Cycling Tech of the Month: Campagnolo Super Record Wireless, Kask Elemento and Cannondale SuperSix

Introduction

Three products have shaped our cycling tech conversations this month: a long-awaited wireless groupset, a premium helmet that has now seen several weeks of real riding, and a race bike that earned our bike of the month pick. Each one sits at a very different point on the price scale, and each one carries a genuine trade-off worth understanding before you spend.

This roundup looks at what each product does well, where it falls short, and who it actually makes sense for.

What We Looked For This Month

Our starting point is always real riding time rather than launch-day claims. A groupset has to shift cleanly long after the novelty wears off, a helmet has to stay comfortable through a hot afternoon, and a race bike has to feel quick on the flat as well as on the climbs.

We also weigh spec decisions against the asking price. The Kask Elemento costs 335 pounds in the UK, and the Cannondale SuperSix tested here is priced above 8,000 pounds, so small choices such as handlebar width or bottle cage design carry far more weight than they would on a mid-range build.

Finally, we look at whether a product solves a real problem or simply adds a feature. Wireless shifting, rotational impact protection and aerodynamic bottles all sound appealing on paper, but the value depends entirely on how they behave on the road.

Campagnolo Super Record Wireless: Wireless Shifting Without Interchangeable Batteries

The new Super Record Wireless is Campagnolo’s long-awaited entry into fully wireless road shifting, and the length of that wait has been a talking point in itself. The brand has acknowledged that the development path was shaped by existing patents, and the clearest visible result is battery design. The two derailleurs do not share interchangeable batteries, so each mech needs its own specific unit. SRAM holds the patent covering interchangeable batteries, which explains the split.

That detail matters for ownership. Fully wireless systems are appealing because there are no cables running through the frame, but battery management becomes part of your routine, and carrying two different spares is less convenient than carrying one.

On finish, the groupset has few critics. The raw carbon look is widely admired and gives a build a distinctly Italian character that stands apart from the stealth-black alternatives.

Kask Elemento: Comfort First, Ventilation Second

The Elemento has now had several weeks of riding, including a long outing in hot weather, and comfort is the clear standout. The retention cage slides down behind the crown of the head before a dial tightens it into place, and the result is a helmet that feels genuinely secure. The contact points are not obtrusive either, which is not always the case on lightweight road helmets.

Ventilation is more mixed. Despite breathability being a design focus, sweat builds up on the forehead and, on the move, drips down onto the inside of sunglass lenses. That happens more often with the brand’s own eyewear than with other sunglasses, which is an awkward pairing given the price.

That price is 335 pounds in the UK, and it invites a wider question about helmet costs. Standards in this market have not changed since 2005, while third-party safety technologies such as MIPS and WaveCel arrived in 2007 and 2019 respectively, and independent comparative testing remains limited. The Elemento is built around the WG11 protocol, but without a centralised safety rating, buyers are left comparing protocols rather than outcomes.

Cannondale SuperSix: Bike of the Month

The SuperSix takes our bike of the month spot, and it earned it on the road. It is stiff and planted, and it feels quick on the flat for a climbing-focused machine. It has been ridden across long endurance days and faster local chain gang efforts, and it performed well in both settings. It has also collected a climbing bike of the year award.

The frame is only around 50 grams heavier than Cannondale’s range-topping Lab 71 model, which makes the Hi-Mod version a sensible choice for most riders rather than a compromise.

Spec is where the picture blurs. A bike costing more than 8,000 pounds arrives with 42 cm handlebars, and rivals such as the Trek Madone show more thought about width across the tops and the drops. Narrower bars in the 38 to 40 cm range would make the front end feel more dialled in. Ride quality is also slightly harsh, with compliance that does not quite match some other race bikes, and the hooked-rim wheels limit the option of running wider, well-supported tyres. A drive-side front through axle with a neat painted cover is a small detail worth appreciating.

The aero bottles divide opinion in practice. They perform well, but a square bottle feels odd in the hand and lining one up with its cage during a race is fiddly. Round bottles do fit, though not securely enough to trust on rough roads, so swapping the cages is the practical move.

How to Choose Between These Three

If you are building a bike from the frame up and want a fully wireless drivetrain with a distinctive finish, the Super Record Wireless is the interesting option, provided you are comfortable managing two separate derailleur batteries. It is a premium purchase, and the battery arrangement is the detail to accept going in.

If comfort and a secure fit matter more than outright ventilation, the Elemento is easy to recommend on feel, though the forehead sweat issue is worth checking against your own eyewear and riding conditions, especially at 335 pounds.

For riders chasing a stiff, fast race bike, the SuperSix delivers where it counts. Just budget for a handlebar swap if you prefer narrower bars, and consider a wheel and tyre change if compliance matters to you on longer days.

Conclusion

None of these three products is a straightforward buy. The Super Record Wireless brings Campagnolo into wireless shifting with a finish that stands out, the Elemento gets fit and comfort right while ventilation trails, and the SuperSix is a genuinely quick race bike held back slightly by its spec. Match each one to the way you actually ride, and the money spent makes far more sense.