Paul’s Top Picks of 2025
2025 has been, by far, the best year I’ve had in a long while. Personal and professional growth came together, and real opportunities started to appear for Slow Spin, which is now almost five years old. As most of you know, I’m a minimalist when it comes to gear, so what follows is a short, considered list of the few things that genuinely made my year that much better.
Old Man Mountain Front Basket $60
It’s only been a couple of months since I installed the Old Man Mountain front rack and basket, but I can safely say it’s not coming off anytime soon. It’s been living on my Weis gravel bike, and while I’ve always loved the look of a front rack or basket, this OMM setup has proven to be absolutely rock solid, with no vibrations, no extra noise, and zero rattles. You can find my full review right here. ➡️ Overbuilt Bikes Deserve Overbuilt Baskets: OMM Elkhorn and Hemlock Review
The MADE x Stinner Photo Stick $59
This one’s a no-brainer. This “photo stick” was handed to me directly by the Radavist team when we were all at Bespoked earlier this year. Beyond being a genuinely great tool, it carries immense sentimental value, as it was one of the first times I truly felt my work being recognized by people I’ve looked up to for the past fifteen years. Mine happens to be the special MADE edition, but you can get yours in either steel or titanium right here. ➡️ stinnerframeworks.com
Transporteur T6 2.0 TDI 102hp
This might be a bit of a strange one to share here, but as most of you know, I spend most of my time living in my van and traveling around Europe. Last summer, my old van, a VW T5, started showing clear signs that the engine was about to give up at any moment. After some digging online, I discovered that my specific 180 hp engine suffered from a well-known issue: both turbos could literally destroy themselves, often taking the entire engine with them.
After ten years together, I had to accept that it was time to part ways and find something else. While it was hard to see it go, and I had to downgrade significantly due to a very limited budget, I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised by my new rig. You could say I got lucky, as I picked it up at auction for well below its usual value.
That said, this old plumber’s work van, with 250,000 km on the clock, dents everywhere, and an interior that looked like the gates of hell, clearly needed some serious maintenance before it could be safely put back on the road.
After a bit of work and already 12,000 km behind the wheel, I couldn’t be happier. It’s discreet, easy to drive, super reliable, and perfectly suited to the way I use it. Sure, I lost 4WD, an automatic gearbox, 80 hp, and a few creature comforts, but I can now do 1,000 km on a single tank of fuel, and that’s honestly incredible.
I’ll add this: as good as the T6 is for covering long distances and spending endless hours on the highway, I’ve started putting money aside for something a bit more adventurous. A truck that could take me far beyond the roads I’m able to reach today. Only time will tell if I can make that happen.
Voigtländer 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron $899
I’ve been playing with more lenses this year: 12, 40, 50, and 90 mm have all made it into my 2025 rotation. Now that I finally understand what it means not to like a certain lens’s rendering, I’ve been more than pleased with the new Voigtländer 90 mm f/2.0 APO-Ultron.
It’s a brand-new lens, released in January 2025, and I managed to get my hands on a test unit just in time, and for cheap! Wide open at f/2, it delivers beautiful bokeh, while remaining razor-sharp when stopped down. Shooting bikes with a 90 mm is a very different, and less forgiving experience compared to my usual 50 mm, and I still need more practice. But I can feel myself getting there, and I genuinely love the results I got so far.
The Bespoked bike show $33
Bespoked was one of the highlights of my year, for more reasons than one. From the amazing people who make the event happen, to the relaxed overall atmosphere and the genuinely fun post-show gatherings every night, I’m fully convinced I’ll be back for more next year.
And yes, if you’re a nerd like me, there are plenty of beautiful bikes to drool over. While framebuilding can sometimes drift toward a more elitist corner of cycling, Bespoked felt like it struck a healthy balance between high-end builders, newcomers, long-established makers, and everything in between. You can stay updated with their newsletter right here ➡️ bespoked.cc
Dead Cells $25
This is the only game I’ve played this year. Not much, just a few dozen hours, but it’s been a great way to switch my brain off and stop thinking about work for a bit. I don’t think I’ve really played anything outside my annual two-week Minecraft phase in the past five years, but Dead Cells has been worth it.
It’s a 2D roguelite platformer where you explore dungeons and hunt for increasingly powerful weapons and abilities. If you’re looking for something fun to unwind for a few hours, I 100% recommend it.
The Swoops Starting at $1100
Among all the bikes I tested this year, the Swoops still stands out for its simplicity, the quality of its components, and just how much fun I had on a bike I wouldn’t normally consider. In a way, it reminded me that returning to simpler things can be a good idea, especially when it supports a great bike shop like La Chouette. I guess my only regret was to not take more pictures with it, as I was a bit short on time, but you can still read my full review of the Swoops here ➡️ One Month with The Swoops: A Bike Worth Backing
Yang Manufacturing on YouTube $FREE
Probably my favorite source of frame-building content this year, Yang MFG has been an incredible well of knowledge on both craft and the behind-the-scenes side of the cycling industry. From building custom steel bikes to developing a carbon fork mold in Asia, Daniel is easily one of my top creators, as he has a rare talent for making complex topics understandable to literally anyone.
Weis Ti Gravel Plus $5750
This one takes the cake. My Weis Ti Gravel Plus has been, by far, the sweetest ride I’ve experienced in 2025. You can read my initial thoughts on the bike here ➡️ Self Bike Check: Custom Weis Hammer Gravel Ti Plus. And you can expect to see a lot more of it next year, as it’ll serve as a platform for testing all kinds of equipment and upgrades.
To keep it short: as outstanding as the ride quality and craftsmanship are, there’s another reason this bike means so much to me. Working with brands who recognize and value your work as a media creator is one of the best feelings there is, especially when it comes with extra effort during challenging times. The team at Weis has been incredibly proactive, managing the realities of the modern cycling industry while continuing to innovate, stay close to their community, and maintain a strong, clear brand identity. Honestly, I can only admire that.
And with that, 2025 comes to a close. This year felt like a turning point in many ways for Slow Spin Society as a whole. What started almost five years ago as a small, independent project continues to grow in directions I couldn’t have fully planned, largely thanks to the people who read, listen, share, and support this work.
Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or only stumbled onto SSS recently, thank you for taking the time. In a media landscape that moves fast and often feels disposable, it genuinely means a lot to know that there’s space for slower stories, personal perspectives, and imperfect edges.
I’m heading into the next year with a lot of motivation, many new ideas, and plenty of curiosity for anything that I will stumble upon. More rides, more places, more conversations, and, as always, an honest look at the bikes, gear, and people that make this culture what it is.
See you out there, and into whatever comes next.
See you in 2026!
