Life In The Saddle

Not all cycling caps are made equal. I have worn dozens of different brands and styles throughout my time in the saddle: from Gore-Tex® waterproof ones to lightweight summer ones – each has their place and virtues. It is the classic cotton casquette that I keep coming back to though: the one with a wide brim, and a soft natural fabric that only seems to get better with age. The cotton cycling cap is the perfect headwear to keep the rain off your face in a downpour, or the sweat and sun from your eyes in the summer heat. Yet, I have an issue. I have a large head. At 61cm, it maxes out most helmets and stretches most cycling caps to their limit. To avoid the circulation being cut off to my forehead (and the embarrassing red halo you are left with at the end of a ride), I have resorted to cutting the elastic from many cycling caps, and trawling the market for the largest size available. Then, I discovered Uncle Pete’s… Uncle Pete is based in Bromley, UK, and makes custom cotton cy...

Caps and hats are back… I seem to be wearing some sort of headwear year-round these days: snapbacks and baseball caps to shield from the sun in the summer; beanies and wide brims to keep the chill and downpours off in the winter months. The Chrome 5 Panel Cap is a smart baseball style cap, with a 360-degree reflective profile—making it the perfect choice for darker days. I got the Chrome 5 Panel Cap thinking it would be perfect for night-time running; with its well-ventilated design and reflective profile, it looked to be the ideal solution to keep winter downpours off my head while also increasing my road presence in low light conditions. It definitely ticks that box, while also acting as an absorbent headband—keeping sweat out of your eyes. As well as acting like a beacon on top of your head when you are running, the Chrome 5 Panel Cap has also proven to be a great accessory for cycling; it can be worn underneath a helmet to keep rain and windchill off your head. A great piece of mu...

The MET Trenta 3K Carbon is a performance road cycling helmet, designed to keep you cool and save you valuable energy because of its aerodynamic profile. Its ventilation and ascetics are exceptional too, as is its comfort. It has fast become my favourite road cycling helmet of the 2020 summer season. MET claim the MET Trenta 3K Carbon is the most advanced road cycling helmet they have ever made; the MET development team discovered that carbon's elastic modulus allowed them to reduce the density of the EPS foam in the helmet by 20 percent, without reducing the capacity the foam has to absorb impact energy and force. The result is they could create a helmet that sets a new standard in terms of weight, performance, and ventilation. The Trenta features a low-profile shell design, and a minimalist weight of just 229 grams (size Medium). It fits securely and comfortably on your head thanks to the 360 degrees retention system and a simple but effective chin strap. MET have opted to...

A warm piece of headwear is vital to staying comfortable on the bike in the winter months. Your head acts a bit like a heat dissipater, because of the significant blood flow close to the skin; as a result, it becomes essential to protect it from the wind, water and cold temperatures. My normal choice of headwear for winter riding is a simple skull cap, which fits neatly and snugly underneath your helmet. However, a skull cap does little to shield your forehead from driving rain or (if you're lucky) sunshine; this is where the Belgian style cycling cap comes in... Featuring a brimmed peak like a traditional casquette, as well as fold down ear flaps; the Belgian cap is a belt-and-braces approach. Swrve, an American brand that should be familiar to blog readers ( read previous review here ), has taken the protective design one step further, and produced this rather luxurious softshell version. Last month, I reviewed the Swrve Winter Softshell Trousers , and praised them for th...

Winter riding is when good kit really plays a part; not just in ensuring your comfort, but also making sure you have the continued ability to get out and explore on your bike. Cold extremities, whether it be numb fingers or frost bitten toes, are a potential game-stopper. Luckily though, with the advances in kit technology in the last few years, there are solutions to keep you riding for hours and hours, even in sub-zero temperatures. My chosen kit for my feet and hands comes from Danish brand GripGrab ; this kit is quite easily the best protection for your extremities that I’ve found. In this blog, I consider some of my go-to accessories, which get used time and time again in the cold months of winter. GripGrab Hammerhead Overshoes Easily my favourite overshoes on the market, and I think I've got most of the Isle of Wight team loving them now too; the GripGrab Hammerhead  is a superb combination of waterproofing, windproofing and thermal insulation. They're made of...

Last week I reviewed the new adidas Supernova Winter Bib Tights and Supernova Winter Jersey (Link) ; this week I'm looking at two of their other cold weather specials - the Warm Wind Walter Turtleneck base layer and Cocona neck tube. adidas Warm Wind Walter Turtleneck Base layers play a vital part in keeping you comfortable in the winter months, wicking away uncomfortable perspiration and leaving you warm and dry. With fabric development, we're seeing new designs that have the ability to keep you warmer by also providing a wind-shielding layer. The new Cocona fabric from adidas does exactly that, and it's what makes the Warm Wind Walter Turtleneck a technical and particularly effective base layer option in cold conditions. The 'Warm Wind' element of this garment's design relates to the Cocona fabric panel that is used on the front of the torso. This fabric, combined with the high cut mock turtleneck, means that your core benefits from an additional wi...

I'm a Salice fan... regular readers of the blog will likely have read my review of the Salice 006 (Link) and the Salice 005 (Link)  sunglasses. The brand offers something different to the norm, and I rather like that; a bit of Italian flair in the world of helmets and sunglasses. I haven't had a Salice helmet to date because to be quite frank I have a large head, and their standardised size would probably not have fitted me. However, just a few weeks ago the company released their classy Bolt helmet in black (with Italian stripes) in a large/XL size. I was quick to lock my sights on it. Catching your eye is definitely something that the Bolt helmet will do, this is a lid made to stand out from the crowd. The gloss black finish and Italian stripes make it a real head turner.  Looks aren't everything though, and the Bolt is impressive in other respects as well. The straps are ultra lightweight, with a mesh middle and a comfortable chin pad. The helmet's ove...

Solo is a New Zealand based brand, available in the UK direct from Solocc.com  or from select retailers. Their range of high quality jerseys, shorts, jackets and accessories is beautifully designed and made; over the last month I've been testing out a few of their products in the UK "Spring" weather, and have been very taken with the designs and quality. The Solo Retro-Tech Winter Jersey The Winter Jersey from Solo is designed to be a versatile, warm and luxurious top. It certainly fits those criteria well; made of a close fitting, fleece backed thermal fabric it is beautifully warm, and has been my top of choice on many occasions this spring. The jersey's 'Retro' label alludes to the subtle classy touches on the jersey; the striped track-top style collar and cuffs, and the red zip baffle. The close fitting silhouette is perfectly tailored to a cyclist's physique, and the stretchy fabric means it is comfortable even when pushing it hard. ...

If you find yourself getting a cold head or ears on your morning rides, now that we are facing some sub-zero temperatures; then this cap could be the one for you. Made of Merino Wool, it is extremely breathable and comfortable; avoiding the sweaty scalp that is often found when wearing  a polyester beanie under your helmet.  Its low back covers your ears and neck well, stopping the unwanted draft as the cold air swirls around the back of your head. The small peak is also useful for keeping the drizzle or freezing fog off your face when the weather really gets nasty. Overall, a great product: I'm a new-found fan of cycling caps, this is one with a winter specific aim, and it does the job very well. With the usual Giro quality, it looks like it should last a while as well.  Avoid the brain-freeze this winter - Merino-Up!