling","16":"tag-cycling-gear","17":"tag-cycling-radar","18":"tag-ekoi-pw8","19":"tag-garmin-varia","20":"tag-gravel-bikes","21":"tag-korea","22":"tag-milan","23":"tag-prime-day-deals","24":"tag-road-bikes","25":"tag-specialized-aethos-v2","26":"tag-sports","27":"tag-wiawis"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195912"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195912\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}