Rapha’s lead product designer, Graeme Raeburn, has been working with his brother, Christopher Raeburn, to produce a special edition capsule collection for city cyclists. Christopher Raeburn heads up his own design studio in the UK which is famed for using repurposed fabrics and handcrafted construction. All hand made in England, the collaboration is focused on quality and functionality.

The collection consists of a lightweight merino henley, a cycle ready jean and the wind jacket that I’ve been lucky enough to test. In this collaboration Rapha and Raeburn went all out to make a packable, light and highly reflective jacket – in other words something perfect for the city cyclist – and it is certainly striking! The jacket is remade from a British issue parachute canopy. These nylon canopies are coloured orange, green and white which enables pilots to either camouflage themselves or signal from the ground. The parachutes have been deconstructed, cut and reworked to produce the jackets making features of the original seams. Reflective tape is added as part of the print which provides added functionality for the city cyclist.

The jacket in use

I’ve worn this jacket both on my daily commute and on longer rides on my road bike at weekends and I have to say it is ideally suited to both duties. For something so thin and lightweight it really does keep the wind and cold out effectively. Part of this effectiveness is down to the very close fitting cuffs which are made from wear-resistant Lycra. The jacket is ideal for cold early morning starts and will protect well enough in sudden showers – in short it’s pretty much perfect for riding in the changeable climate of the UK.

The jacket packs up small enough to keep it permanently in your rucksack without losing valuable space ensuring you always have a layer for when the weather changes, but doesn’t feel like a typical stowaway wind layer – which in my experience feels a bit like wearing a bin bag. No, this is a hand made, unique and exceptional high quality item and as you’d expect such quality and exclusivity comes at a cost – £300 to be precise. Now that’s a lot of money for a wind jacket, but you won’t find anything to compare this too on the market, after all how many repurposed parachute jackets have you ever seen?

The fit of the jacket is just tailored enough to not flap about on the bike, but not so much that it feels like wearing race gear on the commute. The fit for me is about perfect on and off the bike (I wear a medium for reference). It has the typical long-cut back for good coverage on the bike.

The jacket has 2 discreet side pockets with easy to use hoop pulls that are perfect for a phone or your tube pass. In use these are perfectly positioned for the contents to not interfere with your riding in anyway.

The Rapha & Raeburn wind jacket also has a stowaway hood. This can be rolled up and secured via a strap and popper when not in use – which for me is most of the time. In fact the only time I can imagine using it is off the bike if I am caught in an unexpected downpour, but even then it seems a little superfluous.

As mentioned, the jacket is certainly not to everyone’s taste from a styling and colouring point of view, but the fact that it’s so striking makes it the ideal jacket to stand out on the increasingly busy city roads. The large polka dot pattern is very reflective and pops out at the slightest exposure to a car headlight. There is a Rapha & Raeburn numbered panel on the rear of the jacket with an individual “race number” which is also reflective. All in all this is a jacket which stands out – whether this is for the right reasons depends on your individual view point, but for me it stands out in a positive way (but then I also own an orange bike….)

More information and where to buy

Rapha recently posted a typically stylish video and some images of the jacket’s production on their blog, if you like Rapha’s style as I do it’s worth a few minutes of your time. You can find it on the Rapha website.

The Rapha & Raeburn Wind Jacket, which is a very limited edition (just 600 will be made – 300 available in white, 200 in green and 100 in orange) is individually numbered has just launched and be available directly from Rapha for £300.

4/5 – Exclusive and effective, but very expensive

The post Rapha & Raeburn City Wind Jacket review appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

Now as I am sure you know I am a fan of all things Vulpine, having previously reviewed their Merino Polo and Lightweight Harrington. This time I am reviewing the staple of the Vulpine range – the Merino T-Shirt. In essence this is is the same as last years model, but is available in some new colours – Claret, Astral Blue, Fern Green and Grey.

The Ultimate Cycling T-Shirt?

Is this the ultimate cycling t-shirt? I certainly think so – it wicks sweat like a demon, is soft like a cloud and is cut perfectly for both on and off bike use. It’s in no way a body hugging Lycra-style fit so it doesn’t look out of place in the pub or in the office.

The merino used in this T-shirt is the highest grade wool from the best Tasmanian sheep and really is the softest I’ve felt. It’s so soft and light it’s almost possible to forget that you’re wearing anything at all – sadly another company has coined the “better than naked” line already but this T certainly fits that description.

I am fortunate enough to have 2 Vulpine merino items and I alternate these for my commutes to work – the merino does a mighty fine job of resisting odours so I am as fresh on the 3rd day of wear as I am on the first.

The T-Shirt has a single buttoned pocket on the rear which I’ve actually found quite useful for carrying my Oyster card on the days where I’ve been able to cycle without a jacket and have thrown my wallet in my bag. There’s also some subtle reflective detail on the rear to help you be seen when the light starts to fade. Talking of being seen, I have the Fern Green colourway which is a lovely vivid colour, and close to the Vulpine signature green.

If you follow the care instructions – cool wash, don’t use conditioner and dry flat – the t-shirt washes well and doesn’t bobble (which I have experienced with cheaper Merino items in the past).

I’ve been so impressed with this T-shirt that I’ve just ordered the Vulpine Alpine Jersey to wear on my upcoming End to End ride, and I am sure that will perform as faultlessly in that environment as this has in the city.

Pricing and availability

The T-Shirt is available from Vulpine’s website and also at select retailers and is priced at £55.

5/5 – cycling t-shirts don’t get better than this.

The post Vulpine Merino T-Shirt review appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

You may or may not know – I certainly didn’t – that a Harrington jacket is a lightweight waist-length jacket, typically made of cotton, and that Harrington jackets have been made by British Clothing companies since the 1930s. That gives the Vulpine Lightweight Harrington a big pair of boots to fill as far as British Tailoring goes. I am happy to say – that in my eyes at least – it succeeds. The style of the jacket is understated and simple, yet laden with lots of discrete hidden features that make it a reliable partner on the daily commute. These bike specific features are what set this jacket apart from myriad other lightweight cycling jackets and include a higher than usual collar, the longer cut back and the almost obligatory rear pocket. 

When would you wear this?

The Vulpine Lightweight Harrington is substantial enough to be worn all year round, either as a windproof and shower proof outer layer in Spring/Summer/Early Autumn or as a base for a more substantial winter jacket when the weather turns colder. As mentioned the jacket is billed as “shower proof” – it’s made from silicon impregnated cotton – and while I am certain that it won’t stand up to a full battering by a heavy downpour, it has kept the drizzle out well on a recent unexpectedly damp evening ride.

The windproof qualities of the silicone impregnated cotton make the jacket feel warmer than it’s weight would suggest on blowy days, but being cotton it should breath well when it does eventually get warmer – the open back (with mesh liner) will no doubt assist in this regard also.

I’ve had many jackets that make claims to be waterproof and windproof, but then use cheap quality zips that leak like a sieve as soon as the rain hits your front and leave a cold stripe where wind penetrates the zip, thankfully the Vulpine Lightweight Harrington suffers from no such problems. The zips are high quality waterproof items which keep your shirt dry and your front uniformly warm when even when you’re cycling into a headwind in the drizzle.

Features and attention to detail

As with all of the Vulpine gear that I’ve experienced so far, the attention to detail is fantastic. This is no mass produced cycle-fashion wear, this is highly tailored, well thought out, handmade cycling gear looks good on and off of the bike. I’ve been using this jacket for everything since I’ve had it, from commuting to work, going to client meetings, and even walking the dog and it’s felt perfectly at home in every situation. 

A particular hit feature with me are the magnetic closures on the rear pocket and the soft collar. This might seem like a gimmick, but it makes it really easy to keep things in the rear pocket without worrying that you’ve not zipped it closed, or struggling to do so with gloved hands. The collar magnets are great in use, but also help to create a nice shape to the collar when you don’t have the jacket zipped up by weighting it down slightly. Just another illustration of the thought and craftsmanship that goes into the design of these clothes. 

As well as the rear pocket the jacket also has 2 zipped side pockets and a buttoned chest pocket. The side pockets are nicely positioned to be a little higher than a regular jacket which adds to the comfort on the bike if you have bulky items in them. These pockets are sizeable enough to fit most items you’d carry around town and deep enough to not worry that things will escape if you fail to zip them up. The pockets zips are also waterproof meaning you shouldn’t arrive at your destination with a pocket full of wet things. Due to the clever manner in which these pockets are made, they also create 2 deep secure internal pockets which you can stash your valuables in for even greater security. 

The jacket also has reflective detail around the wrists and waist adjusters which light up like a floodlight at the slightest hint of a light making it a very visible jacket whilst not appearing overtly ‘hi-viz’. 

Cost, fit and availability

The jacket retails at £135 which is not too bad for a bike jacket generally, but especially good when you consider the quality. The jacket is available in 2 lively colours – Sage and Sky Blue (which is what I have) which make a nice change from the typical black on black cycling attire that seems to be the current thing. 

I have this jacket in a Medium which fits me perfectly with the waist adjusters in the tighter of the 2 positions, I am a 36-38 chest so it fits true to the size guide on the Vulpine website – it’s a tailored fit, but by no means a skinny racer fit which means it remains comfortable with a range of layers underneath.

My one criticism of the jacket is the sleeve length. On the bike they are good, not riding up and keeping my wrists covered and warm, but off of the bike they seem a little long and bunched up. While I appreciate that this is a worthwhile compromise, some additional adjusters on the sleeves may have helped to avoid this.

The Vulpine Lightweight Harrington is available from the Vulpine on-line shop at www.vulpine.cc and through a select number of retailers (which now includes four London branches of CycleSurgery) 

5/5

The post Vulpine Men’s Lightweight Harrington Jacket review appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

Depending on how much you are carrying, you may be able to get away with just a frame bag. You’d be surprised how much some of them can carry.

Not only can you relieve your back but you can also get quicker access to the items you need.  

The right frame bag should be made from a durable material that is weather-resistant to handle all the elements, fixes firmly to your bicycle at several attachment points and have enough space to hold your extra gear.

When searching for frame bags there are 3 from which you can choose: rear frame bags, full frame bags and front frame bags. The style you choose is based solely on your needs and your cycle.

We’ve handpicked a few bags we’d recommend..

Topeak Aero Wedge Pack

This lightweight (just 130g!) frame bag by Topeak sits neatly under the back of the seat for easy access and it has an expandable compartment for those times when you need more than a few items to carry. With reflective strips and durable polyester, this rear frame bag could be just what you need to store your goodies on the go. It’s available in a number of different sizes.

M-Wave Frame Corner Bag

For quick access, this £3 triangle frame bag is a great option. The fixings are Velcro and adjustable so you can make it as snug as possible in the frame triangle. The reflective trim will heighten your visibility while also keeping your precious cargo safe.

Available from Amazon for £3.29.

Topeak Tribag All-Weather Handlebar Bag

Keep your valuables close to you with an internally weather-proofed handlebar bag. The Topeak Tribag is out of the way of your legs and knees (no chafing) and you can always look down and know your money, iPhone and other important items haven’t fallen off. The included rain cover keeps everything dry on the outside, and the sturdy build means it doesn’t sway as you ride.

Available from Amazon for £12.84.

Carradice Barley Saddle Bag

If you’re looking for a heavy duty frame bag—550 grams to be exact—to carry tyre pumps, spare inner tubes, cycle tools and essentials then the Carradice Barley Saddle Bag is worth a second look. It’s big, but with two additional side pockets you’ll never suffer for storage space.

If space is what you crave rather than a lighter load, this saddle bag can get the job done.

Available from Wiggle for £49.50.

Bontrager Seat Pack Pro

This slick looking seat pack by Bontrager provides cyclists with an ‘outta sight, outta mind’ method of storage. It’s secure safely under the seat with a Velcro fixing with an extra elastic strap for bike pump storage. This seat pack by Bontrager comes in several sizes ranging from extra small to extra large with a maximum capacity of 1,966 cc’s.

The one glaring problem with the Bontrager Seat Pack Pro is that it doesn’t appear to be constructed of weather-proof materials.

Available in different size for £15.99 from Evans Cycles.

Topeak TourGuide Handlebar Bag

Keep your bag front and centre with the handlebar bag from Topeak. With a click mounting system you can be sure your cargo is secure and right where you can keep an eye on it. This TourGuide bag comes with a rain jacket and Teflon coating to protect it from the elements, and features reflector stripes so you’re seen during night time cycling.

This frame bag may be a bit bulkier but it provides the perfect alternative to carrying a heavyweight rucksack on your person.

Available from Wiggle for £49.49.

Raleigh Avenir Handle Bar Bag

The Raleigh handlebar bag has lots of bells and whistles that may scare new cyclists, but with reflective details, shoulder straps and map & GPS holder this is a serious bag for the serious cyclist. The quick-release fitting system uses a clip to keep it affixed to the cycle, but it is on the flimsy side so you may need a secondary clip to put your mind at ease.

The bag Raleigh handlebar bag also comes with a rain cover and tons of storage pockets so you don’t have to leave any essentials behind.

See also: What’s in a typical cyclists backpack

The post Quick to reach bags to attach to your bike frame appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

Many cyclists also own cars!

You heard it here first. Many cyclists enjoy using said cars for heading off to far flung places to ride their bikes.

Transporting them involves some kind of bike rack. Whether that’s a trailer or an attachable rack that fits on the top or rear of your car.

The biggest problem with shopping around for a bike rack is knowing which one is suitable for both your bike and your car.

As this is a big purchase, it’s a good idea to ask ahead and get advice from the company selling them. They’ll be able to answer questions about compatibility.

Fortunately, many of the best bike racks and trailers out there have a lot of build in flexibility, so they should be able to adjust most vehicle designs.

Aside from compatibility, when shopping around you should also look for:

• Scratch free surfaces: You don’t want your car or, heaven forbid, your bike getting scratched. Look for bike racks that feature this kind of protection.
• Security of the bikes: If you are going to be away from your bike for even a short period of time you want to be sure someone can’t just run away with it.

When shopping around for a suitable solution for transporting your bike ask yourself:

• How many bikes am I going to need to transport?
• Will I use it often enough to justify the cost?
• Is it a bike that doesn’t fit the typical dimensions – e.g. tandem?
• Check your car manual – do they recommend only a certain type of rack or a maximum load?
• Will you be using the bike rack on different cars or just one?
• Do you already have a rack on your roof that you can attach additional components to?
• Check how high you can lift your bike – you don’t want something that will go on the roof if you won’t be able to reach.
• Will the rack have multiple uses? Are you using it only to transport a bike or will it have other uses.
• How much space do you have to store the rack when it’s not in use? Do you need something that packs down to a small size?

Types of racks

Rear car door carriers

These fix on to the back of cars. Although they are often promoted as “universal”, that’s not always the case so it’s best to check whether it will fit your car.

Advantages:

• Can typically fit between 2 to 3 bikes
• Affordable
• Easy access to your bike – you don’t have to reach too far
• Doesn’t take up too much space when not in use

Disadvantages:

• Can be a little fiddly to install the first couple of times

Tow bar mounted

For cars with a tow bar this is an excellent option. A 4×4 is likely to be able to carry more bikes than a typical car. It’s useful to know the tow bar nose weight of your car when shopping around. This will tell you the maximum number of bikes you can carry.

Advantages:

• Can find models that fit up to 5 bikes

Disadvantages:

• Only for cars with a tow bar

Roof mounted carriers

These carriers fit on to your roof racks if your car has them. If not then you’ll need to fit roof racks first and then choose a bike carrier to attach.

Advantages:

• Can typically fit up to 4 bikes but can find models that fit up to 6
• Secure option if you use a lock

Disadvantages:

• It can be strenuous to reach up on the roof of the car
• Need to be careful to avoid low bridges and multi-storey car parks

Indespension sell the type of racks I’ve discussed in this post.

The post Choosing the right bike rack appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

It is often said that the best designs are the result of the worst problems. When I heard that Italian heritage sports brand Carrera had expanded their product collection to include a ‘foldable’ helmet that could “shrink” up to a third, I was intrigued and eager to understand the driving force behind revisiting the humble bicycle helmet.

What is it?

Instead of a single moulded shell to pop on your head this is made up of rigid lateral segments that are mounted into a base of adjustable straps; the helmet is designed to expand and contract like an accordion.

How’s it feel?

A bit weird at first because you associate helmets with being solid unit’s not flexible affairs, but you soon learn to accept that it moves and you stop playing with it. As a point of interest the patented accordion design is actually inspired by original cycling helmets which were crafted from padded leather panels.

Fit

At first I thought the whole purpose of this purely was to save space, which seemed silly, but then I realised the design held a whole host of benefits. First off the unique frame design means you kind of ‘squeeze’ the helmet onto your head, resulting in a really neat fit. Unlike regular helmets which require bits of foam and Velcro to customise the fit this helmet instantly hugs the head. I found this particularly useful whilst riding on bumpy roads full of potholes, because my other helmet has a tendency to slide over my eyes.

Ventilation

An obvious benefit of the multiple piece design is ventilation. It stands to reason that the more of your head that you expose the cooler it will be. I, of course, like my head to be cool, but I do not like my hair to be wet and all those ‘holes’ let the rain in. To be fair I have trialled this helmet during a shocker of a week and if it had been really hot instead of chucking it down it would have helped keep my head cool.

Space

Yes the helmet does reduce in size, if you are super short on backpack space this could be beneficial, especially if you use your bike to go between meetings and do not want to arrive “helmet in hand”.

Safety

The helmet conforms to all the regular safety requirements – the innovative design does not compromise safety.

Looks

Oh this is a hard one, will I ever put a helmet on my head and be truly pleased with the outcome?

The answer to the above is no. For me, picking a helmet is always tricky and ultimately I choose the one I dislike the least as oppose to the one I love the most. With this particular style, I found the back and side view completely inoffensive, however I did not like the front view. I have thought long and hard about why I don’t like the front view and I can only conclude the shape does not suit me – sorry I know that is not terribly insightful, but what suits one face doesn’t suit another.

Carrera Foldable Helmet Overview

I dismissed this product as a gimmicky when I first heard of it, but actually it’s innovative design details do have function and purpose. The fit is genuinely better than many of the other helmets on the market at this price point (£60.00) and it really does help keep your head cool. I wouldn’t rush out and buy one of these, but if I needed a new helmet I would certainly take it into consideration.

4/5

The Carrera Foldable Helmet is available from Velovixen for £60.

The post Carrera Foldable Helmet review appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

In there we talk about the importance of a heavy D-lock for your security.

However, as any seasoned London cyclist will tell you, this should always be complimented by a secondary lock.

Why?

Your primary lock goes around your frame and back wheel. The secondary lock then goes around the front wheel and the frame.

Without a secondary lock it would be easy for someone to steal your front wheel.

Also, thieves don’t tend to carry the tools required to break two different types of lock. Therefore, they are less likely to get away with your bike.

Don’t worry; we’ve got a list of the best secondary bike locks to compliment your existing lock. Now all you have to do, is figure out which one is best for your bike.

Choosing A Secondary Lock

You probably spent lots of money on bicycle accessories from your saddles, to pumps and jackets, but you worry about cost when it comes to the security of your bike.

Remember that a cheap secondary lock will likely provide cheap security that is easy to breach. This doesn’t mean you need to break the bank on your secondary bike lock, but it should be sufficient enough to back up the primary lock.

Don’t let a heavy secondary bike lock deter you from it as there are plenty of lightweight yet effective locks on the market. Besides any seasoned cyclist can carry around an extra kilo or two. If not, there are plenty of secondary locks that are small enough to fit in a sack, around your waist or on the frame.

Here are some of the best options we’ve picked out.

Best Secondary Bike Locks

Abus Centuro 860 Steel-O-Flex Lock

Flex-O-Steel is an apt name for this cable lock because it comes with an outer layer of hardened steel that protects the cylinder lock while keeping it flexible. The automatic locking and unlocking mechanism means cyclists—especially couriers—don’t waste precious time locking it down. Not as heavy as other cable locks at just 1.1 kilograms, it’s lightweight and convenient to transport.

When combined with a D-Lock you can feel confident your bike is secure.

Available from Amazon for around £30.

Knog Party Frank Bike Lock

If you’re looking for a traditional but inexpensive back up lock, Knog Party Frank is it. Made with a braided steel cable with scratch-less PVC, a fibre core and a unique key design, offering an enhanced level of security. This is definitely not your father’s cable lock.

The lightweight Party Frank lock can easily wrap around the bike, your wrist or backpack so it is easy to carry. Although it seems flimsy, as a secondary bike lock you could do worse than this coil lock. Thanks to the scratchless PVC lining, you also have no chance of scratching your frame.

Available from Amazon for around £15

Kryptonite Kryptoflex Coiled Key Cable Lock

This trusty Kryptonite bike lock provides the perfect blend of a lightweight design with sturdy protection and a Talon lock pick retention system. With a 360-degree rotating lock head you won’t have to contort your body just to lock up your bike!

What’s more, the Kryptoflex coils up easily for transport and the cable is long enough that you can secure the bike around most bike racks, lamp posts and fences.

Available from Amazon for £18

Hiplok V1.50 Wearable Chain Lock

The fact that the Hiplok is wearable is one of the biggest selling points because you don’t have to lug around a heavy lock, but instead can just strap it on and go. This is the ideal secondary bike lock for those who use their bikes for to travel without a bag or purse weighing them down.

Your Velcro strap acts as a belt while you’re cycling and it’s expandable to about 112cm for every size cyclist. Secure the bike by bringing the chains together and you’ve got a pretty nifty back up lock. It’s convenient, if a little heavy (1.8kg) but somewhat pricey for a secondary bike lock.

Available from Evans Cycles for £62

While these bike locks provide sufficient security, we recommend only using them with a sturdier primary bike lock to provide the best protection for your bicycle.

The post Secondary bike locks: 4 of the best appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

I know I’m certainly not the only person who has struggled to find an ideal luggage solution for the ride to work. I’ve flirted with rucksacks, suit carriers and pannier bags, but always end up returning to my big, uncomfortable and cumbersome backpack. While the suit carrier seems ideal on paper, it wasn’t for me. However, I’ve now found a rucksack made for commuting. In the review – I’ll share what’s got me excited! (And indeed what got the Independent excited when they placed this bag as their number one backpack).

The Rapha Rucksack is what you’d expect from the cycling world’s most desired and often mocked brand. Brushing aside questions of the price – what we’ve got here is: excellent quality, reliability and long term durability. Exactly what you’d expect from the makers of the Team Sky kit.

More than a rucksack

I spent a good ten minutes exploring the rucksack when I first got it – not because of size but because of the number of compartments the backpack has. This is a streamlined rucksack, and so is smaller than most rucksacks on the market, and yet by my count the number of compartments is easily into double figures. These range from the normal and expected – a five litre main compartment – to the not so expected: a tricot-lined sunglasses pocket.

When you think you’ve discovered the whole thing, you find more: two outer key compartments and – and this is what most impressed me – a zip away high-visibility pink rain cover with a reflective Rapha logo.

This is a backpack meant for those who adore having lots of pockets for everything.

Rapha is a company that epitomises quality and the Rapha Rucksack is a great example of this. The robust Italian leather zip pullers and the durable fabric ooze quality at the touch, and the rucksack has the Rapha look: sexy and cool.

Quality comes at a price

There are certainly less expensive options than the Rapha Backpack out there. At the other end of the scale, is the £40 DHB Slice Backpack. The DHB includes a laptop compartment but it’s not padded. It also includes space for carrying water bottles and has easy to reach while cycling compartments for energy bars. Both of which are features missing from the Rapha Rucksack. However, it doesn’t open as wide making it harder to reach the components.

As you can see, it’s tough to get the perfect bag!

However, there are many features to love about the Rapha Backpack:

• A padded laptop compartment – crucial for keeping your laptop safe
• Expandable five-litre main compartment
• Zips go right down allowing you to open up the bag widely so you can see all the contents and you don’t have to waste time looking for something.
• Zip-away rain cover – quick to fit and keeps the rain away – plus it’s pink!
• Reflective dots on side panels, base and straps

Add on to this the excellent adjustable straps, across both stomach and chest, and you’ve got a comfortable, reliable rucksack for your commute and for when walking around London. This backpack certainly doesn’t look out of place on your back while cycling, or down the pub with mates.

Is it worth £125? I would argue that The Rapha Backpack does. For me it’s the ideal luggage solution for my commuting and I’m sure it will be for years to come. I spend a large part of my day on my bike so I’m happy that I’ve now got the right rucksack to accompany me on my commutes.

5/5 – The Rapha Backpack costs £125 and is available directly from Rapha.

The post Rapha Backpack review appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

As is so frequent when it comes to cycling gear – there’s way too much choice!

Choosing the right pair isn’t easy.

When I set off on my morning bike ride, my hands are freezing. However, after the first few miles, I find myself removing my gloves as my hands are getting hot and sweaty.

I’ve got around the problem by choosing layers.

At the base layer, I use the EDZ Merino gloves. They are made out of Merino wool which is warm, comfortable and keeps your hands sweat and odour free.

I’ve recommended them previously in our staying warm on your bike guide and they’ve always been popular with London Cyclist readers who’ve repeated commented on how useful they’ve found them.

If you’ve already got a pair of gloves you are happy with, but they are simply not keeping your hands warm enough, consider the EDZ’s.

Beyond that, it’s hard to find gloves that are both windproof, waterproof and don’t end up turning your hands in to a furnace.

The best way to choose the right pair of cycling gloves is to think about which of these categories you fall in to:

• Category A: I’m always complaining about how cold my hands are
• Category B: I’m always complaining about how hot my hands get

All rounder: Endura Deluge Gloves

Best for those of who complain about our hands getting too hot.

The best all round winter gloves for cyclists are called Deluge by Endura. Why are they the best? Because the tick all the boxes for: waterproof, windproof, warm, light and comfortable. At £34.99 that’s a lot of value for money.

They do unfortunately have a potential downside. On particularly cold days, you’ll find yourself reaching for an inner liner. As the gloves are fairly tight, it’s tough to get in the liner gloves beneath without cutting off your circulation. If you are in between sizes, I’d recommend picking the next size up.

You can try these gloves on at Evans Cycles or you can order them through their website.

Best for warmth: SealSkinz Winter Handle Bar Mitten

Best for those of us who complain our hands are too cold.

If you like the warm feeling of mittens then the SealSkinz Winter Handle Bar Mitten (£40.50) will appeal. These gloves are exceptionally warm and waterproof. Perfect for those of us who are always complaining about cold hands.

However, those of us who complain of our hands getting warm too fast, should steer clear of these gloves.

While you certainly won’t be able to use your smartphone with them on, they are fine for braking and changing gears.

The extra cut at the back means that your wrists will also share in the warm feeling.

Best for dexterity: BikeTouch Pro Cycling Gloves

Best for those of us who complain our hands are too warm.

Last week we added the BikeTouch Pro cycling gloves to our eShop.

The BikeTouch gloves (£29.95) are unique, as they allow you to use your smartphone without exposing your hands to the cold.

The gloves are waterproof, so you’ll never again fear the rain. They also have padding to absorb some of the bumps on the road. The lightweight construction mean they don’t take up much space in your bag or pocket and you maintain dexterity even while wearing the gloves.

They are better suited to those of us who complain about our hands getting too warm, as when the temperature reaches 0 you’ll be reaching for an additional liner layer.

As the gloves have a snug fit you may wish to choose a size up from what you normally wear, especially if you are in between sizes.

Checkout Sam’s review for full details.

How to pick the best gloves for your cycling

• If you feel your hands getting tired, look for gloves with additional padding around the thumb and palm. This should absorb more of the shock from bumps in the road.
• Gloves with longer cuffs will tuck in to your cycling jacket to prevent body heat being wasted.
• There’s a tough balance between heavy material to keep you warm and not having bulky gloves that prevent easy movement.
• Think about how long winter is going to last. This year our winter seems to be dragging out so a pair of winter gloves would be worth the investment.
• A good pair of winter gloves for cyclists should provide grip so that your hands don’t slip off the handlebars.

The post Best winter gloves for cyclists appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

Gloves and Smart Phones – normally an unhappy combination

One frustration with wearing most pairs of cycling gloves is the inability to operate the now ubiquitous smart phones that most of us carry in our pockets. Perhaps you need to consult the map, start your favourite training or navigation app, or simply make a call at the side of the road. Normally, this requires the removal of one or both gloves, finding somewhere to put them and invariably dropping one of them on the floor. Well with these gloves all of these problems go away.

The Solution

The BikeTouch pro gloves solve all of these phone use issues and more. They are one of the new breed of smart “eTip” style gloves that give you access to your touchscreen without the need to remove your gloves.

Over the last few years, smart gloves have become more common, but there are still comparatively few cycling specific gloves sporting this feature, and certainly very few at this price point – £29.95. Whilst a lot of smart gloves only have the smart fabric on the first finger. these gloves have smart fabric areas on the first 2 fingers of each hand as well as the thumb. This is a real boon as it allows access to even the more advanced touchscreen features (namely pinch to zoom) which is particularly useful in mapping applications.

First Impressions

I’ve been wearing the BikeTouch Pro gloves for the last few weeks on my daily commutes, and the fact that they are made from a waterproof and windproof fabric has been very useful indeed. They have kept my hands dry very well through some monsoon like rain storms and warm on cold mornings, whilst still allowing me access to my phones features. The wick moisture away from the skin well, and my hands certainly haven’t become sweaty on the few occasions when the weather has been warmer (what you mean you missed that day?!?)    

The cycling specific features of the gloves include a full finger terry sweat swipe, soft tri-gel padded zones on the palm, anti-skid material on the palm, reinforced overlay on thumbs and a neoprene cuff to keep the cold air and moisture out. Also featured is reflective piping on the back of the hand which stands out well when making turn signals after dark. 

The gloves are rated to below zero by the manufacturer, but as someone who suffers from cold hands I’d say they are more suited to a temperature range of 3-5c – your mileage may vary however. The gloves are a nice size and can be stored in your pocket pretty easily making them the ideal commuter gloves in changeable conditions where it’s cold in the morning, but you may not want to wear them on the way home.

I typically wear a medium in gloves, and as such have these in that size. Although they fit very well in the fingers, they are a little snug across the palm, so you may want to consider a size up from what you normally wear, 

As you know, commuting is pretty hard on gear, but these gloves are showing no wear at all despite the worst the British weather has thrown at them – that’s a good sign for the longevity of the gloves.

The good:

• Ability to use your phone touchscreen with your gloves on
• Cycling specific with a good range of features
• Waterproof and windproof
• Lightweight and pocketable
• Great price

The bad:

• Not as warm as they could be on really cold days
• Sizing a little snug

Should you buy?

If you’re looking for some cycling specific gloves that allow you to operate your phone as well as protecting you against the elements then you should definitely consider the BikeTouch Pro gloves. They come in at a good price (£29.95) and all signs are that they will last well. The BikeTouch Pro gloves get a definite touch screen friendly thumbs-up from me.

The BikeTouch Pro Gloves are now available from the London Cyclist eShop for £29.95.

The post BikeTouch Pro Cycling Gloves review appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.