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The top biking gear to keep you snug and toasty, and make you stand out like a beacon
Biking nut Nick Odantzis brings you six must-have gadgets and accessories to make you cycle like a pro. Froome, eat your heart out!
James Turner
James is a fairweather rider looking to expand his riding portfolio into the winter, but he’s worried his fingers will fall off and he’ll blend into the night. Let’s get him decked out.
Nick Odantzis
If we’re covering cycling in T3, you can bet your life that Nick will have something to do with it – what he doesn’t know about riding on two wheels isn’t worth knowing.
01 Cycliq fly 12
When the sun goes down, you want to make sure people see you coming when you’re pedalling along. The Fly 12 has a 400-lumen beam with a multitude of lighting modes, but if for some reason the blind buggers don’t spot you, the 1080p camera that craftily sits beside the light will capture them, so no matter the situation, you can be sure your back (er, front) is covered. £275, cycliq.com
02 gore element urban
Everyone knows that your core dictates the way your body functions. What you need is a technical jacket in your cycling wardrobe. Gore’s Element Urban is a softshell with Windstopper built in, so it’ll protect your vitals from the icy wind and, to a degree, rain, while a hood keeps your noggin warm. With hidden reflective inserts, you’re also covered at night, whether you go for full-on fluoro or ninja-assassin black. £199.99, goreapparel.co.uk
03 Proviz led x-vest
If your current jacket is letting you down when it comes to night-time rides, this neat vest from Proviz will ensure you grab the attention of dozy motorists thanks to six powerful LED lights in the rear, with hi-vis accents adding even more visibility. The X-Vest uses a breathable nano-tex material that claims to stop you overheating (fat chance!), while its waterproof design means it works in any weather. £29.99, provizsports.com
04 Cafe Du Cycliste Genevieve
This ridiculously stylish sweater from Café Du Cycliste (despite the name, it’s a men’s pullover) is designed to keep you warm and looking like a boss when you’re down the pub. The Merino-blend material is a thing of genius, doing double duty by staving off the chill while keeping you cool if you’re pedalling like a lunatic to get to your destination. £127, cafeducycliste.com
05 rapha winter gloves
When you’re riding along, admiring the crisp winter scenery, there’s nothing worse than frostbite fingers. This upsetting scenario is avoidable as long as your mitts have appropriate protection – cue the Rapha Winter Gloves. The wind- and waterresistant nylon fabric prevents the elements getting in, while the brushed lining gives you toasty insulation, and a Pittards goatskin palm with high-density foam padding makes the handlebars a pleasure to hold. £85, rapha.cc
06 Ortlieb velocity high visibility
Here at T3, we love stuff that looks normal but has hidden powers. At first glance, this Ortlieb bag appears black, but look closer and you’ll spot loads of micro hi-vis dots, thanks to the bag’s ‘high-luminosity reflective yarn’. This means the pack is a giant reflector but you don’t look like a giant roadsign. £110.99, ortlieb.com