Now that we're in December, utterance of the C-word is officially acceptable in my book. And what better than an early Christmas present in the form of First Look Friday?
However, before I unveil a bonanza of goodies, I'll have to keep you in suspense just a little longer while we recap on the week just gone.
Senior technical writer Simon von Bromley penned a love letter to his go-to Sportful Fiandre Light NoRain Vest in the latest of our semi-regular High Mileage Heroes series. I've never really been one for gilets myself in the winter, swearing by my Castelli Gabba 2 jacket, but Simon's effusive praise may have tempted me to give them another go.
Nick Clark was the only contender who could have reviewed his namesake Clarks CRS C4 brakes, and he came away highly impressed by with their impressive stopping power and lever feel.
Digital writer Jack Evans brought us news of the new Focus Paralane, the German brand's latest rendition of its endurance road bike. The bike has clearance for 35mm road bike tyres, with tubes that have undergone an aero makeover for increased stiffness. We were also treated to his first ride review from the atmospheric Vosges mountains in eastern France.
Jack also introduced us to his Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2, which will be his long-term bike for the next year.
Although cyclocross bikes conjure images of race weapons with tight tyre clearances and shoulder-friendly top tubes, this latest TCX has clearance for 45mm gravel bike tyres and dropper post compatibility if you want to get rowdy.
Jack's already baptised the bike in some truly filthy conditions in a handful of cyclocross races in the West Midlands.
Finally, we brought news that Strava has introduced messaging on its app, so you can now slide into people's DMs or chat directly in a group. Will it replace WhatsApp or other popular messaging systems as the platform of choice for organising rides? Only time will tell.
Castelli Trail GT Jacket
Castelli markets the Trail GT Jacket as being made for riding in “wild weather”.
The jacket is constructed from Gore-Tex Paclite Plus, which is designed to balance being waterproof and windproof while being breathable, ultralight, packable and robust. Castelli suggests a 2 to 16°C temperature range.
The Trail GT Jacket is fully seam sealed and even the zips are waterproofed.
There are two pockets at the front that can be opened for ventilation and two at the rear for extra storage. An adjustable drawstring at the waist enables you to dial in the fit.
You also get an adjustable wrist closure that can close to shut out rain or open for ventilation.
There are two pockets at the front that can be opened for ventilation and two at the rear for extra storage. An adjustable drawstring at the waist enables you to dial in the fit.
You also get an adjustable wrist closure that can close to shut out rain or open for ventilation.
The jacket weighs 297g in a size medium (true to Castelli's claim) and packs down easily when not needed.
I can foresee it being just the ticket for bikepacking escapades, where you keep a waterproof handy as an insurance policy that you can quickly chuck over your gear.
My current favourite waterproof jacket, the Patagonia Dirt Roamer Storm, saw extensive use when I rode the Pictish Trail back in the summer. Will the Castelli Trail GT, a jacket with a 60 per cent price premium, top it? Only time will tell.
The Trail GT Jacket is available in Dark Grey or Pompeian Red (as pictured here) from sizes XS to 3XL.
- £460 / $549.99 / €399.95 / AU$749
Sidi Shot 2S road shoes
Sidi’s Shot 2S shoes are the update to the Shot 2, one of my favourite road cycling shoes that I’ve ridden countless miles on.
The updates are pretty modest, with the Italian brand focusing on improving comfort and using more sustainable fabrics.
The upper is now made of recycled materials, specifically a mesh and Bioveg, derived from recycled materials and cereal (yes, you read that right), which is claimed to be more breathable, abrasion-resistant and supportive.
The brand is also now using a ‘95 per cent recycled insole’ for improved comfort.
The Shot 2S shoes sport a twin Tecno 3 Push Flex dial closure system on the tongue, whereas the brand’s dials are located at a more conventional side location on the Wire shoes.
The ‘Adjustable Heel Retention Device’, a pair of screws that enable you to dial in the heel’s fit, remains. I’ve long appreciated this feature on my other Sidi shoes because my heel is quite narrow and it really locks it in place.
The shoes are available in four colours – Anthracite / Black, White / Black, Black / Grey and Black.
I’ve gone for plain ole’ Black (it matches everything) in a size 45.5.
- £425 / €419
Koo Alibi glasses
The Alibi sunglasses are Koo's latest flagship model. They use a half-frame design, which Koo says is for maximum visibility, and feature rounded arms for a secure fit.
The frame is made from Grillamid, a polymer designed and developed in Switzerland, which is said to be resistant to shocks.
Zeiss provides the cylindrical polycarbonate lens and there are ventilation holes at the top of the lens to prevent the glasses steaming up.
Elsewhere, there are replaceable nose pads made of soft rubber to improve comfort and the glasses are compatible with prescription glasses via an optical clip.
There are eight colours to choose from, two of which feature photochromic lenses. I’ve got them here in Dark Blue Matte with a Photochromic Red Mirror lens.
- £170-200 / $190-235 / €180-220 / AU$280-340
7mesh gravel clothing
7mesh Men’s S2S Jersey LS
The S2S Jersey LS is a new release from the Canadian brand for this winter and is designed for variable conditions on road and gravel.
It uses 7mesh’s new Airmap technology, which the brand says is designed to “put air in its place”. Airmap is said to control air movement while optimising water resistance, breathability and air permeability. It’s also PFC and PFAS-free (chemicals that harm the environment), Bluesign-approved and Oekto Tex Standard 100 certified.
The brand is using the technology on an array of mountain bike clothing, but for road and gravel you have the option of this jersey or the S2S Vest, which retails for £180.
This jersey (which feels more like a light jacket) sees a three-layer body fabric paired with two layers at the sleeves and one at the underarms for breathability.
You get reflective details at the rear hem, sleeves and chest, and there’s a two-way zip for mid-ride adjustments.
There are three spacious pockets at the rear, as well as a zipped fourth pocket for valuables.
A size-medium jersey is claimed to weigh 228g.
The S2S Jersey LS is available in six sizes, from XS to XXL, and three colours – Black, Prince and Butterscotch, the latter of which I have here.
HDcap 7mesh x Ciele
7mesh has collaborated with fellow Canadian brand Ciele for this skullcap, which uses a thermal WTV (Wind Thermal Ventilation) fabric. This is a proprietary fabric from 7mesh, which is claimed to simultaneously retain and release heat as you ride.
The cap is large enough to also cover your ears and the peak is flexible (perfect for riders like me who like to ride with the peak up).
It’s available in three colours (Black, Raisin and Ultra Green) and two sizes – S/M and L/XL.
I got to use this cap a couple of weekends ago on the 308km overnight Moonrakers and Sunseekers audax, where it was one of the stars of the show.
It was a seriously cold night, with temperatures reaching -4°C. To paint a picture of just how cold it was, the water in my bottles froze.
While I dressed suitably for the occasion, my head was never cold throughout the ride (my fingers, on the other hand…) and I really appreciated the well-considered fit. I can see this skullcap becoming one of my winter staples.
- 7mesh Men’s S2S Jersey LS – £280 / $300 / €300
- HDcap 7mesh x Ciele – £70 / $70 / €75
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bags
Dry bags are a great way of organising your equipment inside your bikepacking bags and can even function as a main bag when combined with some Voile straps.
These Ultra-Sil dry bags from Sea to Summit are a lightweight but tough option, thanks to the 30D Cordura nylon fabric construction. While the brand says they’ll withstand water, they’re not designed to be submerged.
They weigh next to nothing, with the 3L claimed as 30g and the 35L 74g – a small price to pay for peace of mind that the contents are going to be kept safe.
The semi-translucent finish means you can locate items easily and the slippery finish to the fabric is claimed to make sliding the dry bag in and out of packs effortless.
Once you’ve loaded the bag, it’s secured with a waterproof, roll-top hypalon closure. The closure includes Sea to Summit’s Field Repair Buckle, which means they can be replaced with a screwdriver if they ever break.
Sea to Summit recommends rolling the top at least three times over to ensure an optimum seal.
The Ultra-Sil bags are available in six sizes (3, 5, 7, 13, 20 and 35L) and five colours – High Rise Grey, Spicy Orange, Atoll Blue, Tarragon Green and Zinnia Yellow.
I’m looking forward to trying these bags out on trips I have planned next year.
- Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 3L – £16 / $22.95 / €18.95 / AU$22.99
- Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 5L – £18 / $24.95 / €21.95 / AU$24.99
- Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 8L – £21 / $29.95 / €24.95 / AU$28.99
- Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 13L – £24 / $32.95 / €28.95 / AU$32.99
- Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 20L – £28 / $35.95 / €34.95 / AU$39.99
- Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 35L – £32 / $39.95 / €39.95 / AU$46.99
QEJA socks
A bonus inclusion, QEJA (pronounced kay-jah) is a relatively young company formed in 2020 that is trying to combine the everyday and cycling sock into one.
Designed in Sweden and manufactured in Italy, there are three styles in the range – Ankle, Classic Crew and Climb Series. The socks are crafted from organic cotton for breathability and comfort, and Q-Skin for durability and anti-odour.
The socks are left/right-specific (the sock with the asymmetrical stripe is for your right foot) and there’s a vast array of colours to suit different tastes.
- QEJA Classic Crew socks – $18
- QEJA Climb Series socks – $18
- QEJA Ankle socks – $16
