In today’s Gear Break we’ve got Chuck’s review of the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes, and the new S-Works Power EVO with Mirror from Specialized. For readers in the Northern Hemisphere, winter is approaching, and we have a preview of the updated Wahoo KICKR ROLLR, now with onboard power. Also featured is a new kit collab from Rapha with artist David Carson and Reynolds gravel focused wheels. Last, we have the new Factor HANZŌ for TT riding.
Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes – $600
Q36.5 Sez: Engineered for total control, the Q36.5 Unique Pro Shoes use proprietary Italian manufacturing technologies to achieve a new level of stability, power, and comfort for riders, allowing you to push yourself to the limit with a renewed level of confidence. At the heart of the shoe’s superior performance is a market-leading 4.4mm stack height. The artisanal carbon fiber sole is made in Montebelluna using a patent-pending layup. The outsole also features an extra wide metatarsal area for guaranteed comfort across different foot sizes and a cupped heel for increased stability. A signature of all Q36.5’s racing shoes, the Unique Pro Shoes feature no tongue but rather use a proprietary mesh panel across the bridge of the foot in order to maximize the shoes’ cooling effect. No other racing shoe on the market offers such a large and effective ventilating surface, representing an additional example of our commitment to thermoregulation as the new frontier for performance gains as well as rider comfort and health.
Chuck Sez: No, the $600 MSRP is not a typo. Yes, these are bloody expensive shoes. In fact, the most expensive shoes I’ve reviewed to date (but still less expensive than a pair of Christian Louboutins). Admittedly, not a shoe that everyone can afford (or justify the expense to their significant other). But if you aspire to pro-level shoes, these are the shoes worn by many of the Q36.5 pro team.
Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes at the pointy end of the peloton
If you can get past the price point, the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes have a lot to offer.
The first thing I noticed when I picked up the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes was how light they were.
Q36.5 specs 225 grams for size 42 (my size)
The second thing I noticed is that the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes don’t have a conventional tongue across the throat of the shoe. Instead, Q36.5 uses a stretch mesh panel, which provides a more sock-like fit and increased ventilation — but I can’t verify Q36.5’s claim of No other racing shoe on the market offers such a large and effective ventilating surface. Combined with a perforated upper, the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes are definitely intended for warm/hot weather riding.
Laces but no tongue
The upper is perforated for maximum ventilation
Of course, the sole of the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes is carbon fiber for stiffness. Q36.5 doesn’t make any claims about stiffness, which is just as well because there is no standardized scale for measuring stiffness. But as shoes worn by the Q36.5 pro team, there shouldn’t be any doubts about them being plenty stiff.
Carbon weave sole with toe pad (not replaceable) and heel pad (replaceable) for clattering around at coffee stops
Standard 3-hole cleat mounting (I ride Wahoo Speedplay POWRLINK pedals, so need an adaptor for my cleats) and three forefoot intakes for ventilation
Stiff heel counter/cup (comfortably padded on the inside)
Although it looks like it could be, the wrap around carbon outsole is not custom heat moldable
Of course, closure and fit adjustment on the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes is via BOA dials — which are silver so a little blingy. In this case, the BOA Li2 dials that seem to be the new standard on almost all top-of-the line road shoes.
If you’re new to BOA dials, they’re pretty easy-peasy to use.
Pull up (green arrow) to disengage/open. Push down (red arrow) to engage/close.
Turn forward (green arrow) to tighten and backward (red arrow) to loosen. It’s the same on both left and right shoes. And the adjustability is micro-click for fine tuning a just right fit.
Size-wise, I’m a US men’s 9. According to Q36.5’s size guide, that put me in a Euro 42 which was the right size for me. That said, try before you buy is always a good idea because shoe sizing isn’t the same across different manufacturers (or if buying online, be sure the retailer has a good return/exchange policy).
I have previous experience with cycling shoes that have a tongue-less design/construction and thought the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes might require a bit of “work” to get on. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was almost just a slip-on affair for me:
- I slid my foot in as far as possible while pulling the stretch panel open with one hand
- And then pushed the heel up with my other hand to get my foot all the way in
Once on, the shoes had a very snug fit — much like wearing a pair of compression socks. I found that all I had to do was tension the BOA dials to take out any slack in the laces and then just one or two micro-clicks for my feet to be locked-and-loaded in the shoes.
Getting the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes off was also easy. After disengadials and loosening the laces, I just needed to grab the heel counter and pull them down and off from the heel.
Q36.5 conveniently provided a shoe horn, but I didn’t need it
Overall, on my feet the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes felt much like a race fit jersey. They have a wider metatarsal area (the five long bones that make up the middle part of the foot) and my flat-ish (but not wide-ish) feet felt #marginalgains comfort from this design/construction feature. The toe box didn’t squish my toes together, but was still a relatively tight-ish (but not uncomfortably so) fit — which has been my experience with most designed and made in Italy cycling shoes. In fact, these are probably the most form-fitting shoes I’ve worn.
Slightly wider metatarsal area to accommodate a wider range of feet
Speaking of metatarsal, the Solestar insoles have metatarsul pads, which are designed to redistribute weight and relieve pressure on the ball of the foot
My first test of new shoes these days is an hour+ on my KICKR BIKE SHIFT. The no rest for weary, constant pedaling to power will reveal any discomfort or pressure points. The Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes passed the test without any issues. In particular for stiff, pro level shoes, I didn’t experience what I call “carbon sole fatigue” where the sole is so stiff that it “pushes back” when I pedal to my meager power output. No hot spots. No pressure points. Ditto for real world riding in the great outdoors.
Clearly, the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes aren’t a pair of cycling shoes for everyone. But if you have the discretionary $$$$ to afford them (without risking the wrath of the significant other), are serious enough about your riding (notice I didn’t say anything about how good/fast you need to be), and want to look totally pro (looking good is important and should never be scoffed at), the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes are all that.
I miss bantering with Ed (RIP, my friend) about socks (in this case, Cycology City of Angels socks)
S-Works Power EVO with Mirror Saddle – $474.99
“Get out of the pain cave”
Specialized’s in house performance arm, S-Works, during the 2025 Tour De France announced a new iteration of the Power with Mirror saddle billing it the Power EVO with Mirror. Back in 2020, Specialized released the first commercially available 3D printed saddle called the S-Works Power with Mirror. Specialized branded the original Power with Mirror “the perfect reflection of you.” Fast forward to today, and Specialized now declares “extra power, hold the pain.”
Specialized sez: “Get out of the pain cave and into your power positions with the S-Works Power EVO with Mirror, the most comfortable, high-performance saddle we’ve ever measured. Engineered for dynamic riders who move front to back, it uses Body Geometry science and elite rider insights for unrivaled comfort and performance offering 34.1% less nose pressure and 28.8% less sit bone pressure vs. foam saddles, plus 18% less midline pressure vs. Power Mirror. Power EVO supports you in every position.”
Despite inflation causing the Power with Mirror pricing to creep upward over the last few years, the new Power EVO with Mirror is currently priced at the same point as its forebear. So, if you’re contemplating a top step 3D printed saddle from Specialized, price shouldn’t have any bearing on how you choose between the two on offer. Let’s dive in, or more properly ‘sit on’…
The new saddle, shown above at the top, is different enough that I am comfortable declaring the Power EVO with Mirror is not simply an update to the original Power with Mirror saddle, but an evolution thereof.
The new saddle sports a slightly adapted shape from the original Power with Mirror. Specialized declares the new shape gives more usable positions as opposed to the single “locked in” position of the previous version. Notably, the new seat wing flare shape is more supportive with less interference with the upper hamstring and the nose is more squared ending with a slightly wider and more blunt tip. In addition, as the side by side photo shows, the center channel cutout is not as recessed as in the earlier saddle, and it is slightly larger and reshaped.
The overall shape of the new saddle seems to contribute to three key comfort and power upgrades. First, the new wing shape did appear to deliver additional comfort during extended, seated high power output efforts in which I noticed absolutely no upper hamstring discomfort. Second, sliding forward while climbing or just getting into a really tight aerodynamic tuck is much more comfortable than with the earlier saddle iteration, notably with reduced pressure on the perineum. Lastly, the seat rails are slightly longer, Specialized states 2cm. I could not evaluate if this mattered, because my previous saddle position in the clamps was never maxed out, and the new saddle is clamped roughly in the middle of its rail length. But, if you are a rider who needs your saddle positioned more forward or aft than the previous shorter rails allowed, you may be in luck.
Specialized state that the 3D printed polymer “lattice” used to form the saddle padding reduces sit bone pressure by 28.8% compared to a foam padded saddle. I found the new saddle is slightly more comfortable, despite a firmer overall feel. After performing an uncalibrated thumb pressure test on the padding of the new Power EVO compared to the original Power with Mirror side-by-side, I can confirm that the new saddle padding is slightly stiffer. I further confirmed the reduced pressure on the sit bones on a 3.5 hour ride and some shorter spicy rides, experiencing no pressure based discomfort or “hot spots”.
A key part of the saddle–though one we literally often overlook because it is on the underside–is the tray. Specialized constructed the tray opting for unidirectional carbon, aka UD, on both the tray and rails. The prior Power with Mirror used a 2×2 twill weave. While the characteristics of each are slightly different with various advantages and disadvantages, I am confident that Specialized made this choice deliberately weighing the performance benefits or drawbacks before manufacturing these saddle.
Andy sez: “Putting all of this together: the slightly different shape, a thicker 3D printed lattice, and a different carbon layup on the tray and rails, the new Power EVO weighs in on my scale at 31g heavier than the original saddle. Doing some quick maths, that’s just over 1 oz. If you are concerned about weight, this saddle may drive you to find some weight savings elsewhere (perhaps skip a scoop of drink mix in one of your bottles or forgo bringing an extra half sleeve of energy chews?). For me, I won’t worry about it; for 31g I am on a saddle that performs better than an already top tier performer. Saddles are deeply personal choices we all make, and for me this saddle continues a long line of Specialized saddles that have worked well for my anatomy.
To check out more details, visit Specialized’s page for the new Power EVO with Mirror.
Wahoo KICKR ROLLR
Teaser preview – now with native power
Pez sez: We have a KICKR ROLLR on order. We look forward to providing you a full review of the updated KICKR ROLLR before winter in the Northern Hemisphere really starts raging. If all goes as promised, Wahoo are providing another quality option for an indoor training setup. The press on the KICKR ROLLR update is promising as Wahoo Fitness has added native onboard power to its innovative roller based smart trainer.
Wahoo Fitness has announced this as a major update to KICKR ROLLR. This update provides existing and future KICKR ROLLR users with a more immersive indoor training experience, following a number of new features being added–notably what Wahoo terms “Power Meter Connect.”
KICKR ROLLR with its innovative dual-roller design, accommodates a wide range of bikes without the need to remove the rear wheel. This quick, hassle-free setup is perfect for multi-rider households or anyone who values simplicity in their training. By allowing the rear wheel to move freely, KICKR ROLLR delivers a smooth, natural ride that closely mimics outdoor cycling, enhancing comfort for longer, more enjoyable sessions.
The KICKR ROLLR is accessible to beginners and casual riders without a complicated setup and no learning curve for riding rollers.
What’s new?
NEW Consistent Power for Structured Training: The onboard power of KICKR ROLLR provides consistent power readings when using the same equipment and gearing, enabling users to follow structured workouts and track their progress consistently from session to session when using the same equipment and gearing. While the power accuracy may not match direct-drive trainers due to the free-moving rear end of the bicycle, it delivers dependable performance for riders less concerned with precision and more focused on their fitness journey.
NEW Enhanced Virtual Riding Experience (works with Wahoo SYSTM, Zwift, Rouvy, TrainingPeaks Virtual, MyWhoosh and more): Driven by onboard power and consistent power readings, users will be able to enjoy an even more engaging and immersive indoor riding experience.
Power Meter Connect: For those seeking enhanced accuracy, Wahoo’s Power Meter Connect feature allows users to pair the KICKR ROLLR with Wahoo SPEEDPLAY Power Pedals or other third-party power meters, ensuring precise power data for interactive workouts or virtual racing. This flexibility makes the KICKR ROLLR adaptable to a wide range of training needs.
Gareth Joyce, CEO of Wahoo, sez: “We’re excited to announce this latest update to the KICKR ROLLR, bringing consistent power readings to a trainer already known for its simplicity and ease of use. The KICKR ROLLR is a perfect choice for those riders starting their indoor cycling journey thanks to its natural ride feel, quick set-up, and now the ability to train with power based data insights.”
RCC + DAVID CARSON
Exclusive RCC collaboration
Rapha have announced a special edition collaboration with graphic design legend David Carson, celebrating 10 years of the Rapha Cycling Club. RCC + David Carson will be available exclusively to RCC members on August 26th.
Alongside a selection of apparel and accessories, Rapha has also teamed up with Factor Bikes to release an exclusive Factor MONZA colorway designed by the artist.
Through September 2nd, RCC members can enter to win one of 10 super limited chrome finish models celebrating 10 years of the RCC.
Rapha have not disclosed pricing yet, which they often hold until official release. This collaboration will only be available to the RCC, so if you are not a member, you may sign up online or at any one of their clubhouses worldwide.
Reynolds Gravel Wheels
“One Family, Two Personalities”
Gravel is a discipline without discipline, making rules by breaking rules. Ask 10 people for their definition of gravel and you are likely to receive at least 7 different answers. However, no matter where you fall in the spectrum from gravel racer to epic adventurer there are a few constants: reliability and performance ensure a better experience.
While the varied nature of gravel makes it challenging to develop a single solution that addresses the specific needs of every rider for every ride. However, Reynolds has developed two solutions that not only cover the entire spectrum of gravel but ensure the best tool for the specific use case on either side of the spectrum.
The Reynolds Gravel range is comprised of two models, ATR and G Series, both of which maintain the Reynolds industry leading performance and durability, supported by a lifetime guarantee. Despite their difference in appearance, they both incorporate tubeless straight side construction with 25MM channels, thus allowing tire compatibility from 30mm to as large as you care to use.
While both solutions are so perfectly built to perform and excel over such a wide variety of terrain and situations, most riders would find total satisfaction in their gravel riding atop either G Series or ATR wheels. However, the two designs address the more specific needs on the two extreme ends of the spectrum.
ATR – starts from $1449.99
Speed doesn’t stop when the pavement ends. The All Terrain Road, aka ATR, brings road-inspired aerodynamics to gravel with a 42mm deep profile and Reynolds’ advanced DET2 shaping, optimized for 35–45mm tires. Fast, stable, and equally at home on tarmac or hard-packed gravel, the ATR offers the versatility to cross surfaces without compromise. For riders chasing all-terrain performance with podium-worthy speed and precision, the ATR is built to lead the way.
G Series – starts from $1449.99
When your gravel adventures take you deep into the rough, the G Series is ready. Designed for technical terrain, demanding climbs, and unpredictable surfaces, the G Series features a shallow 26mm profile and a wide 25mm internal channel—ideal for high-volume tires and low-pressure setups and available in 700C and 650B sizes. This combination delivers lightweight efficiency, enhanced vertical compliance, and control where it matters most. If your routes lean toward rugged, remote, and relentless, the G Series is your go-to wheelset.
FACTOR HANZŌ – complete builds from $12,999
“Fastest in the world”
Real World Aero Efficiency
When Factor first released the HANZŌ, most of the press revolved around the super slim front end, which was made possible when the UCI changed their 3:1 tube size rule. Indeed, the blade-like shape of the head tube is a major contributor to the overall aero efficiency of the frame. Designed to slip almost invisibly through the air, the head tube boasts a minuscule frontal cross-section at just 14 mm wide.
Absolutely every detail has been engineered to cheat the wind and save seconds, while focusing on positioning and stability – essential pieces to the puzzle. If a rider cannot find a comfortably fast position or lacks confidence in the stability and controllability of the ride, that will cost the rider speed and any chance of victory.
Precision equals speed
Every part on the bike has been shaped carefully, with particular attention paid to the transitions between tube shapes to offer the best possible performance at low and high yaw. The HANZŌ’s super thin front end creates a true airfoil to optimise the lowest possible drag by facilitating full laminar attachment at low yaw angles. That’s important since the wind seldom comes only directly head-on. Selecting the perfect airfoils while taking into account the angle of attack remains the key to ensuring the bike performs optimally during real world racing conditions.
Focusing on each part of the bike, both individually and as a working whole, Factor have developed the HANZŌ with input from their professional riders. In particular, time trial specialists Chris Froome and Alex Dowsett consulted at length with Factor’s engineers to give insights into what a WorldTour Pro requires in a time trial machine. Aerodynamics, for sure, but also confidence and control in a position that allows them to put real power through the pedals.
So, whether the race is a WorldTour stage or a local Wednesday evening time trial series, every competitive cyclist wants equipment that enhances their performance. The HANZŌ time trial bike pushes right up to the limits of UCI design regulations to make it among the fastest UCI-approved TT bikes in the world.
The Factor HANZŌ is designed to be raced at the Tour de France, yet stands ready to help every rider compete at any level. To go faster, head over to Factor to build yours or find a retailer.
The post Gear Break: Q36.5 Unique Pro Road Shoes, S-Works Power EVO Saddle, Wahoo KICKR ROLLR update, RCC Collab, Reynolds gravel wheels, Factor HANZŌ appeared first on PezCycling News.
