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...

The world is going electric. There are no two ways about it, electronic gadgets have been making our lives easier and faster for years, and the power of electric shows little sign of slowing up in a hurry. The new AS2 Pro Max Electronic Bike Pump from CYCPLUS is a neat little gadget that takes the hard work and frustration out of inflating your bike tyres, while being small enough it could fit in a jersey pocket. I have been testing it out, here is my review… The AS2 Pro Max is the first handheld electric bike pump I have come across to date. I have used bulky compressors and handheld CO2 inflators, but this is a reusable handheld electric bike pump that is charged up using a USB-C cable in just one hour, and can quickly inflate or top up tyres on your bike or car. The AS2 Pro Max is the top of the range model from CYCPLUS, designed to be more powerful and have a greater capacity than its two smaller siblings. It weighs in at 205 grams, and measures 60 x 32 x 81mm in size – small...

I am a sucker for bags, and a fanatic kit organiser. These two personality traits have led me on an ongoing search for the best bag for every pursuit, whether it is trans-continental bike tours, overseas travel, or a daily cycle commute. No one bag ticks all the boxes for every kind of trip, but having a multitude of bags does allow you to be super-organised and prepared for any kind of adventure… The Thule RoundTrip Bike Duffel Bag is designed to carry all your kit when you are heading to a bike race, training camp, or on a multi-day trip with your bike. Featuring dedicated storage pockets for your helmet, shoes, sunglasses, tools, and clothes; it has a place for everything, so everything can be kept in its place and easy to access. Thule bags have become my go-to luggage choice, they are faultlessly made and last for years. So, when I was looking for a bag to transport riding kit and accessories, they were the logical brand to turn to. The RoundTrip Bike Duffel is the perfect compan...

This week's review is another great product from Portland based PNW Components – their compact and comfortable Rover Hip Pack. Made from super durable sailcloth material, with an air mesh padded back panel and a plethora of pockets for all your trail essentials; the PNW Rover Hip Pack is the ideal companion for off-road adventures in the forest, bike park or on gravel adventures. I was an early adopter of the bar bag on my gravel and road pursuits (check out my previous posts on 'bar bags' ); embracing the feeling of carrying little in your pockets, and letting the bike take the load. On mountain bike adventures a bar bag is less suitable though, as they bounce around too enthusiastically; the solution is a hip pack.  A hip pack is different from a 'bum bag' – the latter is designed to sit around your hips, whereas this is really a 'waist pack' that is meant to sit higher up on top of your hip bones, around your waist. Perched on top of your hips it can com...

Over the years I have tested countless handlebar bags, both for multi-day bikepacking expeditions and for everyday adventures; in that time, I have created a mental five-point checklist of all the things a compact handlebar bag must deliver on and feature: 100% waterproof – it needs to keep its contents safe and dry; otherwise, tools will go rusty, and you will need to take it off the bike every time you wash it or ride in the rain.  Secure Velcro mounting – straps are better than buckles in my experience, causing less damage to handlebars and allowing for maximum versatility.  Below computer mounting – it needs to hang below the horizontal level of the handlebar, so it does not conflict with the computer mount, but not so low that it hits the front wheel.  Durability – it needs to stand the test of time and constant use. This means the materials need to cope with prolonged periods of dampness and the buckles or zips need to last.    Compact size – large eno...

Low temperatures and winter storms push wind-chill factors to sub-zero. Bike riding does not have to cease in freezing conditions though; with the right clothing, there is no reason not to enjoy your cycling, even in the chilly months of winter. In this blog post, I offer my tips and advice for the right clothing to keep you comfortable when cycling in the depths of winter… 1 – Long Sleeve Base Layers Cold hands when cycling in low temperatures? Long sleeve base layers are the key to comfort here. Your hands are an extremity—they are one of the furthest points from the central boiler pump that is your heart. In order to keep them warm, you need to keep the blood that is flowing to them warm. Protecting your lower arms from wind-chill and insulating them with a long sleeve base layer will aid warm blood flows down your arteries all the way to your hands. The best long sleeve winter cycling base layer I have used is the GripGrab Expert Seamless Thermal Long Sleeve Cycling ...

The Gobik Polartec Long Sleeve Envy Jacket is a close-fitting outer layer made from Polartec's innovative NeoShell® fabric—the world's most breathable waterproof fabric. This is a winter cycling jacket that feels more like a long sleeve jersey, thanks to its stretch and performance cut; but it offers the protection of a deep winter outer shell. Polartec® NeoShell® was developed by the American brand to offer the optimal balance of waterproof protection and breathability that is sought-after in active wear. The fabric is used in hiking jackets, cycling jackets, and waterproof trousers with tremendous success, and this deployment in the Gobik Polartec Long Sleeve Jacket is a strong example of utilising the fabric well. The NeoShell® fabric provides a high stretch bonded three-layer covering, with taped seams to prevent water from seeping in. The high cut collar, lower cut rear hem and YKK® Vislon® AquaGuard® zipper all enhance the protection and coverage provided by the jack...

For many years, I would have advised against using a pressure washer to clean your bike; the high pressure jets can wash grease out of areas such as wheel and bottom bracket bearings, and damage suspension seals. However, last year Muc-Off released what they claimed to be a world-first — a pressure washer designed specifically for bicycles and motorcycles, safe to use on the above areas. I have been testing it out over the last few months. The Muc-Off pressure washer is a compact unit and weighs just six kilograms. It comes with a neat 30 litre dry bag that can safely house all the component parts, and allows you to transport it without fear of leakage. The unit plugs into a standard three pin plug and a Hozelock style water connector, then you are ready to clean. You get a choice of three lances: bicycle, motorcycle, and spray. In this order, they vary on their pressure output, with the bicycle lance being just the pressure deemed safe for bicycle washing. There is also a snow...

Open ear headphones are a game-changer. Now you can listen to you favourite tunes and podcasts while you ride, run, walk or drive, without the loss of the all-important 'surrounding sounds' that can offer valuable warning signs of hazards in your vicinity. I have tested a few open ear headphone designs over the years, and the new OpenRock X from OneOdio are some of the most comfortable and best performing of the bunch. With impressive adjustability and sound quality, they provide everything you need from an everyday headphone. Straight out of the (impressive) packaging, the OpenRock X feels like a quality product. The charging case houses the two headphone units, and offers a total of 48 hours of playback when both the case and the units are charged together. The headphones will also 'fast-charge' to give an hour of playback with just five minutes in the charging case; handy for when you forget to put them on charge before your workout. Sound quality from the OpenRock X...

The MetMo Pocket Driver Ratchet Multitool is a thing of beauty. This is engineering at its best. Just as I appreciate Hope Technology parts for their precision CNC machining and durability, I feel a connection with the MetMo Pocket Driver thanks to its simplicity and flawless functionality. The MetMo Pocket Driver is " perfect for building anything " – designed for Allen/hex key bits as well as standard screw and micro screw bits, there is very little it cannot handle. It is a small but mighty ratchet driver.  The founder of MetMo, Sean Sykes, based the design of the Pocket Driver on one of the earliest ratchet screwdrivers made, in the 1920s by Conrad Baumann. Sean developed the MetMo version with hardened materials and using the latest engineering machinery, creating to create a compact and strong micro tool. Accompanied by a hardened hex bit set (sold separately), the MetMo Pocket Driver is a dream to use for bicycle maintenance and repairs. Put simply, it is a meticulousl...

Santini have long been an innovator in cycle clothing, and the new unisex Ombra Jersey offers an exceptionally comfortable and breathable jersey to fit all torso shapes, thanks to its use of two cutting-edge fabrics: Polartec® Power Stretch® and Polartec® Delta™. The Ombra jersey is one of the latest additions to the new Spring/Summer 2024 collection from Santini. The idea behind this jersey is its ability to dress both men and women indistinctly, with an optimal fit. The jersey also comes in six different colours, allowing everyone to choose the colour that best reflects their style and personality.  The Ombra utilises Polartec® Power Stretch® on the front and back to give a body-profiling cut; this four-way stretch fabric is resilient and soft, and never seems to lose its shape. Polartec® Delta™ fabric is then used on the jersey's sides to offer a cooling effect; Delta™ fabric is shown to work more efficiently by elevating touch-points with the skin for increased airflow and ...

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 ...