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. […]
This new Trispoke from US-brand Cole is a real high-quality offering. It’s full carbon with a 58mm-deep rim, 64mm spoke profiles and a weight, on our test model at least, of 736g, which is reasonable for a wheel of this type. It runs on sealed bearings that are super-smooth out of the box – give […]
Depending on the shape of your head, the 777 is either one of the best- or worst-fitting helmets available. If it takes to your noggin, it’s snug but not tight and secure without pinching. But if the 777 and your bonce don’t immediately bond, then forget it. However much you adjust the chin straps or […]
Their heritage may be steeped in the mountain bike market but recent history has witnessed Polaris diversify into road and tri. The Equilibrium is their 2011 tri-specific shoe: designed in America, made in China and sold in the UK at a mid-range price point. It features a single reverse strap, heel loop and wide opening […]
Northwave’s Evolution bibs are a contradictory affair: they somehow manage to feel loose despite being skintight. They’re not baggy and they don’t sag anywhere, yet they seem roomier than a typical pair of bike shorts. As such, they don’t offer the same support you’d get from a tighter pair but they’ll feel less like a […]
What do Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow and the Selle Italia SLR Tri Gel have in common? They all boast an uncommonly large nose. But while Streisand and Manilow are big successes despite their beaks, the SLR Tri Gel is a triumph because of it. Big noses are common in tri-specific saddles, as more padding can […]
Nalini’s Chiese jersey looks like something you’d expect to find in an S&M club. It’s black, skin-tight, has a front that looks like it’s made from PVC and a back made from mesh. It’s designed to keep you comfortable when you get hot under the collar so, although meant for cycling, it may be useful […]
Another helmet deemed good enough to be worn by the pros, with Bradley Wiggins and the rest of Team Sky HD protecting their noggins with this offering from Italian manufacturer Kask. Although the Vertigo comes in lighter than the Ionos at a svelte 270g, it doesn’t skimp on luxury. The internal padding is extremely plush, […]
With a striking appearance, the Anubi delivers both form and function to punch above its price point. The 260g is bang on the mark and the 25 vents provide extremely effective ventilation. Getting a perfect fit is a breeze thanks to a massive range of vertical adjustment and a positive dial ratchet for horizontal. It’s […]
You’ve got to admire the guts of Giro, not only putting forward very expensive helmets, but also offering very cheap options too. When considering the features you’ve got to remember that the Transfer is less then half the price of the next cheapest we tested. Padding is on the sparse side but the dial cradle […]
The heaviest helmet on test at 315g, the styling of the Volt is in your face and verging on garish. Fortunately Bell offer different colour and design schemes from our sample. The padding, although removable for washing, is meagre and on the thin side. The cradle is average, offering vertical and horizontal adjustment but does […]
As with all Rapha products you’re either willing to take the hit on your wallet or you’re not. You can almost guarantee that they’ll never let you down regarding either form or function, but £35 is an awful lot to pay for a woolly hat. Once on it feels delightfully comfortable against your head and […]
This is a cap that’d have people thinking you’d time-travelled from an Elizabethan seminary if you dared to wear it without a helmet. Once hidden away, though, the Barrier sits well under your helmet and, although not as comfy against the scalp and ears as some of the other caps, the brushed internal facing couldn’t […]
At first glance it appears that Sugoi hasn’t broken the mould with the Versa. All the key components are here – a quality water-resistant and breathable fabric, a smattering of reflective detailing and a dynamic cut. There’s also a good-length tail, elastic cording to keep out the elements and plenty of pockets, all at a […]
These aren’t the most supple tyres in Panaracer’s line-up but they come with a casing that’s tough and reasonably lightweight – hit an unexpected object in the road and chances are that the sidewalls will survive intact. There’s a puncture-breaker running underneath the tread that provides superb defence against all kinds of sharp stuff – […]
Strong and durable, Gatorskins have to be the most popular training tyres out there, and the Gator Hardshell takes things a step further with even greater toughness. We didn’t puncture once in these despite autumn thorns littering our regular routes. Conti’s dense polyester anti-puncture breaker belt – they call it Poly-X – extends right into […]
£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 […]
Having made a significant impact in recent time with their high-end compression tights, Australian brand Skins has launched a range of cycling kit to the same high specifications. At £150 these shorts are aimed at the Assos/Rapha end of the market with top-quality materials, fit and styling. Taking these points one at a time, the […]
For the purists out there, dedicated to the essence of cycling, a product like this is a real statement. The simple, no-nonsense application of luxurious materials in a classic cut and retro style is a two-fingered salute to our obsession with synthetic engineering. With a large dollop of Merino wool, this jacket can take on […]
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