I recently tested the Ritchey WCS Evo Max bar, which I really liked, and next up is this WCS VentureMax, which I also really like. It's a bit of a different beast, but the flared shape is really good for a range of applications.

Ritchey says that 'The VentureMax is just as applicable on a cross country tour as on cross country singletrack', and that's sort of true: it's a versatile bar for a range of bikes, the range really starting at touring, heading through cyclo-cross and monster cross and ending up at bikepacking.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

The VentureMax has double the flare of the Evo Max, 24° instead of 12°. That means the loop down to the drop is at quite an angle and the levers end up on the squiff too. That doesn't really affect the feel when you're riding on the hoods or the availability of the levers from the drops. What it does mean is the gear shift is much more of a downward push than a twist inwards, which I found preferable on longer rides.

Ritchey Venture Max Road Bar 2.jpg

The levers are a bit more exposed than on a standard drop, so take care squeezing through the gaps. You wouldn't want to catch one on a gatepost and nearly go over the bar. Not that I'd know.

Ritchey Venture Max Road Bar 3.jpg

This bar has an 'ergo bio bend', which means it's a fairly shallow drop, and the dropped part is kinked up before dropping back at the end, giving you a sort of platform for your hand when you're on the drops. It's a pretty good shape and shallow enough that on an adventure bike, which is likely to be quite tall, it's a comfortable position for long stints. There's enough give in the triple butted alloy tubing to make it a pretty comfortable position too, so long as you're happy with the width: it's a wide bar for its stated size, and that's reflected in the weight too; there's a lot of metal in it.

> Read our guide to gravel and adventure bikes

So who'd benefit from the VentureMax? Well, it offers a comfortable position in the drops that's also good for a bit of extra control, so if you're apt to venture off on stuff that's a bit more technical than tarmac, it's a good choice. Maybe not for cyclo-cross racing unless you're sure they're not making you do any tight turns in the wooded bit, but general gravel/trail/mixed riding up to bikepacking or touring. There's plenty of room in there for a bar roll too. Hoods and tops are fine, and there's plenty of real estate for computers, lights and such.

It's a good quality wide alternative for alternative bikes, but it is a bit expensive. The Comp version gives you the same shape for half the money (£39), and the difference in weight is unlikely to be an issue on the sort of bike you’d fit it to – though we haven't tested it so don’t know how it compares in terms of comfort.

Verdict

Good adventure-ready flared bar with a comfy drop position

Ritchey Barkeepers are bar end plugs and tyre levers combined. As you'd expect from Ritchey, they're well engineered and highly functional, though arguably best suited to owners of pared-to-the-essentials bikes, who puncture infrequently...

Given this, my tubby red tourer's moustache bar might sound a strange host, but so-so bar end plugs, a puncture, and a complete cable upgrade made it the perfect test bed.

> Find your nearest dealer here

There's nothing particularly exotic about their composition – we're talking high quality moulded composites – but they are engineered for a precision fit in the bar, and are unexpectedly pleasant to use when tackling a flat. Talking of which...

Having deflated the tyre completely and whipped the wheel from the frame, I set to with the lever components. Thinking they might be a little impotent, the curved lips actually did an excellent job of infiltrating and scooping the 1.6-section tyre bead free from the rim.

Portly rubber like this is usually pretty straightforward to reinstate, although come the final 10cm and the Panaracer in question typically requires a bit of persuasion. This time, gripping one section to prevent it creeping away, then popping the remainder home using a single Barkeeper proved surprisingly simple.

Christmas and New Year is traditionally a time when I revamp and tinker with my fleet, and this year I swapped my quirky 90s road bike's 23mm rubber for 25mm. Both put up more of a struggle than the Panaracer, but the Barkeepers were up to the job. Even applying considerable force, the composites didn't turn whippy or feel as if they might break.

> Beginner's Guide: How to mend a puncture

As bar end plugs they are similarly reliable, though they work best with adhesive-backed rather than pressure-fit tapes. Silicones, though naturally quite tenacious, tended to unravel when the Barkeeper was required for levering duty. This might be a non-issue for riders who puncture infrequently, but could be infuriating and potentially disastrous in a competitive context, if these were your only means of tyre removal.

Summing up, the Barkeepers are an ingenious use of otherwise dead space and do both their jobs very convincingly. That said, £15 seems pretty steep given nearly half that buys a pair of perfectly dependable plugs and levers.

Verdict

Neatly executed combination of lever and end plugs but steep compared with standalone products

Ritchey's WCS Carbon Echelon pedals have been updated with, as the name suggests, a carbon body and claw to make them über-light. There's a huge range of tension which is easily adjustable, different cleats are available and they offer a wide base for both comfort and power transfer. They'd have to come down in price to tempt me, though.

The composite body and claw really help to keep the weight down. At only 218g for the pair, they come in 2g lighter than the Look Blade Carbons that I am currently using (and 2g lighter than Ritchey claims). Shimano's Ultegra 6800 are 40g heavier but will save your pocket about £45 at RRP (and about £25 online – they're currently around £88, the Echelons around £113).

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

The stainless steel cleat plate does a very good job of protecting the pedal body from wear. It's replaceable via two T-10 screws should you experience excessive wear. In my two months of winter riding, I've not seen anything other than superficial wear.

Sealed cartridge bearings have kept the pedals turning very smoothly. The rotation is quite slow. They will stay in one position, unlike my Shimano Ultegra 6800 or Look Keo Blade pedals, which will stop with the heaviest part at the bottom. It doesn't affect riding, so it's not an issue at all.

The bearings have also stood up to washing very well. I get quite careless with high pressured water, but these resisted very well, with no signs of water ingress.

The adjustable tension range is really wide. The low end tension is great for easy unclipping and the extra-strong springs really clamp the cleat for powerful riders. Tensioning the pedals is done via a 3mm Allen bolt at the back of the pedal. At the lower end, I was able to slide my foot out easily, which was great for commuting, but they also felt secure with no accidental unclipping when I wanted to put a bit more power down.

The option to use either Ritchey or Look Keo cleats is very useful for those wanting to fine-tune their fit with different float ranges. The Ritchey cleats supplied are 7°, so I switched them to my preferred 0° fixed Look Keos to get my setup spot on.

I did, however, find that there is cleat rocking when at the lower tension range with Keo cleats. Ritchey sells both 0 and 7-degree replacement cleats, so I would stick with them if you intend to use the pedals with low tension. With the pedals tensioned above the midpoint, there were no issues. Ritchey told me that the issues with the Keo cleats seems to be the small rubber oval in the centre of the cleat. It protrudes, giving just enough space with a low tension setting to allow for the rocking. It suggests you could easily file this down, or just wait for it to wear itself down.

The pedals are very comfortable to use. The wide body allows pressure to be spread evenly, meaning no hotspots under the ball of your foot. Out on the road, they are also very consistent; even with road muck and a good amount of grit in them, they continued to engage and release smoothly.

> Buyer's Guide: The best clipless pedals

In terms of value, they sit between the top end Shimano Dura-Ace/titanium axle Look Keo Blades and the more middle range Ultegra/chromoly axle Keo Blades. With an RRP of £165, they should represent a performance benefit over the Ultegras (£119) and the Keo Blades (£139). I couldn't see any improvement; if there is one, it's small. Yes, they provide a comfortable and stiff pedalling platform, but if it was my money I'd choose the Ultegra 6800s. As well as being cheaper, they have more cleat float options.

To sum up, these are very light, comfortable pedals with a huge range of release tensions. The bearings feel as smooth as new, after some horrendous riding conditions and less than careful washing. The price is still a sticking point for me, though. I just can't feel the £45 difference between these and an Ultegra pedal.

Verdict

Smooth and sturdy bearings and a huge tension range; the price reflects a top-end pedal, but it may be a little too high

The Ritchey Break-Away Carbon is a lightweight, performance-focused frameset that splits in two and packs down small enough to take as standard luggage when you fly. It really is a clever design.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

I usually talk about the ride first in a review because that's the exciting bit, but the Break-Away's USP is the innovative system by which it splits in half, so let's take a look at that to begin with.

Packing the Break-Away

The Break-Away splits at the top of the seat tube and at the bottom of the down tube, just in front of the bottom bracket, doing a similar job to S&S couplings but at a lighter weight. The top of the seat tube slots inside the end of the top tube, and the junction, which doubles as the seatpost clamp, is secured by two bolts.

Ritchey Breakaway Carbon - seat tube junction.jpg

At the bottom, two flanges that meet on the down tube are held together by a hinged clamp that bolts around the circumference of the tube.

Ritchey Breakaway Carbon - bottom bracket.jpg

I won't go into masses of detail but in order to pack the Break-Away you need to remove the pedals, disconnect the two parts of the cables (they use screw-in connectors), take off the handlebar and stem, remove the wheels and seatpost, and finally separate the two parts of the frame. That's all straightforward with a set of hex keys.

Ritchey Breakaway Carbon - cable detail.jpg

Then you need to package it all away into the travel bag. Again, it's not nuclear physics – anyone could do it. Ritchey has various protectors within the travel bag that comes as part of the package, but you might want some additional packaging material – pipe lagging or bubble wrap, for instance – to make sure everything is safe.

ritchey-break-away-packing-2.jpg

I printed off the instruction sheet, got a cup of tea, and set to work. I had the Break-Away packed up in 20 minutes – before I'd even finished my cuppa – and that included stopping to take a few photos along the way. That was without rushing and without stress. Honesty, it's really simple. I reckon you could do it in 10 minutes once you've learnt the process and don't need to refer to the instructions.

Ritchey Break-Away packing - 6.jpg

You'll be amazed at just how small the packed down bike is. Two dimensionally, it's not much larger than the size of the wheels. The travel bag comes with straps and its own little wheels so it's easy to move around, just like a normal suitcase.

Travelling with the Break-Away

The Break-Away's travel bag measures 8.5in x 26.5in x 31in (21.6cm x 67.3cm x 78.7cm). That's too big for cabin baggage, obviously, but it's small enough to be checked in as standard hold luggage on most airlines without incurring extra fees (there are exceptions, so always check out your airline's policies before flying).

I checked the EasyJet hold luggage allowance, for example. The maximum total size (length + width + height) of any item of standard hold baggage must be under 275cm. The Break-Away in its travel bag is comfortably below that at 167.6cm.

The weight limit for standard hold baggage with EasyJet is 20kg. The built-up Break-Away that I've been riding, plus its travel bag, is 13.8kg.

A standard bike in a standard bike box counts as oversized luggage and in most cases (there are exceptions) will incur an extra charge. A boxed bike is currently £35-£40 (depending on weight) per flight (not per booking) with EasyJet, for example, when booked in advance, and more if you pay at the airport.

> Check out road.cc's guide to flying with your bike

Travelling with the Break-Away could save you airline charges although, of course, you do have to buy it in the first place, and it's not cheap.

You'd have to save a lot of £40s to outweigh the £2,699.90 frame and fork price, of course (67.4975 of them, to be precise), but that's not the whole story, if you were to buy the Break-Away as your main/sole bike as opposed to an additional bike that you just used while travelling. Anyway, I'll leave you to work out the economics for your own personal circumstances.

Having a bike that packs into a suitcase-sized bag rather than a normal bike box might also save you hassle travelling to and from the airport. Taxis, trains and buses can sometimes be difficult with a huge bike box (I once had trouble getting from an off-site airport car park to the terminal with a bike box because I was apparently supposed to have booked it on the shuttle bus, FFS!). All that stuff is taken out of the equation by the Break-Away.

The ride

So the Ritchey Break-Away has plenty to offer in terms of travelability. Portability. Flyability. Whatever. But the big question is whether it's a bike that's actually worth taking with you. The short answer is that it is.

First things first: you certainly don't jump aboard the Break-Away and feel that the connection between the two parts of the frame is anything other than perfectly solid. If you didn't already know, you wouldn't be able to detect that it splits in the middle purely from the way that it rides.

Ritchey Breakaway Carbon - riding 2.jpg

Another thing that's worth pointing out early on is that Ritchey hasn't made any compromises in terms of fit. What you get here is a proper road bike geometry.

I've been using the large sized model with a 540mm seat tube, a 566mm effective top tube, and a 170mm head tube. The head angle and seat angle are both 73.5mm. The stack (the vertical distance between the centre of the bottom bracket and the top of the head tube) on this size is 580mm and the reach (the horizontal distance between those two points) is 394mm.

Ritchey Breakaway Carbon.jpg

That's a fairly typical road bike setup, more towards the race end of the spectrum than the endurance end. It's a setup that I got along with just fine.

If you're used to a super-stiff race bike with oversized everything, the Break-Away isn't quite that. You get a 1 1/8in headset (top and bottom) here, an English threaded bottom bracket and, though chunky enough, the tubes aren't as overbuilt as you'll find on some out-and-out race bikes.

Ritchey Breakaway Carbon - head tube.jpg

Get out of the saddle and sprint hard or bend the cranks on a steep climb and you will elicit some movement at the bottom bracket but we're not talking about loads. The Break-Away feels like a bona fide, card carrying road bike that just happens to be able to split in two.

Ritchey Breakaway Carbon - riding 1.jpg

Smashing through downhill bends is a similar story. The front end stiffness isn't quite up there with the very best but the Break-Away is no slouch when it comes to steering accuracy either. You're not left thinking that you have to accept sub-standard on-the-road performance in order to gain travel convenience. Far from it.

The Ritchey offers plenty of comfort via its slim stays and fork legs, and it takes a 27.2mm seatpost to soak up more vibrations from the road. Our review bike came with 25mm Ritchey WCS Race Slick tyres fitted but there's enough space to run 28s if you prefer.

Ritchey Breakaway Carbon - stays.jpg

The Break-Away is a decent weight too. It's sold as a frameset only with a claimed weight of 1,810g. That might sound a little heavy for something costing £2,700 but, of course, you have to factor in the fixings, the fact that the two parts of the frame overlap where they meet, those joints need to be built strong to handle the pressure of clamping... This isn't a normal frame.

Our complete bike, built up with high-end kit including a Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and Ritchey's own WCS Apex Carbon 38mm wheels, weighs just 7.15kg (15.8lb). Bearing in mind that the UCI's minimum weight limit for racing is 6.8kg, that's an impressively light setup and the Break-Away feels responsive and flickable out on the road. If you get dropped on the climbs by the locals when you're away on your travels, you won't be able to blame the bike.

Summing up

All in all, the Break-Away achieves its aims very well indeed. It's designed for people who regularly travel by air and who don't want the bother/expense of taking oversized baggage or organising a hire bike.

The handling isn't quite as sharp as that of an out-and-out competition bike, but the Break-Away is lightweight and comfortable, and you can take it anywhere in the knowledge that you're going to be able get the miles in on a familiar bike when you arrive.

Thanks to Cadence bike shop in Bath for its help in putting together this review.

Verdict

An innovative design that offers a true road bike performance while being packable into a suitcase-sized travel bag

A change of pedals can lop a chunk of weight off your bike and also give you a chance to switch to pedals that work better in other ways such as providing a broader platform for your shoes or user-friendly double-sided mechanism.

In the selection of lightweight, high-end pedals below we’ve picked pedals designed to save weight but that also improve over regular or less expensive designs in other ways.

For example, Look’s latest Keo Blade pedals have a very large steel contact plate, which in theory makes the cleat — and therefore the shoe — steadier on the pedal.

The Hairsine ratios for these pedals are based on Shimano’s 330g R540 pedals, except for the Ritcheys which we’ve compared with Shimano’s 374g M520s.

>>Read more: Buyer's Guide — The best clipless pedals

Ritchey WCS Micro V4 — £68

Weight: 208g Hairsine ratio: 2.33

Ritchey Pro Micro V4 Road Pedals - pair

The Ritchey WCS Micro Road Pedals are lightweight, sleek pedals for SPD-cleat users. At 208g (plus cleats), they’re are at the lighter end of heavy; they’re almost certainly the lightest option if you want to use shoes you can easily walk in.

Once clicked in they feel just as good as any other high-end SPD-style pedal, with a decent amount of float, no fore-aft slop and clean entry/exit even with grime underfoot. Being single-sided you have to look a bit, and without the SPD-SL's large rear end they don't hang ready to clip into.

We didn't find flipping them over to engage to be any hassle, the compactness meaning they didn't want to spin all the way over under their own gravity. Double-sided SPDs might be a boon off-road where you are clipping in-out frequently, but for even moderately-experienced road users the single-sidedness of the Ritcheys shouldn't be an issue.

The Pro version we reviewed is no longer available, but the WCS model is lighter and has recently had a bearing and axle upgrade to prolong its service life.

Read our review of the Ritchey Micro V4

Find a Ritchey dealer

Speedplay Zero Stainless Pedals — £114.49

Weight: 208g Hairsine ratio: 1.06

Speedplay Zero pedals

Those who love Speedplays rave about the low weight, adjustability, and shallow stack. But it's undeniable they need more looking after than most pedals, the large cleat is awkward to walk in (the new aero cleat is a big improvement on the original naked cleat though) and they're susceptible to clogging from even the smallest amount of dirt.

But if you have knees that are in any way fragile, or you want pedals that are incredibly easy to enter and release but fit stiff-soled road racing shoes, their free float and double-sided designs make Speedplays well worth considering.

Read our review of the Speedplay Zero Stainless Pedals

Find a Speedplay dealer

Shimano Dura-Ace 9100 Carbon SPD-SL — £144.49

Weight: 228g Hairsine ratio: 0.71

Shimano PD-R9100.jpg

This is the lighter successor to the previous carbon-composite Dura-Ace pedals, with 20g less material around the go-on-forever internals that have always made Dura-Ace pedals long-term good value.

The pedal body is 63mm wide, which is exactly the same width as Look Keo Carbon Blades, so you get a shed-load of stability. Your cleats just don't rock on these pedals; it's an absolutely rock-solid platform (as is the Look design). Where Shimano scores over its French rival is that the stainless steel plate across the centre of the pedal body — over the top of the axle — is replaceable. If you eventually wear it down, you can fit a new one without the need to buy a whole new set of pedals. That makes a lot of sense.

The SPD-SL cleats you get in the box have 6 degrees of float - meaning that you can pivot your foot 3 degreees in either direction before becoming unclipped. I've always found that to be plenty for keeping the old knees happy although, of course, you might be different.

Read our review of the Shimano Dura-Ace 9100 Carbon SPD-SL

Xpedo Thrust XRF08CT — £178.03

Weight: 184g Hairsine ratio: 0.82

Xpedo.jpg

Despite their conventional steel springs, these carbon-bodied Look Keo clones from the upmarket arm of Taiwanese pedal giant Wellgo are very light, thanks to their pared-down carbon fibre bodies and titanium axles.

Out on the road these provide you with a whole lot of stability. That wide pedal body gives you a solid platform underneath your foot for putting down the power, with no rocking from side to side. The mechanism hangs on to your cleat securely, and if you wind up the tension there’s virtually no chance of your foot disconnecting unexpectedly.

Read our review of the Xpedo Thrust XRF08CT

Look Keo Blade 2 Carbon Ti Pedals — £149

Weight: 180g Hairsine ratio: 1.01

Look Keo Blade Ti Team.jpg

This is the lightest incarnation of Look’s Keo Blade pedals, which use a weight-saving carbon fibre leaf spring to provide the retention force in place of the usual steel coil.

We like the less expensive Keo 2 Max Blade and these have even more bells and whistles, including a very large steel contact plate for stability (700mm2 rather than the Max’s 400mm2) and titanium axle.

Look makes the Keo Blade 2 Ti in three versions with different spring tensions, but warns that you shouldn’t come crying to them if you crash because you can’t get out of the 20Nm version.

Read our review of the Look Keo Blade 2 Pro Team Carbon Ti Pedals

Time Xpresso 15 — £192

Weight: 140g Hairsine ratio: 0.99

TIME Xpresso 15 pedals

The Time Xpresso 15 pedals are extremely light and clipping in/twisting out could hardly be easier. The downside is the price, and the cleats wear noticeably faster than those of other brands.

At just 140g for the pair, they're phenomenally light thanks to carbon bodies, titanium axles, aluminium top plates and ceramic bearings. Clipping in is very easy thanks to a spring mechanism that stays open after you click out.

Read our review of the Time Xpresso 15

Find a Time dealer

Speedplay Zero Titanium Nanogram — £449.99

Weight: 120g Hairsine ratio: 0.47

Speedplay Nanogram

At just 120g/pair these race-day-only pedals are Speedplay's demonstration that the Zero design can be made extraordinarily light. Speedplay has often displayed superlight bikes at trade shows; these pedals help make bikes like those even lighter.

The low weight is achieved by the use of every lightweight material you can think of: carbon-reinforced thermoplastic bodies; ceramic bearings; titanium axles; titanium bolts; and aluminium top plates. The cleats have been lightened too with carbon fiber replacing the plastic and aluminium fasteners instead of steel. They're bonkers expensive, but you have to admire the fanaticism.

Find a Speedplay dealer

>> Read more: All road.cc pedal reviews

Ritchey have been promising us a steel gravel bike for some time now, and at this year's Eurobike show we finally got to see it: the Ritchey Outback.

Not only did we get to see it, we got to ride it: Ritchey had organised a 35km mixed surface loop direct from the show, to give the bikes a go. And not only did we get to ride it, but we got to ride it in the company of none other than Tom Ritchey himself. CLANG!

> Review: Ritchey Swiss Cross Disc

Tom is a mountain bike legend, and has been part of the scene from the very beginning; he was one of the very first inductees into the MTB hall of fame when it started way back in 1988.  Since then he's been a big player in the bike industry, with the Ritchey bike and component brands continuing to innovate, with Tom himself very much involved in the process. The Outback shares a lot of its DNA with the Swiss Cross Disc cyclocross bike, but geometry has been tweaked and clearances increased, for a less race-oriented position and the ability to fit wider gravel tyres. We had plenty of fun on it, as you can see.

We said that we'd try to get a bike in for a proper test here in the UK, and you'll be happy to know that one has just rolled through the doors of the road.cc office. And it's not just any Ritchey Outback: it's the one that our new best friend Tom is riding in the video. Once again: CLANG!

> Eurobike 2017: nine of the best adventure bikes

The spec is the same as the bike that we rode at Eurobike, save for the tyres which have been swapped out for some wider and slightly more off-road-oriented  Ritchey WCS Speedmax rubber. The bike will be available in the UK as a frame and fork only, so you can build it up with whatever you fancy. Look out for a full review on the bike soon.

If you’re after a relatively small and inexpensive present for the cyclist in your life, we have a whole bunch of suggestions to get you started. 

Yes, some of the items we’ve selected here are expensive for stocking fillers and you’d struggle to get a couple of them to into a Christmas stocking, but let’s not be too literal about it! What we have here is a miscellany of bike related bits and pieces that we think would make good presents. They range in price from £5.99 to £55.

Legends of the Tour book £14.99 

Buy now at Waterstones

Legends of the Tour by Jan Cleijne - pages 1.jpg

Yet another history of the Tour de France? Yes, but Legends of the Tour is different: it is in strip cartoon format. Dutch author Jan Cleijne's book speeds you though the entire history of Le Tour, focusing on the major events. This would make a really interesting present. 

Read our review 

Tour de France jersey tea towel £10

Buy now from Cycling Souvenirs

Set_Jersey_Tea_Towels-01.jpg

You’re buying for someone who already has everything bike-related you can think of? Bet they haven’t got Tour de France jersey tea towels. They're a tenner each, but you can get all three for £25 from Cycling Souvenirs. 

Buy them here 

Fabric Sixteen Tool £24.99 

Available now from Sigma Sport

Fabric Sixteen Tool 16 function multi-tool - open.jpg

This is a very neat and compact multi-tool, and even the chain tool – often a weak point – works really well. It can be screwed right off, at which point it also serves as a surprisingly competent nipple wrench, with two gauges plus a Mavic spoke key. How's that for tidy design?

Read our review 

Big Maggy’s coffee £5.99

Buy Big Maggy's coffee here

Big Maggys coffee.jpg

All cyclists love coffee – well, nearly all – and Big Maggy’s, a coffee shop and bike shop based in Jersey, sells a very good Java/Mocha blend that you can make at home (227g pack). We had some in the office and it was delicious. The Big Maggy in the name is, of course, a reference to Paris-Roubaix and Tour de France stage winner Magnus Backstedt, and this is apparently his personal favourite flavour.

A History of Cycling in 100 Objects £20 
Buy it now for just £9.89 at Bloomsbury

The History Of Cycling In 100 Objects.jpg

“If you are given a cycling book at Christmas 'because you have a bike', you won't be disappointed if it is this one,” said Richard Peploe in road.cc’s review. 

He’s right. Suze Clemitson makes an eclectic choice of objects; in some cases the object has a very narrow scope (such as the Simplex derailleur), and in others it is a very broad topic – such as BMX, which leads to a condensed history of the sport and its bikes. The book is informative without being dry, and nearly every time you dip into it you will find something that encourages you to keep reading. 

Read our review 

HideMyBell £30.70 

Available now from Merlin Cycles

Hidemybell handlebar mount 2.jpg

This is a bell for people who can't stomach the look of one on the handlebar of their posh road bike. Simply put, it's a mount for Garmin, Mio, Bryton, Polar, Sigma and Wahoo computers that incorporates a bell hidden under the computer mount. You can also fit an optional GoPro or light mount underneath to make it even more useful.

Read our review 

Condor Winter Print Merino Socks £7.99

Buy a pair from Condor Cycles

Condor winter socks.jpg

These socks make it onto our list by virtue of being both Christmassy and bike-specific. They feature a winter print and they’re made from a merino wool blend that’s designed to wick moisture and regulate temperature. 

Ritchey Barkeeper £15 

Tredz is currently selling them for £13.50

Ritchey Road Barkeeper Tire Lever.jpg

They’re handlebar plugs, right, and they’re also tyre levers. What will they think of next? The Barkeepers might sound gimmicky but they’re an ingenious use of otherwise dead space and do both their jobs very convincingly. 

Read our review 

NiteRider Swift 450 front light £38 

Buy now for £25% off at Tredz

NiteRider Swift 450.jpg

Niterider's Swift 450 light puts in a strong performance at a Christmas Gift-friendly price. It offers a decent amount of power, various different modes and food battery life. It’s perfect for town cycling and areas with street lights, as well as commutes to and from the country. 

Read our review 

Sigma Nugget Flash rear light £21.99 

Buy Sigma Buster 100 front light & Nugget Flash rear for £30.10

Sigma Nugget Flash Rear Light.jpg

This is a versatile, easy-to-use design that ticks all the boxes for a commuter light. Stick on a competitive price tag and it's a winner all round. It's pretty small in comparison with many lights out there, but the 0.5 watt LED is bright enough to be seen from roughly 400m away.

Read our review 

Sportful 2nd Skin long sleeve base layer £50 

Buy now at Bike Inn for just £43.95

Sportful 2nd Skin Long Sleeve Top.jpg

This base layer is incredibly comfortable and performs brilliantly in cold conditions. It’s made from Dryarn polypropylene and polyester, and rather than a uniform texture it is a body-mapped construction, using different fabrics in different areas to provide greater support, warmth and breathability.

Read our review 

K-Edge Garmin Race Mount £54.99

Buy now for just £49.99 from Vanilla Bikes

K-Edge Garmin Pro Race Mount 2.jpg

It’s pricey for a bike computer mount, but if they’ve been a good boy or girl this year maybe they deserve a treat. The Race Mount allows one of the newer and smaller Garmin Edges to be positioned out front, and it works brilliantly.

Read our review 

Pedros Syn Lube £8.99

Buy now at 25% off from Chain Reaction Cycles

Pedros Syn Lube.jpg

Can you give something like this as a Christmas present? We reckon you just about can. This stuff goes on quickly, keeps everything running smoothly, and lasts a long time. Job’s a good’un. 

Read our review 

On The Rivet Chamois Cream £9.99 

Buy now from On The Rivet

On The Rivet Chamois Cream.jpg

You know what I said about the Pedros Syn Lube (above)? That.

On The Rivet Chamois Cream is a UK-produced anti-bacterial concoction that's made from 100 per cent natural ingredients, enriched with sweet almond oil and free from both smell and tingle, all of which is nice, and it works.

Read our review 

VC Wolves of Ventoux T-shirt £26.99

Buy here from Whitstable Printworks 

Whitstable-wolves-of-ventoux-original-tshirt468.jpg

Whitstable Printworks offers a whole range of road cycling-related T-shirts, sweatshirts, hooded sweats, prints and posters, some of them more in-yer-face than others.

Rapha women’s base layer £60

Buy now from Rapha

Rapha Women's Base Layer Short Sleeve.jpg

Beautifully soft, body-hugging without being restrictive, and capable of dealing with both hot and cold temperatures, Rapha's Women's Merino Mesh Base Layer is such a lovely undergarment it's almost a shame it has to be hidden away. Okay, it’s a bit expensive to be described as a stocking filler, but it does a superb job.

Read our review 

Lee Valley VeloPark track gift voucher £40

Buy a track taster session here 

A voucher provides the giftee (no, really, I looked it up) with an hour-long track taster session at the London Olympic velodrome. Cool present, huh? Other tracks offer their own vouchers. 

Hiplok Lite: Superbright £49.99

Save 28% now over at Evans Cycles

Hiplok-Lite-Superbrite.jpg

The wearable chain lock is designed to combine safety with security, coming with a reflective water repellent sleeve. This one has a Sold Secure Bronze Award although others in the range are rated higher.

Assos Fuguspeer S7 Socks £40

Buy them now at Sigma Sport

ASSOS-FUGUSPEERS7-SOCKS-white-AW14.jpg

These high tech socks from Assos come with windproofing to keep the cold out. They can be worn next to the skin or as a second layer in really grim weather.

Cycle Choice gift card £various

Buy it here 

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If none of our gift suggestions appeal to you, how about a Cycle Choice gift voucher? You buy the voucher online and it can be redeemed in one of hundreds of specialists and high street cycle shops throughout the country? 

Ride Like a Belgian bundle £29.99

Buy it here

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Band of Climbers offers Christmas gift suggestions in various categories. This bundle comprises a Belgian cushion cover and a Ride Like a Belgian print. Other similar bundles are available.

Ritchey's new Outback is a steel frame/carbon fork gravel frameset that offers a stable and super-smooth ride. It lacks the mudguard and rack mounts required of a true all-rounder, but if you want something that sits at the sportier end of the market it's a slick offering.

• Pros: Smooth ride, stable
• Cons: Lack of mudguard and rack mounts will put off some

I've been riding the Outback over pretty much everything I can think of – fire road, muddy bridleways, chalky hardpack, gravel, tarmac in various states of repair, and even winding singletrack – and it has coped admirably with the lot.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

It's at its best when you can point it in a straight line and hammer over broken and bumpy roads and rolling terrain. Hit a hidden or unavoidable pothole at speed and it's easy to keep the Outback on track. Most times it'll just carry on with the minimum of fuss and no need for correction, and just occasionally you'll need to tap the handlebar back into line. What it won't do is dart off at a curious angle at the merest hint of irregularity, looking for any excuse to scare you witless. That means you can settle in and enjoy the ride.

Ritchey Outback - riding 2.JPG

You don't tend to notice smaller lumps and bumps too much. Of course, some chatter gets through to you in the saddle but the Outback is good at smoothing over high-frequency vibration. You're not shaken about like you are on some bikes, even if you're running quite high tyre pressures. That can make a big, big difference over a longer ride over rough roads when a harsher-feeling frameset can make you lose the love.

A long wheelbase means the Outback isn't the most dexterous bike through super-tight, super-slow turns – walking pace stuff – but it's happy to mix it up with the best of 'em over all other types of technical terrain. Head down slopes as steep as you dare, for example, and there's no judder from the carbon fork, and the rear tyre will keep biting on any ridiculously sharp off-road climbs you fancy tackling as long as you stay seated.

Ritchey Outback - riding 3.JPG

You couldn't describe the Outback as especially light, our XL model (built up with a Shimano Ultegra groupset and Ritchey WCS Zeta Disc wheels) coming in at 9.8kg (21.6lb). Ritchey claims a frame weight (including the axle and rear derailleur hanger) of 2.17kg (4.8lb). As we often say, though, you can get way too hung up on weight. I didn't actually put the bike on the scales until the end of the test period and I can't say it ever felt particularly heavy in use. It's certainly a long way from sluggish. I'd be far more interested in ride quality, especially on a bike that you're likely to ride on the dodgiest roads and tracks you can find, and that's where the Outback really scores.

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The Outback doesn't feel like the stiffest bike out there either, especially if you've just jumped off a high-end carbon road machine with oversized everything. That's clearly not a valid comparison, though. This isn't a bike where converting every milliwatt into forward motion when you're bouncing around in a sprint finish is a particularly high priority. The bottom bracket area can stand up to a bit of rough treatment without undue flex, though, and the front end will get you where you want to go when you find yourself halfway through a sweeping bend at an optimistic speed. I'd say that the Outback offers a ride that's not too harsh and not too flexible for the sort of multi-surface rides it's likely to be used on.

Geometry

The Outback shares a lot of its DNA with Ritchey's Swiss Cross Disc cyclo-cross bike, but the geometry has been tweaked and tyre clearances have been increased. Let me tell you about that geometry. As mentioned, we have the XL frame here, the largest of the five sizes available. This has a 583mm effective top tube (569mm actual), a 550mm seat tube and a 180mm head tube. Both the seat tube and head tube angles are 73 degrees.

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The stack on this size is 596mm and the reach is 401mm. The chainstays are 437mm on all of the Outback frames, the wheelbase on the XL model is pretty long at 1047mm and the bottom bracket drop is 70mm, considerably more than it is on the Swiss Cross.

All of that lot means you ride in a position that's quite aggressive by gravel/adventure bike standards (although not as aggressive as a typical road bike). Of course, you can use a big stack of spacers under the stem to keep the front end high, but the Outback is certainly a more sporty setup than many other bikes of this genre.

Ritchey Outback - riding 4.JPG

The frame is made in Taiwan from Ritchey Logic heat-treated, triple-butted steel tubing. You might think that's a good material for a gravel bike that could take the odd ding or two. It looks traditional in many ways – or at least traditional-ish. For a start, those tubes are skinny compared with those of most carbon and aluminium bikes, and you get a 68mm English threaded bottom bracket (I did say traditional-ish), which will please anyone who has suffered at the hands of a creaking pressed-in BB. It takes a slim 27.2mm diameter seatpost too.

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All of the plumbing is external, the front derailleur cable and rear brake hose heading south along the underside of the down tube and the rear derailleur cable taking a route along the top of the top tube and then down the seatstay. The post-mount disc brake is fixed between the chainstay and the seatstay.

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Outback up front

Ritchey's Gravel fork is full-carbon with a straight 1 1/8in steerer. Like the frame, it uses a 12mm thru-axle to hold the wheel in place and has clearance for tyres up to 40mm wide. That might depend a little on the rim and tyre manufacturer, but we had plenty of space around Ritchey's own WCS Zeta Disc wheels and semi-slick Speedmax 700 x 40 tyres. A lot of brands are offering a little more clearance than that these days, especially if they're pitching their bike as more of an all-rounder.

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Speaking of that, the lack of mudguard and rack eyelets might raise a few eyebrows, especially among those hoping to use the Outback for a bit of everything, including commuting in typical UK conditions (yes, it's all about us!).

We asked Ritchey and were told they'd been omitted because the bike is designed to be sporty and to work with frame bags and a light load. Fair enough. It also allows Ritchey to use a slightly lighter tubeset than would otherwise be needed. Ritchey already offers the Ascent, which has mudguard and rack braze-ons and can be run with either 700C or 650B wheels and flat or drop handlebars. So, there you go: that's the reasoning.

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As mentioned, the Outback is available as a frameset only (frame, WCS full-carbon fork, and WCS headset) for £1,299, so you can build it up however you like, or have your caring, sharing local bike shop do it for you.

As well as the Shimano Ultegra mechanical groupset, Ritchey WCS Zeta Disc wheels and Ritchey Speedmax tyres already mentioned, our test bike came with a Ritchey WCS handlebar, stem and seatpost and saddle. I won't go into depth on the components because they're not part of the package, but it all worked well. I was very happy with a 50/34-tooth chainset and an 11-32 cassette for the type of riding I like to do although you could spec a cyclo-cross chainset if you preferred or go for a 1x system with just a single chainring. Your shout.

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One thing I will say is that although tyre selection is important to any bike it is absolutely crucial to a bike like this. The new tubeless-ready 40mm version of the Ritchey Speedmax has a low-profile tread down the centre with some knobbly edges that provide traction through the corners. Although it can get a little overwhelmed in really muddy conditions, it's an excellent option for gripping hard and rolling fast on chalk, gravel and anything else that's closer to firm than gloopy.

Ritchey Outback -8.jpg

Good value?

You can get something like a Genesis Croix de Fer frameset for £499.99. That's a steel adventure bike that scores very highly for value. The four-season Mason Resolution frameset, which uses Columbus steel tubing, is £1,495. The Outback sits between those two in terms of price. You certainly don't need to spend £1,299 to get a made-in-Taiwan steel frame, but this is a very good one.

> Buyer's Guide: 18 of the best gravel and adventure bikes

The slim, steel-framed Outback is about as far away from being a 'me-too' gravel bike as you could wish to get. The lack of mudguard and rack mounts might be an issue for some, but if you're happy without and you're after a gravel/adventure bike that's sporty, stable and above all smooth, this would be a very good choice.

Verdict

Steel-framed gravel/adventure bike that offers a smooth ride and plenty of stability

Ritchey has gone inverse with the tread on its Alpine JB WCS Stronghold tyres to create a tyre that grips on light gravel and rough sections of broken country lane while also offering a smooth ride if you want to get a shift on on the tarmac. A very impressive all-round tyre choice indeed.

• Pros: Great ride quality on a variety of terrain, durable, grippy
• Cons: Took a little bit of faffing to get one of the beads to sit

Inverse tread patterns aren't new but it's not something we see very often; most tyre companies tend to use extruded rubber patterns to provide grip away from the road.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Having the tread recessed into the tyre means the Alpine JBs still run very smoothly on tarmac, not far off something like Schwalbe's dimpled G-One Speeds but with the added advantage that they have a good amount of bite if you take to a canal path or gravel byway, even when pumped up to road pressures.

> How to choose the right tyre pressure

The Ritcheys have an upper pressure limit of 110psi but for road use I settled on 90psi and they rolled very quickly, with a fair amount of absorbance through the 120tpi (threads per inch) carcass so there are no comfort issues. Because of this they also give plenty of feedback too.

Grip

Grip is really impressive. You've got this nagging doubt in your mind that they aren't going to be all that, with a fair bit of rubber not touching the surface, but in reality it's fine and once you've nailed that first twisty descent or roundabout flat-out you soon realise there is little to worry about.

Darting onto the local tank tracks mid-ride, the tyres scrabble about at these pressures but you soon adapt. I've ridden 35mm cyclo-cross tyres at half this pressure that feel just the same, so Ritchey is obviously doing something right.

> When should you change your tyres?

The 30mm version that we have here isn't tubeless ready so you might not want to run them too soft and risk pinch flats. The 35mm option is though so if you want to go down the route of dropping the pressures low for a full day off-road without running the risk of a pinch flat that might be the better option for you.

They aren't exactly full-blown gravel tyres, though, so I'm not going to criticise them for them for their traction on the loose stuff. For their intended use on smooth roads, those with a slightly broken surface and hardpacked towpaths, they can't really be faulted.

Fitting

Fitting them to the rims (I tried them on Ritchey's own Classic Zeta wheels and a pair of Vision Team 35s) was simple enough and only required a bit of leverage from the thumbs, though a couple of times I couldn't quite get the bead to pop into place against the hook of the rim as it was sitting too low. A bit of bouncing it around on the patio soon got it seated and from then on I had no issues.

> How to fit clincher tyres

Durability-wise I certainly can't see anything that concerns me. I had no issues with punctures or cuts and the tan wall casing is reinforced, which Ritchey calls Stronghold. This certainly resisted any sharp stones from nicking through when I was riding on the gravel.

Value

Cost-wise things aren't too bad against the opposition. The Ritcheys will set you back £41.95 each at rrp, a couple of quid more than the similarly themed 32mm Panaracer T-Serv ProTite at £39.99.

Schwalbe's dimpled G-Ones are good all-rounders, although admittedly they are aimed more at off-road, but they perform very well on it too. You'll be looking at around £49.99 for a set of those, so when you consider the performance of the Ritcheys I'd say they are priced fairly.

Overall, the Ritchey Alpine JB is a great tyre for letting you get out and explore off the beaten track even on your road bike.

Verdict

Great tyre for roadies who fancy broadening their horizons without buying a new bike

Ritchey has managed to build a tough yet lightweight package with its Classic Zeta wheels and they look the part too with their highly polished silver finish. Whether on smooth tarmac, broken back lane or potholed byway, they roll quickly and aren't shy of taking a knock or two.

• Pros: Impressive weight, smooth running, tough as old boots
• Cons: Freewheel material a little soft

If you want polished alloy components for your bike, there aren't many options, as I found out a few years ago trying to build up a classic looking steel tubed frameset. Ritchey's Classic range was about the only quality stuff out there and it's part of that selection that these new Zeta wheels fit into.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

What you get for your £569 is a pair of 6061 aluminium alloy rims, Phantom Flange hubs connected by DT Competition j-bend spokes and an all-in weight of 1,491g.

Ritchey Classic Zeta wheelset - rim detail.jpg

The rims have an external width of around 22mm which makes them more suited to larger tyres like 28mm or even Ritchey's own 30mm-wide WCS Alpine JBs, which were used for a lot of the test miles.

Ritchey Classic Zeta wheelset - rim bed.jpg

Fitting tyres to them is simple: I tried a few brands out of the piles of test tyres I have and none were a struggle or faff to fit.

The braking surface has been machined for a true and grippy finish and it works well in the wet and the dry using the SwissStop Green brake pads that were on the test bike.

Ritchey Classic Zeta wheelset - rim decal.jpg

The front wheel uses a radially laced pattern comprising 20 spokes, with the rear being a mix of radial on the non-drive side and two-cross on the drive side, a total of 24 spokes.

Ritchey Classic Zeta wheelset - front hub 2.jpg

To create a little bit more dishing on the drive side, the rear uses an offset rim bed. The flat central part of the rim where the spokes enter is moved over towards the non-drive side. More dish allows for a stronger wheel.

Performance

Strength is what you need, as well, as Ritchey has specced these Zetas for road, cyclo-cross and light adventure use. It's quite a sparse setup in terms of spokes for that all-round kind of use, but it certainly seems to work as these wheels haven't put a foot wrong.

Whacking a pothole is pretty much inevitable these days and I've smashed through a few on the Ritcheys without issue; they are still running true and the rims have taken the abuse.

They've also seen some pretty hard miles on various sizes of gravel, from the small stuff through to bigger, rockier sections. Again, not a single complaint.

The hubs are quite a large diameter right the way across, doing away with a narrow mid-section and tall flanges at the ends like most. They run beautifully smoothly, with the front being silent while the rear has a subtle click to the freehub without being overly shouty.

Ritchey Classic Zeta wheelset - rear hub.jpg

The freehub uses a 6-pawl, 12-point engagement which is quick to lock in for instant acceleration, and if you like to track stand at the lights you don't get that floating feeling waiting for the pawls to engage as you rock backwards and forwards.

The one thing I will say is that the alloy freehub body is a bit on the soft side, as the cassette has cut into the splines a bit, which required the use of a file when swapping over sprockets. Something like the steel insert added to Hunt's wheels might be a good idea here.

> Buyer's Guide: 27 of the best road bike wheels

Thanks to their low weight, the Zetas perform across the board. Acceleration and climbing feel great as the wheels are just so quick to spin up to speed, and once up there they roll extremely well.

They're comfortable, too, as the handbuilt setup leaves enough give in the spoke tension to keep the wheels stiff for those hard efforts without being an overly harsh ride.

Value

The price is quite high for a set of alloy rims these days, but there are others out there that are similar: Deda's Zero 2 wheels, for instance, at £539.99 and about 130g heavier. Or there's the similar weight American Classic Argent tubeless, which cost a massive £875, not that American Classic is around any more, having closed down in January.

More commonplace wheels like Fulcrum’s Racing 5s (we tested the disc brake version here) weigh in at around 1,600g and have an rrp of £269.99, so you can certainly go cheaper for similar performance.

Overall, though, I think the Ritcheys are a very good showcase for getting what you pay for, with a great all-round feel of quality, durability and performance.

Verdict

High-performance wheels that are just as at home on your race machine as they are on your gravel hack

Ritchey have been promising us a steel gravel bike for some time now, and at this year's Eurobike show we finally got to see it: the Ritchey Outback.

Not only did we get to see it, we got to ride it: Ritchey had organised a 35km mixed surface loop direct from the show, to give the bikes a go. And not only did we get to ride it, but we got to ride it in the company of none other than Tom Ritchey himself. CLANG!

> Review: Ritchey Swiss Cross Disc

Tom is a mountain bike legend, and has been part of the scene from the very beginning; he was one of the very first inductees into the MTB hall of fame when it started way back in 1988.  Since then he's been a big player in the bike industry, with the Ritchey bike and component brands continuing to innovate, with Tom himself very much involved in the process. The Outback shares a lot of its DNA with the Swiss Cross Disc cyclocross bike, but geometry has been tweaked and clearances increased, for a less race-oriented position and the ability to fit wider gravel tyres. We had plenty of fun on it, as you can see.

We said that we'd try to get a bike in for a proper test here in the UK, and you'll be happy to know that one has just rolled through the doors of the road.cc office. And it's not just any Ritchey Outback: it's the one that our new best friend Tom is riding in the video. Once again: CLANG!

> Eurobike 2017: nine of the best adventure bikes

The spec is the same as the bike that we rode at Eurobike, save for the tyres which have been swapped out for some wider and slightly more off-road-oriented  Ritchey WCS Speedmax rubber. The bike will be available in the UK as a frame and fork only, so you can build it up with whatever you fancy. Look out for a full review on the bike soon.

If you’re after a relatively small and inexpensive present for the cyclist in your life, we have a whole bunch of suggestions to get you started. 

Yes, some of the items we’ve selected here are expensive for stocking fillers and you’d struggle to get a couple of them to into a Christmas stocking, but let’s not be too literal about it! What we have here is a miscellany of bike related bits and pieces that we think would make good presents. They range in price from £5.99 to £55.

Legends of the Tour book £14.99 

Buy now at Waterstones

Legends of the Tour by Jan Cleijne - pages 1.jpg

Yet another history of the Tour de France? Yes, but Legends of the Tour is different: it is in strip cartoon format. Dutch author Jan Cleijne's book speeds you though the entire history of Le Tour, focusing on the major events. This would make a really interesting present. 

Read our review 

Tour de France jersey tea towel £10

Buy now from Cycling Souvenirs

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You’re buying for someone who already has everything bike-related you can think of? Bet they haven’t got Tour de France jersey tea towels. They're a tenner each, but you can get all three for £25 from Cycling Souvenirs. 

Buy them here 

Fabric Sixteen Tool £24.99 

Available now from Sigma Sport

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This is a very neat and compact multi-tool, and even the chain tool – often a weak point – works really well. It can be screwed right off, at which point it also serves as a surprisingly competent nipple wrench, with two gauges plus a Mavic spoke key. How's that for tidy design?

Read our review 

Big Maggy’s coffee £5.99

Buy Big Maggy's coffee here

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All cyclists love coffee – well, nearly all – and Big Maggy’s, a coffee shop and bike shop based in Jersey, sells a very good Java/Mocha blend that you can make at home (227g pack). We had some in the office and it was delicious. The Big Maggy in the name is, of course, a reference to Paris-Roubaix and Tour de France stage winner Magnus Backstedt, and this is apparently his personal favourite flavour.

A History of Cycling in 100 Objects £20 
Buy it now for just £9.89 at Bloomsbury

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“If you are given a cycling book at Christmas 'because you have a bike', you won't be disappointed if it is this one,” said Richard Peploe in road.cc’s review. 

He’s right. Suze Clemitson makes an eclectic choice of objects; in some cases the object has a very narrow scope (such as the Simplex derailleur), and in others it is a very broad topic – such as BMX, which leads to a condensed history of the sport and its bikes. The book is informative without being dry, and nearly every time you dip into it you will find something that encourages you to keep reading. 

Read our review 

HideMyBell £30.70 

Available now from Merlin Cycles

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This is a bell for people who can't stomach the look of one on the handlebar of their posh road bike. Simply put, it's a mount for Garmin, Mio, Bryton, Polar, Sigma and Wahoo computers that incorporates a bell hidden under the computer mount. You can also fit an optional GoPro or light mount underneath to make it even more useful.

Read our review 

Condor Winter Print Merino Socks £7.99

Buy a pair from Condor Cycles

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These socks make it onto our list by virtue of being both Christmassy and bike-specific. They feature a winter print and they’re made from a merino wool blend that’s designed to wick moisture and regulate temperature. 

Ritchey Barkeeper £15 

Tredz is currently selling them for £13.50

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They’re handlebar plugs, right, and they’re also tyre levers. What will they think of next? The Barkeepers might sound gimmicky but they’re an ingenious use of otherwise dead space and do both their jobs very convincingly. 

Read our review 

NiteRider Swift 450 front light £38 

Buy now for £25% off at Tredz

NiteRider Swift 450.jpg

Niterider's Swift 450 light puts in a strong performance at a Christmas Gift-friendly price. It offers a decent amount of power, various different modes and food battery life. It’s perfect for town cycling and areas with street lights, as well as commutes to and from the country. 

Read our review 

Sigma Nugget Flash rear light £21.99 

Buy Sigma Buster 100 front light & Nugget Flash rear for £30.10

Sigma Nugget Flash Rear Light.jpg

This is a versatile, easy-to-use design that ticks all the boxes for a commuter light. Stick on a competitive price tag and it's a winner all round. It's pretty small in comparison with many lights out there, but the 0.5 watt LED is bright enough to be seen from roughly 400m away.

Read our review 

Sportful 2nd Skin long sleeve base layer £50 

Buy now at Bike Inn for just £43.95

Sportful 2nd Skin Long Sleeve Top.jpg

This base layer is incredibly comfortable and performs brilliantly in cold conditions. It’s made from Dryarn polypropylene and polyester, and rather than a uniform texture it is a body-mapped construction, using different fabrics in different areas to provide greater support, warmth and breathability.

Read our review 

K-Edge Garmin Race Mount £54.99

Buy now for just £49.99 from Vanilla Bikes

K-Edge Garmin Pro Race Mount 2.jpg

It’s pricey for a bike computer mount, but if they’ve been a good boy or girl this year maybe they deserve a treat. The Race Mount allows one of the newer and smaller Garmin Edges to be positioned out front, and it works brilliantly.

Read our review 

Pedros Syn Lube £8.99

Buy now at 25% off from Chain Reaction Cycles

Pedros Syn Lube.jpg

Can you give something like this as a Christmas present? We reckon you just about can. This stuff goes on quickly, keeps everything running smoothly, and lasts a long time. Job’s a good’un. 

Read our review 

On The Rivet Chamois Cream £9.99 

Buy now from On The Rivet

On The Rivet Chamois Cream.jpg

You know what I said about the Pedros Syn Lube (above)? That.

On The Rivet Chamois Cream is a UK-produced anti-bacterial concoction that's made from 100 per cent natural ingredients, enriched with sweet almond oil and free from both smell and tingle, all of which is nice, and it works.

Read our review 

VC Wolves of Ventoux T-shirt £26.99

Buy here from Whitstable Printworks 

Whitstable-wolves-of-ventoux-original-tshirt468.jpg

Whitstable Printworks offers a whole range of road cycling-related T-shirts, sweatshirts, hooded sweats, prints and posters, some of them more in-yer-face than others.

Rapha women’s base layer £60

Buy now from Rapha

Rapha Women's Base Layer Short Sleeve.jpg

Beautifully soft, body-hugging without being restrictive, and capable of dealing with both hot and cold temperatures, Rapha's Women's Merino Mesh Base Layer is such a lovely undergarment it's almost a shame it has to be hidden away. Okay, it’s a bit expensive to be described as a stocking filler, but it does a superb job.

Read our review 

Lee Valley VeloPark track gift voucher £40

Buy a track taster session here 

A voucher provides the giftee (no, really, I looked it up) with an hour-long track taster session at the London Olympic velodrome. Cool present, huh? Other tracks offer their own vouchers. 

Hiplok Lite: Superbright £49.99

Save 28% now over at Evans Cycles

Hiplok-Lite-Superbrite.jpg

The wearable chain lock is designed to combine safety with security, coming with a reflective water repellent sleeve. This one has a Sold Secure Bronze Award although others in the range are rated higher.

Assos Fuguspeer S7 Socks £40

Buy them now at Sigma Sport

ASSOS-FUGUSPEERS7-SOCKS-white-AW14.jpg

These high tech socks from Assos come with windproofing to keep the cold out. They can be worn next to the skin or as a second layer in really grim weather.

Cycle Choice gift card £various

Buy it here 

cyclechoiceCard.jpg

If none of our gift suggestions appeal to you, how about a Cycle Choice gift voucher? You buy the voucher online and it can be redeemed in one of hundreds of specialists and high street cycle shops throughout the country? 

Ride Like a Belgian bundle £29.99

Buy it here

Band of Climbers.jpg

Band of Climbers offers Christmas gift suggestions in various categories. This bundle comprises a Belgian cushion cover and a Ride Like a Belgian print. Other similar bundles are available.