Mid-May is here, and Gear Break is definitely up to speed as we roll through Spring toward Summer. Chuck is flying to Italy with an AKASO 360 action camera and KOM Cycling CM06 rig ready for action, and gearing up to bring you some full-spherical footage from the roads around Riccione in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we’re highlighting Spurcycle’s sleek new mirrors and some significant price cuts on Garmin’s Rally pedals that are finally bringing power to the people. We also feature Fizik’s latest off-road kicks and a new travel collection from Castelli designed specifically for the ladies who want high-performance gear without the aggressive, pro-team aesthetic of the men’s range.
Castelli Women’s Travel Collection
Bridge the gap between lifestyle and performance
Castelli has launched its first-ever Women’s Summer Travel collection, designed for cyclists who value comfort and style, and prefer to ride with intention rather than intensity.
The range is engineered to disappear in motion, allowing riders to transition seamlessly from two-wheeled adventures to spontaneous weekend detours without the full Lycra look. Key pieces include:
Comfort Travel Short – $160.00
Built for freedom on two wheels or two feet, these shorts utilize a light seat pad and Espresso Doppio fabric for proven ease and flexibility, both on and off the bike.
Movement Travel Short – $210.00
Blending cycling functionality with everyday style, the Movement Travel Short takes the Comfort Travel Short and layers it with a lightweight taffeta overshort, delivering low-key performance and a laid-back feel.
Comfort Travel Crop Top – $70.00
The top’s seamless construction eliminates chafing, while its breathable knit and engineered stretch zones provide support and a natural range of motion.
Comfort Travel Mesh Top – $70.00
This ultralight top is quick-drying, breathable and offers a relaxed fit for all-day well-being. Ideal for hot days in and out of the saddle.
Travel Cap – $40.00
A perfect everyday companion made from 100% moisture-wicking polyester and featuring an adjustable fit and designed to accommodate active lifestyles.
Subtle Performance: The W Summer Travel Seat Pad
At the heart of the range’s versatility is the newly developed W Summer Travel seat pad. This minimalist chamois was engineered to provide just enough saddle comfort without the added bulk of traditional padding. This innovation ensures a natural feel and a confident, off-the-bike look, allowing the wearer to move freely throughout their day.
Andrew Montgomery, Castelli Product Line Manager, sez: “The introduction of the Summer Travel collection represents an exciting new era for Castelli. While many brands are narrowing their offerings, we’ve created a range for a rapidly growing community of younger, athletic women who enjoy the ride but don’t necessarily want to look like they’re in a pro peloton. It’s a collection that delivers in terms of comfort, breathability and performance, but also looks stylish and casual at the same time.”
Availability & Pricing
The Women’s Summer Travel collection is available in a sophisticated palette, including Deep Bordeaux, Belgian Blue, Faded Rose and Silver Moon.
For more information and full regional pricing, visit castelli-cycling.com.
AKASO 360 & KOM Cycling CM06
Pro-quality on-bike 360° video capture
What’s a 360 action camera?
Before we get into the AKASO 360, let’s talk about this growing action camera segment. Up front: these cameras are the newest rage for action sports video. Instead of a single lens that you position in the direction you want to capture images, 360 action cameras capture a complete spherical view of the environment–i.e., 360 degrees around, hence the name. They do this by simultaneously using two or more wide-angle lenses (typically fisheye) positioned on opposite sides of the device. Then, the camera’s internal processor stitches these overlapping video streams together in real-time to create a seamless 360-degree spherical image. No more worrying about if you have your camera pointed in the right direction. The resulting footage allows for post-capture reframing, meaning users can choose the direction of the shot, zoom, and pan after recording rather than during it.
Pretty cool, eh? Well, I thought it would be cool to take a 360 camera with me to on my bike trip to Italy (as this goes to print, I’ll be on an airplane to Bologna with my final destination being Hotel Dory in Riccione) and use it to film during my rides.
Why the AKASO 360?
I decided on the AKASO 360 (my daughter has an AKASO action camera so a brand I was familiar with), which is a high-value budget option featuring 5.7K video, 72MP photos, and AI subject tracking, ideal for users seeking affordability without sacrificing core 360 features. I got what’s called their Creator Combo which includes:
- AKASO 360 camera
- Invisible selfie stick
- Protective soft pouch
- USB-C charging cable
- Battery charging case
- 3 (three) batteries
NOTE: Stay tuned for a review of the AKASO 360 by Alastair.
Not part of the Creator Combo, but I also separatelty got AKASO screen protectors and a lens cap/protector.
Not included is a microSD card (NOTE: Amazon sells AKASO combos that include different size microSD cards that are a cost-effective option). I bought my own 256GB microSD card based on AI telling me that 256GB is ideal for a full day of shooting or mixed 4K/8K use.
360 camera mount options
If you’ve seen people riding with a 360 camera, they likely either have it on a pole, i.e., invisible selfie stick, mounted to their handlebars and extended forward of the handlebars (maybe even forward of the front wheel) for a front POV or attached to their seat/seat post with a pole extended above them for a rear drone-like view. The footage looks cool, but both mounting options are a little too geeky for me (this is where you can accuse me of being a roadie snob/elitist and cue up You’re So Vain). NOTE: AKASO makes a cycling combo that includes the above options that you can buy directly from AKASO or on Amazon.
By far and away, the most “elegant” solution IMHO is the Insta360 Bike Computer Mount that integrates a bike computer mount with an attachment point for a 360 camera forward of the bike computer. They make a version that mounts via the stem faceplate bolts for a regular handlebar/stem and one that mounts via two bolts on the underside of an integrated handlebar/stem. If you only have one bike, it’s what I would recommend. But I have more than one bike and it’s not a practical solution for my bike trip where I’m renting a Scott Addict.
KOM Cycling CM06 Quick Release GoPro Computer Mount
Knowing I would need to bring both my own bike computer and mount for my rental bike in Italy (I’m bringing my iGPSPORT BSC200S since the rides are guided and I won’t really need the full navigation features of my BiNavi), I decided on a KOM Cycling CM06 bike computer mount ($34.99 retail) that has a quick-release (twist-and-turn) GoPro mounting point under the bike computer mount (they include bike computer pucks for either Garmin or Wahoo).
Twist-and-turn mount with GoPro mounting point on the bottom
KOM also sent me their GoPro Extender Link that allows me to extend the GoPro mounting point ~1 inch more forward (ideally, you want a 360 camera as far forward as practically possible).
Extender link on the right
My solution for mounting the AKASO 360 to the KOM GoPro (with extender):
- I bought a thingie (yes, that’s a technical term … OK, it’s a Niewalda adaptor that attaches to the GoPro mounting point with a 1/4″-20 male threaded screw — standard camera tripod — on the other end) from Amazon.
- After attaching the adaptor to the GoPro mounting point on the twist-and-turn quick-release, I screwed the adaptor into the AKASO 360.
- There’s some finagling involved with the “turntable” to get the AKASO 360 tight on the adaptor (so that it’s in the right position mounted on the bike) with the locking screws exposed to be able to tighten them down.
- Once everything was tight and lined up, I then used a hex wrench to lock the turntable in place. (NOTE: If you’re paranoid like me, you can put some Blue Loctite on the threads of the screw. I also used Blue Loctite on all the screws for the GoPro mounting points.)
- Just attach everything using the twist-and-turn quick-release!
For my bike trip to Italy, this is about as close to functionally perfect as perfect gets (I readily admit it’s not necessarily the most elegant in terms of aesthetics). I particularly like that it allows me to easily remove the AKASO 360 for when I’m not on the bike. Plus there’s this bonus: my bikes (Colnago V3 and LOOK 795 Blade RS) have stem plate bolt computer mounts that have GoPro mounting points on the underside. So I can attach my above rig (sans the quick-release) relatively easily on either bike via the Go Pro mounting point.
Another option
If you’re looking for a 360 camera-only mounting solution that’s a little more “utilitarian” and can be more easily moved from one bike to another, I also bought a different thingie I found on Amazon: the SmallRIG Crab-Shaped Clamp with Ballhead Magic Arm. Essentially an adjustable clamp (that you can attach to the round section of your handlebar — NOTE: this may not work with some aero bars if the round section for the stem isn’t wide enough) with an arm that has a 1/4″-20 tripod mount screw to attach a 360 camera about 5″ forward of the handlebars. The double ballheads allow you to position a 360 camera at the exact angle you want. It’s a particularly nifty solution if you have other applications for a 360 camera that require clamping onto something.
Stay tuned!
I’ll be writing a PEZ travelogue article about my trip to Italy after I return and will include videos from rides. In the meantime, here’s a video I made (about 2:29 long) from my first test ride with the AKASO 360. I’m still learning how to use AKASO 360 Studio and CapCut to create and edit videos, but — if I don’t say so myself — my first effort isn’t too shabby!
Garmin Rally Pedals PRICEDROP
Same performance, better price!
You may recall that just over 6 months ago we highlighted the new Garmin Rally 110 and 210 power meter pedals in these exact electrons (or pages, if you like newsprint). Well, today, we are here to tell you that Garmin has reduced the price on these fantastic units.
Why Rally?
Riding with Garmin Rally power meter pedals provides cyclists with more than just accurate watts, they deliver a reliable system riders can trust before, during, and after every ride.
Garmin Rally 110 and 210 power meter pedals are designed to give cyclists accurate power data and performance tracking, no matter the terrain. The single- and dual-sensing power meters can be easily swapped between road and off-road pedal bodies and from bike to bike.
They pair with the broader Garmin ecosystem of Edge computers, smartwatches, and Garmin Connect, where power data becomes actionable training insight. With Garmin, cyclists get the complete experience of strong accuracy, durability, dependable performance data, advanced cycling dynamics, and a seamless connection between the pedal, head unit, and the athlete’s training workflow.
New Pricing
- Road – $749/1199.99 down to $599/899.99
- XC – $799/1299.99 down to $599/899.99
- Bundle – $1449.99 down to $1199.99
- RS/RK rebuild kit/replacement body – $199 down to $99.99
- XC rebuild kit/replacement body – $299.99 down to $129.99
- RS/RK conversion kits – $249.99 down to $149.99
- XC conversion kits – $399.99 down to $249.99
Check out the full range and order direct from Garmin.
Fizik Ergolace 2
The shoe for your dream ride
The latest evolution of Fizik’s most versatile off-road shoe is here. Fizik designed this shoe for riders who want to go further, stay out longer, and live out their dream adventures on the bike. Built around low-weight durability, comfort and adaptability, Ergolace 2 is shaped by the diverse needs of modern gravel riders, trail network explorers, and bikepackers.
Ergolace is a longtime favorite of those riding beyond the limits of tarmac. The second edition builds on that legacy with a refined shape, lighter materials, and a more capable outsole. Providing a shoe that is comfortable over any distance, secure on rough terrain, and perfect for when a fixed route is only the start.
Built to take you anywhere
In a market awash with ‘faster and stiffer’ shoes, Ergolace 2 reflects a riding mindset that focuses on extended time on the bike, changing conditions, and the freedom to keep riding as long as you want to.
Ergolace 2 uses a new last with a wider forefoot, giving the foot more room to move naturally under load. That added space reduces pressure on longer rides, improving overall comfort, whether pedalling or hiking up steep trails. The resulting fit is more forgiving without losing the support needed for efficient riding across mixed terrain. It also promotes greater control when descending.
These comfort-focused tweaks are in line with other recent shoe launches from Fizik, like Ferox 2 and Lyra. The clipped-in version of Ergolace 2 has a stiffness rating of 5/10, and the flat shoe has a rating of 2/10.
George Huzford, Fizik Senior Marketing Manager, sez: “Ergolace has always been the shoe people reach for when the ride might not have a fixed agenda, when there’s a bit more curiosity in the plan. We want Ergolace to be the shoe you reach for when you are heading out to see where the trail takes you, or maybe even tick off that bucket list dream adventure. To achieve this, we have made Ergolace 2 light, comfortable and capable. The designed use case is focused on longer, open-ended rides that might start with a plan but turn into something else entirely.
Light and functional
Ergolace 2’s upper has been reworked to reduce weight and improve durability. A lightweight GORE-TEX Invisible Fit membrane forms the base, chosen for its durability and fast-drying properties, while wider PU-laminated areas add protection in the high-wear areas. Ergolace’s construction style is much more in line with outdoor and running shoes than with typical cycling shoes, and it is the first time this membrane has been used outside of performance running and hiking footwear.
A foot-wrapping bootie construction, made from perforated Airprene, replaces the traditional tongue. This reduces layering across the top of the foot, creating a more even, pressure-free fit while still retaining breathability. The result is a shoe that feels lighter and more flexible, but still holds up to repeated use in demanding conditions.
This unique construction method makes Ergolace a finely balanced, lightweight tool that takes the best of the outdoor shoe world and combines it with all of Fizik’s best tech, to make a perfect shoe for ticking off dream rides. Not to mention its tough where it needs to be to hold up to the demands of off-road racing, but without compromising on weight or bulky fabrics.
Simple , secure, reliable
The Ergolace system remains at the core of the shoe’s design. The asymmetric lace closure is positioned to avoid interference with the drivetrain, while the speedlace system allows for quick, practical adjustments on the move.
The use of speedlace takes cues from trail running and outdoor footwear, where quick, reliable adjustment matters in changing terrain. Using a lightweight cord and locking system, it allows riders to tighten or release the fit in seconds on the move. With Ergolace, this approach brings an adaptable fit but also provides an outdoor aesthetic not normally found in cycling shoes.
Alex Locatelli, Brand Director Fizik, sez: “With Ergolace 2, we focused on making a shoe that feels better the longer you use it. That meant rethinking the shape to give the foot more space, simplifying the upper to remove anything unnecessary and keep weight as low as possible. We really set out to improve how the shoe performs across the board and ultimately looks both on and off the bike. It’s a product built around real riding conditions, where comfort, grip, and durability all matter equally.”
A grippy, capable platform
Ergolace has specific outsoles for the clipped or flat version of the shoe. Flat versions use the Vibram XS ride and the clipped Ergolace uses Vibram Megagrip, both offering an unparalleled combination of grip and wear resistance. Developed directly with Vibram, the outsole has a zonal tread pattern that separates pedal contact from walking grip.
The midfoot area features lower-profile lugs for better interface with pedals, improving stability and power transfer. At the heel and toe, deeper, more aggressive tread provides traction on loose ground, making hike-a-bike sections more manageable.
Clipped Ergolace uses a revised nylon shank that improves pedalling efficiency while maintaining the flexibility needed for walking, reinforcing Ergolace 2’s role as a true all-terrain shoe.
Ready for any direction
Ergolace 2 is built for versatility across riding styles and conditions. Available in both flat and clip-in versions, as well as a waterproof GTX variant, the range is designed to adapt to different setups without changing the core feel of the shoe.
From daily gravel loops to multi-day bikepacking trips or adding some backcountry exploration to your regular trail riding, Ergolace 2 is a stylish, dependable option for riders who value comfort, durability, and the freedom to keep going.
Tech specs
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Ripstop fabric upper with PU-laminated protection zones
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Foot-wrapping Airprene bootie construction for breathable, pressure-free fit
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Speedlace closure system with asymmetric design
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X2 outsole with Vibram Megagrip compound and zonal tread pattern
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Nylon shank (clip-in version), stiffness index 5
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Available in flat, clip-in, and GORE-TEX Invisible Fit waterproof versions
Pricing & Availability
| MODEL | COLOR DESCRIPTION | MSRP € | MSRP $ | MSRP £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ergolace 2 | Off-White | 149.00 € | $149.99 | £149.99 |
| Dark Blue-Black | 149.00 € | $149.99 | £149.99 | |
| Forest Green-Caramel | 149.00 € | $149.99 | £149.99 | |
| Ergolace Flat 2 | Off-White | 149.00 € | $149.99 | £149.99 |
| Dark Blue-Black | 149.00 € | $149.99 | £149.99 | |
| Forest Green-Caramel | 149.00 € | $149.99 | £149.99 | |
| Ergolace GTX 2 | Black-Black | 189.00 € | $189.99 | £189.99 |
| Desert-Grey | 189.00 € | $189.99 | £189.99 | |
| Ergolace Flat GTX 2 | Black-Black | 189.00 € | $189.99 | £189.99 |
| Desert-Grey | 189.00 € | $189.99 | £189.99 |
For full details and ordering, go direct to Fizik.
Spurcyle Pro Mirror
UNDORKED!
Spurcycle’s Pro Aluminum Mirror finally solves the “dork factor” of rearview visibility. After all, there are rules about to be broken here: see Rule #66. Offering a sleek 6061 machined design and a tool-free, 60-second installation, this piece of safety kit won’t ruin your bike’s silhouette. Available in two sizes, you’ve got options that will let you break the rules and add safety to you ride.
The “Undorked” Aesthetic
Most bar-end mirrors look like they belong on a commuter hybrid rather than a proper race rig. Spurcycle has “undorked” the category by machining the R50 Pro from 6061 aluminum, creating a piece of kit that feels like a factory-spec extension of your cockpit. It offers the essential safety of rearview visibility without the usual aesthetic penalty, maintaining a clean, professional silhouette for high-end road and gravel builds.
Optical Clarity and Choice
Visibility is only useful if it’s clear, so Spurcycle utilizes tempered, optical-grade glass to ensure a vibration-free view of the road behind you. The mirror is available in two distinct sizes: the minimalist R35 (35mm) for those who want a “covert” setup, and the R50 (50mm) for riders prioritizing a wide field of vision. Whether you’re watching for a gap in the paceline or tracking a vehicle on a lonely backroad, the image remains crisp and stable.
Tool-Free Utility
The engineering focus here is on mechanical simplicity, featuring a new nylon expander that allows for a completely tool-free installation. You can set the pivot tension by hand and adjust the angle on the fly, making it easy to tweak your field of view or tuck the mirror away mid-ride without fumbling for a hex key. While electronic radars provide the warning, the R50 provides the visual context, making it the perfect partner for total situational awareness.
Pricing & Availability
MSRP: $69.00
More info: Spurcycle.com
Note: If you have other experiences with gear or something to add, drop us a line. We don’t claim to know everything (we just imply it at times). Give us a pat on the back if you like the reviews or call us out if you feel the need!
PezCycling News and the author ask that you consult the manufacturers if you have any questions about the 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: Up to speed – Castelli Women’s Travel, AKASO 360, KOM Cycling CM06 Bundle, Garmin Rally Pedals PRICE DROP, Spurcycle R60 Pro Mirror, appeared first on PezCycling News.
