Life In The Saddle

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post ' What is In Your Gravel Adventure Bar Bag? '—it had a great reception and led to another conversation in a similar vein— What to pack in your cycling jersey pockets for a long unsupported off-road endurance ride? This is my line-up of jersey pocket riding essentials for bikepacking and gravel adventures… First, I recommend reading the ' What is In Your Gravel Adventure Bar Bag? ' post before reading this one—because for me, the bar bag is the best place to store most of your essentials on an off-road adventure—as there is less chance of items flying out on bumpy trails. So, what comes with me in my cycling jersey pockets is therefore a selection of easy-to-access essentials—ones that you might want to grab whilst riding, when you cannot stop to access your bar bag. The Jersey — Sportful Super Giara Jersey My gravel jersey of choice is the Sportful Super Giara Jersey . This cycling jersey was designed with gravel and off-road ...

The Polartec Alpha® Fabric is exceptional. Designed in collaboration with the U.S. Special Forces, it is made to be incredible light, insulating, and adaptable to varying temperatures. Japanese brand PEdAL ED have utilised the wonder fabric in the new Tokaido Wind Vest, and the results are good. The Tokaido Wind Vest was designed by PEdAL ED after experiences in the Transcontinental Race and Silk Road Mountain Race—both ultra-distance cycling events, where kit is demanded to be super lightweight, and adaptable to incredibly varied temperatures. The Tokaido uses Polartec Alpha in its purest form: with no internal lining or layering, so that the garment is super light and packable. On the outside of the vest is a lightweight windproof fabric to protect the wearer from wind-chill. In terms of features, the Tokaido Wind Vest is refined for lightness. There are two large rear cargo pockets, a high-cut neckline, reflective detailing, and an internal pocket that the vest packs away in...

The Aussie Grit range of off-road bike shorts, jerseys, gilets and jackets is the brainchild of Australian F1 driver Mark Webber, who has always held a passion for mountain biking and high-level design. It is premium quality apparel, created to excel at providing both comfort and performance out on the trails. I have been testing out three clothing pieces from the Aussie Grit range: the Flint Thermal Bike Gilet, the Flint Bike Shell Jacket, and the Flint Men's Bike Shorts. Despite the time of year, and that two of these garments are foul/cold weather kit, I have managed to get a decent bit of time in the saddle wearing them, and I have been impressed by the quality and design. Aussie Grit Flint 2018 Men's Bike Shorts Review 'Baggy' cycling shorts are tricky to get right. Some brands go for tough and durable fabrics, but at the expense of the clothing feeling cumbersome and overly warm in the summer months. Others go for super lightweight materials, but with t...

A gilet is one of the most versatile and useful pieces of apparel in a cyclist's wardrobe. It provides wind protection and added insulation, and is especially good for changeable weather conditions. In this review, I take a look at the new gilet in the ProBikeKit own-brand cycle clothing range. The PBK Poligo Gilet is a value offering: intended to provide an affordable protective layer that performs well. The cycling gilet is designed with a windproof front and shoulders, and a mesh back panel. It provides notable protection for your core, while also venting and breathing well through the open fabric on the rear. The full length zipper is useful for temperature regulation, and for ease of fit. One slight negative is that I have noted a tendency for the zip to catch on the zip baffle at times, making it harder to zip up on-the-fly. There are no pockets on the gilet, and no access slits to reach your jersey pockets beneath. This means that you need to roll up the gilet to a...

I have long been a fan of the POC Sports helmets and eyewear range: previously reviewing products such as the POC Octal Helmet and POC Do Half-Blade Sunglasses . On my #WildCardDolomitiRide , I finally got the chance to try out their apparel range too; in the form of the POC Raceday Climber's Jersey, AVIP Light Wind Vest and Multi-D Bib Shorts. POC Sports Raceday Climber's Jersey The POC Raceday Climber's Jersey is a lightweight minimalist piece; designed to keep you comfortable in the hottest conditions, and on the most challenging gradients. I tested the jersey on Haute Categorie climbs in the Dolomites, in 30 degree heat. It performed faultlessly. The fit (I'm wearing a size Small) is very good; with plenty of stretch in the fabric providing a form-fitting cut. The fabric itself is a lightweight and highly breathable 3D mesh material, which wicks away moisture effectively. With three rear pockets, subtle graphics, and fantastic colour schemes; this ...

Back in 2013, I reviewed the Intrepid Apparel Freedom Gilet , and it fast became one of my favourite pieces of kit. I took to wearing it both on and off the bike; for everything from mountain bike missions, to commutes and casual trips to the shops. It provided a welcome layer of protection from the wind and cold. Earlier this year, Intrepid Apparel - a UK based rider-owned company, released their new Pioneer Gilet. They sent one over for me to test, and I was keen to see how it compared to the previous soft-shell vest. The most apparent change is the new colour-way: gone are the red detailing with white zips; in their place are sky blue zips and more subtle black detailing. The result, is a top that gains even more versatility, as it blends in better with casual wear, and looks great both on the street and the trails. The cut of the new Pioneer Gilet also seems to be better. It's a little bit closer fitting, and it retains its cycling specific fit; with a low cut rear hem...

The end of the road season means one thing... mountain biking! Over the last month I've been enjoying hitting the trails and getting muddy again on the mountain bike, and in the process I've been testing out some cool new kit from a great British company Intrepid Apparel . The Freedom Gilet (RRP £69) and the Campaign Shorts (RRP £85) are perfect for Autumn mountain biking; robust, warm and designed to cope with the English weather. They've been a great bit of kit to pull out of the cupboard and throw on when it's time to rip up the trails. The Freedom Gilet The Freedom Gilet is quite easily one of the most robust and well designed gilets that I have tested. It is made for hours of use and abuse on the trails, with some very cool and well thought out design details. The gilet is made of a breathable softshell fabric, with a warm microfleece lining. Thicker than other gilets I have used, it is perfect for wearing with a long sleeved jersey on a cool morn...