As 2025 wraps up, we are taking a look back at a year full of big releases from major brands and innovative new designs from smaller, mostly Canadian companies. And we’re showing you what stood out to us.
Some of what we liked were the biggest releases, for a few reasons. But there were also smaller and more niche examples that might not be for everyone, but we think they’re well executed and deserve more attention.
Shimano XT Di2 M8220 compact gearing
We’ve all waited a long time for Shimano to go wireless. 2025 saw the Japanese brand go cable-free in a big way. Shimano’s new Di2 groups, all of them, are quite good. They’re also quite different from SRAM’s. That is, in turn, good for consumers. It should help in restoring some balance to the high-end bike market.
XT offers almost all the features of XTR, including the compact 9-45 gearing option that we’ve really enjoyed, without the ultra-high-end price. It’s still very expensive, but substantially less expensive than XTR. We tried the compact 9-45 cassette version, one of the options that sets Shimano apart from the competition, and were pleasantly surprised by the slightly narrower gearing option.
High-end mechanical shifting
While fancy new gadgets are fun, and helping redefine the upper extremes of bike design, we’re also still fans of good old mechanical shifting. With the major brands focusing on electronics, it’s great to see other brands stepping up to continue developing mechanical shifting.
Two new boutique derailleurs (still priced near or below mainstream electronic options) were released in 2025, from Madrone in Oregon and from Ratio Tech in the U.K.’s Lakes District. We talked to the engineers developing those derailleurs about what makes their mechs stand out and why they’re taking on the drivetrain giants.
Maxxis Dissector version 2.0
More grip than you’d expect and somehow also quite fast rolling, Maxxis taps into some magic with the second version of the Dissector. This tire delivers what the original promised: a trail tire that’s faster-rolling than Minions while still being very capable. I.e. a fantastic trail bike tire. Great on its own, or as a front tire with a Forekaster for a faster set-up, or as a rear tire with a meatier front for a little more speed, the Dissector is an instant classic for Maxxis.
Akta Knee pads
I spent a good portion of the year away…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…