GARMIN EDGE 1040 SOLAR £629.99

The Garmin Edge has long been the best bike computer series on the market. Sure, it looks pretty old-school compared to your smartphone, with a 3.5in screen and chunky bezel, but if you want guiding on a ride, only a real-life human will do the job better. The new Edge 1040 Solar takes things a step further, and we’re not talking about the solar-charging capacity.

True, the new device has something Garmin calls Power Glass, where the entire lens acts as a photovoltaic cell to give you more run time. The main body of glass is 10% reactive to sunlight, but there’s a border running round the edge that is 100% reactive that does the bulk of the work. It’ll stay alive for 100 hours in battery-saver mode, according to Garmin, and an additional 42 minutes per hour during daytime riding. Naturally that’ll be considerably less in the dead of winter and when navigating with GPS.

Finding your way is what it’s all about for the new Edge 1040 Solar though, and the location accuracy has improved to a claimed +/-2m, Garmin says. Old models used GPS for this, the US system we’ve all come to know and love, while the Edge 1040 Solar gets access to multi-band GNSS technology. In layman’s terms it can now hook up to

GPS rivals GLONASS from Russia, Europe’s Galileo, China’s Beidou, and a host of others, meaning there are more satellites to triangulate your position. More satellite fixes means an improvement in accuracy, and a greater likelihood the device will be found under tree cover… perfect for mountain bikes then. It helps correct for errors caused by atmospheric effects, and it also listens to signals in multiple frequencies from each satellite, making it easier for the unit to disregard signals that bounce off trees or hills and distort your position.

We also like the new stamina insights the unit can give you, because you can now see what level of exertion you’re putting out in real time during a ride and consequently how much recovery you’ll need – useful if you’re saving yourself for a big day, race or event. The new device is also easier to set up because you can port your old profile over – something rivals like Wahoo were much better at.

Then there are a host of upgrades to the outgoing model, most of which are really aimed at roadies or those who are super-serious about training, like Power Targets to help you manage your efforts through a course. If you’re into following routes, or you’re serious about training metrics, the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar looks like a superb tool. garmin.com

RIDE TO ROAM

Patagonia’s Dirt Roam Storm Jacket uses a recycled nylon shell with DWR coating to keep out wind and light rain; inside, there’s a polyester liner. Has a stowable helmet hood, interior chest pocket, back pocket/stash sack; comes in men’s and women’s versions. £230, eu.patagonia.com

TROY LEE DESIGNS FLOWLINE KIT

Flowline is a whole new line for Troy

Lee – the US brand says it offers the best blend of tech, performance and comfort, rivalling the Ruckus, Sprint, and Skyline ranges. It’s easier on the wallet too, meaning you can now get access to some of the best-looking kit out there for half the cost of the top-end stuff.

The Shifty Short (Shell Only, £70) is made from Coolmax polyester, and with shorter legs and smaller waist it’s aimed at hot-weather riding or those wanting a slimmer fit. It’s got style in spades.

The fabric has good eco credentials too, it’s Bluesign approved, while the whole

DOWN TIME

The Rab Outpost 300 Down Sleeping Bag is filled with hydrophobic duck down to keep you toasty on bikepacking adventures this autumn. Has a Pertex recycled nylon shell with DWR coating, polyester liner, is rated down to 5°C, and weighs 1,000g. £210, rab.equipment

BUTTER BY DESIGN

thing is not short on features – rubber waist adjusters, zip fly and single-snap closure and extra, Velcro-close pockets inside the hand pockets.

Made from a blend of polyester and ringspun cotton, the Short Sleeve Jersey (£55) is deliciously soft to the touch, with a relaxed fit and fast-wicking material, TLD says. What’s clear is that the tie-dye screams 1990, which is a strong look right now. The Flowline Glove (£25) uses a single-layer palm, laser-cut vents, touchscreen thumb and index finger, and a velcro cuff to complete the look. saddleback.co.uk

Specialized made its Butter line of clothing in honour of Loic Bruni – as such, it’s all cool and controlled, with a hint of warp speed. The Trail Long Sleeve Jersey is made from Minir fabric that reflects the sun, has a UV 50+ rating and a relaxed fit. £55, specialized.com

EASY RIDER

Lightweight e-bikes are here, and with it comes the new HXC 1501 SPLINE ONE LS wheelset from DT Swiss. Ideal for motors with less torque, it’s lighter, uses a new hub with bigger bearings, a carbon rim, thinner spokes, and has a system weight of 130kg. €1,668.80, freewheel.co.uk