Life In The Saddle

KOO's ALIBI sunglass caught my eye earlier this year. With their half-frame design, sturdy looking Grilamid arms, and ventilated lens for clarity of vision; they are an impressive pair of cycling sunglasses. When the brand announced the release of their new 'Galaxy' collection within the ALIBI range, I felt compelled to give them a try… The Super Blue MR colour is a cool and space-inspired option from the Italian brand, with a Category 3 protection high-performance cylindrical polycarbonate lens by Zeiss. The vision clarity is outstanding, and mounted up the glasses feel secure and comfortable thanks to their grippy arms and nose piece. KOO glasses that I have tried in the past have always had a quality feel about them, and the ALIBI is no different; these glasses look the part and allow you to keep riding on or off-road in comfort and with great clarity of vision. >> Shop the KOO ALIBI Galaxy collection here Disclaimer: KOO provided a pair of KOO ALIBI GALAXY ...

I am a strong advocate of wearing protective glasses year-round when cycling; in the winter they shield your eyes from wind, road spray, and grit; then, on sunnier days they protect your retinas from UV rays as well. To account for low light levels and night riding in winter months, a pair of adaptable photochromic sunglasses is the perfect solution when considering the best sunglasses for cycling... the Koo Supernova sunglasses are the best photochromic option I have found to date. The limited edition Koo Supernova Strade Bianche Edition sunglasses are subtly branded with the name of the iconic Italian Spring Classic race, while the design and functionality is the same superb lightweight set-up found in the standard Supernova glasses from Koo. The Supernova glasses are ultralight at just 22 grams per pair; they use a frameless single lens that is shatter-proof and anti-reflective, while providing 100 percent UV protection. The photochromic lens quickly adapts to the riding light...

There is no question that Koo make some of the best cycling sunglasses on the market today; the sister company to the well-known Italian helmet company Kask has been pioneering cycling eyewear design for the last ten years, and here I look at one of their latest models, the DEMOS... The Koo Demos are one of the leading models within the Koo line-up; they features a Zeiss Polycarbonate lens for optimum visual clarity, an innovative single-lens frame design for superb panoramic vision, four ventilation ports integrated into the lens to minimise the risk of fogging, and anti-slip MEGOL elastomer temple inserts for grip and comfort in all riding conditions. I have become a real fan of large lens design sunglasses for cycling – they offer greater protection from UV rays, dust and spray; as well as maximising your field of vision without impairment. The Koo Demos are one of the best designed big lens cycling sunglasses I have used. The Demos feel like a quality pair of glasses the moment you...

Earlier in the season I reviewed the Club Jersey from UK brand Chapeau ; it was an impressive introduction to the cycle clothing brand. The Club Bib Shorts and Etape SS Jersey are the range-topping offering from the brand, and they are exceptional in more ways than one… Race Specification Fit The race fit is the thing you will immediately recognise when pulling on the Etape Jersey and Club Bib Shorts for the first time. These are some of the best fitting and most comfortable pieces of cycling kit that I have tried to date. I selected the same size in the Etape kit as I had in the Club jersey (Small), but it is far more form fitting and race-orientated in its cut and design. The jersey has a close cut profile, with a deeper rear hem and longer sleeves to accommodate a more aggressive position on the bike. The bib shorts are a great length in the thigh, but still have a good compression feel, and the bib straps are comfortable and stretchy enough to accommodate different rider h...

Kask helmets have become one of the best-known brands in the world of cycling. KOO sunglasses are an offshoot of Kask, and have the same superb quality and Italian style. Cycling sunglasses are an interesting product to test, and an area in which we have seen a significant benefit from innovation and real-world feedback. Older style cycling sunglasses were narrower, heavier, and often had very dark lenses. Modern designs tend to have larger more protective lenses, to help shield your eyes and obscure less of your vision; they also have lighter and more flexible frames for a better fit; additionally there is also a trend for photochromic or polarised lenses, which help to reduce the need for very dark shadings. Koo have shown themselves to be innovators with the Koo Open Cube Sunglasses, much like Kask are with their helmets. The lens, frame, and design features of these glasses are some of the best that I have seen. First up, the frame has been designed to give a truly personal...

Last February, I rode the TorTour Ultra-Cross Stage Race in Zürich. It entailed three stages of snow and sub-zero temperatures, but proved to be fantastic racing (read the report here). This year, I am heading to the Lucerne region of Switzerland for the inaugural TorTour Summer CX Ultra-Cross Stage Race. This is what I'm packing… The Event The TorTour CX is a three day programme: featuring a short prologue stage on the Friday afternoon, and then two longer weekend stages that head out into the challenging Swiss Alps. The total distance is 200 kilometres, almost entirely off-road on gravel paths and single-track. I haven't ridden in Lucerne before, but I have visited on family walking holidays. It is a beautiful and challenging landscape, with steep alpine peaks punctuated by azure blue lakes. Racing in February for the TorTour Winter CX demanded the best winter kit available; there aren't many situations where you are racing for four or five hours through the sno...