01 Shoes Shimano RX6
The RX6 (£160), available for men and women, are excellent shoes for gravel riding, rough-stuff touring, day-to-day winter riding and more. They've proven comfortable, practical and versatile - and easy to clean after muddy winter rides. The sole's pattern of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane - a tough, abrasion-resistant plastic) lugs worked well on a variety of surfaces, including more grip than we expected on mud, yet they remain stiff and supportive enough when cycling. The single BOA dial and a Velcro strap over the forefoot also offer quick and easy on-the-fly adjustability.
02 Jacket Castelli Emergency 2
At £180, it's an investment but, from the construction to wet-weather performance, Castelli's Emergency 2 jacket (men's and women's versions) oozes quality. It boasts a fully-taped waterproof shell (10,000mm rating) that's easily stashed into a jersey pocket and an elasticated hem that keeps the jacket snug around hips and cuffs. A waterproof full zip is easy to pull down on climbs, and there's also a mesh vent below a flap at the top of the back.
03 Saddle Scratch M5 AGX Tirox
The Scratch M5 unisex saddle (£103.99) for adventure, gravel and cyclocross riders is designed for stability and vibration-absorbing compliance. The central area of the shell allows the saddle's highly elastic padding to deform significantly, so it feels like a cut-out without a complete opening. In use, it offers most of the pressure-relieving benefits, but with greater support, no firm edges and no unwanted spray. It's the most comfy and supportive saddle we've used for cyclo-cross. It's also easy to clean.
04 Bike Ridley Grifn 105 Di2
This story is from the February 2024 edition of Cycling Plus UK.
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This story is from the February 2024 edition of Cycling Plus UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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GANARY A COALMINE
The James Brown tune 'It's a Man's Man's Man's World' comes on the radio, filling the coach, and does nothing for my pre-event nerves as I sit surrounded by serious-looking, wiry, tanned men in Lycra. It's 6.30am, pitch black outside and I'm feeling very out of my depth as a relative newcomer to the world of clipless pedals and hurting for fun. Last night's stress dream involved being very unprepared to get married and being handed my great-grandmother-in-law-to-be's hideous silver dress with lace trim to wear minutes before the ceremony was due to start. I'll let you psychoanalyse that one.
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The toxic effects of pollution have been known about for years. 'Just two things of which you must beware: Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air!' sang 1960s satirist Tom Lehrer.Over recent decades, though, pollution has dropped down our list of things to worry about, thanks to ominously capitalised concerns such as Climate Change, AI, Global Conflict, Species Collapse, etc. That doesn't, unfortunately, mean the problem has expired. Air quality often exceeds safe limits, with far-reaching and crippling effects on our health.
