More triathlon gear tests than any other website. EXPERT REVIEWS of the latest and best tri kit, including bikes, running shoes, wetsuits and clothing.
On the whole, the advent of LEDs and smaller, more powerful rechargeable batteries has shrunk the size of bike lights. Unfortunately the IXON IQ bucks this trend and is a whopper. Much of its size is down to the IQ-Reflector system that uses a large reflector to cast its beam rather than relying on direct […]
This light from Topeak is a chunky unit. In its defence, it’s undeniably a light for seeing with as well as being seen; is by far the brightest in this price bracket; and rather than just coping with unlit roads, provides enough light on its full well-flooded beam to ride confidently. Its size is largely […]
Cycle into work on a winter’s morning, unhook your Boomer in one easy flick of a rubber strap, plug it into the USB port on your computer to charge it, then ride home confident your light won’t die. With its simplicity of design and commuter-oriented functionality, the Boomer ticks plenty of boxes. For such a […]
Another front and rear package that includes a neat-looking single LED front light and a three LED rear. The rear runs off a single AA battery, delivers 80hrs of burn flashing and is extremely visible. The front isn’t much bigger than the AA battery that powers it but although giving 60hrs of burn flashing – […]
Small but perfectly formed, this neat light set from Blackburn would be ideal to stow in your bike jersey in case you get caught out at dusk or dull and foggy days. For such small units, both the front and rear chuck out a decent amount of light. On flashing mode you can see the […]
You’ll either love or hate the turquoise blue drums of the Tacx rollers but, in combination with the grey frame, they do have a certain minimalist futuristic cool look to them. With 370mm width they’re a good set of rollers to learn on; you’re gently encouraged to stay towards the middle but have some margin […]
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, […]
Our relationship with the Bullet cam was a seedy sounding love affair seemingly penned by Jarvis Cocker – initial skepticism leading to inseparability… before a return to the manufacturer’s warranty department. As reported in 264’s First Look, the Bullet is a mere three-inches long and is capable of recording 1.5hrs of 720p high-def footage in […]
Torhans has spent extensive time and money in the wind tunnel, and features such as the 72° rear trailing edge of the 887ml bottle that sits in line with most head tubes bears testament to this. Details like aero fairing for the straw is either impressive or excessive, depending on your take, but with Chrissie […]
Aquaman has been around since the very beginnings of triathlon in the early 1980s, and holds a substantial share of the wetsuit market in France and the USA. Due to issues around distribution and pricing, they’ve been conspicuously absent from the UK market for a while but are now back for 2011/12 with a new […]
Surely with running shorts, a bargain bin pair will serve you as well as a pair costing £45? Maybe for a few kms, but as runs get longer and especially if you’re targeting long-course races, for guaranteed comfort, zero chaffing and good fit, that extra spend is a prudent move. These shorts from Pearl Izumi […]
Sage Rountree is a yoga instructor who works with a range of athletes, from Ironmen to Olympians, everyday cyclists to team sport athletes. The book is split into three major sections. The ‘Measuring Recovery’ chapter briefly covers training and recovery theory before describing ways of knowing how recovered you are. These include mathematical models for […]
New Balance began their business in the early 20th century manufacturing arch supports for police officers and waiters. Their history of podiatry continues to be seen in their shoes, with the useful feature of different width shoes as well as standard sizes. The New Balance 1080 running shoe is designed for neutral runners with plenty […]
Tri-Clips is a new product aimed to speed up your T1. They consist of a small square unit that’s attached to your seat stays using a Velcro strap and a clip on a retractable cord. The clip is then attached to the heel of your bike shoes and allows the shoe to remain in a […]
Not the lightest or cheapest wheels on the market, but neither the heaviest nor most expensive. This means these wheels also occupy a very competitive niche, but they come out fighting. Built with heavier riders in mind, and built to last, they are solid, dependable and very well made. Machined braking surfaces add predictable stopping […]
With Zoot’s CompressRx Calf Sleeves having scored extremely highly in our calf guards grouptest last issue, we expected great things of their equivalent tights. The hefty price tag of £150 further raised our expectation bar. But getting the tights on is quite a task. Having been warned by the website to be gentle, it’s an […]
It’s amazing when you’re training how small irritations get blown up to irrational levels. That zip that doesn’t quite shut, a flapping bumbag strap or, if you train with music, headphones that pop out, tug or just act as a conduit for wind noise. Fortunately these great-value earphones from Radiopaq let you forget you’re wearing […]
Swimovate, creators of the revolutionary wrist-mounted swimming computer, the Pool-Mate, has teamed up with Speedo to help develop its Aquacoach watch. The four-year agreement allows Speedo to use Swimovate’s lap-counting technology. Speedo’s Aquacoach isn’t just a lap counter, though. It also estimates calorific expenditure and compares up to 50 sessions stored in its memory. The […]
This aesthetically strong, if not traditional looking shoe, gives a highly pleasant run experience. As soon as you put it on your foot, you’re aware of how good a fit it is: well-considered, snug and tight enough around the midsole, without causing discomfort. Wider feet might find the toe box a little restrictive but it […]
I’m sure we’ve all owned a set of Asics at some point in our lives and I’d hedge a bet that most of us have owned a pair of Gel-Nimbus shoes. The Gel-Nimbus 13 is, as the name suggests, the 13th style in a pedigree line of award-winning trainers. It’s a neutral high miler with […]
Here we have a shoe that’s trying to break down the paradigms of performance running footwear… and has failed. Or at least it has when you compare it to, say, the subtlety of Newton’s energy return system. Rather, the One One Bondi B (seriously?) will have you leaving the house looking like a Tweenie. Name […]
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