Lezyne Port-a-Shop Tool Kit | £80
The Port-a-Shop is too comprehensive and heavy for carrying on the bike during a tour – unless you’re carrying all the tools for a group of riders. But it’s a good tool selection, beautifully made and well organised, that you can pop in the car for a sportive, or in the bike bag for a holiday. There are cheaper tool kits but few will give more pleasure to the fettler for longer.
YI 4k Action Camera | £230
YI has stormed into the action camera market with a real and present rival to previous market leader GoPro’s Hero4 Black – at half the price! Add the well-made waterproof housing, for only £20 and you have an adventure-ready 4K video camera which shoots impressive 12MP stills from its fixed 155-degree wide lens and Sony sensor. A 1400mAh battery means you can shoot over two hours of 4K/30fps video – much longer than the GoPro.
Shimano Deore XT M8020 Trail Pedals | £90
Japanese bike component giant Shimano launched the Deore XT M8020 pedal last year as its new benchmark SPD double-side mountain bike pedal for trail, enduro and all-mountain bikers. And it works. In terms of design as well as looks not much has changed since its predecessor – with the main evolution being the increased size of the alloy platform around the SPD, which gives more pedal- to-shoe contact.
Garmin Edge 820 Explore | £300
The Explore is the Edge 820 GPS cycling computer with fewer training and performance features, but the same 2.3in hi-res, capacitive touch screen display that works with gloves. We love its machined out-front bar mount and all the usual logging and navigation GPS functions, plus Garmin's GroupTrack feature which displays other Garmin Connect users on the screen. It even has an incident notification mode that texts a contact via your phone if you crash.
Hiplok LITE Wearable lock | £45
As the name suggests the Hiplok Lite is wearable, attaching around your waist when not guarding your bike. There is a bit of bulk and inevitable weight but it isn’t uncomfortable for short rides. The chain is made from 6mm hardened steel shrouded in a removable 600d sleeve and has a locking circumference of 75cm – which means you'll have to remove your front wheel to secure the whole bike. The 10mm hardened steel shackle adds another layer of protection and the Hiplock has a Sold Secure Bronze rating.
Hydroflask 18 oz | £24
Hydroflask make their flasks in a range of sizes and colours, as well as several mouth and lid options. This 18 oz (532ml) insulated flask has the optional sports cap accessory, which means you can fit it into your standard bottle cage and drink from it on the bike. Like the flask with its double-wall stainless steel construction, the cap is insulated so your drinks stay cold and hot for longer. It's heavier and more expensive than the usual plastic bottles but worth it.
Lezyne Digital Mini Pump | £70
Lezyne has taken one of its most popular mini-pumps and added a digital pressure gauge to the side to take the guesswork out of pumping up your tyres. With a solid feel and made of well-finished aluminium, the pump is capable of up to 120 psi – though, like all mini-pumps, it will take you a few minutes and some effort to get there. But at just 170mm long – short enough to fit in a jersey pocket – with a Presta and Shrader compatible ABS flex hose for easier use, this is a full-featured, top-quality, if pricey, mini-pump.
Oakley Radar Pace shades | £400
Oakley and Intel have got together to produce sunglasses with live, on-the-ride, voice-activated coaching and performance feedback – as well as eye protection. The Radar Pace does this with a myriad of built-in sensors, microphones and removable earbuds. The key to recording and processing this data into coaching feedback is your smartphone and the Oakley Radar Pace app (Android and iOS). It works too, delivering a customisable and self-adapting training plan to train you to a specific cycling performance or distance goal. Just don't be surprised if people think you're talking to yourself.
SplashMaps Make-a-Map | £29
SplashMaps' washable, wearable, all-weather fabric maps, with high-resolution cartography for outdoor enthusiasts are now customisable. Simply type in a place on their site – anywhere in the world – zoom in or out, move the map around, give your tough polyester 72cm x72cm square map a custom name, and pay at check out. 10 days later your map will arrive in the post. GB maps come with wonderful full-colour 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey cartography, and the rest of the world in full colour 1:40,000 International REAL outdoor spec mapping.
Platypus Duthie A.M. 10 | £110
The Duthie A.M. 10 is a fully featured backpack with sternum strap, hip belt, compression straps and an excellent Floatair ventilating back panel. Carrying capacity feels well above its 7 litres capacity, with a front zip compartment, a stretch front pocket, two hipbelt pockets, two stretch side pockets, a fleece-lined eyewear pocket and an array of internal mesh organisation pockets. There’s also a built in rain cover and a 3 litre hydration bladder to further justify the high price.
