2025 is in the rearview, Happy New Year 2026 and welcome to the first Gear Break of the year! We’ve survived the holiday season, and while the resolutions are still fresh, the industry is already moving at full tilt. Today’s collection focuses on cutting edge performance and takes a look at the increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence into our rides.
Colnago V5Rs (2026)
The concept: proven perfection
The Colnago V5Rs enters 2026 as the undisputed benchmark of the Italian brand’s racing lineage. Released at the beginning of the 2025 race season, it is a proven winner. Notably, Tadej Pogačar won La Flèche Wallone atop the V5RS a week after the official release. For 2026, the platform remains mechanically unchanged—a testament to how right Colnago got the design at launch—but it receives a fresh aesthetic update with new premium colorways that lean into the brand’s heritage of hand-painted elegance. It remains the “all-rounder” that bridges the gap between the lightweight climbing focus of the past and the aerodynamic necessity of the modern WorldTour.
The frame: carbon as art
The V5Rs is the lightest monocoque frame Colnago has ever produced. The engineering focus wasn’t just on the scale, but on the “Real Riding Stiffness” (RRS). By utilizing a sophisticated blend of high-modulus carbon fibers, Colnago created a chassis that feels incredibly composed under high-torque efforts—think out-of-the-saddle sprinting or steep alpine hairpins.
The components: modern classic
While not a huge story in and of itself, Colnago chose to use a BSA threaded bottom bracket, which has undeniably returned as the performance standard all across the industry. Colnago’s return to a threaded standard was a deliberate move toward reliability and serviceability, moving away from the complexities of press-fit systems that often plagued high-end carbon frames. This is paired with CeramicSpeed SLT (Solid Lubrication Technology) headset bearings, which feature a solid polymer that eliminates the need for maintenance, ensuring the steering remains smooth even after a season of inclement weather.
One notable spec is the crank sizes Colnago chose to use on full build bikes. Unlike Tadej’s well-known “short” cranks, Colnago specs the smallest frames with 170mm cranks, medium sized frames (510 and 530) with 172.5mm, and of course the largest frames with 175mm cranks. The “long” crank arm is not dead yet.
Aerodynamics: subtle speed
While Colnago offers the Y1Rs for pure flat-land aero, the V5Rs is no slouch in the wind tunnel. The frame features a significantly reduced frontal area compared to the older V4Rs it was evolved from. The head tube is notably slim, utilizing a 1 1/8″ top bearing to keep the profile narrow. The fork blades have been designed with a wide-stance profile to reduce the turbulence created by the spinning front wheel. These subtle refinements allow the V5Rs to maintain a competitive aero profile without the weight penalty or harsh ride quality often associated with deep-section aerodynamic tubes.
The ride: WorldTour pedigree
The ride quality of the V5Rs is defined by its balance. It is a bike designed to be raced for three weeks straight, meaning it must be as comfortable as it is fast. The geometry offers a “connected” feel to the road, providing the rider with immense feedback without being overly twitchy. With official clearance for 32mm tires, riders can take full advantage of modern tubeless setups to lower rolling resistance and increase comfort across all road surfaces, including the dreaded cobbles often found across northern France and throughout Belgium. For the 2026 season, Colnago presents a diverse palette of four paint schemes. These include a novel SMD5 colorway that faithfully replicates the Team Emirates livery, a World Champion replica, a subtle light gray and white colorway adorned with pearlescent logos, and a sleek all semi-matte black colorway.
Colnago V5Rs Specs:
Frame: High-Modulus Monocoque Carbon (approx. 685g, Size 485)
Fork: V5Rs Carbon, Aero-profiled (342g)
Bottom bracket: BSA Threaded (English)
Headset: CeramicSpeed SLT 1″1/8 – 1″1/4
Wheel clearance: 32mm (Nominal)
Groupset: Compatible with all major electronic 12 and 13-speed systems
- Full build groupset options: Shimano Dura-Ace/Ultegra Di2, SRAM Red/Force AXS, Campagnolo Super Record WRL
Cockpit: Colnago CC.01 Integrated Bar/Stem
Seatpost: Dedicated Aero Carbon (0mm or 15mm offset)
Weight: ~7.1kg (Size 510, Dura-Ace build)
MSRP: $6,250 (Frameset), Full builds from $12,000+
Giant Defy
The concept: defy limits
The Giant Defy remains the quintessential “everyman” endurance road bike, balancing weight, compliance, and value across a broad spectrum of builds. Giant relies on refined carbon layups and their “D-Fuse” vibration-damping components as opposed to mechanical solutions to dampen vibration. The 2026 lineup spans from the entry-level Advanced series to the ultra-premium Advanced SL, ensuring that whether you are a weekend enthusiast or a podium-hunting gran fondo rider, there is a Defy tuned to your needs. Putting one in your garage might just be what you need to bring in a Happy New Year!
Giant sez: Defy is for going longer. It’s for climbing higher, riding faster, and doing it all with confidence and smooth control. The latest Defy range is lighter, smoother and more efficient for big days on challenging roads.
The Frame: Material Hierarchies
The range is split into three distinct tiers. The Defy Advanced utilizes high-performance grade carbon for a balanced, accessible ride. Moving up, the Defy Advanced Pro features a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio and the OverDrive Aero steerer system for internal cable routing. At the pinnacle, the Defy Advanced SL (Super Light) uses Giant’s professional-grade carbon and an integrated seatpost (ISP) to drop the frame weight significantly while maximizing vertical compliance. All 2026 frames maintain a massive 40mm tire clearance, allowing the Defy to transition effortlessly from smooth tarmac to light gravel.
Technology: D-Fuse and Aerodynamics
Across the range, the Defy utilizes the D-Fuse system. The D-shaped seatpost and handlebars work in tandem to absorb road shock, with the carbon variants offering up to 7mm of vertical “give.” This engineered compliance is paired with updated aerodynamics; even the base Advanced models now feature tidier cable integration and truncated ellipse tube shapes to help slice through headwinds during long, solo efforts. Giant elected to use a standard stem and bars cockpit, rather than an integrated cockpit even on the top tier Advanced SL. This makes perfect sense as this allows for far more customization in terms of sizing the cockpit for each rider.
Giant Defy Range Specs:
- Frame Tiers: Advanced (Standard), Advanced Pro (High Modulus), Advanced SL (Professional Grade)
- Steerer Technology: OverDrive Aero (Integrated routing on Pro/SL models)
- Tire Clearance: 40mm (All models)
- Compliance System: D-Fuse seatpost and handlebars (Carbon or Alloy depending on tier)
- Mounts: Integrated fender mounts on all frames
- Weight: 7.1kg (Advanced SL 0) to 8.9kg (Advanced 2)
- Price Range: $2,800 (Advanced SL frameset) – $13,000 (full-build Advanced SL)
Oakley Meta Vanguard
“Athletic Intelligence”
The integration of AI into cycling has officially moved from your phone to your face. While wearable tech has often felt like an awkward add-on for cyclists, the Oakley Meta Vanguard represents a significant shift in hardware integration. Meta partnered with Oakley to reimagine the “smart glasses” platform originally pioneered by Google. But, these aim to be a serious tool in any dedicated athlete’s kit. Looking like a standard pair of full-wrap racing shades, the Vanguard is a rugged, IP67-rated piece of equipment designed to survive the salt, sweat, and road spray of a 100-mile ride. This isn’t just a gadget; it’s a high-performance optical chassis built to house the data fed to it by the Garmin Active Intelligence engine (detailed below).
Optimized Optical Hardware
The foundation of the Vanguard remains Oakley’s Prizm Lens Technology. The shield lens is designed to fine-tune vision by boosting specific colors to help cyclists spot road hazards or changes in surface texture. Structurally, the frame uses a three-point fit system to ensure the optics stay in precise alignment even under heavy vibration. The temples have been slimmed down to fit comfortably under helmet straps, a common pain point for previous smart-glass attempts.
3K Capture and Audio Engineering
At the center of the bridge sits a 12MP ultra-wide camera capable of 3K video at 30fps. Unlike a standard GoPro, this is positioned exactly at eye level, providing a true point-of-view (POV) perspective. To handle the unique challenges of cycling, Oakley has integrated a five-microphone array with custom beamforming technology. This setup is specifically tuned to suppress wind noise at speeds up to 30mph, allowing for clear voice commands and audio capture even on fast descents.
The Feedback Loop
The most innovative hardware feature is the glanceable Status LED located inside the frame’s upper rim. This indicator is invisible to onlookers but sits in the rider’s peripheral vision. When paired with a Garmin device, this LED acts as a visual tachometer, pulsing different colors based on your training zones. This hardware-driven feedback loop allows you to stay “in the zone” without ever taking your eyes off the road—a critical safety feature when descending at high speeds.
Live Logic and Autocapture Triggers
The Meta AI software doesn’t just send your heart rate to the glasses; it understands the context of your workout. Through integration with certain Garmin devices, the AI monitors your power-to-heart-rate ratio. If it detects significant “cardiac drift”—where your HR rises while power stays flat—the software can trigger an audio alert through the paired glasses suggesting a cooling break or a fueling adjustment.
Furthermore, the software manages the Autocapture feature. By monitoring your GPS and biometric milestones, the app integration will trigger the Vanguard hardware to record video clips when you hit a peak wattage or summit a pre-set climb. These “highlights” are then automatically stitched into a recap video with a graphic overlay of your metrics, ready for social sharing as soon as you save your ride.
The specs
- Battery Life: 9 hours (normal use), 6 hours (continuous audio/AI).
- Charging: 75 minutes to full via the included charging case.
- Ask Meta AI: real-time and past performance stats
- Camera: Ultra-wide 122° field of view 12 MP and 3K UHD recording
- Audio: High-quality open ear speakers
- Durability: Rated IP67 sweat, dust and water resistant
- Integration: select Garmin devices, Strava and other fitness tracking apps
- Price: $499 (available from Oakley and Meta)
Garmin “Active Intelligence”
The AI engine powered by you
If the Oakley Vanguard is the hardware interface, Garmin’s Active Intelligence is the software brain driving the experience. As we move into 2026, Garmin continues to mature its Connect+ subscription platform to move beyond mere data collection and into proactive analysis. By leveraging the data streams from your Edge computer or Forerunner watch, Connect+ can create a holistic picture to guide training. This data is then used to guide workouts in realtime using devices like the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses described above.
The Connect+ Subscription Model
The heart of this ecosystem is the Garmin Connect+ plan ($6.99/month). This subscription unlocks “Active Intelligence,” a suite of machine-learning tools that interpret your biometrics in real-time. While Garmin has kept its core data features free, this premium tier is where the “active intelligence” lives. It analyzes historical trends and current performance to allow apps like Meta AI to provide voice-guided insights.
The Skeptic’s View: Value vs. Paywall
Despite the technical wizardry, noted tech analyst DC Rainmakerhas voiced a healthy dose of skepticism regarding the subscription model. The concern is that while the AI features are helpful, they essentially repackage data that users already own. Rainmaker and others in the tech community have pointed out that paying a monthly fee for “enhanced charts” and “daily affirmations” may feel like a stretch for athletes already paying premium prices for flagship hardware. The challenge for Garmin in 2026 is proving that this software layer offers a genuine performance advantage that justifies a recurring cost over the lifetime of the device.
- Availability: Connect IQ Store via compatible Garmin devices.
- Pricing: $6.99/month (Connect+ subscription required for AI features).
- Core Focus: Predictive analytics and real-time biometric interpretation.
4iiii PRECISION 3+ PRO (Dual-Sided)
The invisible data standard
As we enter 2026, the 4iiii PRECISION 3+ PRO is often the go-to choice for riders who want professional-grade power data without the bulk of pedal-based systems. Unlike previous iterations, the “PRO” model utilizes refined weather sealing and boasts longer battery life. It still relies on a coin cell, rather than a rechargeable unit. It remains the lightest dual-sided power meter on the market, adding only 29g to a standard Shimano crankset.
Technology: 3D Strain Gauges and Apple Find My
The 4iiii system uses patented 3D strain gauge technology that measures the tri-axial pull, stretch, and twist of the crank arm. This allows for an accuracy of +/- 1%, regardless of the temperature or riding conditions. A standout feature for 2026 is the full integration of Apple Find My. With Apple FindMy integration, you can track your bike’s location through the power meter itself, turning a performance tool into a security device.
Integration: Seamless Ecosystems
For those using live Active Intelligence, the 4iiii PRECISION 3+ PRO provides the high-fidelity L/R balance data that the AI needs to analyze pedaling smoothness. Because it is a crank-based system, it allows you to keep using your favorite pedals—whether those are Speedplay, Shimano, or Look—without sacrificing data quality.
Specs:
- Type: Dual-sided crank arm (Drive and Non-drive side)
- Accuracy: +/- 1%
- Battery life: 550 hours (CR2032 coin cell)
- Extra Features: Apple Find My, ANT+/Bluetooth dual-channel
- Weight: 29g (total added weight)
- MSRP: $529 (Factory install) / $849 (Full crankset)
Therabody JetBoots Prime
Effortless, wireless recovery
In the 2026 landscape of cycling recovery, the Therabody JetBoots Prime just may be your essential travel companion for recovery. The Prime focuses on radical portability. By eliminating the external pump and hoses found in traditional systems, Therabody has created a “recovery-in-a-bag” solution that folds up like a pair of pants. This is recovery stripped of its friction, designed to be used in the passenger seat on the drive home from a race or in a cramped hotel room.
The Technology
The JetBoots Prime utilize Therabody’s proprietary TruGrade Technology, which provides a precise, sequential pressure gradient. Unlike cheaper alternatives that might apply erratic pressure, the Prime ensures the highest compression starts at the feet and moves gradually up the leg through four overlapping chambers. This “bottom-up” approach is scientifically backed to maximize circulation and waste removal.
Complementing this is FastFlush Technolog, which handles the inflation and deflation cycles with incredible speed. In roughly 60 seconds, the boots can complete a full cycle, allowing for significantly more “flushes” per session than competitors. This high-frequency cycling is key to reducing the metabolic waste buildup that leads to heavy legs the morning after a mountain block.
The Experience
While the JetBoots Prime are incredibly simple to use via the one-touch control panel built directly into the boot, they are far from “dumb” hardware. When you finish a workout, based on the data metrics, you select the correct preset pressure level (ranging from 25 to 100 mmH) based on your fatigue. The boots are also very easy to clean. Using medical-grade, non-porous materials and an internal-seam design, post use wipe-down is a cinch. They will remain hygienic even when shared among multiple athletes. Recharging the integrated battery is simple via USB-C. Additionally, the TSA has approved the boots for air travel.
Therabody JetBoots Prime Specs:
- Pressure Settings: 4 levels (25, 50, 75, 100 mmHg)
- Treatment Time: 20 min, 40 min, 60 min, or Continuous
- Battery Life: 180 minutes (USB-C rechargeable)
- Travel Ready: TSA approved
- Cycle Time: ~60 seconds (FastFlush
Technology) - Weight: 5.5 lbs (Short) to 6.3 lbs (Long)
- Sizing: 3 sizes (Short, Regular, Long) for optimal fit
- MSRP: $499
The post Gear Break: Happy New Year 2026! Colnago V5RS, Giant Defy, Oakley Meta Vanguard, Garmin Active Intelligence, 4iiii Precision 3+, Therabody RecoveryAir JetBoots appeared first on PezCycling News.
