The start of a month always seems to bring out a decent bunch of online reviews. Here’s our pick o’ the bunch.
A new month it may be but we’re quite clearly still stuck in winter aren’t we? Hence this week’s reviews mostly seem to be about surviving the bad weather and the dark conditions.
Niterider Lumina 400 front light – Road.cc
Read the review | Buy it here (this is an old post and the linked content no longer exists)
“The light is provided by CREE LEDs, considered to be the brightest on the market. NiteRider says LEDs come in a wide range of color temperatures and many other light manufacturers use whatever is cheapest. They claim to spare no expense and only use LEDs with a colour temperature between 5700 and 6500 degrees Kelvin. The colour temperature of daylight is 5780 degrees Kelvin. By selecting LEDs that are as close to daylight as possible and a little on the blue side of the colour spectrum, this produces a very white light that simulates daylight and enhances the human eye’s ability to detect all the little things that go bump in the night.”
Assos iJ.BonKa.6 Cento jacket – BikeRadar
Read the review | Buy it here (this is an old post and the linked content no longer exists) (the Mille version)
“Unusually, Assos‘s iJ.BonKa.6 jacket – along with other garments from the Swiss maker – comes in two fit options, the more generous Mille, and Cento for the very athletic. Gear stowage is amply catered for by three deep drop pockets and zipped media pockets on each side too. It’s eye-wateringly expensive, but offers outstanding winter protection.”
Moa Fredonia short-sleeve thermal jersey – Cycling Weekly
Read the review | Buy it here (this is an old post and the linked content no longer exists)
“Great Fit.
Quality construction.
Good water resistance.
Good breathability.
Good tail.
Good pockets”
Santini Reef Rain Jersey – Cycling Weekly
“Its wet-weather protection is among the best that have been tested recently, and we stayed dry through lengthy rides in persistent rain — helped by the waterproof front zip, high collar, and sizeable bum flap. Reflective trim along the bottom and rear is a nice touch, making the Reef Rain a good choice for dark, miserable mornings.”
Sportful Fiandre NoRain Bibtights – Cycling Weekly
Read the review | Buy it here (this is an old post and the linked content no longer exists)
“In terms of fit and comfort we were generally pleased with the performance of the Sportful Fiandre NoRain bibtights. As well as improving warmth, the brush-fleeced inner was extremely comfortable, as were the mesh bib straps and the slim Bodyfit Pro chammy. The ankle grips and zippers also ensured the bibtights were kept firmly in place, not riding up while pedaling.”
Castelli Gabba 2 jacket – Cycling Weekly
“Superb fit.
Excellent breathability.
Good water resistance.
Perfect length tail.
Range of colours.
Looks great.
Good size pockets.”
Buyer’s guide: road bike groupsets – RCUK
“The groupset or ‘gruppo’ is the collective term for the components on your bike that take care of gear shifting and braking. As a result, the groupset is a key part of the make-up of your machine, alongside the frame itself and the wheels. In this buyer’s guide we’ll take a closer look at the groupset components, run through which manufacturers supply the mechanical heart of your bike and consider what you get for your money.”
My favourite pieces of winter clothing – London Cyclist
Read more | Buy the Sportful tights here (this is an old post and the linked content no longer exists) | Buy the Castelli overshoes here (this is an old post and the linked content no longer exists)
“Of course, I’m a ‘lady’, and many readers out there will be men – but never fear, all of these items come in male varieties, anyway (as is pretty much always the case, you guys have all the luck in cycling kit).”
Cateye Rapid Mini rear light – Road.cc
“All in all then, the Rapid Mini is a great option for a cheap and effective rear light, suitable for commuting on unlit roads. But what’s been most impressive is how it has stood up to some properly nasty winter conditions and some manhandling on the part of the tester. Too lazy to remove it before cleaning my bike, it has taken direct hits from the hose pipe and lived to tell the tale.”
Merlin X2.0 cyclocross bike – Cycling Weekly
“The Merlin X2.0 is a good option for anyone looking to get into cyclocross without having the bank manager knocking on the door. It comes with a carbon fork for a little extra comfort, and more importantly has a great spec with the Shimano, Avid, and Fulcrum kit doing everything we asked without complaint.”