Thanks to AI it’s a tough old time being a media website recently, so thanks for stopping by.
Despite the mess that is the internet we’ve been plugging away here at cyclist.co.uk with a week of great content.
We started with stage-by-stage previews of the Giro d’Italia and Giro d’Italia Women, plus route analysis of the men’s race and some suggestions of which riders should be at the start in Bulgaria.
We’ve also had a mass of buying guide updates as well as a new one totting up our favourite 1x road bikes, freelance writer Emma Cole rounded up some of the world’s top cycling coaches to finally figure out the perfect winter training plan, and just today Scribe Cycling launched its new wheels with rather eye-catching wavy spokes.
Let’s get In the Drops.
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The Road Book 2025
Robyn Davidson
It’s back. Ned Boulting’s cycling almanack The Road Book is now a fixture in the calendar, and you can now buy the 2025 edition.
It blends together hard data with lovely words from a plethora of the industry’s finest pens and a number of pros. This year the contributor list features such legends as Isaac del Toro and Cyclist‘s own Robyn Davidson, who, somehow, won the same number of Grand Tours this year.
BBB NanoStrike 1000i Plus and SignalBrake lights
Extra shoutout to Fusion Media and Standert for loaning me this lovely Kreissäge for my most recent adventure, which we’ll get to.
It’s flippin’ dark out these days, even before sunset there hasn’t been much in the way of sunshine around these parts recently, so bike lights are more essential than ever.
Thankfully I’ve been graced with this new set of lights from Dutch company BBB.
That strap is plenty long enough for all your aero seatposts, and don’t worry if you have a seatpost more like this, it reattaches round the other side to hide away.
Up front the NanoStrike 1000i Plus is an upside-down mounted dual-LED front light, providing 1,000 lumens and five modes for max visibility. It comes with a wireless remote for easy changing on the move (because it’s not always possible to reach while riding), and it’s made with aluminium housing making it durable in case of crashes. It charges via standard USB-C and weighs a claimed (I haven’t weighed this one) 125g.
The SignalBrake rear light features 45 COB lights to make it as visible as possible, and has a brake indicator to show those behind you when you’re slowing down. It has an extra-long strap mount meaning it can fit nicely even on aero seatposts, and its USB-C port is nicely hidden to keep rain and dirt away.
Buy now from Windwave (NanoStrike here, SignalBrake here)
Le Col x Wizard Works Teeny Houdini saddle bag
British cycling brands Le Col (clothing and such) and Wizard Works (excellent handmade bag manufacturer) have collaborated on a series of cycling bags.
There’s a bar bag, tool roll and this 0.5-litre Teeny Houdini saddle bag, which has a magnetic buckle and will fit all you need to sort a roadside puncture.
Teeny enough, but there’s bags of space inside, approx 0.5L worth.
Each bag is handmade in Wizard Works’ London studio with durable fabrics and reflective details.
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absoluteBLACK Flat Mount Disc Brake Adaptor
Lightweight. Refined. Anything but ordinary.
Brake adaptors are one of those parts every bike needs but that few riders ever think about. OEM versions are often heavy, utilitarian and visually uninspired. absoluteBLACK set out to change that.
Our Flat Mount Brake Caliper Adaptors strip away unnecessary weight while adding a touch of precision styling to your build. Each adaptor is paired with two titanium bolts, keeping the system both strong and exceptionally light. Available in black or grey finishes, they deliver a clean, purposeful look that complements modern road and gravel frames.
Compatible with the most common flat mount standards – including Specialized SL8 – these adaptors prove that even the smallest details deserve to be done right.
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What we’re into this week: Velefique and beyond
I was lucky enough to be sent for some winter sun last week in the wilds of the south of Spain just north of Almería. It was blue skies, warm at the bottom of the mountains, pretty chilly on the top but absolutely stunning and completely empty of cars. Incredible.
A big thank you goes to Stu from Velo Velefique for organising it and helping us out and his pal Dirk for coming along for the ride. Keep your eyes peeled for the Big Ride coming early 2026.
