Life In The Saddle

Osprey has an earned reputation as one of the best backpacking brands in the world, with their innovative designs and lightweight but durable packs being used in some of the extreme adventures and by many everyday outdoor enthusiasts. As a result, when they announced their launch into the world of bikepacking bags I was immediately interested; if their on-bike luggage options are as good as their hiking bags then they will certainly make a great impression. Osprey already has an extensive mountain biking backpack collection, with a dedicated department focussing on bike-specific designs; so, it was a logical step to launch the Escapist collection to target the bike adventure market and the growing bikepacking community. I was sent Osprey’s new Escapist Bikepacking Frame Bag to test, and over the last month it has been put through its paces on my Kona Private Jake gravel/cyclocross bike, with some very positive results… New Escapist Bikepacking Bag Range All the on-bike bags in ...

How far can we ride into the frozen wilderness? Will we experience comfort or despair under a blanket of snow? Will we find grip and traction on ice rink roads? Will we freeze? These questions, and many more alike, flash through our minds as we leave the port of Copenhagen — our ferry steaming ahead towards Oslo, the Norwegian fjords and the snow-covered forests beyond. An adventure into the unknown for three intrepid bikepacking musketeers. It is thick fog as we cruise into the Oslo fjord the following morning. The sun rises low in the sky, and we catch glimpses of the snow-covered landscape on the horizon. This is the land of the Vikings, and we'll need to summon their courage to ride out into the frozen wilderness. Our spiked ice tyres rumble on the tarmac as we head north west out of the city and into the hills. The roads soon empty of cars, and the snow deepens on the verges. It is not long before we leave the tarmac behind, ducking under a barrier that signals the start of a ...

The chalk download of the South Coast of the UK is a challenging testing ground for gravel tyres: in the dry, the trails are dusty and strewn with piercing flints; in the wet, the topsoil creates a slimy surface that tests any tyre to find grip. The Vittoria Terreno Mix Graphene 2.0 Tubeless Tyres are one of the few tubeless gravel bike tyres that I have used, abused, and continued to be impressed by – riding in truly varied conditions in this challenging environment. Summer gravel tyres are often semi-slick in profile: offering speed, flow and little rolling resistance. Mud tyres, by contrast, grip well in the slush, but are normally knobbly, noisy, and feel sluggish on any hardpack surface. Can a 'mixed' surface tyres really deliver a good compromise between grip and speed in wet and dry conditions, while also being puncture resistant and robust? Vittoria's Terreno Mix Graphene 2.0 Tyres promise to provide the optimum compromise. The wide-spaced aggressive lugs offe...

The OpenRock E Open-Ear Air Conduction Sport Earbuds are a budget-friendly choice aimed at cyclists and runners who value comfort, safety, and everyday practicality. They offer an accessible way to experience open-ear listening; something that I prioritise when doing outdoor exercise and adventures. The earbuds come in a compact charging case that charges using a USB-C cable. The design is lightweight and minimal, with soft silicone ear hooks that wrap around the ears. Because the earbuds sit outside the ear canal they avoid the pressure and discomfort you get with some in-ear models, this makes them particularly comfortable for long workouts or extended wear. While fit can vary depending on ear shape, I found them stable and barely noticeable once in place. Sound quality is typical of open-ear, air-conduction earbuds. Vocals are clear and easy to hear, making them good for podcasts, audiobooks, and casual music listening. Bass is present but limited, lacking the depth and impact of ...