As the lightest rollers on test, weighing in at a mere 5.3kg and folding down impressively small, the Minouras open their account well. At 415mm wide their alloy drums are also the widest. They don’t have a parabolic (curved) profile but the additional roller width and low frame design does make them novice friendly, and […]
These have plenty of features to justify their price tag. Most obvious is the variable resistance that offers three levels of load. Level two feels very similar to riding on a flat road with a light headwind and is suitable for most interval, tempo and steady pace sessions. You obviously can’t create enough resistance for […]
The second set of rollers offering variable resistance, these have a more traditional and austere appearance. At 390mm width, the aluminium rollers allow plenty of scope for wobbles when learning the ropes, but with a flat profile and no retaining lip, could cause more anxiety. The aluminium drums do deliver a silky smooth ride, though, […]
Kreitler rollers are known as the Rolls Royce of rollers and come with a lifetime guarantee. Go to any track cycling meet and you’ll see the riders warming up on Kreitlers and spinning silkily smooth to insane speeds on them. Despite the hefty price tag the orange square profile tubing does look a bit agricultural, […]
Polar has persisted with the armband-mounted sensor approach to GPS speed/distance monitoring. The advantage of this is a compact wrist unit that’s noticeably slimmer than the Gamin 610. The downside? It’s another piece of kit to misplace or remember to strap on when you’re heading out to train. The RCX5 has plenty of great features, […]
Opinions on the aesthetic values of the Blackburn’s head unit were divided but it’s certainly not the least attractive computer on test (the Union definitely takes that prize). The speed sensor is a beast, though, and although the fin styling is a nod to sleek lines, it could definitely do with losing some bulk. Mounting […]
There are plenty of people who’ll argue that you only need the seven simple functions on offer from the Pro SX4-W. And we know plenty of triathletes with high-end power meters and computers suffering from chronic paralysis by analysis who could do well to heed this advice. The neat head unit looks really classy and […]
On its own in the bargain basement, the Cateye Velo is a no-frills, old-skool wired bike computer. In these modern days of wireless and GPS fitting it evokes a touch of nostalgia, but apart from having to neatly route the wire it’s a simple zip-tie job. And we genuinely do think that there’s still a […]
Both the packaging and head unit of the Union look a bit dated. The head unit in particular has a distinctly 1980s vibe and, while that may have a certain retro appeal, you wouldn’t put it on your P4. Its nine functions tick all the important boxes but there’s nothing so special that you’d overlook […]
Our tester let out a sigh of relief as he unpacked the Knog. Without a zip tie or rubber band in sight, installation is a genuine fiddle-free thirty-second job. Combine this with the two-bike memory and the Knog is perfect for dual-bike use. This tester happily swapped it back and forwards from his road to […]
Stylish, compact and in a range of colours, the understated head unit exudes minimalist class and the eight functions it offers are a solid no-nonsense affair. No bells and whistles but nothing superfluous, either. The sleek sensor mounts easily with a couple of zip ties but, although the jubilee clip fitting mount is easy to […]
Setting up and installing the Boardman is a breeze. The neat, if slightly boxy, speed and cadence sensors zip tie on, and the head unit mount attaches to either stem or bars with a simple but effective rubber band system. The head unit isn’t exactly a looker but the display and unit size are good. […]
In the looks department the Sigma is head and shoulders above the competition. Both the speed and cadence sensors have a stealthy mean appearance, and the head unit looks genuinely cool and wouldn’t look out of place on a carbon mega bike. The sensors fit easily with a couple of zip ties, and the head […]
Delivering both speed and cadence for under £65, the Topeak gets off to a good start. But once you begin installation, you quickly fall out of love. The wireless cadence sensor is neat enough and a simple zip tie affair, but that’s as good as it gets. A wired speed sensor really belongs on a […]
Coming from the pioneers of heart rate monitoring, the Polar computer has a lot to live up to. All the key functions are present, and offering heart rate compatibility at this price is excellent. Although you don’t get a chest strap with the package, it seems most triathletes have a Polar strap knocking about somewhere. […]
£250 may seem like a shed load of cash but this is one hell of a bike light. Even its lowest setting, which pumps out 300 lumens and has a burn time of 13 hours, is sufficient for most road cycling situations. The 850 lumens boost setting delivers a credible three hours of burn and […]
?Silva has a fantastic headlamp pedigree, and there’s no doubt that the X-Trail is a top-performing and versatile product. The beam it produces strikes a perfect balance between flood and spot, is the best on test and easily copes with full-on, off-road adventures. The massive rubberised button makes operation easy, even with gloves on. At […]
Apart from the regular features you’d expect in a standard bike computer, the Adventure adds an altimeter, slope indicator and thermometer to the mix. The altimeter, which works using barometric pressure, is accurate as long as you calibrate it regularly to known points or use the ‘Home’ function. If you live and ride in a […]
With 850 lumens of power coming from three LEDs, this is a super little light in more ways than one. We tested the flood version but it comes in a spotlight version, too. An off-road night rider might benefit from both, but the flood version was spot-on for road riding, though we did try it […]
Two LEDs powered by a single Li-ION gives this light plenty of punch with a long, penetrating beam. It also has a good light spread that shows plenty of immediate detail. It’s certainly good enough for hammering the trails off-road and down dark country lanes. Mounting is simplicity itself, and while Cat-Eye’s single-shot model has […]
This handlebar-mounted integral light and battery unit is easy to fit and straightforward to use. It has two power settings that are adequate for street use, plus occasional unlit road riding. A single button – mounted centre at the top of the unit – flips through low and high power, and also boasts a flash […]
Basically, for another £75 this doubles up the light power of the Light and Motion Stella 150 by having two light units instead of one. The lights can be placed together on your handlebars or placed up to 15 centimetres apart. The result is a penetrating beam of light that’s good enough for safe road […]
A robust single light with a two watt LED and a Lithium Ion battery that fits neatly on top of a bike stem. It was powerful, gave a surprisingly wide beam and was suitable for countryside use. The battery pack and light unit both have solid, easy to assemble mounts, onto which the light and […]
A hugely powerful four LED lamp unit with five light modes, ranging from dipped light for urban areas up to the ultra-bright level four, which would work beautifully on a gnarly off-road track. All of these modes (including the handy flash) are operated by a single on/off button, which is ideally positioned for gloved thumbs. […]
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