ESSENTIALS

Essential kit for your gift list

It’s again that time of year where you need to consider how to fill your Christmas stockings. We have six ideas, from Rapha embrocation cream to, er, stockings, from Feetures

1 RAPHA WINTER EMBROCATION £20 The extensive list of ingredients is based around such agents as wintergreen and capsicum – designed to warm the skin – and arnica, which is said to ‘help stimulate circulation and warm the muscles’. As for the fragrance, it’s inspired by Mont Ventoux’s flora.

2 FABRIC SILICONE TAPE £29.99 Not just any old silicone, but no less than ‘medical grade silicone’ says Fabric. Available in six colours, the tacky material is designed to be shock absorbent and easy to clean. It comes with finishing tape and black bar ends with an embossed triangular logo.

3 POC AVIP TOE CAPS £30 Bright, windproof, waterproof, POC’s AVIP – Attention, Visibility, Interaction and Protection – toe caps should be durable too, with no seams to tear.

4 FEETURES ELITE £12.50 These feature a ‘Power Arch’, ‘iWick fibers’ (or fibres) and ‘The Perfect Toe’ (no irritating seam), apparently. The 94% nylon, 6% Spandex socks are comfortable, warm and come with a lifetime guarantee.

5 GUEE COB-X SET £34.99 Simple to use, quick to charge and with a 160° field of visibility, Guee’s Cob-X pairing is ideal as a backup to more powerful lighting or on its own in urban riding on lit streets. Run times range from 4.5 hours on constant to 15 on strobe.

6 MADISON ISOLER MERINO £12.99 Merino wool (mixed with polyester) is still a good choice for mid-season cycling, when the weather can be cold and damp without being freezing. The Isolers have grippy silicone on the palms, thumb, index and middle fingers. For touchscreen connectivity, the same digits have silver tips.