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
Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av Cycling Plus UK.
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Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av Cycling Plus UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
No limits
Not every adventure needs to be that epic, says bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz
UNBOUND UNLEASHED
Josh Patterson was one of 34 starters for the inaugural edition of Unbound in 2006. Now, with more than 5,000 riders taking part in today's event, he charts the rise of the most important race in gravel
FOREST COMMISSION
Looking for a goal race in 2025 that'll stimulate the synapses and live long in the memory? You'd struggle to do better than ENID CRV in Finland
15 OF THE BEST ADVENTURES
Featuring Yorkshire, the USA, Sri Lanka and more, here are our picks of the world's greatest gravel races and routes
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Recordbreaking cyclist and triathlete Kate Strong, 45, took to the road to raise awareness of environmental issues
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
We venture into the hidden gem of the glorious Creuse, one of France's least populated regions
STAR TREK
New tube shapes and carbon lay-up makes the eighth generation of Trek's legendary Madone an aero and climbing bike all rolled into one
GOLD RUSH
With conflict around the world, Paris 2024 was a ray of light. Here are our highs of a mighty Olympics
HIGHER CALLING
Pro cycling commentary is a formidable skill that Ned Boulting and Matt Stephens make look easy. Andy McGrath drops in on their booth at this year's Giro d'Italia to learn their secrets
