Life In The Saddle

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 ...

The OpenRock S2 is a set of open-ear headphones that delivers on all fronts. These open-ear, hook-clip earbuds are designed to give cyclists—and all active users—a high-quality sound experience without sacrificing awareness or comfort. After a few weeks of riding with them, I am convinced that they are one of the best open-ear headphones I have tested to date. Lightweight Design Weighing in at the lowest end of its class, the OpenRock S2 is a masterclass in minimalism. Thanks to an ultra-fine titanium wire construction and a smart 3-point ergonomic support system (ear rim, ear clip, and ear wheel), the S2 rests on your ears very naturally. The design is both firm and feather-light, staying securely in place during aggressive rides, sprints, and rapid head turns. A “20° golden angle” optimizes the tilt of the earbuds to match your ear canal's natural curve, making for a truly universal fit. Unlike traditional in-ears, these do not require frequent adjustments and never cause e...

I have been using Shokz (previously Aftershokz) open ear headphones for almost a decade now, and their performance is second to none in terms of sound quality, build quality and design. The new OpenFit from Shokz offers an ultra-lightweight, open-ear construction without the band design used on the OpenRun Pro, making it more suitable for everyday wear as well as for active sports pursuits. The flexible ear hook design of the OpenFit headphones allows it to fit to any ear shape, and remain securely and comfortably in place for hour upon hour of listening. The DirectPitch™ technology produces an immersive audio experience with deep bass notes and fantastic clarity, whilst still allowing you to listen to the external environment and maintain your situational awareness. Battery life on the Shokz OpenFit is superb, with each charge offering 7 hours of listening, and each full charge of the case/unit offering 28 hours of listening. A useful fast-charge function also allows you to top u...

Bone conduction headphones are a game-changer for cyclists and runners; allowing you to listen to your tunes or podcast, while still being aware of your surroundings and ambient warning sounds. The technology also allows you to use the headphones for swimming; so you can listen to music underwater as you tackle your pool set or open water swim. I have used a variety of bone conduction headphones over the last ten years, but the Naenka Runner Diver2 offers a unique combination approach: with a Bluetooth connection to your phone and the ability to use the headphones as a standalone MP3 player with 32GB of storage; this is ideal for times when you don’t want to take your phone with you on a run, or when you are swimming and you cannot have your phone nearby. The build quality and presentation of the Naenka Runner Diver2 headphones is instantly impressive; with a soft silicone outer, three-layer waterproof construction, and a neat magnetic transfer/charging cable connection. Battery cre...

Listening to music, the radio, audiobooks or podcasts when you are cycling, running or hiking can be a great distraction; even allowing you to multi-task with some educational listening while you do your workout or adventure. Using traditional headphones or earbuds can pose a danger if you reduce your hearing of the ambient surroundings though – sounds that could help warn you of approaching hazards or collisions. Open ear headphones are the solution for safe listening when you are cycling, running or walking; they let you listen to your music, whilst also listening for warning signs. The OpenRock Pro Open Ear Headphones are a great example of open ear headphone technology. OpenRock is part of the OneOdio group – a professional audio brand with 10 years of experience; OpenRock is a sub-brand that focuses on open-ear style earbuds. The OpenRock Pro is an open-ear style earbud, with great sound quality, bass tones, and depth of acoustics. The units use a 16.2mm driver with Tube...

Open ear headphones are safer for cycling, running and other outdoor sports; as well as being better for your hearing, balance and comfort. I have been using open ear headphones from Shokz for many years, but was interested to try out this new release from Oladance – the ' Open Ear Stereo System '. Unlike traditional in-ear headphones, Oladance features a completely open-ear design that rests gently and securely on top of your ear and stays in place thanks to their weighted rear – the design of Oladance open earbuds received the Red Dot Award in 2022. There are no tips on this headphone design, so they will never go into your ear; providing a safer and more comfortable option than earbuds, for endless hours of wear. The Oladance open ear headphones uses a multi-point support system that spreads the weight of the earbuds evenly across your ear; they fit the natural curve of your ear to provide a comfortable and reassuringly secure fit, whether you are cycling, running or t...

This autumn, I have been testing out three of the latest lights from Lezyne – a brand that I have relied upon heavily in the past to provide reliable, long-lasting and high-powered illumination of my rides. The trio of lights that I have on test from Lezyne is comprised of the Lezyne Micro Helmet Drive Pro 800XL, the Lezyne Lite Drive 1000XL headlight and the new Lezyne Strip Pro Alert Drive rear light. I have been consistently impressed by the individual performance of all three lights, as well as how well they work together in tandem to increase your visibility and provide superb illumination of the trail or road ahead. Review – Lezyne Micro Helmet Drive Pro 800XL First up is the lightweight but powerful helmet mounting Lezyne Micro Helmet Drive Pro 800XL. The Helmet Drive has that distinctive Lezyne CNC-machined shell, with built in cooling fins for heat management and optimal performance; it mounts to your helmet using a versatile Velcro mounting strap with a plastic composi...

See.Sense is a cycling technology and data company from Northern Ireland; since 2015 I have tested three different versions of their award-winning bike lights , and the new ICON3 is their latest and most developed bike light set. The brand has used their eight years of experience to produce what is undeniably one of the smartest and technically developed bike lights available. As with previous See.Sense models , the ICON3 was released after a successful campaign of crowdfunding on Indiegogo; the campaign smashed the original funding targets – testament to the number of bike riders and investors that believe in the See.Sense product. As the new flagship model within the See.Sense range, the ICON3 is crammed with even more tech than the preceding models. It comes equipped with increased brightness and smarter features, as well as USB-C charging and a new 'twist and lock' mount system. The ICON3 is 20 percent brighter than its predecessor: pumping out 350 lumens from the re...

The second review of a Moon bike light in as many weeks... they must impress me. This review is of the sleek and slimline Moon Helix and Moon Helix W lights; a red and white (rear and front) light that pack a powerful and intelligent punch out on the road, in both daytime and night-time running modes. The Moon Sport Helix Max is a powerful 250-lumen rear bike light. In the box you receive the light unit, a smart quarter-turn mount that fits to a seatpost or aero seatpost with a flexible rubber strap, two lengths of strap, a saddle-rail mount, and a USB-C charging cable. The Moon Sport Helix Max W is a 350-lumen front bike light. In the box you receive the light unit, a similar quarter-turn mount that fits to a handlebar with a flexible rubber strap, and a USB-C charging cable. Both lights function very similarly; so, from here on when discussing the functions, I will refer to both lights as the Helix Max. Lighting Modes The Helix Max has two static modes: pre-set to 80 lume...

Moon Sport Lights produce some of the best bicycle lights on the market—over the last five years I have intensively used many of their LED front and rear lights, and have been consistently impressed with their quality, performance and design. The Moon Rigel Max front bike light is a compact white LED light, with some intelligent design features and functions. In the box you receive a Rigel Max light, helmet mount, Go-Pro mount adapter, handlebar bracket mount, and a USB-C charging cable. It is worth noting that the Rigel Max quarter turn mount is identical to a Garmin mount—offering you a plethora of further mounting options. Lighting Modes The Rigel Max has two static modes: pre-set to 1500 lumens and 500 lumens (main and dipped beams). However, thanks to Moon's VLS (Variable Lumen System) you can fully customise the set-up to reduce or increase the power of either of the two modes. The VLS system allows you to extend battery life considerably, by reducing the Max output to ...

The Moon Meteor Storm Dual Bike Light is one of the most technically advanced and versatile front LED bicycle lights on the market in 2020. Featuring two different tone LEDs for enhanced daylight and night-time visibility; a powerful output to illuminate the road or trail; and a highly impressive battery life—the Meteor Storm Dual could be the only front light that you need for year-round bike riding. Straight out of the box, the Moon Meteor Storm Dual feels and looks like a well-made lighting unit. The CNC aluminium case is a compact size to fit on your handlebars; it is fully waterproof and sealed; and it comes with a secure quick release handlebar mount, a helmet mount, and a remote function control button. The light features 2 CREE XM-L high brightness LEDs—one of which is a warmer yellow colour to help with visibility in foggy, misty, or wet weather conditions—by reducing glare. This neat development works very well indeed, and it is simple to change between the 'warm whi...

The Aftershokz X-Trainerz MP3 Player Headphones use an open-ear listening design utilising the same superb bone-conduction technology found in the Aftershokz Aeropex Headphones (reviewed last month) . This model is different in that it is designed as a stand-alone MP3 player, particularly suitable for swimming. The Aftershokz Aeropex have very quickly become my favourite headphones for cycling and running ( read the review here ); they offer incredible sound quality, but with the phenomenal benefit of not affecting your ambient noise hearing or balance. The Aftershokz X-trainer attracted my attention because of this positive experience, and because I was looking for a set of headphones to use for water sports—when I do not have a Bluetooth phone/MP3 player connection to hand. The X-Trainerz is IP68 waterproof rated and designed so that it is compatible with swimming goggles, caps, and earplugs. It has a standalone 4GB file storage capacity and supports all major audio file format...

A phone is an essential piece of equipment for a bike ride. Cyclists use their phones for staying connected, calling in emergencies, and documenting their adventures. A good phone case is a well justified accessory though, as the life of a smartphone can be a tough one in a cyclist’s jersey pocket. The Otterbox Defender Case is a quality modular bumper phone case, which supplies superb drop protection and functionality for your iPhone. I am familiar with the Otterbox brand, having used their Defender case on an iPad for several years. That case has saved the iPad from many drops, knocks, and spills; even when the device has been carried to work in a pannier on a daily cycle commute. It was with this familiarity and reliability in mind that I selected the Otterbox Defender as my choice for a robust phone case to keep my smartphone safe on cycling adventures. The latest Otterbox Defender case features several great upgrades, as well as keeping all the winning qualities of the old...