This year was a weird one. 2025 marks 15 years of me writing about bikes, and for the first time in that many years, my non-bike adventures have at least equalled my on-bike adventures. There are a number of reasons for that, but it boils down to time, family, overtraining, and probably a bit of boredom.
Over the offseason between ’24/’25, I was goaded into taking up running, and ended up doing my first-ever organized running event: the Flying Pig half-marathon. If I’m honest, I find running outside in the winter more enjoyable than riding (with the exception of fat biking if there’s proper snow). It’s easier to dress, requires less specialized gear, and requires less time to feel like you got a decent workout. Training for the half was also a great motivator throughout the winter, but as soon as Spring hit, I couldn’t wait to get back on a bike.
My Editor’s Choice list this year is like that first hit of spring fever. It’s gear that makes me excited to get out and ride. Gear that reminds me of why I do this in the first place.
Editor’s Choice Bike Event: Zwift Community Live Mallorca
Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time riding in virtual worlds on Zwift. This year was the first time I was able to attend a Zwift event in real life – in the cycling mecca of Mallorca, Spain, of all places. Not only was the riding incredible, but it was a fun event that brought together cyclists of all types. It’s easy to effortlessly pass through the throngs of avatars on Zwift, but events like Zwift Community Live remind you that they are real people doing the same thing as you across the globe.
Editor’s Choice Bike Adventure Daytrip: Ride to MLB Game
This year, the Cincinnati Reds were actually fun to watch. So, my friends and I hatched the idea to ride down to the stadium to catch the last home game of the season. Storms were threatening, but everyone had already called off work. We were going. We got drenched on the way down. It absolutely poured on the way back. The game was delayed. But the Reds won, we had a 50+ mile day, and we had one hell of a good time. This one will definitely have to become an annual tradition.
Bikes
Editor’s Choice Mountain Bike: Ibis Ripmo V3
This one is an extension of my EC pick for 2024. The Ibis Ripley V5 and the Ripmo V3 share the same frame, with the exception of the shock, clevis, and eyelet hardware. That means that technically, you can swap back and forth with the right parts. Historically, bikes that could be two things in one usually resulted in some compromise(s) to make it all work.
That was my fear with the Ripley/Ripmo, but I am very pleased to find that Ibis figured out how to make both into amazing bikes. This was the bike that Shimano built up for me with the new XTR Di2 group, and it was a blast on the trails of Tucson. I definitely prefer the Ripmo V3 to the previous version, and the internal storage is really well done.
The only catch for me is that the Ripley V5 is so capable that it makes the Ripmo overkill on most of my trails back home. But that’s one of the things that draws me to this bike – keep the Ripmo fork, shock, clevis & hardware handy, and you have a Ripmo ready to go for big trips out West while keeping the shorter travel Ripley ready for daily missions back home.
Editor’s Choice Gravel Bike: Ari Shafer Gen 3
This was a late addition to the mix, but it was clear right away that the Ari Shafer is something special. I’ve been on a lot of different gravel bikes with tires of all sizes, but the Shafer 3.0 manages to make 55mm tires feel way faster than they should.
Offering a ridiculous amount of tire clearance (700c x 58mm or 29 x 2.25″), Ari still managed to drop around 200g from the previous Shafer. I’ll have to admit that the thin side profile of the fork looks a bit scary at first, but it doesn’t feel overly flexy while riding it. Overall, it has a very smooth ride quality with better-than-average bump absorbing abilities while still managing to feel lightning fast when you stomp on the pedals.
I will say that the big tires will make you crave a dropper post, so consider that when speccing your build from Ari.
Editor’s Choice Gravel Bike: Kona Libre CR
Where the Ari Shafer is the new-school fat tire gravel bike, the Kona LIbre CR is a bit more traditional with just 700c x 45mm tire clearance. It wasn’t that long ago when 45mm tire clearance was pretty generous for a gravel bike, and I still think the size is ideal for a large percentage of riders.
I see the Libre CR as a better option for someone looking for a bike that will be on the road as much as it will be on gravel. It’s also a better bike to add a rack to carry locks and gear to a baseball game. I swapped out the tires at one point for a pair of 40mm slicks, and this thing was a joy to put long road miles on. The geometry and sizing are better on this than the previous model, and it has a pretty solid spec. Unfortunately, the price has gone up about $800 since we first posted about it, but that’s life in the post-tariff bike world.
Editor’s Choice Commuter: Tern BYB
I’ve always wanted to travel with a bike to Eurobike, but I never wanted to deal with the hassle of packing/flying/building/repacking a full-size bike. The Tern BYB takes almost all of the hassle out of the equation and rewards you with a fast, efficient bike that easily fits into its own suitcase. So far, it’s one of the easiest ways I’ve found to travel with a bike and offers the best performance-to-size ratio.
Editor’s Choice Kid’s Bike: Biky Bikes Air 20
I was not familiar with the Biky brand when they first reached out, but they did have something I wanted. Well, something I wanted for my daughter – a lightweight, single-speed, 20″ bicycle called the Biky Air 20. Most of the premium bike brands either offer heavier 20″ bikes meant for training wheels, or skip the single speed and go straight to gears. Many kids (my daughter included) are already ripping around on two wheels by the time they’re on a 20″ thanks to balance bike life, yet the simplicity and durability of a single speed is a beautiful thing for a bike that will be constantly crashed or dropped on the ground.
Biky delivered a 20″ single speed that is silly light at just 14.18lbs with pedals, it has a completely protected drivetrain, and it’s competitively priced (vs. say, a Woom 4).
Drivetrains
Editor’s Choice MTB Drivetrain: Shimano XTR M9200 Di2
Probably no surprise here. Shimano finally introduced their wireless MTB drivetrain, and their top-tier XTR led the Charge. The new XT Di2 is also great, but the nicer shifter feel and brake lever feel of the XTR group allow it to walk away with the title. Yes, Shimano was late to the party (again). But the reward is a group with the fastest wireless shifting, and best ergonomic adjustments at the shifter.
Editor’s Choice Road/Gravel Drivetrain: SRAM Force & Rival AXS 12/ XPLR 13
For me, this one is a surprise. I had not yet had a chance to check out the new SRAM Force & Rival groups since they were launched in June. Then the Ari Shafer showed up, and I was blown away mostly by the shifter and brake feel. Available in both 1×13 XPLR groups, and 2×12 road groups, I’ve spent the most time on the XPLR group on the Shafer. But I’m in the process of building up a 2×12 group on my Why PR road bike, and can’t wait to put the miles in.
Editor’s Choice Wheels: Industry Nine SOLiX Aero Road
Industry Nine’s latest SOLiX Aero road wheels check a lot of boxes. They offer multiple aero profiles with a durable layup, roll on high-engagement SOLiX hubs that aren’t super loud, they’re optimized for modern road tires at 28-30mm, and they use hooked rims. Basically, my ideal road bike wheel, and that’s what they’ve proven to be.
Electronics
Editor’s Choice Electronics: Lezyne Radar React System
Radar tail lights are one of those technology items that have slowly become part of my daily road bike kit. No, it’s not a panacea for all on-road dangers, but I do feel better about what’s coming up behind me. Particularly, I love that radar tail lights tell me just how many vehicles are behind me, and if it’s an extra-long vehicle like a truck towing a trailer.
Lezyne’s new Radar React System takes the typical radar system a step further and allows you to use it without a GPS cycling computer if desired. You can still use it with any compatible computer, and it will display oncoming vehicles (along with other customizable features), but if you don’t have a computer, you can use it as just the light/radar. When used as a front/rear combo, the front light will turn red when vehicles are approaching and will play a warning tone. I still prefer to use it with a computer, but no other radar system offers the usability options that Lezyne does.
Honorable Mention Electronics: Coros Nomad/Apex Smart Watch
I’ve been testing a number of Coros products recently, and while many have lacked features initially, near constant firmware updates have quickly improved almost every device. The smart watches (any smart watches) are interesting because they wouldn’t be my first choice for cycling use, yet at this point, I couldn’t see myself not using one on a daily basis to track everything from running to rock climbing.
I recently had a chance to try out the Coros Nomad for onshore and offshore fishing, and the usefulness of the watch to track my position, log different points of interest, and keep track of the tide schedule and wind was brilliant. I still wish the tide screen was visible on the bike ride activities, but maybe that will be something available as an update. The Apex 4, on the other hand, is a better watch for daily use and allows you to answer phone calls on your watch.
More than anything, I appreciate the ease of use and the ludicrous battery life from the Apex 4 which has become a calling card for Coros. There are better watches out there for the data-obsessed, but for those who want something to provide a reasonable amount of info without requiring a thick manual to figure it out, the Coros watches are affordable options.
Shoes & Pedals
Editor’s Choice Footwear: Shimano RX910 S-Phyre Gravel Shoes
I’ve been a fan of various Shimano bike shoes for year, and while the RX8 was good, it still had room for improvement. The RX910 S-Phyre Gravel Shoes deliver on that improvement with a better fit, more stable walking platform, and a new Pontoon Cleat System that delivers true road-like performance while keeping it walkable (and pedals double-sided). Not to mention that the pontoon area is replaceable, so the most important area on your shoe for pedal/shoe contact can be swapped out when things start to get sloppy. Nice.
Editor’s Choice Pedals: Wolf Tooth Components CTRL/ALT Pedals
With so many years to perfect the SPD, it’s rare that any other brand’s “SPD compatible” pedals are actually better than the Shimano originals. But of course, Wolf Tooth Components is no stranger to making things better. And they did just that with their new clipless pedal range. I’ve been riding the CTRL trail & ALT XC/Gravel pedals, and the clip-in/clip-out is flawless. I also love that you can easily change the q-factor of the pedals by swapping the position of internal spacers. Add the fact that they offer the most contact area, and come in Ultraviolet purple, and you have my favorite clip in pedals of the year.
Editor’s Choice Pumps/Tools: Trek Inflator
It’s wild how quickly mini inflators took over. But that’s for good reason – the tiny devices take all the hassle out of flat tires or even just topping off your tire pressures. I’ve spent a lot of time with the Trek Air Rush, and it’s certainly worthy of an EC award. It’s relatively small, works for Presta or Schrader, both with or without an extension hose, and it has a color screen that makes it easy to set and dial in the perfect pressures. Battery life is decent, allowing for up to 7 complete inflation from flat, depending on the tire size, and it’s priced right at $100.
Clothing
Editor’s Choice Clothing: Velocio Luxe Merino Jersey
Historically, some of Velocio’s clothing hasn’t worked for me fit-wise, while other pieces have been great. The new Velocio Luxe Merino Wool Jersey is squarely in the latter category. I think this is largely due to the merino fabric being more forgiving, which doesn’t make the shoulders and chest feel so cramped but keeps the waist from bagging out at the same time. The jersey offers all of the benefits of merino, plus a merino mesh ventilated back panel for even better breathability.
Editor’s Choice Clothing: Smart Wool Every Day Party Shirt
This could be bike, it could be non-bike, but when Smart Wool sent me this shirt I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. It’s not exactly a bike jersey, but it’s not exactly a dress shirt either. Before I knew it, I was wearing it on casual pedal adventures, beach missions, trips to the bar, you name it. It is what it says – a party shirt, but one that is extremely breathable and perfect for hot, sticky weather.
Non-Bike
Editor’s Choice Non-Bike: Nocs Pro Issue Binoculars
Apparently, I’m a birder now. Part of that development has meant testing nearly the full range of Nocs Provisions to figure out what’s the best optic for carrying on bike rides. While the Field Tube monocular was my choice for best on-bike birding, the Nocs Pro Issue binoculars take the EC award for just being so damn nice to use. From the visual clarity and brightness to the smoothness of the focus wheel, these are well worth the price (I bought them myself from REI). I’m calling them non-bike since these are the biggest, heaviest binoculars that Nocs offers, but I wouldn’t hesitate to put these in a big bike bag if you were riding out to a birding destination.
Editor’s Choice Non-Bike: 24h Rock Climbing Gyms
Earlier this year, Arc’teryx got me back on a climbing wall for the first time since I had my bike shoulder/nerve injury. It’s taken years to feel like I have the strength again in my shoulder and left arm to climb, but it feels so good to be climbing.
We have a great climbing gym called Mosaic that offers 24h bouldering access, so it’s the perfect winter activity to stay active and train muscles you don’t normally use on a bike. Plus, it’s very addictive. We’re pretty lucky to have at least five different climbing gyms close by, but only one offers hours that are conducive to those with busy schedules and who often can’t get out until after the kids are in bed.
Editor’s Choice Music: WNCW 88.7
I wanted to follow Jordan’s lead here and dive into the music world, but I quickly realized that deciding on an album of the year for me is nearly impossible. If you ask Apple, my top artists of the year include Charley Crocket, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Grateful Dead, Jimmy Buffett, Khruangbin, Jack Johnson, Ocean Alley, LA LOM, Billy Strings, Jon Batiste, Herbie Mann, Debussy, Lefover Salmon, RATM, and the Steep Canyon Rangers. But the music I listen to is often far more eclectic than that.
About the only place I can find a mix of music that suits most of my tastes is WNCW out of Spindale, North Carolina. From jam band to jazz to blues to bluegrass to folk & Americana to electronic to reggae to Celtic, there are a number of weekly radio shows on WNCW that I plan my schedule around.
Riding Into 2026
With 2025 rapidly coming to a close, I hope everyone is able to take some time to reflect on a year (hopefully) full of adventures. While this year was a bit of a reset for me, it’s allowed me to really focus on what kind of riding and events bring me the most joy. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about, right?
As always, thank you to all of our readers and the companies that have supported us along the way. 2025 has been a rough year for a lot of the bike industry, and we’re hopeful that the year ahead is better for all – and packed full of new adventures.
Cheers,
Zach
Many more great products have passed through our hands this year, but this collection highlights the best I’ve seen or ridden. Full disclosure: Each of these products has been chosen purely on their performance and/or technological merits for the reasons described above. Under no circumstances were any of our selections paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to advertisers or brands who invite us on trips. Our selections are limited to products that we’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So, a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples, does make it more likely that we will have considered their products simply because we’ve had a chance to try them firsthand.
