Specialized ha presentado un nuevo sillín con el que los ciclistas de alto nivel ya no tendrán que elegir entre comodidad y rendimiento. El S-Works Power EVO with mirror es una versión mejorada de la conocida serie Power de Specialized.…

By JENNIFER CHAMPAGNE House of the Dragon expands its dragon-filled world in its second season, offering more large-scale battles and heightened aerial warfare. (Image courtesy of HBO) The 2025 Emmy race for outstanding visual effects is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years with major genre heavyweights breaking new ground on what’s possible on television. As prestige fantasy and sci-fi continue to dominate, the battle for the category will likely come down to sheer scale, technical innovation and how seamlessly effects are integrated into storytelling. Returning titans like House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power have proven their ability to deliver breathtaking visuals. At the same time, Dune: Prophecy enters the conversation as a visually stunning newcomer. The Boys remains the category’s wildcard, bringing its own brand of hyper-realistic, shock-value effects to the race. With its subtle yet immersive world-building, The Penguin stands apart from the spectacle-driven contenders, using “invisible” VFX to transform Gotham into a post-flooded, decaying metropolis. Each series offers a distinct approach to digital effects, making for an intriguing showdown between blockbuster-scale world-building and more nuanced, atmospheric craftsmanship. Sharing the arena with marquee pacesetters HBO’s The Last of Us, Disney+’s Andor and Netflix’s Squid Game, these series lead the charge in ensuring that the 2025 Emmy race isn’t just about visual spectacle; it’s about which shows will set the next benchmark for visual effects on television. The following insights and highlights from VFX supervisors of likely Emmy contenders illustrate why their award-worthy shows have caught the attention of TV watchers and VFX Emmy voters. The Penguin, with its subtle yet immersive world-building, stands apart from the spectacle-driven contenders, using “invisible” VFX to transform Gotham into a post-flooded, decaying metropolis.  (Image courtesy of HBO) For The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power VFX Supervisor Jason Smith, the second season presented some of the Amazon series’ most ambitious visual effects challenges. From the epic Battle of Eregion to the painstaking design of the Entwives, Smith and his team at Wētā FX sought to advance digital world-building while staying true to J.R.R. Tolkien’s vision. “The Battle of Eregion was amazing to work on – and challenging too, because it’s a pivotal moment in Tolkien’s story,” Smith states. Unlike typical large-scale clashes, this battle begins as a siege culminating in an explosive cavalry charge. “We looked for every way we could to heighten the action during the siege by keeping the armies interacting, even at a distance,” Smith explains. His team introduced projectiles and siege weaponry to create dynamic action, ensuring the prolonged standoff felt kinetic. The environment work for Eregion posed another challenge. The city was initially constructed as a massive digital asset in Season 1, showcasing the collaborative brilliance of the Elves and Dwarves. In Season 2, that grandeur had to be systematically razed to the ground. “The progression of destruction had to be planned extremely carefully,” Smith notes. His team devised seven distinct levels of damage, mapping out in granular detail which areas would be smoldering, reduced to rubble or utterly consumed by fire. “Our goal was to have the audience feel the loss that the Elves feel as this beautiful symbol of the height of Elvendom is utterly razed.” The SSVFX team helped shape a world for Lady in the Lake that felt rich, lived-in and historically precise. (Image courtesy of Apple TV+) One of most ambitious effects for Season 4 of The Boys was Splinter, who has the ability to duplicate himself. The sequence required eight hours of rehearsal, six hours of filming, for one shot. The final effect was a mix of prosthetic cover-up pieces and VFX face replacement. (Image courtesy of Prime Video) The Penguin, HBO Max’s spinoff series of The Batman, centers on Oswald ‘Oz’ Cobb’s ruthless rise to power, and relies on meticulous environmental effects, smoothly integrating CG elements to enhance Gotham’s noir aesthetic without ever calling attention to the work itself. “The most rewarding part of our work was crafting VFX that don’t feel like VFX,” says VFX Supervisor Johnny Han. Across the series’ 3,100 VFX shots, every collapsing freeway, skyline extension and flicker of light from a muzzle flash had to feel utterly real – woven so naturally into the world of Gotham that viewers never stopped to question its authenticity. Zimia spaceport, an enormous hub of interstellar commerce in Dune: Prophecy. The production team built a vast practical set to provide a strong scale foundation, but its full grandeur came to life in post by extending this environment with CG.(Images courtesy of HBO) The second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power refined its environments, which elevate Middle-earth’s realism. (Image courtesy of Prime Video) Some of the series’ most striking visual moments were also its most understated. The shift of Gotham’s seasons – transforming sunlit summer shoots into autumn’s muted chill – helped shape the show’s somber tone, reinforcing the bleak, crime-ridden undercurrent. The city’s bridges and skyscrapers were meticulously augmented, stretching Gotham beyond the limits of practical sets while preserving its grounded, brutalist aesthetic. Even the scars and wounds on Sofia Falcone were enhanced through digital artistry, ensuring that her past traumas remained ever-present, etched into her skin. The series wasn’t without its large-scale effects – far from it. Han and his team orchestrated massive sequences of urban devastation. “The floodwaters were one of our biggest challenges,” Han notes, referring to the ongoing impact of the catastrophic deluge that left Gotham in ruins. One particularly harrowing sequence required simulating a tsunami tearing through the streets – not as an action set piece, but as a deeply personal moment of loss. “Telling Victor’s story of how he lost his entire family in the bombing and floods of Gotham was heartbreaking,” Han says. “Normally, you create an event like that for excitement, for tension. But for us, it was about capturing emotional devastation.” Perhaps the most technically intricate sequences were the shootouts, hallmarks of Gotham’s criminal underbelly. “We programmed millisecond-accurate synced flash guns to mimic dramatic gunfire light,” Han explains, ensuring that the interplay of practical and digital elements remained imperceptible. Every muzzle flash, every ricochet was meticulously planned and rendered. The ultimate achievement for Han and his team wasn’t crafting the biggest explosion or the most elaborate digital sequence – it was making Gotham itself feel inescapably real. He says, “Nothing was more important to us than for you to forget that there are 3,100 VFX shots in this series.” The challenge for The Residence was making one of the most recognizable buildings in the world feel both immersive and narratively engaging. (Photo: Erin Simkin. Courtesy of Netflix) Bringing the universe of Dune to life on TV for HBO’s Dune: Prophecy requires a delicate balance of realism and imagination, grounded in natural physics, yet awe-inspiring in scale. Dune: Prophecy looks to challenge traditional fantasy dominance with its stunning, desert-bound landscapes and intricate space-faring visuals, uniting the grandeur of Denis Villeneuve’s films with the demands of episodic storytelling. Set thousands of years before the events of the films, the series explores the early days of the Bene Gesserit, a secretive order wielding extraordinary abilities. Translating that power into a visual language required technical innovation. “Kudos to Important Looking Pirates for the space folding and [Lila’s] Agony work,” says VFX Supervisor Mike Enriquez. No Dune project would be complete without its most iconic inhabitant, the sandworm. VFX Producer Terron Pratt says. “We’re incredibly proud of what the team at Image Engine created. Precise animation conveyed this creature’s weight and massive scale, while incredibly detailed sand simulations integrated it into the environment.” Every grain of sand had to move believably in response to the worm’s colossal presence to ensure the physics of Arrakis remained authentic. Floodwaters play a significant part in the destruction of Gotham in The Penguin. One particularly harrowing sequence required simulating a tsunami tearing through the streets. (Image courtesy of HBO) American Primeval integrated visual effects with practical techniques in creative, unconventional ways. The massacre sequence showcases technical mastery and pulls the audience into the brutal reality of the American frontier. (Photo: Justin Lubin. Courtesy of Netflix) For the Zimia spaceport, an enormous hub of interstellar commerce, the Dune: Prophecy production team built a vast practical set to provide a strong scale foundation. However, its full grandeur came to life in post. “By extending this environment with CG, we amplified the scope of our world, making it feel expansive and deeply impactful,” Pratt explains. The result was a sprawling, futuristic cityscape that retained a tangible weight with impeccably amalgamated practical and digital elements. Wētā FX sought to advance digital world-building for Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power while staying true to J.R.R. Tolkien’s vision. (Image courtesy of Prime Video) Visual effects extended beyond character work for Lady in the Lake, playing a key role in the show’s immersive world-building. (Image courtesy of Apple TV+) For House of the Dragon VFX Supervisor Daði Einarsson, Season 2 presented some of the HBO show’s most complex and ambitious visual effects work. The Battle at Rook’s Rest in Episode 4 was a milestone for the series, marking the first full-scale dragon-on-dragon aerial battle. “We were tasked with pitting three dragons against each other in an all-out aerial war above a castle siege,” Einarsson says. Capturing the actors’ performances mid-flight required a combination of motion-controlled cameras, preprogrammed motion bases with saddles and LED volume lighting – all mapped directly from fully animated previsualized sequences approved by director Alan Taylor and Showrunner Ryan J. Condal. On the ground, the battlefield required digital crowd replication, extensive environment extensions, and pyrotechnic enhancements to create a war zone that felt both vast and intimately chaotic. “In the air, we created a fully CG version of the environment to have full control over the camera work,” Einarsson explains. Under the supervision of Sven Martin, the Pixomondo team stitched together breathtaking aerial combat, ensuring the dragons moved with the weight and raw power befitting their legendary status. Blood, weapon effects and period-accurate muzzle flashes heightened the intensity of the brutal fight sequences in American Primeval. The natural elements and violence reflected the harsh realities of the American west in 1857. (Image courtesy of Netflix) The Residence brings a refined, detailed approach to environmental augmentation, using visual effects to take the audience on a journey through the White House in this political murder mystery. (Photo: Jessica Brooks. Courtesy of Netflix) Episode 7 introduced Hugh Hammer’s claim of Vermithor, Westeros’ second-largest dragon. Rather than breaking the sequence into multiple shots, Einarsson and director Loni Peristere saw an opportunity to craft something exceptional: a single, uninterrupted long take reminiscent of Children of Men and Gravity. “It took a lot of planning to design a series of beats that cohesively flowed from one into the next, with Hugh leading the camera by action and reaction,” Einarsson says. The sequence, which involved Hugh dodging Vermithor’s flames and ultimately claiming the beast through sheer bravery, was technically demanding. To achieve this, the team stitched together five separate takes of Hugh’s performance, shot over two separate days weeks apart, due to the set needing to be struck and rebuilt in different configurations. VFX Supervisor Wayne Stables and the team at Wētā ensured the transitions were imperceptible, uniting practical and digital elements into a continuous, immersive moment. “The Dragonmont Cavern environment was a beautiful, raised gantry and cave designed by [Production Designer] Jim Clay and expanded by Wētā,” Einarsson says. Then Rowley Imran’s stunt team and Mike Dawson’s SFX team engulfed the set in practical flames so every element, from fire to dust to movement, contributed to the illusion of real-time danger. For Einarsson, the most significant challenge wasn’t just in making these sequences visually spectacular – it was ensuring they belonged within the same world as the quiet, dialogue-driven moments in King’s Landing. “The aim is for incredibly complex and spectacular visual effects scenes to feel like they belong in the same world as two people talking in a council chamber,” he states. Every dragon, flame and gust of wind had to feel as lived-in as the politics playing out beneath them. Season 4 of The Boys delivered the fully CG octopus character, Ambrosius. A challenge was crafting a believable yet expressive sea creature and keeping it grounded while still embracing the show’s signature absurdity. (Image courtesy of Prime Video) In The Penguin, Gotham isn’t just a city; it’s a living, breathing entity shaped by destruction, decay and the quiet menace lurking beneath its streets. (Images courtesy of HBO) The Boys continues to defy genre norms, delivering audacious, technically complex effects that lean into its hyperviolent, satirical take on superheroes. For The Boys VFX Supervisor Stephan Fleet, Season 4 delivered some of the Amazon Prime show’s most dramatic effects yet, from the self-replicating Splinter to the fully CG octopus character, Ambrosius. Splinter, who has the ability to duplicate himself, presented a unique challenge. Fleet says, “His introduction on the podium was a complex motion control sequence. Eight hours of rehearsal, six hours of filming – for one shot.” Splinter’s design came with an added layer of difficulty. “We had to figure out how to make a nude male clone,” Fleet says. “Normally, you can hide doubles’ bodies in clothes – not this time!” The final effect required a mix of prosthetic cover-up pieces and VFX face replacement, requiring multiple iterations to make it work. Ambrosius became one of The Boys’ most unexpected breakout characters. “It’s fun making a full-on character in the show that’s an octopus,” Fleet reveals in a nod to the show’s absurd side. “As much as possible, we aim for a grounded approach and try to attain a level of thought and detail you don’t often find on TV.” While the battle for outstanding visual effects will likely be dominated by large-scale fantasy and sci-fi productions, several standout series are also making waves with their innovative and immersive visual storytelling. Netflix’s The Residence, led by VFX Supervisor Seth Hill, brings a refined, detailed approach to environmental augmentation, enhancing the grandeur of the White House setting in this political murder mystery. “Using visual effects to take the audience on a journey through an iconic location like the White House was really fun,” Hill says. “It’s a cool and unique use of visual effects.” One of the most ambitious sequences involved what the team called the Doll House, a digital rendering of the White House with its south façade removed, exposing the interior like a cross-section of a dollhouse. Hill explains. “Going back and forth from filmed footage to full CGI – that jump from grounded realism to abstract yet still real – was quite tricky,” he says, adding, “VFX is best when it is in service of the storytelling, and The Residence presented a unique opportunity to do just that. It was a big challenge and a tough nut to crack, but those creative and technical hurdles are a good part of what makes it so rewarding.” “We were tasked with pitting three dragons against each other in an all-out aerial war above a castle siege. In the air, we created a fully CG version of the environment to have full control over the camera work.”—Daði Einarsson, VFX Supervisor, House of the Dragon The Battle at Rook’s Rest in Episode 4 of House of the Dragon Season 2 was a major milestone for the series, marking the first full-scale dragon-on-dragon aerial battle. (Image courtesy of HBO) Season 2 of House of the Dragon presented some of the most complex and ambitious visual effects work for the show to date. (Photo: Theo Whiteman. Courtesy of HBO) For Jay Worth, VFX Supervisor on Apple TV+’s Lady in the Lake, the challenge was two-fold: create seamless effects and preserve the raw emotional truth of a performance. One of the most significant technical achievements was de-aging Natalie Portman. “It seems so easy on paper, but the reality was far more challenging,” Worth admits. Worth had tackled de-aging before, but never with the same level of success. “For me, it is simply because of her performance.” Portman delivered a nuanced, youthful portrayal that felt entirely authentic to the time period. “It made our job both so much easier and set the bar so high for us. Sometimes, you can hide in a scene like this – you pull the camera back, cut away before the most expressive parts of the dialogue, or the illusion breaks,” Worth explains. In Lady in the Lake, there was nowhere to hide. “I think that is what I am most proud of with these shots. It felt like the longer you stayed on them, the more you believed them. That is a real feat with this sort of work.” Skully VFX handled the de-aging. “They nailed the look early on and delivered throughout the project on this difficult task.” Working alongside Production Designer Jc Molina, the VFX team helped shape a world that felt rich, lived-in and historically precise. “We were entrusted with the most important part of this show – do we believe this performance from this character in this part of her journey? – and we feel like we were able to deliver on this challenge.” On the other end of the spectrum, Netflix’s American Primeval, under the guidance of VFX Supervisor Andrew Ceperley, delivers rugged, visceral realism in its portrayal of the untamed American frontier. With brutal battle sequences, sprawling landscapes and historical re-creations that interweave practical and digital effects, the series stands as a testament to how VFX can enhance grounded, historical storytelling. Ceperley says, “The standout is definitely the nearly three-minute single-shot massacre sequence in the forest episode.” Designed to immerse the audience in the raw, chaotic violence of the frontier, the scene captures every brutal detail with unrelenting intensity. The challenge was crafting invisible visual effects, enhancing practical stunts and destruction without breaking the immersive, handheld camera style. “The sequence was designed to be one shot made up of 10 individual takes, shot over seven days, seamlessly stitched together, all while using a handheld camera on an extremely wide-angle lens.” One of the most complex moments involved a bull smashing through a wagon while the characters hid underneath. Rather than relying on CGI, the team took a practical approach, placing a 360-degree camera under the wagon while the special effects team rigged it to explode in a way that simulated an impact. “A real bull was then guided to run toward the 360 camera and leap over it,” Ceperley says. The footage was blended with live-action shots of the actors with minimal CGI enhancements – just dust and debris – to complete the effect. Adding to the difficulty, the scene was set at sunset, giving the team an extremely limited window to capture each day’s footage. The massacre sequence was a prime example of integrating visual effects with practical techniques in creative, unconventional ways, blending old-school in-camera effects with modern stitching techniques to create a visceral cinematic moment that stayed true to the show’s raw, historical aesthetic. “Using old techniques in new, even strange ways and seeing it pay off and deliver on the original vision was the most rewarding part.”

Navigating city streets by bicycle is an experience that blends independence, speed, and a closer connection to your surroundings. Yet, cycling in the urban landscape also means dealing with shifting weather, crowded roads, and the need to carry essentials in a way that doesn’t slow you down. Every ride calls for a careful balance of safety and convenience—whether you’re commuting to work, running errands, or simply exploring the city’s neighborhoods. Urban cyclists know that the right accessories can make all the difference. A secure lock offers peace of mind at every stop, while smart lights and protective gear boost visibility and confidence among traffic. The challenge of unpredictable rain or the need to carry bulky items can turn a simple trip into a logistical headache without the right solutions. Today’s innovative cycling accessories are designed to meet these demands, combining clever engineering with practical features to support every aspect of city riding. We have curated ten excellent products designed for cyclists who want to ride smarter, safer, and more comfortably in the city. 1. Omnilock The Omnilock is a three-in-one accessory that acts as a heavy-duty bike lock, a bright taillight, and a portable tire inflator. Its integrated design means fewer separate gadgets to carry, making commuting more streamlined and convenient. The taillight increases visibility in low light, while the lock’s sturdy construction helps keep your bike secure at public racks or in urban parking spots. Urban cyclists benefit from knowing they have essential safety and emergency features always at hand. The tire inflator is built directly into the device, so unexpected flats can be handled on the go. Combining these tools into one compact accessory saves space in your bag and reduces the risk of forgetting a critical item during busy daily routines. What we like Combines lock, light, and inflator. Improves night visibility and security. What we dislike Heavier than standard locks. Not as compact as basic alternatives. 2. Sherman Bike Backpack This bike backpack features a flexible tri-fold design with open sides, allowing you to carry large or irregularly shaped objects, like spare tires or boxes, that wouldn’t fit in traditional bags. Adjustable straps help secure oversized items, and the backpack adapts to different cargo shapes, making it ideal for city errands or racing support. It is great for urban cyclists, as it offers the freedom to carry whatever the day demands, from groceries and packages to cycling essentials. Its adaptable structure means fewer limitations, supporting spontaneous trips and unexpected needs. The open sides add versatility, while the overall design keeps your load steady and easy to manage on busy city streets. What we like Fits oversized and odd-shaped items. Adjustable, adaptable design. What we dislike Less protection from rain or dust. It can be awkward with heavy loads. 3. BellBeats BellBeats is a digital bike bell that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, mounting easily to your handlebars. It delivers clear, customizable alert tones for safety and can stream music, navigation, or calls from your phone. Its compact design keeps your cockpit tidy, while the rechargeable battery ensures consistent performance on daily rides. BellBeats makes it easy for cyclists to alert pedestrians and vehicles, even in noisy city environments. The ability to switch between bell functions and speaker mode adds convenience, letting you stay aware of traffic or enjoy entertainment without removing your hands from the bars. It’s a smart solution for both safety and enjoyment in the city. What we like Dual function as a bell and a speaker. Customizable tones for alerts. What we dislike Needs regular charging. Music quality is basic. 4. vabsRider Bicycle Saddle The vabsRider saddle features a split, movable seat design that adapts to your pedaling motion. This dynamic movement reduces pressure on sensitive areas and aims to prevent soreness, allowing for longer, more comfortable rides. The saddle’s engineering helps distribute weight more evenly, supporting healthy posture and reducing fatigue. Urban cyclists are offered increased comfort, especially on longer commutes or frequent rides. The unique design helps alleviate the discomfort that can come from traditional saddles, making daily cycling a more inviting option. With less pain and better support, city riders can focus on navigating traffic and enjoying their journey. What we like Reduces pressure and soreness. Moves with the rider for comfort. What we dislike Unusual feel at first use. May not fit all seat posts. 5. Flitedeck Flitedeck is a carbon fiber smart handlebar that integrates a touchscreen, built-in headlight, and wireless connectivity (Bluetooth, ANT+, WiFi, 5G) into one cockpit. The system provides instant access to navigation, performance data, and lighting, all without cluttering the handlebars with separate devices. Its carbon construction keeps it lightweight and sleek. It is important for cyclists to have all essential controls and information in one place since it increases both safety and convenience. This integration helps reduce distractions, letting you focus on the road. Real-time data and built-in lighting make city rides easier to manage, especially when navigating unpredictable traffic or dimly lit streets. What we like Integrated touchscreen, lights, and connectivity. Streamlined, lightweight design. What we dislike Heavier than non-digital bars. Advanced setup required. 6. STAN Airbag The STAN Airbag backpack deploys an airbag in 0.1 seconds during a crash, protecting your head, neck, chest, and back. The backpack includes an integrated back protector, offering added safety even without airbag deployment. The system is rechargeable and designed for everyday use, making it a practical upgrade for regular city cycling. For urban cyclists, this backpack brings peace of mind on unpredictable streets. The rapid-deploy airbag provides an extra layer of safety beyond a helmet, while the back protector helps shield against impacts. It’s a valuable choice for riders who prioritize safety on busy or high-risk commutes. What we like Fast-deploying airbag protection. Extra back protection is built in. What we dislike Heavier than standard backpacks. Needs regular charging and checks. 7. Soft Top Cover The Soft Top Cover is a bike-mounted rain and wind shield that attaches quickly to most handlebars. It keeps your upper body, legs, and shoes dry without the need for rain gear. The cover tracks with your steering, is lightweight, and can be easily installed or removed for convenience. Urban cyclists benefit by staying dry and visible in wet weather, turning rainy commutes into manageable rides. The cover’s design is streamlined to reduce wind resistance, and its compactness allows easy storage when not in use. It eliminates the hassle of changing clothes or carrying extra rain gear for city trips. What we like Full-body rain and wind protection. Easy installation and removal. What we dislike Not as compact as a poncho. It can be awkward in strong crosswinds. 8. Aerohead II Helmet The Aerohead II Helmet stands out with its aerodynamic, elongated shape and full wraparound visor. Its design reduces wind resistance and protects your eyes from the sun, dust, and debris. The helmet meets strict safety standards and is built for both speed and protection, with ample internal padding for comfort. Urban cyclists gain the advantage of improved safety and efficiency, particularly on fast commutes or when sharing busy roads with vehicles. The extended visor enhances field of vision and shields you from the elements, while the helmet’s streamlined profile helps reduce drag, even in stop-and-go city traffic. What we like Aerodynamic and protective design. Extended visor for sun and debris. What we dislike Bulky for casual use. A distinctive look may not suit everyone. 9. AirBell The AirBell is a discreet bicycle bell that doubles as an anti-theft device by hiding an Apple AirTag inside. Its universal design fits standard handlebars and is easy to install, requiring just a single screw. The bell itself is made from aluminum for a classic, clear ring, while the rugged clamp uses fiber-reinforced plastic for added durability. The hidden compartment keeps your AirTag out of sight, adding a layer of security without drawing attention. The AirBell offers peace of mind and real-time tracking to cyclists, making it easier to locate your bike if it’s lost or stolen in a crowded city. The ability to use Apple’s Find My network gives riders a modern solution to bike theft, all while maintaining the bell’s core function for safety. The compact, affordable design makes it a practical upgrade for anyone who wants to protect their ride without extra bulk. What we like Discreet AirTag holder for tracking. Simple installation and universal fit. What we dislike Only works with Apple AirTag. Bell sound may be quieter than larger bells. 10. The LIVALL LTSW21 The LIVALL LTS21 wireless earphones are purpose-built for cyclists, featuring an open-ear design that preserves situational awareness while you ride. Unlike traditional earbuds, the LTS21 can be used with most cycling helmets thanks to modular attachments, including a secure sports band and a unique helmet bracket that mounts the earphones directly to your helmet. This setup ensures the earphones stay in place whether you’re riding, running, or working out. It offers urban cyclists the ability to listen to music, podcasts, or take calls without blocking out essential city sounds like car horns, traffic, or warnings from other riders. The open-ear design prioritizes safety, while the hands-free features support convenient communication on the go. Riders can interact with voice assistants and remain connected, all without compromising awareness on busy city streets. What we like Open-ear design maintains situational awareness. Helmet-friendly mounting for secure use. What we dislike Audio quality may not match in-ear earbuds. Open design may let in wind noise at high speeds. The post 10 Best Bike Gear For Urban Cyclists To Boost Safety & Convenience first appeared on Yanko Design.

Red Dead Redemption is celebrating its 15-year anniversary today, May 18, 2025. Below, we consider that it may be better at showing than telling.As a rule, Westerns are sincere. Sure, there are outright farces like Blazing Saddles. Plenty of classic Westerns like Rio Bravo have a warm, comedic side. Even dark epics like the Searchers have moments of levity. But even when they are funny, Westerns play their archetypes straight. They are easy to make fun of because they are so unfeigned. In this context, Red Dead Redemption struggles to find its place. It imports Grand Theft Auto's satire into a bare and somber world. In many moments, protagonist John Marston is the only voice of reason among cliches and caricatures. When Red Dead Redemption talks, it is often cheap and unserious. When it shuts up, it manages a real poetry, thanks to its austere landscapes and unpretentious world.First, let's dig into its writing. RDR is a sunset Western, set in the waning days of Western expansion. Marston is a man out of time: a cowboy criminal in a world that wants to kill him (and will). Marston is foolish. He hunts down his former compatriots on the behest of the US government, because he hopes they will keep his promise to return his family to him and leave him alone. He is wrong. The killings he undertakes swing back on him and his family alike.Continue Reading at GameSpot

In the Minecraft universe, saddles were essentially an ancient technology whose recipe was lost to time. Nobody knew how to craft them. However, that’s all about to change with craftable saddles added into Minecraft’s upcoming Summer Drop 2025. They can be experienced now in Minecraft’s test realms (Java snapshot and Bedrock’s beta and preview). Just a simple three leather and one iron ingot recipe is ushering in a new, more easily accessible era of mounts. The history of saddles in Minecraft goes back to 2010, when they were introduced as a means to ride pigs. Over time, the uses of saddles increased beyond just pigs with rideable horses, donkeys, mules, striders, and camels. But while the demand for saddles increased, their supply did not. Players looking to foster a bond with a noble steed relied on gifts from the RNG gods. To find a saddle, players would have to find one in a dungeon chest or a villager chest, fish one out of the water, loot one off rare spawning mobs, or trade a villager for one. In some runs, this could take less than a couple of minutes, if you’re lucky to find one in the closest village. In others, it could be a frustrating, repetitive process. A common complaint with saddles, and mounts by extension, is that they are most useful in the early and midgame when they are hardest to find. Traveling on a mount doesn’t eat up hunger, and they’re great for traversing the overworld without having to jump for every one-block vertical change. Beyond that, having a noble steed chilling in diamond armor at your home bases’ stables is just cool. Turning saddles into a simple recipe, while also allowing shears to take saddles off mounts without inventories (like pigs), means that more rides than ever will be taken — giddyup!

Table of Contents Table of Contents How to craft a saddle How to trade for a saddle How to find saddles in chests How to get a saddle from fishing How to use a saddle You tamed a horse in Minecraft, but the beast still has a mind of its own -- it absolutely will not follow your lead. You can corral it inside a fence, but trying to ride it isn't working like you hoped. Aside from flying, horses are one of the fastest ways to travel, but to take control of your mount, you need a saddle. Previously, you weren't able to craft a saddle and would have to get one in other ways, including trades at villages, exploration, and fishing. However, after many years, we are finally able to make a saddle for ourselves and we will show you exactly how to do it. Recommended Videos Difficulty Easy Duration 10 minutes Mojang As of May 2025, crafting a saddle in Minecraft is only an option in the snapshot test version of the game. However, it is expected to be included into the full game this summer. Either way, this is how making a saddle will work. Step 1: Collect three leather. Step 2: Collect one iron ingot. Related Step 3: At a crafting table, place the iron ingot in the bottom middle square and the three leather pieces above and beside it as shown in the picture above. Step 4: Take the saddle from the output. Step 5: You can now put your saddle on any compatible animal you wish, but there's also a new feature where you can remove it from a pig without resorting to killing it. If you have some sheers, you can safely remove it from a pig by using them on the pig to collect the saddle and use it on another mount. Mojang While crafting a saddle is still the easiest way to get them, you can still obtain one via trading. Step 1: Find a village and look for the leatherworker. Step 2: You’ll need to level up the villager, however, as it won’t offer a saddle until it reaches Level 3. This is accomplished by trading emeralds, leather, rabbit hide, flint, and whatever else the villager wants. Mojang Step 3: Once you get the leatherworker to Level 5 (Master), your chance of acquiring a saddle jumps up to 50%. Mojang If you don’t want to craft or spend the time to level up a Leatherworker, your next best bet is to head out and find a saddle packed into a chest. Luckily for you, there are plenty of places to look. Unfortunately, you’re not guaranteed a saddle each time you crack open a chest. Below we provide the locations and your chances of finding a saddle in percentages. Abandoned mineshafts (percentage unknown) Desert temples (23.5%) Dungeons (27.9%) End City (13.3%) Jungle temples (12.9%) Nether Fortress (35.3%) Strongholds (2.5%) Mojang This is the least likely method to produce a saddle, with a 0.8% chance. Simply fish like you would for a normal fish and just hope that you end up pulling a saddle out of the water. Mojang You didn’t go through all this trouble just for a conversation piece. Slap that saddle on a horse and giddy-up! Step 1: Make sure you are empty-handed and interact with the horse. Step 2: The horse may or may not try to buck you off. If it does, repeat step 1 until the horse gives up. Step 3: While still sitting on the horse, open your inventory. You should see the horse’s inventory combined with yours. Drag the saddle from your inventory up into the top square with a gray saddle icon. Once it’s applied, the horse icon will change. Now that you have a saddle on the horse, you can steer it wherever you like.