January: the regrettable necessity of the Gregorian calendar that’s comparable only to miserable things like defeat and failure. That said, sporting defeat – indeed any kind of defeat – gives meaning and texture to victory and triumph. Just ask Ineos (once they start winning again). January, too, gives meaning to the rest of the year. It’s the rough to July’s smooth; the dark to spring’s light; the opening bars of an interminable symphony that ends at Christmas. It’s a slog, but an ultimately rewarding one.
If you can face it, and you’re well-equipped, January can be a great time for actual outdoor riding. There are fewer people out (including cars) and your local lanes and routes can feel like they’re reserved solely for you. Just make sure you throw on a clip-on mudguard at the very least. Wet arses are bad all year round. Or if that’s not for you, check out our review of the TrainingPeaks Virtual training app.
Ewan Wilson has taken evasive action to escape the wetness, hopping off to his annual Calpe training camp to throw his hat into the Coll de Rates KOM discussion. But he’s also left us with the fruits of his deep dive into the pro cycling crystal ball, and what could be in store for the next transfer window as well as the full schedules for the big hitters in men’s cycling. Robyn Davidson has run the rule over the fastest riders in women’s sprinting right now and highlighted the transfers that we should keep an eye on.
Our reviews are coming through as thick and fast as a Faithful on an aero bike. My review of Castelli’s updated Perfetto RoS 3 Aircore ‘jerket’ is live, as is James Spender’s Cervélo S5 write-up. We’ve also covered the Sonder Camino AL gravel bike and a raft of frame bags, starting with the Tailfin Half Frame bag.
There’s loads more to check out on the site, but I’ll get into some kit bits now. Adieu sozmas!
Ortlieb Duffle Bag and Saddle Bag
Expert luggage maker Ortlieb knows what’s up when it comes to hauling cargo around, on or off the bike. The brand has launched a new range of bags that adds both colour and high performance to its offering.
The Duffle Lite is a waterproof holdall that doubles as a backpack, complete with different types of padded straps. It’s available in both 40 and 60-litre sizes but has additional daisy chain loops running along its edges, so you can lash extra bits of kit to your side if you don’t mind it being exposed to the elements. Sorry sliders: it’s an alfresco berth for you.
Ortlieb has used a tear-resistant PS33 fabric to make the bag as durable as possible, meaning it’s good for commuting or more ambitious adventures. There is an external zipped pocket for small volume valuables, or, if you’d rather keep things under lock and key, the main compartment can be padlocked.
More cycling-specific is the Micro-bag: a lightweight saddle bag that has a strong, screw-in fixing. Coming in either a 0.5 or 0.8L volume, the waterproof bag mounts to any saddle rail but can be quickly accessed and removed without detaching the entire structure.
There are reflective panels to improve visibility on the road, though it’s worth mentioning that the bag can’t be used with carbon saddles. The bags come in these very natty pink and blue combos, so you should be easy to see day or night.
Tailfin HydroMount
Want to load up your bike but can’t find one with enough integrated bottle bosses and mounts? Well, Tailfin thinks it has the answer. Launched earlier this month, the HydroMount is the strap-on you’ve been waiting for.
The hallmark Tailfin hooked straps slide through the body of the contoured HydroMount, which can then be fastened to your chosen bit of tubing. The Mount has threaded bottle cage fixings so you can screw whatever you like in there. Most common will be the 64mm bottle cage – but it’s not limited to bidons.
The two-strap version can hold a 1kg load, or the three-strap version holds 1.5kg. This opens the door to transporting a stove or other handy bike packing kit, so long as it fits inside the straps and doesn’t get in the way of your moving legs.
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Kostüme winter kit
I’ve been following Bristol-based apparel brand Kostüme for a couple of years and the latest release really moves things forward. It’s the first time Kostüme has released winter kit, focussing on high utility, durability and smart design.
If you aren’t aware of Kostüme’s production model, it’s worth reading up. Essentially, it runs a pre-order service that minimises waste, over-stocking and discounting, leaving the brand to focus on sourcing high-grade materials and customer service.
The latest release, named #EDIT006, features tights, gilet, jersey, base layer and neck warmer, all in a very fetching mix of pink and purple.
The Winter Cargo Jersey is designed to work in every season except summer. As with all Kostüme kit, it’s predominantly recycled and uses Polartec Power Shield RPM panels to add water protection in key areas. The double-knit fabric on the body traps air for insulation, while Kostüme says its dense stitching helps block cold wind. It’s fitted with a massive six pockets, so the indecisive riders out there can just shove everything in and hit the road.
There are yet more pockets in the Windproof gilet: four to be exact. Two zipped on the front and two open on the rear. Kostüme claims the gilet is both waterproof and breathable, and packs down easily to fit into, yep, another pocket. To clarify: when it’s not in use, the gilet packs down into its own rear pocket and can then be stored in a pocket elsewhere.
Kärcher OC3 Foldable power washer
For much of my life, I haven’t had access to private outdoor space in which to wash my bikes. This has resulted in a number of ruined bathtubs and showers where I have ill-advisedly chosen to deglaze filthy two-wheelers. Sorry, previous landlords.
Luckily, I now do, and I have the tools to match.
Kärcher‘s OC3 Foldable is a pressure hose that smartly packs down into a very stealth package. This means it has a volume of 8L but concertinas into a third of its maximum size. Power is provided by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that gives you 15 minutes of washing time. That doesn’t sound like much, but I am almost always done with my cleaning within 15 minutes, especially if I’ve given it a once over with a sponge first.
Since it only weighs 2.2kg, the OC3 is supremely portable and absolutely ideal for racers or travellers who need a way of washing their bike when of no fixed abode. Kärcher also sells a load of attachable accessories for your different needs. Got a dog and a Pinarello to clean, no worries. Just swap your pet attachment for your universal brush.
The Fence on The Pub
I never miss a chance to shout out other leading print publications, so The Fence is getting some action today. Not only is it a very well-written quarterly periodical that covers all manner of current and evergreen issues in a style that lives somewhere between The New Yorker and The White Pube, but it also chances its arm at creating actual hardback books too.
I’m a pretty easy person to buy for when it comes to Secret Santa (anything pub or Coventry City-related, or bubbling in vinegar will be well received) but our ads head honcho Adrian really smacked it out of the park with this book, simply titled The Pub.
You could lower it to the status of toilet book, something to be flicked through while you’re dropping off the kids, but that would be to do it a disservice. It’s a marbled melange of illustrations, vignettes, rankings, asides, tangents on asides, and good old-fashioned opinion pieces about subjects as esoteric as service station grog holes. In fact, it’s so diverting, you’ll be too distracted to drink your famous pint.
It also includes writing from one of my favourite pubfluencers (what a job that is) Jimmy McIntosh aka The Grogfather (@londondeadpubs on Instagram), who has, in my opinion, nailed the mood for this kind of writing. McIntosh suspends the reader in that cognitively dissonant state of smirk and chin stroke, as you digest the boluses of insight that are delivered at that irreverent and debilitatingly facetious pitch.
So thanks Adrian. Not only am I enjoying it immensely, I’ll be buying it for all my male friends who deserve only a £15 present and no more.
