Gear Break: iGPSPORT BiNavi Computer, Hutchinson Blackbird Race Tyre, New Gravel Wheels from HED, Q36.5 Unique Pro Shoe, Pinarello Dogma F Edizione Speciale & Passo dello Stelvio in Focus

Gear Break: iGPSPORT BiNavi bike computer, Hutchinson expands Blackbird Range with new Race tyre, new gravel wheels from HED launched, Q36.5 Unique Pro: The road shoe designed for total power transfer and ultimate control, new Pinarello Dogma F Edizione Speciale to debut at the Giro d’Italia and Michael Blann: Passo dello Stelvio in focus.

iGPSPORT BiNavi Bike Computer – $249.90

iGPSPORT sez:  

One gram heavier than spec weight, but who’s counting?

Chuck Peña PEZ sez:  iGPSPORT is probably a company a lot of PEZ readers don’t know about (unless you’re a reader in Asia or someone who is familiar with Asian brands). But they’ve been around for a while. They introduced their first bike computer in 2012 with new models ever since. In 2023, they introduced their first smart sport watch. And in 2024, 4-time TdF winner (as well as having won the Vuelta twice and Giro once — so one of only seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours), Chris Froome, became an iGPSPORT brand ambassador.

The newest iGPSPORT bike computer is the BiNavi. While the BiNavi can do what you expect a bike computer to do, e.g., measure speed, distance, cadence, power, etc., as the name implies, its focus leans towards navigation. The BiNavi packs a lot of punch at a competitive price point. The similarly featured Garmin Edge Explore 2 is $50 more (retail) but has a smaller 3″ vs 3.5″ screen). If you’re in the market for a bike computer designed more to help you navigate (I’m thinking gravel and adventure riding and even commuting), the iGPSPORT BiNavi is a ‘droid worth looking at.

In addition to the BikeNavi (center), you get: (1) rubber band handlebar mount (quarter-turn Garmin-like), (2) Quick Start Manual, (3) glass screen protector, (4) rubber surround bumper, (5) USB-A to USB-C charging cord, and (6) lanyard

The BiNavi PEZ got came fully charged, but it’s USB-C when it comes time to recharge

I’m not going to do an in-depth review that tries to cover everything the BiNavi can do, but to give you some idea of some of what it can do:

If you fall into the category of aging eyes (mine are Lasik-corrected but I need reading glasses), you’ll appreciate the BiNavi’s large screen and crisp color display. It’s a touchscreen that allow you to navigate much like you would on your smartphone:

• Tap (short press) – Select and enable
• Long press – Enter editing mode/Trigger hidden features
• Swipe up – Scroll the list or content upwards
• Swipe down – Scroll the list or content downwards
• Swipe left – Flip the page to the left
• Swipe right – Flip the page to the right
• Drag – Move
• Pinch – Zoom in or out

In addition to touchscreen control, the BiNavi has six buttons: (1) Power on/off, (2) Lap/quick settings, (3) Ride start/pause, (4) Switch down/right, (5) Switch up/left, (6) Select/enter ride menu

As is the case with most electronic devices, there’s some set up (and learning curve, but not a steep one) involved to configure the BiNavi. That’s what the iGPSPORT app (either iOS or Android) is for. I won’t walk through the whole process, but the first thing you need to do is pair the BiNavi with the app.

Once the BiNavi is paired to your phone, you can use the app to pair sensors and configure different settings. And don’t forget to update the firmware!

The iGPSPORT BiNavi has 15(!) different pages/screens you can scroll through. Honestly, that’s too many for my purposes but I know there are at least some of you who would appreciate all of them. NOTE: One thing that’s mildly annoying is that I don’t think you can change the order of the pages (or at least I wasn’t able to figure out how to do that, if you can).

Each page/screen can be configured to your liking. I decided to reconfigure the main screen.

If you ride to power, you’ll appreciate being able to display it as the largest data field

One thing worth noting is that the BiNavi that PEZ got did not come with any US maps pre-loaded. I had to go to the iGPSPORT web page to download maps. To load a map to the BiNavi:

• Download the required map file from the iGPSPORT website to your computer
• Turn off the BiNavi and connect it to your computer via a USB data cable
• Put the map file in the iGPSPORT / Maps directory of the computer (this took about 20 minutes for the US-south map files — other US maps are: US-west, US-pacific, US-northeast, US-midwest)

If you already have a Garmin mount, the BiNavi uses the same quarter twist-and-turn

I said I wasn’t going to cover everything about the iGPSPORT BiNavi, but hopefully I’ve done enough to whet your appetite. Riding with the BiNavi is not a whole lot different than any other bike computer:

• Turn it on (left top button)
• Select what type of bike/ride on the touchscreen (in my case, Road)
• Tap the screen and the ride status bar will appear at the bottom and then tap the arrow on the bottom right to start the ride
  • Alternatively, you can start the ride with the bottom right button

• When your ride is over, tap the screen and the ride status bar will appear at the bottom and then tap the checkered flag on the bottom left to end the ride
  • Alternatively, you can end the ride with the bottom right button
  • Use the right top button to enter the riding page and select SAVE to save the ride

I said at the beginning that the iGPSPORT BiNavi was designed/intended as a navigation unit. If you create maps in Strava or Komoot, you can them directly via the iGPSPORT app. I use RideWithGPS to create maps, so here’s what I had to do:

• I created a test route in RideWithGPS
• Downloaded the route as a GPS Track .gpx file (what iGPSPORT recommends)
• Uploaded the .gpx file to my iGPSPORT account on the web (not my iGPSPORT phone app)
• I could then use the iGPSPORT phone app to load the route to the BiNavi:

On my test route, the navigation worked well (sorry I don’t have pics!) There are prominent, easy to see/read pop-up alerts that provide ample notice of an upcoming turn. And a pop-up alert at the turn. (NOTE: I turned off alert tones so didn’t get the warning beeps for turns. If you’re wearing Bluetooth headphones connected to your phone, you will get voice alerts for turns.) If you miss or make a wrong turn, don’t blame the BiNavi!

When I purposely veered off course, the re-routing (double red arrowheads) worked as well as other bike navigation I’ve used (Garmin, Wahoo, Hammerhead, Coros). Meaning, a lot of times it would just want you to make a u-turn (not always practical). Otherwise, it would take you to the next place you could turn to put you back on the route. (NOTE: The algorithm doesn’t always route you back to where you went off course. If you are closer to another section of the route — including a section taking you back to where you started — it will route you there.) If you’re in unfamiliar environs, the navigation will get you to where you need to be. But from my experience, if you know where you are and where you’re going, a lot of times the human can be smarter than the algorithm.

The green is the route and the double arrow heads show direction of travel

The truth is that down here in the Lowcountry, I don’t really have a use for all off the BiNavi’s navigation features because the road system that’s bike-rideable is relatively limited and I don’t need the navigation features to get around/find my way around. Plus it’s virtually impossible to get lost. If I was still up in Babylon on the Potomac, I would be able to use more of the navigation features because of the denser road system and there are just more places to ride. But navigation aside, the iGPSPORT BiNavi is a solid bike computer that does what I need a bike computer to do.

Hutchinson Expands Blackbird Range With New Race

Alastair Hamilton sez: I haven’t ridden on a Hutchinson tyre for a long time. I think there used to be a training tubular way-back and had a pair of their Fusion tyres over ten years ago, so I was interested to see if they had changed in any way. I do remember them as being very reliable. When they arrived, my initial impression was of ‘another all black tyre’ and I put them in the cupboard. After a few weeks, I thought I had better have a closer look and weigh them. This is when my interest was piqued. The weigh-in at only 240 grammes.

My scales are usually 4g over when making bread

The weight of 240 grammes for a 28 x 700 is well bellow the Continental and Vittoria tyres I’ve been using. But, when measuring them, they are much narrower than the Continental 28’s and about the same width as the Vittoria 26’s. OK, if you are wanting more width, you would be disappointed if you had ordered the 28’s, probably buying the 30’s would be a better option. Personally I’m not bothered, but then I am a dinosaur who still rides on calliper brakes and short socks.

Hutchinson 28 – Continental 28 – Vittoria 26

I had a fear of fitting them as my thumbs had only just recovered from changing a pair of all back Continental tyre recently. But the Hutchinson’s went on fairly easily, probably about the same as the Vittoria’s and no where near as hard as the Continental’s and a pair of Pirelli’s I had. I have hooked rims and I don’t do tubeless. Where I live punctures are very rare and the roads are smooth, so I can ride with a fairly high pressure.

Quite a lot of room for a bigger tyre

In the end it will come down to how they feel on the road. I have an undulating section of smooth road that I use a lot, it has ups and downs with a couple of roundabouts, it’s a fair test and I know it well and how previous tyres perform. The Vittoria Corsa Pro and Continental Grand Prix 5000 S are my choice of top tyres to compare. My Vittoria’s are 26’s and the Continental’s 5000 are 25’s, but they are practically the same width as the Hutchinson 28’s. On the ride, I would say the Hutchinson Blackbird’s are lively and corner well and grip wasn’t a problem. On short climbs they also felt good, without any drag. These are a good tyre and compare well with the more expensive Vittoria and Continental tyres.

A good looking tyre

Overall Impression: A good sturdy race tyre that rolls nicely, corners well and isn’t too expensive. Just remember that you might want to buy a bigger tyre than the Hutchinson size. It’s too early to comment on the wearability, but give me time.

The 28 is not that big

Hutchinson sez:
Hutchinson, the French pioneer of cycling tyre technology has announced the expansion of its Blackbird range of performance road tyres with the Blackbird Race.

• Blackbird Race reduces rolling resistance by 10% over previous model and lowers weight to just 240g for 28mm version
• Blackbird Race developed in conjunction with Intermarché-Wanty and Olympic gold medal winning triathlete Alex Yee

Blackbird Race
The Blackbird Race embodies the pinnacle of Hutchinson’s industrial expertise, designed to satisfy the most demanding riders, whether on the WorldTour or the local crit circuit.

The tyre marks a step change in Hutchinson’s race performance offering. Taking the DNA of their fastest ever road tyre the ‘Blackbird’ and refining each of its constituent parts, to create an exceptionally lightweight, even faster tyre that is amongst the most technologically advanced on the market.

Developed in conjunction with WorldTour team Intermarché-Wanty and Hutchinson’s roster of elite athletes, with an early prototype ridden to a gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics by British triathlete Alex Yee. Every aspect of the Blackbird Race has been finely tuned to achieve a perfect balance of speed, grip and puncture resistance.

The tyre features a new Ultraswift casing that develops a construction method created for the original Blackbird. By pushing their manufacturing techniques to the limit of what is currently possible, Hutchinson has reduced the weight of the rubberised fabric used in the casing by almost 22% while also reducing the thickness of the central cross section of the tyre by 23%.

A completely airtight tubeless seal is achieved by wrapping this 127TPI casing fabric around the bead then bonding it directly to the central Polyamide puncture protection strip. This results in three 127TPI layers on the side of the tyre but just two in the centre, greatly increasing ride quality and reducing rolling resistance.

This Ultraswift casing technology results in an incredibly flexible, lightweight tyre that offers huge levels of grip, a supple ride feel and greatly increased sense of speed while riding.

The rubber compound in use on the Blackbird Race is also a new development. Mach Tread Ultimate builds on the learnings from the previous generation Mach Tread 3.0 to further improve rolling resistance and grip. In doing so, Mach Tread Ultimate takes the crown as the fastest compound ever developed by Hutchinson, a superbly balanced innovation that optimises speed, grip and abrasion resistance.

In combination, these developments result in the fastest tyre Hutchinson has ever produced. The Blackbird Race offers a 10% gain in watt efficiency over the existing Blackbird, with Hutchinson’s tests finding the 30mm version to be even more efficient than the 28mm. Weight has been reduced by 17% on the 28mm model to a class leading 240g (or 255g for the 30mm model). The versatile nature of the tyre means it will be the tyre of choice for the vast majority of Intermarché-Wanty’s races throughout the year.

Handmade in France, the Blackbird Race represents the culmination of years of Hutchinson’s expertise, developed through decades of working with the world’s best athletes and their ‘Racing Lab’ program that includes top talent from across all cycling disciplines.

This is all achieved while offering unmatched value when compared to its competitors. Having one of the fastest tyres on the market doesn’t have to mean spending the most, with the Blackbird race competitively priced at €79.99 / £69.99.

The Blackbird Race is hookless compatible and available in 28 and 30mm versions (with wider versions currently in development by the French brand).

• More info at: cycling.hutchinson.com.

New Gravel Wheels from HED Launched
We’re excited to share some big news from HED Cycling, two all-new carbon gravel wheelsets: the Lincoln and Stillwater.

As with all carbon HED Wheels, the Lincoln and Stillwater rims are designed, molded and hand built in our Minnesota factory. Designed for the rigors of gravel racing and off-road exploration, they reflect HED’s commitment to performance, durability, and rider-first engineering.

Lincoln: Made to Climb
Named after Lincoln, Nebraska, home of the renowned Gravel Worlds, the Lincoln wheelset is tuned for relentless rolling terrain and endless climbs. With a shallow rim profile and wide internal width, it’s ideal for riders looking for responsiveness, comfort, and control on demanding courses.

• 25mm carbon rim depth
• 28.5mm internal width

Lincoln

Stillwater: Built for Speed
Inspired by the high-velocity red dirt of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and the iconic Mid South Gravel race, the Stillwater is designed for speed and stability. Featuring a deeper rim profile and wide internal width, it’s optimized for fast-rolling tires and long-haul performance.

• 50mm carbon rim depth
• 28.5mm internal width

Stillwater

Key Features of Stillwater and Lincoln:

• 28.5mm Internal Width – Increases tire volume for grip and comfort on rough terrain
• 36mm External Width – Stable platform for modern gravel tires
• Hooked Rim Design – Provides secure tubeless performance and long-term durability
• Bladed Spokes – Improved aerodynamics
• Sonic SP Front Hub – Wind tunnel tested for speed
• Sonic R36 Rear Hub – Fast 36-point engagement and incredibly durable
• MSRP: $1,984

“Wherever the gravel takes you, Lincoln and Stillwater will get you there fast.” – Anne Hed & The HED Cycling Team.

• More info at: hedcycling.com.

Q36.5 Unique Pro: The Road Shoe Designed for Total Power Transfer and Ultimate Control
Italian technical cycling brand Q36.5 proudly unveils the Unique Pro Shoes, its lightest and fastest road shoe ever.

Handmade in the Italian Dolomites, the Unique Pro sets a new benchmark in elite racing footwear—fitting like a slipper, but racing like a supercar.

Engineered for total control, maximum power transfer, and market-leading thermoregulation, the Unique Pro is a masterpiece of Italian design and technical precision. With the world’s thinnest sole, a record-breaking 4.4mm stack height, and cutting-edge ventilation, this is Q36.5’s highest-performing cycling shoe to date.

Key Features:
As with all Q36.5 race shoes, the Unique Pro eliminates the traditional tongue entirely, replacing it with a high-performance mesh panel that is both a ventilation powerhouse and a brand signature.

4.4mm Stack Height – Lowest on the Market
Developed using a proprietary carbon layup, the Unique Pro’s sole is just 2mm thick, delivering a total stack height of 4.4mm.

Cupped Heel and Power Strap for Stability
The anatomical heel cup combined with a BOA-driven Power Strap system guarantees a secure and locked-in fit, even under maximum torque.

Wide Metatarsal Zone for Comfort
A widened forefoot area ensures comfort for a broader range of foot shapes, improving long-ride wearability without compromising on performance fit.

Ventilated Mesh Panel – No Tongue, All Flow
In place of a traditional tongue, Q36.5 has implemented a proprietary mesh panel across the bridge of the foot, significantly increasing ventilation and eliminating pressure points. No other shoe on the market offers this level of airflow and thermoregulation.

Made in Italy
Produced using artisanal carbon manufacturing techniques within 350km of Q36.5’s Dolomites HQ, ensuring a low-carbon footprint and world-leading craftsmanship.

“With the Unique Pro Shoes, we set out to design a shoe that redefines responsiveness and fit,” said Luigi Bergamo, CEO and Head of R&D at Q36.5. “From the 4.4mm stack height to the airflow mesh and advanced sole structure, every detail has been shaped by rider feedback and performance testing. This is the next frontier in race shoe design.”

Tech Specs:

• Weight: 225g (Size 42)
• Stack Height: 4.4mm
• Sizes: EU 37–48
• Use: All-season road racing
• Available Colors: Black, White
• RRP: $600.00 / £550.00

• More info at: www.q36-5.com.

New Pinarello Dogma F Edizione Speciale to Debut at the Giro d’Italia
INEOS Grenadiers to ride the limited-edition bike on stage 14, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pinarello’s first Grand Tour victory

Pinarello is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its first Grand Tour win by producing a Dogma F Edizione Speciale which will be ridden by INEOS Grenadiers on stage 14 of the Giro d’Italia.

This limited-edition bike commemorates Fausto Bertoglio’s historic victory at the 1975 Giro d’Italia – the first of Pinarello’s unmatched 30 Grand Tour triumphs to date – with the date chosen specifically as the stage starts in Pinarello’s home city of Treviso, with the 0km flag dropping outside the company’s headquarters.

The bike features a distinct fade paint scheme encompassing Gloss Midnight Blue and Borealis Luxter Venice, both colours which resemble the original bike ridden to success by Bertoglio.

In addition to the striking livery, the Dogma F Edizione Speciale features a special GPT (Giovanni Pinarello Treviso) detailing on the fork – a nod to the brand’s founder and origins – as well as the 50th anniversary decal on the top tube. The bike is also equipped with custom-painted Princeton Wake Wheels.

The launch marks the start of a new ‘ES’ (Edizione Speciale) line which will celebrate a range of iconic performances in Pinarello’s rich history, with each bike available to purchase in limited quantities and featuring exclusive liveries and custom components.

The Dogma F Edizione Speciale is available to purchase as a full bike or frameset only, in a limited run and will be available to order at authorized Pinarello dealers, only between May 24 and June 15, 2025.

Pinarello President Fausto Pinarello said: “We are proud to mark such a landmark moment in Pinarello’s history by launching the Dogma F Edizione Speciale. Fausto Bertoglio’s victory in 1975 was one of grit, determination, and incredible panache, and his relentless attacks on the Stelvio helped earn him his victory in improbable circumstances. The Giro d’Italia is part of our DNA too, and seeing the INEOS Grenadiers compete on this beautiful bike on stage 14 – which starts right outside our headquarters – will be an equally special moment. Of course, we wanted to give our valued customers the chance to own this bike too, and we look forward to releasing more limited ES lines in the future.”

• More info at: pinarello.com.

Michael Blann: Passo dello Stelvio in Focus

Passo dello Stelvio.

The 2025 edition of the Giro d’Italia may not be venturing up the history-laden slopes of the Passo dello Stelvio, but the race itself is enough to be inspired to revisit this iconic ascent that has created many moments in cycling folklore.

At 2,758 metres, the Stelvio is the highest paved pass in Italy and only 12m shy of the Col d’Iseran which has the honour of being the highest pass in Europe. With its 84 hairpin bends, the climb is a symbol of the country and to Italian cycling fans, the Giro d’Italia.

Passo dello Stelvio, by Ivan Basso – Essay from Mountains: Epic Cycling Climbs.

One of the earliest memories I have of riding a bike is climbing the Stelvio with my Dad at the age of eight. There’s a great picture of me on the climb – it was a bright summer day, warm enough for a short-sleeved jersey, and I was riding my blue and silver Francesco Moser bike. The Stelvio is tough for any cyclist but for a child it’s a pretty special achievement; it felt like I was climbing the highest mountain in the world.

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 a slap in the head if you feel the need!

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The post Gear Break: iGPSPORT BiNavi Computer, Hutchinson Blackbird Race Tyre, New Gravel Wheels from HED, Q36.5 Unique Pro Shoe, Pinarello Dogma F Edizione Speciale & Passo dello Stelvio in Focus appeared first on PezCycling News.