Step up and settle in for another exciting edition of PezCycling.com’s Gear Break! This week, we dive into 3T’s latest evolution of the Exploro with the new Primo2 WPNT gravel bike, and Castelli drops the ‘ultimate winter jacket’ designed for the coldest days. We also have the details on an exclusive collaboration between Santini and the legendary Brooklyn Cycling Team, plus new tech from Mavic, Ergon, and a helmet safety innovation called RLS. So, let’s break down the newest gear and get ready to hit the roads and trails.
3T Primo2 WPNT — $2799 (frameset), from $3699 (complete)
3T evolved
In the spirit of continuous evolution and refinement, 3T introduces the new Primo2 WPNT. It is the latest iteration of the iconic Exploro that also unveils a broad new aesthetic and technical refresh across the lineup. Designed for versatile gravel use, the new bike seamlessly blends the unmistakable Exploro DNA with modern updates, including internal cable routing, full compatibility with any groupset, and a UDH standard.
As the longest-standing and most versatile model in the 3T lineup, Primo2 WPNT now arrives with a modern design language that reflects the 3T’s rebranding. The exact handling, geometry, and ride feel are the same as those of the Exploro and Primo, with a front end raised by 1.5 cm for a more relaxed position and to accommodate full cable integration. Thanks to 3T’s Semi-Integrale technology, the bike offers a clean and functional solution, compatible with both 1x and 2x mechanical drivetrains, as well as electronic groupsets and UDH. Optimized for tires between 35–45 mm Width As Measured (WAM!), it comes in four distinctive Italian-named colors (Gesso, Fumo, Salvia, Orchidea) that showcase 3T’s in-house painting.
With this launch, 3T also introduces new colorways and builds for four other key models, spanning from road to gravel, marking a significant step in the brand’s ongoing aesthetic and technical evolution.
Evolution of the Species
Almost ten years ago, when the gravel wave was only beginning to rise, the Exploro became the pioneer of the aero-gravel segment: aerodynamic, versatile, multipurpose, and far ahead of its time. Today, as gravel riding has evolved into a global movement and the market branches into increasingly specific directions, versatility remains one of 3T’s cornerstones. With its technical updates and noble DNA, the new Primo2 WPNT continues to “ride the high line”.
Primo2 WPNT is designed for gravel enthusiasts looking to enter the 3T world: a versatile, modern, and iconic model at an accessible price point, serving as the gateway into the 3T universe, delivering high-level performance both on and off-road.
Setups and Colors
Primo2 WPNT will be available as a frameset in four sizes (S, M, L, XL) and as a complete bike in three builds: Shimano GRX 1×12 and SRAM Rival AXS XPLR 1×13 with either alloy or 3T carbon wheels. All builds will be offered in four colours: Gesso, Fumo, Salvia, and Orchidea. These Italian names reflect the 3T’s in-house painting facility in Presezzo—WPNT stands for We Paint.
A New Design Language
The look of the new Primo2 WPNT reflects 3T’s rebranding: the slightly restyled 3T logo appears in negative through a color gradient. This visual transition nods to the traditional red box that has framed 3T for the past decade, now left behind as a tribute to a closed chapter. It marks the beginning of a new era for 3T: frame-free and bold.
Pricing (without VAT) and Configurations
Frameset
Primo² WPNT with 3T Apto (Semi-Integrale cable routing) stem: EU: € 1,966 | UK: £ 2,035 | Asia: US$ 2,261 | USA: US$ 2,799 | Canada: CA$ 3,899
Complete bikes
- Primo² WPNT with Shimano GRX 1×12: EU: € 2,705 | UK: £ 2,800 | Asia: US$ 3,111 | USA: US$ 3,699 | Canada: CA$ 4,899
- Primo² WPNT with SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 1×13: EU: € 3,360 | UK: £ 3,478 | Asia: US$ 3,864 | USA: US$ 4,599 | Canada: CA$ 6,399
- Primo² WPNT with SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 1×13 and 3T Discus 40|30 carbon wheels: EU: € 3,934 | UK: £ 4,072 | Asia: US$ 4,524 | USA: US$ 5,359 | Canada: CA$ 7,599
For more info on the Primo2 and the rest of the 3T line, visit 3T.bike.
MAVIC SLR45—$2,729
Keep on rollin’
Mavic have upgraded its Cosmic SLR 45 wheelset with ceramic bearings offering a claimed 28% reduction of friction. Combined with its adaptive carbon layup construction, they now boast a 70 gram savings per rim.
The Cosmic SLR 45 is a hooked, tubeless, and tapeless wheelset with 23mm internal and 32mm external rim widths, with recommended tire sizes between 28mm and 32mm for seamless rim-to-tyre transition, slashing micro-turbulence and achieving optimal aero performance.
The lower bridge of the rim is threaded to receive the nipples and spokes directly at the appropriate angle, thus giving the stiffest linkage with no spoke movement (reducing potential for broken spokes). The nipple interface to the rim allows the upper bridge (aka, rim bed) to remain un-drilled thus giving a 100% airtight structure ensuring an easy tubeless setup every time. The hubs feature a no-contact spoke lacing design, ensuring optimal power transfer, no spoke noise under load, and no shifts in tension under load.
Wheelset weight is listed at 1,480 grams (675 grams front wheel, 805 grams back wheel).
Both are built with 24 stainless steel aero spokes with ID360 hubs. A 40-tooth freewheel upgrade is available. Drivers for HG-R, XDR, and Campagnolo N3W are available.
For more info, please visit mavic.com.
Castelli Alpha 150 — RRP €339,95 | $420,00 | £360,00
The ultimate winter jacket
Castelli has unveiled the new Alpha 150 Jacket, achieving its goal of producing the ultimate winter cycling jacket to coincide with its 150th anniversary in 2026.
The concept for the Alpha 150 is simple; when the first Alpha Jacket was launched in 2014, if you’d asked a world-leading sportswear designer what the perfect winter cycling jacket would look like 12 years into the future, what properties would it possess? The likely answer: it would be constructed from the best and most innovative fabrics available, delivering warmth and comfort in the widest range of conditions, enabling cyclists to ride all winter long, with no excuses.
The Alpha 150 is the result of 12 years of continual refinement. It is ideal for cold, dry days, but can also stand up to wet weather, providing exceptional protection in anything but prolonged, driving rain.
This latest iteration evolves that legacy by utilizing Castelli’s exclusive use of Polartec AirCore technology and pairing it with a separate Polartec Alpha insulation layer to produce a jacket that is built to excel in temperatures ranging from -2 to 10°C (28-50°F).
Polartec AirCore is a truly groundbreaking outer fabric that delivers unmatched breathability, as well as being extremely lightweight, windproof and water repellent.
Introduced in Castelli’s Perfetto RoS 3 Jacket earlier this month, and featured in PezCycling News Gear Break, Polartec AirCore is 100% free from PFAS-based chemicals and engineered from recycled Polyester yarns to produce an extremely tight membrane that shuts out the elements while still allowing air to permeate it.
Castelli and Polartec prioritized breathability over water repellence during Polartec AirCore’s development as getting wet from the inside through sweat is as big of a problem for cyclists as getting soaked from rain, sleet or snow.
The fabric manages this dual role through precise technical metrics. Its essentially windproof nature is achieved by allowing a barely perceptible air permeability of just cubic feet per minute (), which prevents heat and moisture from getting trapped without letting in a chilling blast of air. Simultaneously, it’s highly water resistant, scoring a hydrostatic pressure test of . This means normal rain would require over six times its usual force to penetrate the material, ensuring the cyclist remains dry and comfortable from both the elements outside and the effort within.
On the inside of the jacket is Polartec’s Alpha active insulation layer, a fabric that was originally developed for the US Special Forces. It was designed to be highly breathable and fast-drying too, yet also adapt to changing conditions by effectively regulating heat and moisture. This equally ingenious fabric – with its lofted fibers, mesh core and hydrophobic qualities – keeps heat in when it’s needed, and lets it out when it’s not.
Both Polartec AirCore and Alpha technologies are combined in the Alpha 150 to deliver a winter jacket that provides unmatched protection from the elements, whilst also being highly stretchy, permitting a close-to-body fit that makes cyclists feel like they are wearing a jersey, not a full winter jacket.
Additional features include:
- Double-opening front allowing independent ventilation of the AirCore and Alpha layers
- Top-and-bottom-opening with YKK Vislon zippers for easy sliding
- High collar, double cuffs and covered zippers for additional wind and rain protection
- Zippered key/money pocket on the front side
- Three rear pockets
- Reflective piping at the bottom of the pockets
Castelli Global Brand Manager Steve Smith sez: “For years, the Alpha has been one of our core winter products and both amateur and pro riders tell us it is their favorite jacket in cold conditions. With the Alpha 150, we’re setting that benchmark even higher and delivering the best winter jacket we’ve ever made.
“With Polartec® AirCore
, we’ve co-developed a fabric that goes far beyond what we ever thought possible. As well as being incredibly breathable, lightweight, windproof and water repellent, the Alpha 150 has some amazing, practical features too. The double-opening front means you can open the outer layer further during high-intensity efforts to accelerate moisture diffusion over a wider area, while keeping the inner layer closed to keep the core warm. By separating both layers, Alpha acts as a free-floating layer which wicks better and dries quicker, whilst also being softer and more comfortable than traditionally bonded, three-layer fabrics.
“The high collar also helps with heat retention, while the double cuff helps seal the glove, preventing both cold air and water seeping in. Quite simply, the Alpha 150 is in a class of its own.”
For more information, visit castelli-cycling.com.
Santini Cycling and Brooklyn
Classics
Santini Cycling and Brooklyn announce their collaboration for the launch of an exclusive collection paying tribute to the Brooklyn Cycling Team and its iconic jersey, one of the undisputed symbols of 1970s cycling. The collection will be unveiled for the first time at L’Eroica Gaiole in the presence of the team’s star rider and a true legend of 20th-century cycling: Belgian champion Roger De Vlaeminck.
Cycling is often defined by the jerseys of its most iconic teams, and among the most memorable of the 1970s is undoubtedly that of the Brooklyn Cycling Team. Thanks to the partnership between Santini Cycling and Brooklyn, this historic jersey is brought back to life in an exclusive collection inspired by the magical atmosphere of vintage cycling.
The new Santini x Brooklyn line will debut at L’Eroica Gaiole (where else?) on October 4-5. Roger De Vlaeminck, the unforgettable champion who, wearing the Brooklyn jersey, wrote some of the most thrilling chapters in the history of the Northern Classics, and beyond will be on hand making for a very special event.
Paola Santini, Marketing Manager at Santini Cycling sez: “For us at Santini, this collaboration with Brooklyn is much more than just a collection: it is a tribute to an era that shaped the history of cycling and continues to inspire generations of enthusiasts. With the Santini x Brooklyn line we want to bring back the energy, the colors, and the charisma of the Brooklyn Cycling Team and its jersey.”
Wearing this jersey, between 1973 and 1977, the Flemish champion Roger De Vlaeminck won Monument Classics such as Milan–Sanremo, two editions of the Giro di Lombardia, the Tour of Flanders, and three of the four Paris–Roubaix of his career (earning him the nickname Monsieur Roubaix), victories that represent the highlights of a career filled with extraordinary achievements.
If you are headed to L’Eroica Gaiole, you are invited to discover the Santini x Brooklyn collection and relive the magic of cycling’s golden age together with one of its most beloved champions. Be heroic!
Ergon Short Mountain Saddle
No pressure
With the new Short Mountain Saddle lineup, Ergon is launching a saddle series that’s
built for modern mountain bike geometries and offers a totally new
relief concept for improved comfort. We don’t normally cover MTB gear, but this saddle has potential for gravel with the increasingly slack geometries and more single-track focused framesets we are seeing.
Mountain biking is about freedom, flow and adventure – but it shouldn’t be
uncomfortable. Targeted pressure relief in a mountain bike saddle is crucial for a
comfortable riding experience. The new SMS saddle features a newly-
developed ergonomic formula created for a more compact, upright riding
position and helps to alleviate pressure, pain and numbness in the seated
contact areas. The SMS from Ergon is a versatile saddle for all types of trail riders,
even bikepackers, looking for added performance and comfort – whether riding
a mountain bike or e-MTB.
The SMS’ larger relief channel and evolved ergonomic contours improves
pressure distribution across the saddle. The SMS saddle’s Y-shape and gently
curved ergonomic surface improves rider mobility, pedaling dynamics and
overall comfort. The compact design with its shortened, flat nose delivers more
freedom of movement with significant relief and support when moving forward
on steep climbs.
The SMS could be the perfect all around saddle for trail riding and technical terrain.
More compact, more modern, more comfortable
- Wider, deeper relief channel reduces pressure in the perineal area.
- New ergonomically contoured surface and Orthopedic Comfort Foam
delivers extra support for the sit bone area. - Shortened nose and compact shape compliments most riding positions
- SMS Sport uses robust TiNox XP rails with 1.5mm thick walls.
- SMS Comp uses light TiNox SL rails with 1.2mm wall thickness.
The result: More comfort, more control and more fun on trails – without
annoying pressure.
Specifics and pricing:
Available in 2 sizes: S/M (sit bone spacing 9-12cm) and M/L (sit bone spacing 12-16+cm)
- Seat shell: Nylon Composite
- Rails
- SMS Sport: TiNox XP | rider weight limit: 265lbs
- SMS Comp: TiNox SL | rider weight limit 220lbs
- Surface: Microfiber
- Padding: Orthopedic Comfort Foam
- SMS Sport: €79.95, $94.95, £ tbd
- SMS Comp: €99.95, $114.95. £ tbd
- Mens Models – available now
- Women’s Models – available 2026
For more info and “no pressure”, head over to Ergon to learn more.
Release Layer System
The future of helmet technology
RLS (Release Layer System) is making waves as a new patented technology designed to significantly reduce the risk of concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The system is integrated into helmets and works by enabling panels on the exterior to roll and release upon impact, which significantly dissipates the rotational forces that are a leading cause of TBIs.
The innovation addresses a critical flaw in many conventional helmets, which are primarily designed to handle linear impact forces, despite the majority of real-world accidents generating significant rotational forces. Existing technologies for addressing these rotational forces are integral to the helmet liner and therefore offer limited range of motion for dispersing the forces. RLS on the other hand tackles rotational motion through the free-release of its panels offering much greater range of motion.
With the growing increase of e-bike usage alongside the increase of e-bike injuries- (incidence of head trauma from e-bicycle accidents in 2022 was approximately 49x higher than in 2017. A growth rate that outpaced overall e-bicycle injuries). – it’s never been more important to develop a solution that reduces TBI, not only for e-bike riders, but cyclists, motorcyclists and safety workers. Additionally, there are around 55 million cases of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) reported globally each year. This can lead to a wide spectrum of health outcomes, from mild concussions to long term cognitive disabilities.
The RLS Technology: How it Works
The RLS system consists of three main layers designed to work in milliseconds upon impact:
- Patented Release Panels: exterior panels that roll and release concussive force.
- Fastened to a Bearing Layer: panels are connected to a lightweight polycarbonate bearing layer.
- Bonded to the helmet shell.
When a rotational impact force occurs, the mechanism releases using a three-step action:
- React: An engineered RLS adhesive layer reacts instantaneously to the specific impact force, releasing its grip.
- Roll: The RLS Panel is freed to roll on the lightweight polycarbonate bearings in any direction, actively redirecting rotational energy away from the brain.
- Release: The RLS Panel releases from the helmet to further dissipate rotational energy, providing better protection against concussive force.
RLS founder and CEO Jamie Cook sez: “RLS is first and foremost designed to protect what makes you, you. Your memories, your personality, your loves and hates are all in the most fascinating part of the body—the brain—and RLS has been developed to protect what matters most. We are incredibly excited to launch this technology today, especially with our launch partners at Canyon as we share a passion for safety and disruption technology.”
The Data Speaks
Independent testing has demonstrated the effectiveness of RLS. A study by ICUBE at the University of Strasbourg—a world-leading biomechanics research center—found that helmets with the Release Layer System significantly outperformed those without it.
Peak Rotational Velocity was reduced by an average of 56% to 66% across various impact locations. This performance corresponds to an estimated 68% to 84% reduction in the probability of brain injury (as estimated by the Abbreviated Injury Scale – Level 2). RLS has been independently proven to reduce the risk of concussion by 4x on average compared with conventional helmets.
Availability
The technology was developed by engineers in East London, UK. The first brand to incorporate RLS will be Canyon Bicycles. The Canyon Deflectr Trail Helmet, featuring the RLS technology, is due for release later this year and has already reached the number 1 spot on the Virginia Tech helmet ratings (as of September 23, 2025).
Over the coming months, RLS will announce further leading brands and partners that will incorporate RLS technology.
For more information on RLS, please contact mathilde@fusion-media.co.uk or head to www.releaselayer.com
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PezCycling News and the author ask that you contact the manufacturers before using any products you see here. Only the manufacturer can provide accurate and complete information on proper/safe use, handling, maintenance, and or installation of products as well as any conditional information or product limitations.
The post Gear Break: 3T evolves, Mavic SLR45 ceramic, Castelli deep winter jacket, Santini x Brooklyn, Ergon SMS, “Release Layer System” appeared first on PezCycling News.
