Life In The Saddle

Crazy light. Crazy compact. Crazy bright. The new Knog Plus bike lights are pretty revolutionary. I have been testing them out to see if the super minimalist design from the Australian brand can deal with the dark onslaught of British winter. Knog have long pushed the boundaries in terms of how bicycle lights mount to your bike, and also how they perform. I have used their Blinder series of lights for a long time and continue to be impressed by their beautiful simplicity and high level of performance both in terms of battery life and brightness. The new Knog Plus Light Set is a complete redevelopment of Knog's light design. I was worried that this might mean a loss of some of the great performance, but luckily that doesn't seem to be the case... Let us start with the fitment system… Knog have created a clever all-in-one combination of a secure bag clip and a secure on-the-bike bracket. A small plastic bracket mounts to the seat post or handlebars using a simple rubber ...

Christmas is coming, and Santa is loading up his fat bike for the festive ride. So, I thought I would take a look at my top stocking filler suggestions for cyclists, runners, triathletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Muc-Off Mechanic Mug First up, the classic mug gift. This quality enamel mug from Muc-Off features the legendary Doctor-X. Sip that post-ride Americano in style, whilst getting the bike shiny clean. Sugru Self-Setting Glue Sugru is incredibly versatile stuff. Check out some of my previous posts such as 'Sugru Hacks for Cyclists' and 'How to Make a Homemade Tubeless Plug' for some ideas. Sugru have also just released their latest formula, which is more sensitive-skin and child friendly; ideal to give to kids, so they can fix their mudguards and light brackets when they inevitably snap them! Muc-Off Eyewear Cleaner If you are giving someone some fresh new Oakleys or POC sunglasses for Christmas, then this would be a great additi...

I am a big advocate of the bike bell. Cyclists have enough problems being seen, without risking not being heard as they approach pedestrians and other path users. The main reason enthusiast cyclists don't seem to have a bell on their bike though, seems to be aesthetics, and (slightly unbelievably) weight. The Knog Oi Bell is designed to combat the two fore-mentioned deterrents to having a bike bell. It looks sleek and sophisticated, but also weighs next to nothing. Mounting is simple and easy, with a single bolt tightening the clamp, which will accommodate 23.8 to 31.8mm bars. Possibly the best thing about the Knog Oi bell though, is its charm. It has a positively tuneful 'ding'. A great stocking filler for any cyclist.

A good rear bike light is a huge asset, in terms of visibility and road presence. Even in the daytime, a rear light will help to alert other traffic to your position on the road. The latest Knog Blinder rear light - the Knog Blinder MOB V Four Eyes, is a great all-weather option. I have tested Knog lights for many years, and they always perform in terms of functionality, and simplicity of use. The new Knog Blinder follows suit. The light mounts up easily to any size of seat post (including aero seat posts) using a variety of rubber straps. Once on the bike, it is easy to turn on, and then to toggle through the five different light modes. On maximum FLASH, the Knog Blinder V4 will output 44 lumens of light, and last for 4.5 hours. On Eco mode, the light will last for a whopping 55 hours of burn time. When it comes to charging, it couldn't be easier; you simply remove the unit from the bike, and plug it straight into a USB drive on a computer, or a USB mains plug. Charging ta...