If you're taking your training indoors for winter. Then here at Cyclingnews, it's Indoor Cycling Week, and our experts have been highlighting everything you need to start or upgrade your indoor setup. From finding the best cycling apps to choosing the best smart trainers to suit your requirements and budget.

Apart from the obvious requirements of a bike, smart trainer or smart bike, and a cycling app, the addition of the best indoor cycling accessories, indoor-specific clothing and shoes can add real value to your indoor sessions.

Get the Giro Cadet Indoor Cycling Shoe for just $125.95 and save $49 at Amazon.

Our pick as the best indoor cycling shoes is the Giro Cadet, and right now on Amazon they are carrying a huge 28% discount. It takes them down to just $125.95 from the usual $174.95.

For UK shoppers, the Giro Cadet is discounted to £125, from £150 at Balfe's Bikes, which is a 17% reduction there. It's only available in white, but the majority of sizes are showing as in stock.

The Giro Cadet is marketed as a dual-purpose road shoe for riding both at home and outdoors, designed to bridge the gap between road performance and indoor training. For dedicated indoor use, our gear experts picked it as the best overall choice.

Key highlights include a one-piece perforated Synchwire upper that maximises ventilation and dries quickly, keeping feet cooler during intense trainer intervals. The build also keeps things reasonably light, with a claimed weight of around 265g per shoe in a men's size 42.

While it's not as featherweight as top-tier road shoes (which often hover around 200–220g), the small weight trade-off brings versatility. The Cadet can accommodate both 2-bolt and 3-bolt cleat setups. True dual-compatibility is rare in a sleek road shoe, giving you the flexibility to clip into traditional road pedals or use 2-bolt spin-bike setups without swapping shoes.

Underneath, the Cadet features a carbon-reinforced nylon composite outsole. It strikes a sweet spot between comfort and power transfer. It's rigid enough to eliminate flex during high-wattage standing sprints, yet forgiving enough to prevent hot spots during long, static turbo sessions.

Finally, the Cadet features a quick-release BOA L6 dial that lets you pop the shoe off immediately after a session. While it skips the dual-direction micro-adjustments found on premium shoes, it keeps costs down without compromising overall performance.

If you are looking for an all-in-one indoor riding setup, then Zwift currently has 10% off the Zwift Ride V2 bundle. Or if you wish to use your own bike, there is 10% off the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 with Cog and Click.

Watch the Castelli video launching their partnership with Tour de France organisers ASO and you’ll see a small boy, his imagination fired, watching the stars of the late 80s and 90s, when the Italian company last supplied the yellow jersey to the world’s biggest race.

That campaign is based on Steve Smith’s experience falling in love with our sport, watching it on TV at his childhood home in Oregon. Now living in Italy, not only is Smith a strong cyclist, but he’s Castelli’s Global Brand Manager, helping launch the company’s association not only with the Tour, but all of ASO’s races.

"When you're a kid you see that and it just strikes you just like it's so big. You know it'd be interesting to see how many hands would be raised today if we asked how many people got interested in cycling because of the Tour," Smith tells Cyclingnews.

We’re speaking after the launch event for the new jerseys, eight floors above the city’s hubbub, on the roof terrace of ASO’s Paris headquarters. Listening to Smith, it’s hard to argue with what the Tour can bring to a brand.

"At the most basic level there's just that international exposure," he says. "I mean, 1.6 billion hours of coverage watched around the world, it's insane, what else can actually get that level of coverage?

"And then there's the next level on the product side, it's in our DNA, but this is another push to just make sure that we keep ourselves at the absolute forefront technologically, because clothing makes a big, big difference."

The partnership between Castelli and ASO will see the Italian brand providing jerseys for the men’s and women’s Tours de France and all their professional road races, from Paris-Nice to the Volta a Catalunya. In the one-day races where there are no leaders’ classifications, you’ll see the brand as sponsors.

So we’ll see a lot of the scorpion logo in the next few years – up to nine seasons – which is entirely the point, but while those other events will help the company its products to a wider audience, it’s the Tour which is the golden egg.

Castelli is not new to making leaders’ jerseys for Grand Tours. The brand worked with the Tour de France in the 1980s and 1990s, and while that was an age ago, it has been working with the Giro d’Italia since 2018. Coincidentally, that deal came to an end this year, the same time Santini’s deal with ASO ended, and after 18 months of talks, the new deal was done.

Who gets what?

For a clothing manufacturer, the Tour de France is a big deal when it comes to getting eyes on its brand and products, but it also means it has to deliver enough of their best kit to riders performing in the biggest race in the world.

When a rider moves into the lead of any classification, they’re given a variety of kit to see them through any preference or eventuality. First there’s a race jersey, which they’ll be expected to wear with their own team shorts, though there’ll be two weights available to cater for the weather.

Most riders race in one-piece race suits these days, and there are two weights of those available as well, with a new one issued every couple of days if the rider still qualifies to wear it. And on top of that there’s a gilet, short-sleeved Gabba jacket and a long-sleeved rain jacket.

But perhaps the most talked about piece of kit issued to classification leaders is the time trial skin suit. With the perfect fit and a suit’s aerodynamics the subject of much discussion, we’ve even seen conjecture that GC riders might avoid leading a race in order to avoid ill-fitting kit. So how does Castelli hope to ensure its suit is one that helps rather than hinders riders?

"At the top levels now, each rider has spent countless hours perfecting their suit, but if teams are being honest, there's a lot of times you can put somebody into a suit you don't know and it throws up some great numbers," Smith continues. "And our suit at the Tour de France has been consistently very fast across a very wide range of people. So nobody’s going to be racing in a poorly designed suit."

Preparations for next year’s Tours de France can begin now, with the routes published and the company able to begin making educated guesses about who might be in the race lead and need a suit. There is even the chance of the company doing some pre-fitting with likely riders.

"We've been doing this for years at the Giro, where 90% of the guys we can put our standard suit on and it fits them quite well, and we do have a seamstress available if we need to do some modifications," Smith says.

The Tour de France isn’t the only race Castelli will be providing kit for, the agreement includes all ASO’s races, and some of those have different requirements to the Tour. The weather for both Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya, for example, is cooler and often wetter than your average July in France or – as the men’s and women’s Vuelta a España are also on Castelli’s calendar – in Spain during September.

Technological advancements

Castelli was around long before its first foray into supplying Grand Tour leaders’ jerseys, indeed, the company traces its history way back to 1876, when Vittore Gianni began his tailoring business in Milan, dressing football teams like AC Milan and Juventus, and even the Milan Ballet.

Its first foray into cycling was on the shoulders of Alfredo Binda, who won the Giro d’Italia five times in the 1920s and 1930s, though the company began concentrating on the sport when Armando Castelli bought the company in 1935. Ever since then, the company has tried to be at the forefront of technological advances. From silk time trial suits for Fausto Coppi in the late 40s, through the road racing skin suit Johan Vansummeren wore to win the 2011 Paris-Roubaix, to freezing, snowy 2013 Milan-San Remo, when half the peloton wore Gabba jerseys with the scorpion logo scrubbed out.

Read more: From Gabba-gate to the wrong energy gels – Why teams stray from their official sponsors, and what happens when they do

While Assos were first to use Lycra in cycling shorts, Castelli claim "the first aerodynamic Lycra shorts used in racing and sold to the public," producing coloured shorts for the first time a few years later. The company also lays claim to the first windproof jerseys and ergonomically designed seat pads.

With Armando’s son Maurizio at the helm, the company rebranded form Vittore Gianni to Castelli in the early 1970s and their scorpion logo was born. Maurizio died of a heart attack aged only 47, and in 2003 the company was bought out of bankruptcy by current owners, Manifattura Valcismon SpA, joining forces with other cycling brands Sportful, Karpos, Zoot and, more recently Tailfin.

This saw the company move to Fonzaso in the Dolomites where their products are still conceived and designed, before manufacture is completed at partner factories throughout Europe.

What it takes to launch a new line

As part of the deal with ASO, Castelli recently launched its 'Maillot Jaune' line of kit. It’s not all yellow, and even the yellow they do use is different to that which we’ll see the Tour leaders wearing next summer, but it is a good example of the kind of effort that goes into producing a new consumer line.

"There was an incredible amount of work that went into that kit," Smith explains. "Trying to make it stretchy enough, but not too much because you make it too stretchy, it starts to sag. We've always made jerseys with limited stretch on the back to keep your jerseys or your pockets from sagging.

"But we knew we wanted to fit the widest range of people with the maximum amount of comfort, we wanted to make that fabric more stretchy than we've ever done before, both in width and in length. So we've actually kind of re-engineered the way we engineer the pockets by tightening up the waistband, so we're holding the pockets from below rather than above."

You can have all the striking and innovative designs you like, but any cycling kit company must live and die by how comfortable and durable their shorts are. While Castelli’s prototyping group will put most new items through four or five internal samples, shorts take far longer.

"They have about double the total production time because so many things could go wrong by doing it wrong, we feel it a lot more, so it's obviously quite a bit quicker on a jersey than on a short. But yeah, shorts will take a good year and a half in the production cycle," says Smith, before revealing the as-yet un-released shorts he wore earlier that day went through 14 rounds of samples.

For now at least, the only bits of Castelli kit you’re unlikely to be able to buy are the jerseys the brand will make for the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes for the next few years: "We don't think there's really that much of a market for it," Smith says.

Editorial note: Cyclingnews attended the Castelli/ASO launch on an imedia package from Castelli that included travel and accommodation. In line with our editorial standards, our coverage is independent and was not subject to review, approval or influence by the organiser or any sponsor; no favourable coverage was promised or given in return.

The road season might be at an end, but Cyclingnews isn't slowing down. Subscribe for unlimited access to our comprehensive news coverage, industry-leading CN Labs testing, expert columnists, and so much more. Plus, the Cyclingnews app means you can stay up-to-date wherever you go! Join today.

Indoor cycling has significantly grown in popularity, offering riders the possibility to train year-round regardless of the weather or daylight. Creating a comfortable and effective indoor training environment can improve your experience.

Improving your setup doesn’t have to be expensive, with some of the most valuable additions being the simplest and cheapest.

A few well-chosen accessories can help you stay hydrated, manage sweat, protect your bike, and ride more comfortably, all without stretching your budget.

If you are looking to make a small investment to make your indoor training more enjoyable, here are five affordable accessories, priced under £25 / $25, that deliver practical benefits and are good value for money.

You don't need to buy everything at once, either. Start with the essentials and add to your setup as needed.

1. Elite Fly Tex water bottle

A water bottle is one of the first accessories every cyclist should buy, as indoor cycling is thirsty work!

Although bottles are relatively inexpensive, investing in one or two durable options is worthwhile, particularly during the indoor training season when you'll use them regularly.

Elite supplies nearly every WorldTour cycling team in the professional peloton with bottles, so they know a thing or two about them.

Elite’s Fly Tex bottle is one of the most-used bottles in cycling, so this would be my recommendation. It's made from recyclable materials and is BPA-free.

They come in multiple colours and three different sizes: 950 ml, 750 ml, and 550 ml.

Depending on your selection, prices start at $11.99, so for $25 you could buy a couple.

2. Elite Zugaman Towel

A towel is an essential accessory, as indoor cycling is a sweaty business. Fortunately, Elite has designed one that is fit for purpose. Measuring 1,300 x 300 mm and made from 100% natural cotton, it is a practical size to hang around your neck or drape over your handlebars.

Compact and soft, it's a practical addition to any indoor training setup, helping you manage sweat throughout your session.

3. Front Wheel Riser Block

A front wheel riser block is a simple accessory that can make indoor training more comfortable.

Placed beneath your bike's front wheel when using a compatible wheel-on or direct-drive trainer setup, it helps level the bike and provides a more stable riding position.

Riser blocks are available from numerous brands and are generally inexpensive. With prices starting at around $8.99, it's an affordable way to improve your indoor cycling setup.

Whilst you can use household objects to do the same job, they can be prone to moving under effort. A riser block is simply the best tool for the job.

Before buying, check that the block is compatible with your trainer and front-wheel setup, especially if you are running gravel tyres.

4. Muc-Off Sweat Protect

Muc-Off is renowned for its cleaning products. Its Sweat Protect spray is designed to help protect bike components from corrosion associated with sweat exposure.

Using a suitable protective product can help reduce the risk of corrosion and keep your bike in better condition over time.

If you want to safeguard your bike from the potential damage caused by heavy indoor use, this is a worthwhile investment. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and check product compatibility before applying it.

5. Wahoo Cycle Sweat Guard

Sweat can take a toll on your bike over time, particularly when it repeatedly drips onto the handlebars, frame, and components during indoor training.

The Wahoo Fitness Sweat Guard sits across your handlebars and attaches around the back of your saddle. It helps shield your bike from perspiration by catching sweat before it drips onto the frame and other components, where prolonged exposure can contribute to corrosion.

There are multiple brands on the market that sell these, but we like the Wahoo Fitness Sweat Guard.

Abus may be better known for its D-locks and chains, but the German brand also has a nice line in helmets.

Founded in 1924 by August Bremicker, Abus has gradually built a helmet range that runs from race lids to kids' helmets, with a particularly strong urban line.

The Hyp-E is the brand's flagship e-bike helmet line, and it scooped a Eurobike Award in 2024. Where Abus' more basic Pedelec 2.0 helmet relies on a pull-out rain cap to fend off the elements, the Hyp-E goes one better with in-built sliding vent covers. It also goes all-in on visibility too, with integrated front and rear lights that act as indicators, triggered by a wireless remote on your handlebar.

Like its Pedelec stablemate, the Hyp-E carries Dutch NTA 8776 certification, which means it's been tested at the higher impact speeds you can reach with a motor under you, and it covers more of the head than a standard bike helmet.

The Hyp-E comes in three versions that all essentially use the same base helmet but come with increasingly flashy add-ons. The standard model reviewed here includes integrated lights, an indicator remote and a vent cover for when the weather turns. The ACE adds a magnetic flip-up visor and clip-on ear pads, and the BL.ACE adds a brake light remote on top of that. Those extras can also be bought separately, so the standard Hyp-E is effectively the base you can build up from.

I tested the standard Hyp-E on both electrically-assisted rides around town, as well as on my 40-minute, pedal-powered commute. Being early autumn, I enjoyed some warmer rides but was also faced with some biblical downpours, so the helmet got properly put to the test.

Design and aesthetics 

By design, the e-bike helmet is a bigger piece of kit than the everyday commuter helmet. The NTA 8776 certificate dictates that the shell needs to cover a larger proportion of the head. Add to that some integrated lights and vent covers and the size and weight is only going one way.

While the Hyp-E isn’t the bulkiest design on the market, it’s not exactly petite either. It’s not as streamlined as the Pedelec 2.0, but it’s not as big as some of the other smart helmet options, such as the Unit 1 Aura.

Abus calls the construction a multishell design, as part of the outer surface uses a tougher hard shell while the rest is a thinner in-mould polycarbonate layer. A polycarbonate strip also wraps the lower edge to protect against scuffs, which is welcomed by the tester as it will inevitably end up being knocked about a bit.

The lights are undeniably the stars of the show. Rather than clipping on as an afterthought, the front and rear LED strips are moulded into the shell, sitting flush with the contours. With the lights switched off, the helmet looks clean and tidy. With them on, you're highly visible.

The outer shell comes down lower at the temples and the back of the head than a standard helmet, as required by the NTA 8776 standard. Up top, the vents are generous by urban helmet standards, and the Hyp-E comes with a vent cover that slides over them when the weather turns.

Out of the box, the standard Hyp-E is the most stripped-back version of the three helmets in this range. There's no visor or ear pads to bulk it out, just the shell, the lights and a set of MagneticHub mounting points at the front. Those points are there so you can add Abus's magnetic visor, in clear, smoke or photochromic, and the clip-on Ear Pads (also sold separately). Add both and the Hyp-E takes on a distinctly motorcycle-like look, which personally feels a bit much, especially if you plan on using it on pedal-powered rides.

The standard Hyp-E also has the widest choice of colours in the range, giving you a choice between evocative names such as Champagne Gold, Jungle Green and Volcano Titan. The Midnight Blue that I tested had a nice matte finish across the shell, with a grey rear section housing the rear light, with some subtle touches of exposed EPS.

Components and build

As soon as you pick up the Hyp-E, you’ll notice how robust it feels. Abus combines both in-mould and hard-shell production methods, which is why the helmet appears to have two distinct sections. The in-mould process fuses the EPS liner into a thin polycarbonate outer during production, while the hard-shell process involves manufacturing the liner and outer shell separately and then sticking them together. The in-mould process gives the Hyp-E its protective lower edge and rear section, while the hard shell allows for the slidable vents.

Safety is underpinned by NTA 8776, the Dutch e-bike standard that requires testing at higher impact speeds and extra coverage around the temples and back of the head. The helmet also carries CE and US CPSC certification. What it doesn't have is MIPS or any other rotational impact system, which is a notable omission at this price, and there's no Virginia Tech rating to back up the protection claims either.

The headline feature, of course, is the lighting. Rather than offering clip-on units, the front and rear LEDs are integrated into the shell, come with six modes – steady, power, flow, pulse, flash and eco – and boast an output of up to 50 lumens. Runtime ranges from a claimed minimum of two hours on the brightest steady setting to 40 hours in flashing mode, and the lithium-polymer battery takes around four hours to charge via USB-C. That's a welcome step up from the Micro-USB port and 10 lumens on the Abus Pedelec 2.0.

As well as providing a good source of visibility, the lights double as indicators, and the helmet comes with a wireless remote that straps to your handlebar. Pressing either button triggers a sequential sweep on the relevant side of the helmet, front and rear. Press both at once and you get a hazard-warning function. The remote is simple and connects via a radio link system, rather than Bluetooth, so there's no app to set up.

The standard Hyp-E doesn't include the brake light remote, which comes with the top-tier BL.ACE. Rather than relying on an accelerometer to guess when you're slowing down, Abus's brake light uses a rubberised cap that slips over your brake lever and fires when you pull it. It can be bought separately if you want to add it later.

Fit is handled by the Zoom Spin dial system, which uses a full headring and is height-adjustable, with an opening to accommodate ponytails. Abus's strap dividers lock in place below the ears, and they fasten with a magnetic buckle that can be opened one-handed.

Ventilation comes from three closable intakes on top of the helmet and two exhausts at the rear. The intakes are backed by bug mesh, and the included Vent Cover clips over them to block out rain, wind and cold. If you find you want more weather protection, the Hyp-E can be upgraded with the visor and ear pads that come with the Hyp-E ACE.

Even without those extras, the Hyp-E is no featherweight. At a claimed 580g for a medium, it weighs considerably more than the 350g Pedelec 2.0 and sits at the heavier end of the e-bike helmet category. That's the price you pay for high-quality integrated lights and battery.

Performance

I’ve been testing a lot of different e-bike helmets over the last six months, and picking my favourites for the best e-bike helmets has been a tough task. While the Hyp-E didn’t quite make the cut, it still performed extremely well in a range of conditions.

My top two criteria when researching helmets are safety and comfort. While I’m not paid nearly enough to put the Hyp-E’s safety credentials fully to the test, you can rest assured that some thorough testing has been carried out by people far more qualified than me. The NTA 8776 certificate is the gold standard when it comes to e-bike lids, and I would hesitate in recommending a helmet without it.

When it comes to comfort, there is of course an element of subjectivity, and to go some way to mitigating that, I did pass my Abus round a few friends for a second opinion. The consensus is that it is a pretty comfy piece of kit.

The Hyp-E uses a full 360-degree headring within the cradle, which means that any pressure that comes from tightening the dial adjust should be spread out, rather than being applied from the front or back, which can be the case with 180-degree rings. The fact that the rear section and dial adjust can be moved up and down only adds to the level of customisation when it comes to fit. It also allows for ponytails.

The strap doesn’t boast the reflective thread like the Pedelec 2.0, but otherwise it’s got some nice touches. The magnetic buckle is an advancement in fastening that I am fully on board with. Being able to unbuckle one-handed when you come crashing through the door after a wet and windy commute is the kind of small win I am here for. In addition, the soft chin guard beneath the buckle is held in place by Velcro, which saves you having to line it up every time you do the thing up.

For me, the two big plus points on the Hyp-E are the retractable vents and the integrated lights. Abus have clearly set out to make a line of e-bike helmets for all seasons and conditions. By including three big front vents, it has done what so many modern e-bike helmet manufacturers have failed to do, and allow sufficient airflow for warmer days. But by adding the slide-down covers, the design accounts for wet, cold and windy days, too. Abus has done this on the Pedelec 2.0 as well, although the cover comes in the shape of a tiny anorak which packs into a compartment at the rear of the shell.

In testing, the vents did exactly what they were designed to do, letting a decent amount of air in at the front and out through the rear. The vent covers are easy to close while riding, with a single slider fitted at the top of the shell.

Having tested this during early autumn, I was faced with a decision on those wet-but-still-warm rides. With the vents closed, the airflow is completely shut down, so it does get a bit warm. Honourable mention here to the Lazer Verde which has tried (with limited success) to create vents that both let air in but keep rain out. The Pedelec’s anorak should probably get another mention here, as that does at least allow some breathability.

With the nights starting to draw in, I was really glad to have the option of extremely effective integrated front and rear lights. At 50 lumens these aren’t the brightest (honourable nod to the Unit 1 Aura), but when it gets properly dark they really stand out. In addition, they wrap a long way round the shell, giving you a better chance of being seen by vehicles approaching from the side.

Once you get to know the button and the modes, it’s easy enough to operate whilst riding, and the USB-C charger means you’re not forever hunting through drawers for an old lead.

I’m a big fan of these lights, and while I’d always recommend pairing them with some decent bike lights as well, the extra visibility goes a long way. As far as the indicators go, I’m not fully convinced turn signals via a helmet light is something drivers are fully tuned into, but that will inevitably change if and when the technology becomes more widely used.

The indicators on the Hyp-E go produce a very clear flashing light on the right or left of the helmet, and the colour switches from red to yellow. This means anyone paying attention will see a pretty distinct signal, as opposed to mistaking it for just another mode. The handlebar-mounted switch was easily paired with the helmet in a matter of seconds, and also charges via USB-C.

I didn’t get a chance to fully put Abus’ claims around helmet battery life to the test, but the lowest output mode (which I assume gets you the maximum 40 hours of charge) is frankly pretty crap compared to the other settings. So I would assume the time between charges to be considerably shorter than that.

One drawback of the Hyp-E is that it’s pretty heavy, which is to be expected when you include such good lighting. It weighs a full 200g more than the Pedelec, which is ultimately one of the reasons its little cousin made it into the final list of favourites ahead of this one. While e-biking between school and nursery, I didn’t really notice it, as these are 20-minute rides and I sit more upright, but head down on my pedal-powered commute, I did notice the difference compared to my regular lid.

Value

The Hyp-E currently retails at around £159, putting it just about in the top end when it comes to e-bike specific helmets. If you want to add the bells and whistles (not literally) you could fork out £199 for the ACE or £230 for the top-spec BL.ACE.

For that money, you get integrated front and rear lights, indicators with a handlebar remote, a vent cover, USB-C charging and NTA 8776 certification. That's actually quite a lot of tech for well under £200. The missing pieces are MIPS or any rotational protection, a Virginia Tech score, but you’re still getting a good return on your investment.

If you don't need indicators and you want to trim the weight, Abus's own Pedelec 2.0 costs around £150 to £160, weighs significantly less and has a clever integrated rain cap, but its 10-lumen rear light is a big step down.

The Smith Dispatch MIPS costs £155 and combines MIPS, Koroyd and NTA 8776 certification with an included clip-on rear light, all at 394g. Personally, I love the Dispatch, but it lacks the front light and vent covers. The Giro Camden MIPS costs around £120 and pairs NTA 8776 and MIPS with a big rear light and does have vents you can close.

The most direct rival is probably the Unit 1 Aura MIPS. At £200, it costs a little more but adds MIPS and a full five-star Virginia Tech rating to NTA 8776 certification. Its eye-catching 350-lumen front and rear lights charge via USB-C, and it also offers crash detection. It's heavier still at 610g, though, and the indicator remote isn't included as standard.

Verdict

If being seen is your top priority, the Hyp-E is one of the most complete packages on the market at this price. Integrated front and rear lights, indicators and a remote all come as standard for less than many rivals charge for a helmet with a single rear light.

It also scores highly in the helmet-for-all-seasons category, with the large vents offering enough airflow on warm days and the retractable covers giving you the option of shutting out the elements.

Despite the weight, which is pretty significant, I also found it otherwise really comfortable, as did a few friends (albeit not for long periods). The full 360-degree headring (which isn’t a given at this price point) and adjustable rear section make finding a snug fit nice and easy.

Add to the mix the USB-C charging port and the magnetic buckle, and the Hyp-E is suddenly ticking a lot of boxes.

While it comes badged with the NTA 8776, the lack of MIPS is a real omission, and the Unit 1 Aura offers more independently verified protection for not much more money. But if visibility, ventilation and comfort matter most, the HYP-E makes a strong case.

Movistar have confirmed that Basque company Etxeondo will once again be their apparel sponsor from 2027 onwards, reviving a collaboration that lasted through much of the historic Spanish team's 'golden age' of the 1980s and early 1990s.

Etxeondo last sponsored Movistar back when it was the Reynolds squad, beginning in 1983 through to the mid 1990s, by which time the team's main backer was the Spanish bank, Banesto.

During that time, Reynolds/Banesto became a pioneering force for Spanish cycling in the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France as the country bounced back from its lacklustre era of the late 1970s. The team won the Tour with Pedro Delgado in 1988 and then Miguel Indurain from 1991 through to 1995, with Indurain also claiming the country's first-ever victories in the Giro in 1992 and 1993.

The return of Etxeondo as clothing sponsor for Movistar covers both the men's and women's teams, although the actual design of the new kit for both squads will likely only be revealed in early 2027.

"We are renewing a relationship that goes all the way back to the Reynolds years," Movistar said in a team press release. "It's a new phase which unites history with the development of race-competition apparel."

"Aerodynamics, comfort and protection in different kinds of weather will be the main focus points of our collaboration."

"The knowledge gained will have benefits beyond professional cycling. Etxeondo will transfer what is learned in the team to the development of its products to improve the experience of those who enjoy cycling every day."

Founded in the Basque Country in 1976, Etxeondo has spent the last five decades dedicated to the design and development of cycling clothing. It currently has two bases, in the towns of Irura (Gipuzkoa) and Castejón (Navarre).

The road season might be at an end, but Cyclingnews isn't slowing down. Subscribe for unlimited access to our comprehensive news coverage, industry-leading CN Labs testing, expert columnists, and so much more. Plus, the Cyclingnews app means you can stay up-to-date wherever you go! Join today.

The Rapha Core Rain Jacket holds the best budget spot in our best waterproof cycling jackets buying guide. We have championed the Core Rain Jacket since its 2017 debut, and Rapha continues to hone the design, first with the Core II upgrade, and now with the latest Core III.

While we're yet to put the Rapha Core III to the test, reading the Rapha spec list certainly looks like an improvement upon its impressive predecessors, while still retaining a budget-friendly price point.

A price that is currently even better in the Sigma Sports Sale.

Right now the Rapha Core Rain Jacket III is discounted to a bargain £119, from its usual £140, a 15% reduction.

Although our exclusive extra 10% off Sigma Sports Sale discount code doesn't apply here, there are still plenty of other bargains to be had, so it's worth noting, especially if you're looking for winter cycling apparel.

The Rapha Core Rain III has three colours available – Orange, navy and black, and all the sizing options from S-XXL.

Sigma Sports also offers free shipping for orders over £50, and to save 10% on applicable items in the sale, use the code CYCLINGNEWSEXTRA10 at checkout.

It's also cheaper at Tiso, at just £112, but only in Fresh Green, and with very limited sizing.

Weather protection is the primary job of any waterproof jacket, and Rapha claims to have elevated the Core III by swapping out the previous model’s proprietary 2.5-layer nylon for a fully seam-taped Pertex 2.5-layer woven fabric. According to Rapha, this textile upgrade delivers a superior balance of waterproof defence, breathability, and long-term durability on the bike.

A two-way zip although a small point is worth is always worth having, making it significantly easier to reach into your jersey pockets or dump heat quickly on climbs without unzipping the top. The Core III now gets a 2-way AquaGuard zipper, and in our opinion, a welcome addition over the single-way zipper on Core II.

Other noteworthy tweaks come in the fit, and Rapha claims to have slightly trimmed around the torso and shoulders to reduce excess flapping fabric while maintaining enough stretch and room for mid-layer insulation (like a jersey or thermal base layer).

Although this Rapha deal is UK-based, Rapha US has all the colours available, and if you're looking for a specific colour out of the seven options available. However, it's full price there at $190.

As this is a UK-only deal, our handy price checker below will show pricing on the Rapha Core Jacket from other retailers relevant to your location and currency.

After announcing a partnership with ASO last week, Castelli finally revealed the jerseys the top riders will race in at the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for the next few years.

Both races are among the host of events for which the Italian company will provide leaders’ jerseys, the list also including the Vuelta a España, Vuelta Femenina, Paris-Nice and the Tour Auverge-Rhône Alpes.

However, the overall leader’s yellow jersey is the most iconic of all jerseys in our sport and it is the Tour de France which attracts most exposure for Castelli.

"For any cycling apparel brand, producing the Maillot Jaune represents the highest possible honor," said Castelli's Global Brand Manage, Steve Smith. "We wanted these jerseys to be truly special, which is why every micro-detail stems from our deep reverence for what they represent to the sport and the riders who earn them. Beyond pushing performance and aerodynamics, every single feature was crafted to honor that legacy.”

The colours of the jerseys are sacrosanct, and we’ll see no change from recent years, so there’s little room for radical new designs, but Castelli has added some neat little details to each of the jerseys which may make those riders wearing them feel a little more special - if that’s possible.

There’s Tour de France branding on each of the jerseys' zip pulls, which are hexagonal in a nod to France’s nickname, l’Hexagone, and when you open the zip of the yellow jersey, which Castelli say is more vibrant in colour, it reveals a red and blue trim which combines with the white zipper to form France’s tricolore flag.

While the red and white Castelli logo is visible on all the jerseys, the chance to incorporate it into the polka-dots of the mountain classification jersey was too good to miss, and adds a touch of class, as do the mountainous profiles on grip strips on the inside hem of the entire range.

The white, young rider’s jersey has undergone the most radical reform, with what they’re calling ultraviolet flashes added to the collar, sleeves and hemline to match the jersey’s new sponsor, Sanofi.

"This is not the first time Castelli and A.S.O. have joined forces around the Tour de France," Smith continued. "We previously produced the leaders' jerseys from 1989 to 1994, worn to historic victories by champions such as Greg LeMond and Miguel Indurain.

"Having supplied leader jerseys during that iconic era, returning to the Tour de France feels like a real homecoming. We are incredibly proud of our heritage in the race, but even more excited to shape its future by outfitting the next generation of champions with garments that push the boundaries of speed, comfort, and style."

Castelli will be providing jersey to a host of other ASO races, and while some, like Paris-Nice will be almost identical to those of the Tour, those of the Vuelta a España and Vuelta Femenina will be different and revealed at a later date.

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A new wearable airbag safety device for cyclists has made it onto Time magazine's list of best inventions in 2026.

Belgian company Aerobag's device is among 15 entries in the magazine's list under the 'sports & fitness' category, among a total of 300 inventions "making the world better, smarter, and more fun" this year, Time say.

Aerobag is a system fitted into the straps of bib shorts which, according to the company, "uses nine sensors scanning 200 times per second to monitor body dynamics and detect crash anomalies". The airbag "deploys in 100 milliseconds" when it's triggered before folding back into place, allowing the rider to continue racing afterwards.

The Aerobag team, headed by Bert Celis, spent six years developing the Aerobag. They began work on the device after Bjorg Lambrecht's death at the 2019 Tour de Pologne.

"It was a fairly innocuous kind of accident, the sort of thing that could happen, and does happen, literally, in every race," Aerobag co-founder Quinton Van Loggerenberg told Cyclingnews in January.

"You're sending athletes down the road at 60, 70, 90k an hour in lycra. And that was it. That was the catalyst. My mission, my absolute mission, is that you, as a rider, wake up at home. You don't wake up in the back of an ambulance."

It remains to be seen whether wearable airbags such as Aerobag will make it to professional cycling.

The brand is are already working with several kit manufacturers including Nalini, Nimbl, and MOA, with Picnic PostNL and Visma-Lease a Bike having already tested the device.

Meanwhile, back in February, the UCI launched a consultation on the use of wearable safety technology. The governing body invited 'expressions of interest' from relevant parties to form working groups.

"Already in contact with several players in the sector, the UCI now wishes to broaden the initiative to the greatest number possible of manufacturers and institutes working on the development of airbags and technical apparel for cyclists," the UCI stated at the time.

"The objectives of this initiative are as follows... Regarding airbag systems: to define a clear framework and appropriate standards to enable the development and integration of such devices into cycling (in competition and training); Regarding technical apparel: to study the integration of airbag solutions into clothing and to identify ways to further strengthen the protection offered by textiles."

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The Sigma Sports Warehouse Sale has big discounts across some of our favourite riding clothing. If you're looking for some winter riding kit or just to refresh your cycling wardrobe, then you can grab top-tier clothing from cycling's biggest brands, including Rapha, Castelli, PAS Normal, Velocio and more, with savings that are too good to pass up.

It’s even better when you use our exclusive code: CYCLINGNEWSEXTRA10 for an extra 10% off any Sigma Sports Sale item. Making now the perfect time to grab a bargain before popular sizes sell out.

Shop the Sigma Sports Warehouse Sale.

Although our exclusive code only applies to cycling clothing, there are bargains, with impressive discounts to be had on just about everything, including some of the best cycling shoes, helmets, cycling tech, and of course bikes, from road bikes to gravel.

The only downside is that as it's a clearance sale, it's the last of the stock, so sizing is limited on certain items. We'd say if you see something you're after, then grab it while you can.

Below I've highlighted some of our top picks from the Men's and Women's sale. There are plenty more to be had; you just need to be willing to do some serious sifting, and that's all part of the bargain-hunting fun.

The extra 10% discount kicks in when you add the CYCLINGNEWSEXTRA10 code at checkout. Sigma Sports also offers free shipping for orders over £50.

Sigma Sports Sale Men's deals

Sigma Sports Sale Women's deals

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), each European citizen throws away an average of 16kg of textiles each year. The EEA estimates almost 75% of this is incinerated or ends up in landfill, and some is shipped to Asia and Africa.

The reality of this is shocking. I’ve seen it first-hand at markets in Tunisia where hundreds of tables of clothing are piled high and sold for a few pounds, and global fast fashion brands do the same thing but on a much, much bigger scale around the world.

Albeit smaller than the big fast fashion manufacturers, cycling clothing is also part of this conversation, especially given the constant flow of new collection launches, designs and colourways.

The UN Environment Programme says 2-8% of CO2 emissions come from the textile industry, while the Ellen MacArthur Foundation says that only 1% of clothing is circular.

Circularity refers to the concept of keeping clothing in use for as long as possible, through reuse, repair, and recycling, essentially a loop, and eliminating waste. By comparison, the traditional manufacturing model is linear: clothing is sold to be worn and then disposed of, often without regard for repair and reuse.

Circularity has yet to become mainstream in the clothing industry, let alone the cycling kit sector, but French brand Velor is trying to change that. We spoke to Velor and other voices in the cycling industry to learn more about the future of sustainable clothing, and how cyclists can join that movement.

A world-first 'circular' cycling jersey

Velor, a brand founded in France in 2021, has created the first circular cycling jersey made from textile waste, could represent a major step forward for both the sportswear and textile industries. It took five years from concept to bringing the jersey to market, because Velor had to build every step from scratch.

"We started from nothing, and we had to build it ourselves," says Florian Jardin, who co-founded Velor with his brother Mickael.

"The whole value chain is very complicated because you start with low volumes, you grow step by step, and it's not standard fabrics."

The brand’s supply chain starts in France and the Netherlands with clothing collection, and heads through France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal for the final product, before closing the loop by returning to the collection stage.

Velor scaled its circular jersey gradually, from lab-testing a single jersey, to recycling 300 jerseys two years ago, to now processing at the one-tonne scale.

READ: Wind tunnel tested: This aero kit can save you more watts than a $14,500 bike for 3% of the price

The brand also worked with Maastricht University and its suppliers to understand the impact of its jersey and to quantify the life cycle assessment data. Jardin says the result is an infinitely recyclable jersey, made from 85% textile waste and a footprint of 0.9kg CO2 equivalent.

"If you look at a jersey made in China, the emissions are 3-4kg for an equivalent jersey with the same fabric, weight and construction," he adds.

Making less to last

Another non-traditional business model is using a pre-order system, which requires customers to wait for their kit to be made, but allows brands to produce only as much as they need.

Bristol-based brand Kostüme produces kits solely via pre-order. Founder Ed Bartlett says a pre-order model removes the waste which is baked into the traditional retail model.

"A lot of brands are trying to solve the wrong part of the problem by focusing on recycled fabrics and repair capabilities, but the problem is we're making too much stuff," says Bartlett.

"The research that I've done suggests 30% of products get sold at full price, 30% get sold at a discount, 40% don't ever get sold, and then a lot of brands have a 40% return rate, so even the stuff that they're selling gets returned, and these are big numbers.

"If you can cut that by even 10% or 20%, that has a much bigger impact than anything else."

Bartlett says his 55% returning customer rate and 100% year-on-year growth are proof that the pre-order model works.

Kostüme also doesn’t carry the cost of unsold stock which gives Bartlett flexibility. For example, Kostüme’s bib shorts use a separately applied gripper that adds two weeks to production time and costs more but virtually eliminates fabric waste.

The few items that aren't sold or are returned go to their Ready to Ship store, offering customers a chance to buy an item with a faster turn around time.

Swiss brand Assos recently tested the pre-order model through a jersey collaboration with One Garment at a Time (OGAT).

"The OGAT project was a way to test a new business model that brings us closer to the customer, letting us plan and produce with the goal of zero waste and zero excess stock," says Davide Colletto, quality, safety and environment manager at Assos.

"It is a more sustainable approach, and we are evaluating how this model could be extended to other parts of our range where it makes sense."

Why aren’t more brands trying to close the loop and reduce waste?

In the early days of Velor, Jardin reached out to many of the major brands in the hope of partnering with them, but he didn’t get much engagement.

"I spoke to all of them, but they said they weren’t interested, didn’t have time or it wasn’t in their strategy," he says.

He says cost was also a reason. Producing circular fabric costs about 11 times more than sourcing fabric from China, while manufacturing in Portugal costs five to six times more than in China, according to Jardin.

Jardin built these costs into the business from the start, but for bigger brands there would be a large cost for them to pivot their business model.

"The circular economy needs to deliver cheap products, and that means scaling up and getting the economies of scale", says Dr Sam Hampton, a lecturer and researcher in Environmental Governance and Behaviour Energy programme at the University of Oxford.

But, as Velor shows, that doesn’t exist yet.

Dr Hampton suggests a carbon tax on virgin raw materials which could be a lever to make recycled alternatives comparatively cheaper.

"You need to change the whole system in multiple ways, make the virgin competitors more expensive and the recycled competitive products cheaper, but that's a system-wide global challenge."

The domination of the traditional model means pivoting is difficult.

"The linear model still dominates the industry, but it's becoming harder to justify environmentally, commercially and in regulation," says Sam Wrest, senior ESG manager at Rapha.

"Circularity is the direction we're moving in, but in cycling apparel it comes with real technical challenges."

The materials problem

The technical challenges revolve around the difficulties of recycling mixed materials.

"Cycling kit relies on elastane blends, bonded seams, silicone grippers and chamois pads, which are very hard to recycle back into new fibre," explains Wrest. "Textile-to-textile recycling for these materials isn't commercially viable at scale yet."

Wrest says Rapha is exploring this area nonetheless, and expects to share more soon, but its current focus remains on durability, repairs and its trade-in service to extend the lives of existing garments. Danish brand Pas Normal Studios echoes these challenges.

"Right now, the most effective lever within our control is keeping products in use for longer, through quality, repairs and spare parts," says Fabian Pirrwitz, Impact and responsibility analyst at Pas Normal Studios.

Moving to mono-material – garments made exclusively of one fabric – is also not a straightforward solution, particularly not when it comes to technical or high-performance cycling clothing.

"Mono-material fabrics can make recycling easier, but the recycling and recovery infrastructure is still limited and not yet fully developed," adds Colletto of Assos.

"Different garments have different technical requirements, and a single material is not always the best way to achieve the performance, comfort and durability we need."

The challenges don't stop there, either. There is also the issue of synthetic fibres shedding microplastics during washing, and the long-term impact of things like PFAs, which were previously used extensively in cycling clothing and waterproofs. Whilst many brands are trying, the task of making cycling clothing sustainable and environmentally friendly is far from simple.

Proof and transparency

While Velor and Kostüme openly talk about their supply chains, some brands shy away from transparency over where your clothes come from and how they are made.

Several mainstream cycling brands operate with supply chains in China and Vietnam. Maap, Decathlon (Van Rysel) and Rapha manufacture some products in Asia.

Decathlon brand Van Rysel has removed carbon emissions information from its website for many of its jerseys, and some of its latest products don’t have any environmental initiatives linked to them, giving the impression that the brand is scaling back on its transparency and sustainability.

One Decathlon jersey still listed with emissions comes in at 4.9kg CO2 equivalent. We approached Van Rysel for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

An upcoming EU regulation called the Digital Product Passport (DPP) scheme could change this lack of transparency in the world of cycling clothing. The DPP will require all textiles sold in the EU to include data across supply chains such as material, chemicals, origin, and recyclability. It is expected to apply by the end of 2029.

"I think what we need is more transparency… A name and a company for every step of the process," says Jardin.

Fabric certifications such as Bluesign and OEKO-TEX are often used to imply sustainability credentials, but they're not the be-all and end-all, and certainly don't cover all factors of production.

"A certified fabric doesn't tell you a brand's overall carbon footprint, the full picture of how workers are treated, or what happens to products when they reach the end of their life," says Wrest.

"Certifications are useful for managing specific risks in the supply chain, but they're a starting point, not proof of sustainability."

A more circular and less wasteful future?

With the recent record-breaking heatwaves and ongoing climate crisis, it would be logical for consumer habits to change – not just as shoppers all wake up to the impact that unsustainable consumption and business practices can have on the world around, but in response to climate change itself.

Dr Hampton predicts a drive for new lighter summer kit which performs in the heat, rather than less buying overall, for example.

For traditional business models, upcoming regulation will force them to pivot to more transparent practices, but the costs of going circular and lack of recycling infrastructure remain significant hurdles for many brands.

However, Velor’s innovation with an infinitely recyclable jersey shows us what is possible and showcases how a circular clothing economy could work.

Similarly, Kostüme’s business success highlights a consumer desire for a different way of thinking, but both Kostüme and Velor are small parts of a much wider and impactful cycling clothing ecosystem.

"We’re a drop in the ocean ultimately, but hopefully we can scale this to a point where it’s inarguable, and people can’t shy away from it," says Bartlett.

But with major player Assos testing the waters with pre-order, and Rapha focusing on garment longevity, perhaps the future of cycling clothing is a little bit rounder after all.

The e-bike helmet market is awash with great options, with styles and models to suit all tastes and budgets. Brands vying for your custom range from Silicon Valley startups, fresh from their latest crowdfunding campaign, to wily old manufacturers who might remember when wheels were made of wood.

This Abus offering comes from a brand firmly in the latter camp. Despite not having the helmet heritage of Lazer or Bell, Abus have had skin in the cycling game for some time. Having started making padlocks back in 1924, founder August Bremicker quickly added a bike lock to the Abus catalogue a few years later.

Fast forward nearly 100 years and Bremicker’s brand is synonymous with cycle safety, whether that be keeping your bike safe from potential thieves, or keeping your head safe from potential collisions.

The Pedelec 2.0 MIPS is a thoroughly modern helmet that cements Abus firmly in the e-bike era. Complete with NTA 8776 certification (meaning it’s been tested to provide collision protection at higher speeds), the Pedelec ticks all the essential boxes whilst adding some great nice-to-haves.

This is far from a budget option, and there are competitors that do a similar job for a lot less cash, but on the whole the Abus goes a decent way to justifying the price tag.

I’ve been using it on both my pedal-assisted school run and on my old-fashioned (no battery) slog into the office. While the Pedelec positions itself as a lid for the battery-powered among us, if you also own a regular bike and want a do-it-all option, it’s worth knowing how the thing performs when you’re relying on leg-power alone.

Design and aesthetics 

If you’ve been shopping around, you’ll have noticed that the majority of e-bike helmets have taken on quite an urban aesthetic. Often at the expense of ventilation (arguably less of a priority for the e-biker), many of the helmets on offer now feature a smoother dome without the contouring and airflow more commonly found on road or mountain bike lids.

The Pedelec 2.0 hasn’t fallen into that trap. The design here is much more akin to the traditional pedal bike helmets Abus has been designing since the '90s. OK, it’s not super streamlined, and due to the requirements of the NTA 8776 certification, the shell comes down lower behind the ears, but otherwise this has more of a road look than much of what’s on the market.

The overall design generally sways towards function over form. As well as getting decent vents rather than a street-style dome, you also get an in-built, fold-out rain cover. This anorak for your head (well, helmet) isn’t sexy, but it will keep the draft out of those vents when the weather turns.

As well as built-in rain protection, something else that might tick a box for you (it certainly does for me) is the lack of excess bulk. Compared to some of its peers, the Pedelec is definitely on the slimmer side. It also comes in well under 400g, which is lighter than many rivals.

When it comes to deciding on a colour, you’ve got three choices. None of them are going to win any awards for originality. Pictured and tested here, you have Signal Yellow (gloss). Alternative options are limited to Velvet Black or Silver Edition (both matte). Effectively, you’re choosing between lolly-pop-lady hi-vis, grey or black.

Components and build

The Pedelec 2.0 is built in the conventional way. Abus uses an in-mould process, in which the expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner is foamed directly into the polycarbonate outer shell. This bonds the two together, which is a big part of why in-mould helmets feel solid while staying reasonably light.

The headline safety credential is NTA 8776. This is a Dutch standard written specifically for e-bike helmets, and it's more demanding than the EN 1078 standard every bike helmet sold in the UK is required to meet. Helmets that pass it have been drop-tested at higher impact speeds and have to cover more of the head, which explains that extended section towards the rear of this Abus.

Additional MIPS technology adds a thin plastic slip layer between the padding and the EPS. The idea is that it allows the helmet to rotate slightly relative to your head in an angled impact, reducing the rotational forces passed to the brain. It's a technology many riders now consider essential, and its absence from the standard model is worth bearing in mind if you're choosing between the two.

Weighing in 372g in a medium size, the Abus is lighter than a lot of its e-bike-orientated contemporaries. Given the abundance of features and extra coverage, that’s not bad going.

Fit is handled by Abus' Zoom Spin dial-adjust, which tightens a half-ring headband. The cradle is height-adjustable, so it not only provides a customisable degree of comfort, but it also creates an opening at the back to accommodate ponytails.

The straps get some thoughtful touches too. The webbing has reflective thread woven in, the dividers lock in place with a clamp, and it all fastens together with a magnetic buckle.

The front of the helmet has five large inlets which allow for plenty of airflow. They’re bigger than what you’ll find on most e-bike commuter lids, and they come with some bug mesh to help mitigate the chance of wildlife getting sucked into your helmet.

Then there are the commuter extras. The rear light is unfortunately a massive let down, with a measly 10-lumen output. Abus describe it as “especially bright”, but I found it to be pretty feeble. The brand claims it runs for at least three and a half hours on steady and eight hours on flash. It charges from flat in around an hour but uses the old-style Micro-USB.

Also at the rear of the helmet is the Pedelec’s true USP: the rain cap. It's a fabric cover stored in its own compartment, which you pull out and stretch over the shell and attach at the front using two small pegs. It has reflective panels of its own, and it's designed so the rear light stays visible when it's deployed. When it's not needed, it tucks back into the helmet, ready for the next downpour.

If you want even more, the Pedelec 2.0 ACE variant adds a flip-down visor and removable ear warmers. Abus also offers a winter kit as an optional extra for the standard model, which looks like it could be a welcome addition given the ample venting.

Performance

A bike helmet can have all the bells and whistles you like, but if it’s uncomfortable, they’ll count for very little. The Pedelec 2.0 sat on the head very nicely, with a good amount of padding in all the right places. Too much padding ends up holding a lot of moisture on hot rides, so used sparingly and effectively is definitely my preference.

I’m usually sceptical of half-ring cradles, as I often find they are a recipe for pressure points and often leave a big red mark on the forehead, but this wasn’t the case with the Pedelec. The fit was good and it’s made all the better by being able to tweak the height of the dial adjuster at the rear. Some helmets opt for a limited range of settings here, but the Pedelec allows you to slide the dial up and down, giving you a good inch and a half of customisation. Good news for the ponytail’d out there, but also just a nice way to find your sweet spot.

The strap was easy to adjust, with the clamp fastener on the dividers allowing for optimum adjustment around the ears. The magnetic buckle was a great addition and a welcome upgrade to my regular pinch-and-clip model. I’m constantly having to remove my helmet with a combination of a child, a school bag and the weekly shop in one or more hands, so having a buckle that can be easily undone with one hand is a game changer. The Abus website states that they use a Fidlock buckle, mine came with what seemed to be an Abus own-brand version, but it worked just as well.

The light is unfortunately where the Pedelec comes a bit unstuck. While I would never rely solely on a rear helmet light when riding at night, they do add an extra dimension of visibility that can make the difference on the road. Having gone to the trouble of integrating one, it’s a shame that the Pedelec edition only omits 10 lumens. I’m pretty sure there is plankton that gives off a more eye-catching glow! The light has just two settings and charges using the old-style Micro-USB charging port.

Given that I was testing the Signal Yellow option, I felt as though the helmet was plenty visible enough without the light, so I didn’t let it sour my overall sentiment towards an otherwise decent bit of kit.

Where the Pedelec comes into its own is in its combination of extremely good ventilation and in-built rain cover. Having recently tested helmets such as the Lazer Verde, I appreciate that it’s difficult for manufacturers to find the line between letting air in and keeping water out. The Verde attempts to do this through clever engineering between the helmet’s shell and the EPD, but with limited success. The Pedelec does away with the need for clever engineering and instead opts for the best of both worlds: enough ventilation to keep you cool on my 40-minute pedal-powered commute, with the rain cap coming into play when the winds got up and the temperature dropped. A simple but extremely effective solution.

While the rain cap might not immediately appeal to the image-conscious, for anyone who has walked into a 9 am meeting having just been drenched in puddle water by a passing double-decker bus, you might want to reconsider. Unlike closable vents, which you’ll find on e-bike lids like Abus’ own Hyp-E, the rain cap still allows for some breathability, so it’s a nice middle ground. The cap easily attaches to two small pegs on the brow of the helmet. Getting the cap back into the compartment brought on mild PTSD from packing up tents in the rain and isn’t something you want to do in a hurry, but otherwise I’m a big fan.

Thankfully, I did not have to put the Pedelec’s safety credentials to the test, but I felt pretty secure in the knowledge I was in good hands. Coming complete with the holy trinity of NTA 8776 certification, Virginia Labs score and MIPS technology, the Pedelec not only feels like a robust unit, but it has the paperwork to prove it.

Value

The Pedelec 2.0 MIPS has a recommended retail price of £190, although you’ll find it available for less. Although even with 20 per cent off, it’s still towards the top end of the market.

For your money, you get NTA 8776 certification, an integrated light and a magnetic buckle. These are some of the criteria you should expect when looking at this price bracket. You also get good ventilation that pairs with a rain cover for colder/wetter days.

There are a couple of areas where the Pedelec 2.0 is starting to look a little dated, though. The light is modest at 10 lumens and still charges via Micro-USB.

If the e-bike certification is your priority and you can live without the rain cover, there are some cheaper options. The Lazer Verde KinetiCore costs £99, is NTA 8776 certified and scores four out of five from Virginia Tech. It's also made largely from recycled materials. On the flip side, there's no integrated light, the ventilation is limited, and it's on the heavy side at 481g.

The Giro Camden MIPS is perhaps the most direct rival. It combines NTA 8776 certification, MIPS and a large built-in rear light, as well as vents that can be closed in bad weather, for around £120. The Bern Hudson ticks similar boxes for just over £100, although its light clicks in rather than being integrated.

The real bargain is the Specialized Mode, which adds MIPS and NTA 8776 certification to one of the highest Virginia Tech ratings around, at a budget price. You'll need to buy a light separately though.

If you're prepared to spend Pedelec money or a little more, there are a few helmets that arguably offer more. The Smith Dispatch MIPS costs £155 and pairs MIPS with Koroyd, NTA 8776 certification, a Fidlock buckle and an included rear light. It also has clever vents that help stop glasses steaming up.

Abus's own HYP-E has an RRP of £175 and adds front and rear lights, indicators and a remote to the NTA 8776 certification, making it a good option if visibility is your top priority.

Verdict

The Pedelec 2.0 makes a nice change to a lot of what currently dominates the e-bike helmet market. It’s quite old-school in allowing plenty of airflow and not opting for a skate-park aesthetic. However, when you get past the look, the Pedelec can go toe-to-toe with any of its contemporaries.

For starters, it’s about as safe as they come. Although it would be nice to see full marks from Virginia Tech, four out of five is very respectable, and that score is backed up by an NTA 8776 certificate and use of MIPS.

The light is the one component that lets the Pedelec down, and it’s a shame you’re not getting more brightness for your bucks. For me, lighting comes quite a long way down the list of priorities when shopping for a helmet, and is by no means a must-have.

At £190, it’s right up there with the top-end models, and if in-built visibility is important to you, there are better-illuminated options for the money.

However, if you’re looking for a helmet that can cope with a range of rides, the Pedelec is a strong choice. Having used this on both e-bike and pedal-powered rides, towards the tail end of an Indian summer, where the weather ranged from sweltering to bone-chilling, the Pedelec kept me cool when required but also gave the option of battening down the hatches if needed.

Castelli’s scorpion logo will return to the Tour de France’s yellow jersey next year for the first time in more than 30 years, with the Italian company announced as the new kit partner for race owners ASO.

Castelli made the yellow jersey for the Tour between 1989 and 1994, during which time Greg LeMond won two of the iconic jerseys and Miguel Indurain four. Now, Castelli will take over from fellow Italian brand Santini and make jerseys and other kit for all ASO’s 27 professional races and amateur challenges, including the Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, and both the men’s and women’s Vuelta a España.

Other major races include Paris-Nice, the Tour Auvergne Rhône Alpes and the Volta a Catalunya, alongside amateur events like l’Etape du Tour and the Paris-Roubaix Challenge. The agreement extends to all the sub-classifications in all the races.

Castelli’s take on the Tour de France yellow jersey will be revealed at the Tour de France route presentation in Paris next week, on October 22. The green, polka-dot, and white young jerseys – for the points, mountains, and youth classifications, respectively – will be revealed at a later date.

Cyclingnews understands that Giro d'Italia organisers, RCS Sport, will no longer use Castelli for their jerseys, but the deal with ASO means Castelli will still increase its visibility, providing kit to the classification leaders of two Grand Tours and a host of other races, totalling more than over 100 race days across men's and women's calendars.

"This is a truly monumental moment in Castelli’s 150-year history," said Steve Smith, Castelli’s Global Brand Manager. "For a global cycling brand, producing the Maillot Jaune of the Tour de France is the greatest honour there is, not to mention the jerseys for other major races such as Paris-Nice, Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and the Vuelta a España.

"Returning to the Tour de France feels like a real homecoming. We are incredibly proud of our heritage in the race, but even more excited to shape its future by outfitting the next generation of champions with garments that push the boundaries of speed, comfort, and style."

Over the years, companies like Le Coq Sportif, Giordana and Nike have all made the jerseys for the Tour, each reflecting a certain era of the sport. Santini is the incumbent manufacturer, having begun supplying the Tour and associated races in 2022. The Italian brand attracted criticism at the recent Vuelta a España when riders were forced to cut their shorts, claiming there were insufficient sizes available.

Yan Le Moënner, the CEO at ASO, welcomed the partnership, saying: "Once again, history meets the future. Castelli’s experience and expertise ensure that our leading riders will be equipped with products that meet the highest standards of quality."

If you’re entering the world of bicycle kit for the first time, you’re probably wondering where to start. There are countless brands offering endless features that are constantly trying to reinvent the wheel; sometimes quite literally. In this world of perpetual new releases, it’s refreshing when you encounter a brand that doesn’t mess about.

Being a parent to two young kids means I am perennially time poor. So imagine my delight when, having blocked out time in my busy day to familiarise myself with the full Xnito range, I realised it only does two products. In fact, arguably only one.

The Xnito and Xnito Kid are the brainchildren of founder, Ben Dai, who began work on the concept in post-lockdown San Francisco during the summer of 2020. It had dawned on Ben that a lot of the local e-bike riders, himself included, were riding at speeds of up to 25mph wearing dangerously insufficient traditional bike helmets.

The helmets he and his peers wore were only crash-tested to meet standards suitable for traditional pedal bikes ridden at much slower speeds. So Ben set about designing the adult Xnito which hit shelves in 2022 and carried the Dutch NTA 8776 certificate. A standard which means the helmet is tested to provide crash protection up to 28mph.

The Xnito is not alone in meeting these standards; many of the best e-bike helmets do as well – we’ll come to some of those later. But, having reviewed the adult Xnito Helmet after its release, it made sense to check out its little brother.

Needless to say, I don’t have any first-hand experience of actually wearing the Xnito Kid. What I do have is one cycle-obsessed five-year-old who will put even the most robust bit of bike kit through its paces. He’s been wearing his Xnito Kid both on the back of my Tern Long Haul and riding his own Prevelo Alpha Two.

Design and aesthetics 

The first thing that strikes you about the Xnito Kid is that this helmet doesn’t feel particularly like it’s a kid's helmet. And I mean that as a compliment. The Xnito Kid isn’t a more basic design of the adult version, it’s almost identical. They even come in some of the same colours; perfect if you’re in the market for some intergenerational twinning.

The matte finish and neat recesses also add to the general feel that this is a lid for young riders who want to start taking their cycling seriously.

But don’t worry, if your little one is still after something a little more playful, the Xnito includes a sheet of foam stickers that can be used to customise

The Xnito Kid only comes in one size, designed to fit heads from 51-54cm. That’s on the larger end of the kids spectrum (or smaller end of the adult’s, in fact), so if you’re shopping for a child under four then you’re better off with looking at something like an Ozmo Sidekick which goes right down to 45cm.

Designed to meet the requirements of the NTA 8776 certificate, the Xnito provides more coverage than your standard cycle helmet. This is why the sides and the rear of the helmet come down much lower behind the ears. The extra protection brings it closer to something you’d expect to see hanging off the handlebars of a moped, rather than a traditional road-style helmet, but the smooth dome and matte finish give the Xnito the look of something more skate-park-esque.

More coverage means more heat retention, but the Xnito offsets the larger surface area with some vents. For warmer days there is also a fabric visor that can be easily attached to the padding just inside the brim.

Components and build

Like the majority of helmets, the Xnito Kid is made “in-mould”, which means the outer polycarbonate shell and the inner EPS liner are fused together during construction. This makes for a helmet that feels solid as the two elements don’t shift or creak, which can sometimes be the case with hardshell helmets where the shell and liner are fastened together.

The inner cradle runs around just over half of the liner, anchoring to the liner at the same point as the front of the strap. This is typically a system you would expect to find in lower-priced helmets, with high-end models often opting for a full 360-degree-fit. Having a cradle that goes all the way round the head means that when you adjust the dial, the cradle tightens all the way round, in theory reducing the chance of particular pressure points.

When the cradle only goes halfway, any tightening pulls the helmet back toward the dial, meaning there’s more chance of pressure being applied at the forehead and rear. Perhaps to help offset this, the Xnito comes with really good padding that not only covers the majority of the rim, but also the upper dome as well.

The straps are independent and firmly attached to the rim of the helmet. The brand’s own magnetic buckle completes the below-the-ear setup, with a simple pull cord allowing for easy, one-handed unbuckling.

There's a white LED up front and a red one at the back, both integrated and running off a single rechargeable battery. The charge port is USB-C, which is good to see, as plenty of helmets are still clinging to Micro USB. There are three rear modes (flashing, solid and a "wavy" pattern) and Xnito quotes up to 10 hours of run-time. The lights are rated IPX4, so they'll cope with a downpour but not a dunk in a puddle.

One of the big selling points of the Xnito is its NTA 8776 certification, which trumps the European EN 1078 or US CPSC. While the Kid meets both of those standards, it claims to offer a whopping 87 per cent more protection than CPSC. The Xnito doesn’t, however, use Mips technology or offer its own rotational impact protection. Mips (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) is an inner layer within a helmet that allows for a degree of sliding motion during an angled collision, which is designed to greatly reduce the risk of concussion.

When we reviewed the adult Xnito in 2023, the brand pointed us towards Snell Foundation research questioning how much systems like Mips actually add. It's a defensible position, and Kask has taken a similar line, but it puts the Kid on the back foot against rivals offering NTA 8776 and Mips together. There's no Virginia Tech rating either.

Performance

Firstly, as mentioned, I have not tested this helmet myself. Well, not in the traditional sense of actually wearing it on a ride. Secondly, anyone who has ever asked a five-year-old their opinion will know that detail is rarely a strong suit. So with that in mind, I have endeavoured to extract as much as possible from the grins, uptake and general vibes of my mini tester, plus my own parental intuition.

Finally, the Xnito is pitched as an e-bike helmet, so if your child is only ever going to be wearing the Kid while being taxi’d across town, then you can discount much of what’s covered said in relation to my son’s own pedalling escapades.

On the initial “unboxing”, my son wasn’t completely won over. Having got used to seeing his parents in road helmets most of the time, the bulkier look didn’t sit particularly well. However, that was before we discovered the stickers. Being able to apply a range of colourful dinosaurs and spacemen to his new (and admittedly quite plain) bit of kit was an instant selling point and quite a fun activity in itself. The stickers can easily be peeled off and moved if your little one changes their mind or grows out of the look. That said, the stickiness did dwindle a little bit after some considerable reshuffling.

My son usually wears an Abus Smiley 3.0 in size M, which covers a range from 50-55cm, and the Xnito fitted him well. The range of the Xnito is just 51-54, so it doesn’t have the same shelf life as something like the Abus. That is also the only size currently available at the time of writing, although a size M in the adult version covers 54-58cm.

I was worried the cradle not being a full 360-degree fit might make it uncomfortable on longer rides or leave a mark, but it was fine.

The fabric visor worked pretty well. It can be attached by removing the front section of padding and comes with some additional adhesive hook-and-loop pads, just in case it needs a bit of extra grip. It’s not something you want to be attaching or removing in a rush, but once in place it’s quite effective and was an appealing addition from my son’s point of view.

The magnetic buckle was a huge hit with everyone who used it. If you’ve ever caught a child’s skin in the old-style pinch-release then you will know why this is a genuine game changer. I have added 20 minutes of tears to my nursery run with some overzealous fastening. The magnetic system also allows your child to unbuckle themselves, which is a bonus for 95 per cent of the time (it's less of a parental bonus for the 5 per cent when they decide today is not a helmet-wearing day).

The ventilation isn’t brilliant. The intakes don’t look huge when looking at them from the shell, but most become even smaller at the exit inside the liner, meaning there isn’t a huge amount of airflow.

This was fine when being worn on the back of our Tern. Even on hot days, my son wasn’t noticeably more sweaty wearing the Xnito compared to his regular Abus. We did notice a difference when he was on longer, pedal-powered rides. Where usually he’d finish his ride without breaking a sweat, in the Xnito he was noticeably more clammy. As I mentioned at the outset, this is an e-bike helmet, and all that extra protection does come at a pedalling performance cost.

At 338g, it’s noticeably heavier than a standard kids helmet, but noticeably lighter than its nearest rival, the Ozmo Sidekick. The Sidekick weighs in at 410g in an XS.

The integrated lights are a plus point, and they also went down really well with my son. Whilst they’re not comparable to decent standalone bike lights, and I wouldn't recommend using them in isolation if your child is cycling on the road, the visibility is good enough to help them stand out. The button is easy to use but might be a bit fiddly for whoever is wearing the helmet (which is possibly a good thing).

Value

At £115, this is about as expensive as it gets when it comes to kids' bike helmets (discounting the full-face and teardrop varieties). While you clearly get plenty of return on your investment, there are also some limitations that might prompt you to look elsewhere.

If you’re specifically in the market for a kids helmet with NTA 8776, then the nearest rival is probably the aforementioned Ozmo Sidekick. The Sidekick comes in around £40 cheaper and has the benefit of using Mips technology, although it lacks integrated lights.

Given the sizing on the Kid, there are a number of competitors that class themselves as adult helmets. Obviously, they won’t come with unicorn stickers, however it does allow you a bit more choice. The Abus Pedelec is an adult helmet but fits heads 51-55cm in a size S and also comes with NTA certification. There’s no Mips but it does have an integrated rear light.

If you’re looking to kit the whole family out, Xnito do offer a 25 per cent discount when buying three or more helmets. On purchase of the Kid, you’ll also receive a 40 per cent discount code on the next size up (which, given the fact that there is only one size in the Xnito Kid, presumably means the adult size M).

Verdict

The Xnito Kid is as solid as it is stylish. If you’re looking for an e-bike-specific helmet that passes some rigorous safety tests but also catches the eye, you can’t go far wrong.

The Kid gives your little rider high levels of protection in a higher-speed collision, with NTA 8776 approval and the additional head coverage provided by the Xnito Kid. It also provides decent visibility with integrated, USB-C-charged front and rear lighting. With a range of eye-catching matte colourways, as well as a pack of foam stickers, your little one will be able to customise what is already a pretty chic bit of kit.

Despite the dial adjust only coming with a partial cradle, rather than offering a 360-degree fit, the extra padding makes for a fairly nice fit. The independent straps and magnetic buckle also add to what is generally a comfy helmet.

While the size range is quite narrow at just 51-54cm, Xnito offer a 40% discount on the next size when your child has outgrown their current helmet.

If you’re looking for something that can be used when your child takes to the trail, the Kid lacks the airflow that you’ll find on traditional road or mountain bike helmets, so it might be a bit hot or heavy.

When it comes to the best aero helmets, there are plenty to choose from, but the fastest we've ever tested is the Oakley Velo Mach.

In our in-depth wind tunnel testing of 47 helmets, the Oakley was the absolute fastest aero road helmet, saving up to 8 watts at 40km/h. It was only beaten by a few dedicated TT helmets, making it a serious contender for cyclists who want speed, safety, and cutting-edge design.

The cutting-edge performance of the best road bike helmets, plus that renowned Oakley name, means the Velo Mach comes with an eye-watering price tag. However, right now at Sigma Sports, the Oakley Velo Mach is discounted by up to 40%.

It takes it down to just £169, from the usual £280, and a massive £111 saving. In our Oakley Velo Mach review, expert tester Tom Wieckowski scored it an impressive 4.5 out of 5. Along with that aero performance, he reckoned it was also stylish, comfortable, well ventilated, and ticked all the boxes for a top-tier road helmet.

These Oakley deals are showing as limited sizing at Sigma, but there are three colour options to choose from, and the deal is for the MIPS-equipped version.

It's worth noting that in testing, Tom chose a small over his usual medium, which is something to consider if you're pulling the trigger.

It's also cheaper at Alpine Trek at £165.72, but the sizing is even more limited; if they have a size for you, it's an even better price.

In his review, Tom summed up the Oakley by saying;

"There's not much to dislike, really, and it hasn't given me a second of discomfort or any other issues in months of regular use. If you are shopping for a new performance road helmet, the Velo Mach should at the very least be one of the models you consider."

Highlights for Tom included its ventilation, and with just three front vents, one large main one, and two side vents, which also double as sunglasses storage, it received a big tick there. Tom noted that the large front vent did the job of keeping things nice and cool despite the aero design.

It was also very comfortable; of course, everyone's head is different, but having no hair (sorry Tom!), he added that he's more sensitive to uncomfortable helmet interiors than most. The Oakley delivered a great overall fit with zero issues over numerous hours of testing.

Its aero performance is the real appeal of the Velo Mach, and it has two very cool rubber fins which protrude from either side of the helmet in the back quarter. These 'flow conditioners' are designed to reduce drag and increase airflow attachment, helping the air passing over the helmet's outer shell to stick to it for longer.

It’s a feature that doesn’t appear on many helmets, and it certainly seemed to aid the aero performance in our wind tunnel testing.

As temperatures drop, a pair of the best winter cycling gloves can make all the difference when riding in cold conditions. If you're looking for a quality, warm pair, these Gore-Tex Insulated Trigger Gloves are now available at half price for $60 at Competitive Cyclist.

There's a reason to move quickly, too. Gore closed its Gorewear clothing line earlier this year, and these gloves are no longer being made. That means once the remaining stock is gone, they're gone. This is a great chance to snap up some really excellent gloves.

You can pick up a pair in either Black or Neon Yellow/Black, and in all sizes still.

USA: Gorewear Gore-Tex Insulated Trigger gloves: $120 $60

We gave the gloves an impressive 4.5/5 stars in our review, earning them the title of best overall winter cycling gloves.

You can sign up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime membership and cancel anytime before the £8.99 / $14.99 per month fee kicks in.

When most of us see a lobster-style glove, warmth is probably the first thing that comes to mind, and reviewer Tom Wieckowski described these as the warmest gloves he has ever tested. They also impressed with their comfort and surprisingly good dexterity.

The design keeps the index finger separate, while the other three fingers sit together in the main section of the glove. As a product reviewer myself, these are also the gloves I reach for when heading out for steady winter miles.

As you would expect from a brand that made its name from selling waterproof jackets, the Trigger gloves aren't just extremely warm but also highly water-resistant. The Gore-Tex ePE liner adds a waterproof layer without sacrificing breathability.

These are deep-winter gloves designed to keep your hands warm, and they certainly deliver. So, if warmth and comfort are your priorities, this is a good chance to pick up a quality pair of gloves, particularly with stock now limited.

As a final top tip, the yellow version offers a visibility boost, but the light colour can show dirt and stains over time, so if you want something that stays looking fresher for longer, the black option may be the better choice. The good news is that both colours are currently half price.

Keep your eyes peeled for plenty more deals across the day.

As the days get shorter and the weather cooler, it's time to start thinking about whether your winter riding wardrobe will see you through to spring. It's also the time of year when retailers start running sales events, notably Amazon's Big Deal Days, which is happening right now.

Another sale in play that's arguably more relevant to us cyclists is the Competitive Cyclist three-day event, which ends October 8. There are tons of bikes and gear to sift through at significantly reduced prices. However, I've been rummaging through what's on offer and have come up with a list of the best fall/autumn and winter gear with big discounts from premium brands.

Here at Cyclingnews, we've reviewed and ridden in much of the gear I've selected, such as the brilliant Gorewear Spinshift Gore-Tex Jacket, which got 4.5 out of 5 stars at review. Unfortunately, the Gorewear brand is no more. There's still plenty of its gear about at the moment, but when that stock runs out, it's gone forever.

Check out the gear I've highlighted below, and if you're in the market for more cut-price cycling kit, take a look at our Amazon Prime Day Bike Deals live hub.

Other cycling deals we've spotted that you might like:

🏮 41% off the Magicshine SEEMEE 300: Get this brilliant rear light at a fantastic price

🚵 $85 off the Hammerhead Karoo: Save on the fantastic Hammerhead Karoo smart computer

💦 32% off the Kärcher OC3 washer: An excellent mains- and tap-free bike cleaner

💨 Cycplus electric pump deal: This super handy mini-pump is now less than £50

🚴 Amazon Prime Day bike deals live hub: Stay on track of our best deals as we find them

Even though aerodynamics has become priority number one for most competitive cyclists buying new kit, aero socks are perhaps the most ridiculed upgrade of the past decade.

Speaking generally, the promise of 'free' (albeit often very expensive) speed is hard to ignore, compounded by the fact that pro cyclists – who rarely need to worry about the accompanying expense – place extreme importance on the matter as their careers can be made or lost by it.

Yet while most aero products are embraced quickly and without second thought, aero socks took a good while to gain acceptance. They didn't pass the fashion test, and the old guard dismissed them as a gimmick or a marginal gain too far. But when comparative tests started showing measurable benefits, more and more teams started wearing them, and nowadays, they're a staple in the pro peloton. You'll spot amateurs in them too, especially on race day.

We've now hit a point where some aero socks are so highly technical and researched that they regularly fetch up to £50+ per pair, and some even stretch as far as £100, and that's before we get into custom territory. The thing is, others can be had for just £3 if you know where to shop.

So do you actually stand to save more watts by buying the more expensive - or name brand - socks?

Given that upgrading your helmet can save around 11 watts and there's six watts between two high-end wheelsets, there should surely be a gap between a good pair of aero socks and a bad one… right?

To find out, we collated 26 pairs of socks and headed to the wind tunnel.

The socks

Our cohort included 22 pairs from named cycling brands, including Velotoze, Rule28, Aero Cycling Gear, NoPinz, Rapha, Castelli, Assos and more.

It also included a pair of comparatively cheap 'Rock Bros' socks that we bought from Amazon, an extremely cheap pair of 'West Biking' socks from Temu, a pair of cotton everyday socks from the British high-street clothing store Next, as well as some technical hiking socks from another high-street store.

The full list, in alphabetical order, is as follows:

• Aero Cycling gear V4
• Aero Cycling gear v5 Hexaflow
• Assos RSR Speed
• Capo Super Corsa
• Castelli Fast Feet 4
• Gobik Vortex 2.0
• Huub Aero Sock
• Kalas Aero Sock
• Le Col Pro Aero Sock
• MAAP Aero Knit Sock
• Mountain Warehouse Hiking Socks
• Next everyday cotton socks
• NoPinz Hypersonic MK2
• Nopinz Sonic
• Rapha Pro Team TT Aero
• Rock Bros Grid
• Rule 28 Neo Aero Sock (Double Layer)
• Rule 28 One Aero Sock
• Santini MADSS
• Silca Aero Socks (Tall)
• Sockeloen FSOTP 468
• Swiss Side Aero Socks
• Temu 'West Biking'
• Velotoze Aero Pro
• Velotoze Aero Socks
• Veto 1.0

So are expensive aero socks any faster than cheap aero socks? Does a pair of aero socks beat a pair of nominally 'standard' cycling socks? What about compared to a pair of everyday or hiking socks?

The title of this article has probably already given you a clue as to the answers to some of these questions, but scroll down to find out the details.

The results

Unlike previous CN Labs tests, where you're forced to read through (or scroll past) 3000 words explaining the protocols, caveats and standardisations, I'm going to dive straight into the results and do the nerdy stuff later. Please do take time to read the nerdy bits below, though, as that'll help you understand how we landed on the data and what caveats apply.

It's also important to state up front that the data is subject to an error margin of 0.2w at the lower speed, and 1.17w at the higher speed.

The biggest thing of note here is that there are very small differences between all the pairs of aero socks on test. There's just 1.85 watts between the fastest and slowest, and the difference between many of the socks in between is smaller than our error margin.

The Aero Cycling Gear V5 was fastest, but both NoPinz's Sonic and Rule 28's One Aero Sock can lay claim to victory too, with the error margin taken into account.

According to Rule 28, its more expensive Neo Aero Sock, with its double-layer finish, was designed for speeds over 55km/h for time trialling and track riding, so its mid-table result isn't a surprise here. It's also a lesson in choosing the right product for your needs, as spending more money doesn't automatically equal better performance across the board.

Just off the podium, the NoPinz Hypersonic Mk2, Sockeloen FSOTP 468 and Santini Madss are close behind, with Castelli's Fast Feet 4 sitting just behind those.

And then the next dozen are all pretty much indistinguishable, despite the price bracket ranging from £3.68 for the 'West Biking' brand of socks we bought from Temu, to £50 for the Rapha and Assos options.

Behind this, there are small steps down, before a bigger jump to the two pairs of non-cycling socks.

The error margin here is around 50% bigger than that of the 30km/h test, meaning even more potential for crossover between results. The results show that the Rule 28 One Aero Sock banked the best result, but it was a bit of a lottery as to which actually came out on top. Any of the top 17 - yes, seventeen - can claim the top spot, because they were all within 1.17 watts (our error margin) of the winner.

And to clarify, this is a pretty tight error margin at such a high speed, just ten counts (or 0.0010) in terms of CdA. So while it looks like we've just performed a bad test that shows all socks as being about the same, that's because all the socks are… about the same.

When you get into the bottom third of the table, we do start to see some differences, but most of those still sit within the error margin of five places either above or below.

Notably, the Velotoze Aero Pro is a step behind the others, despite being a high-priced aero product. Having shared the data with Velotoze, we're at a loss as to what caused this. It could be that the material was overstretched when fitted, or it could have been a glitch. It doesn't concur with Velotoze's own data, which showed them to be 6 watts faster than Velotoze' baseline coolmax socks at 40km/h in its own internal testing.

And the Veto 1.0 is a standard cycling sock by design, with none of your typical aero fabrics or trip strips, nor the common papery thin fragility, but the brand does claim to have tested them in a wind tunnel with good results.

We're looking at a gap of 4.9 watts (+/- 1.17w) between the fastest and slowest cycling socks on test, which is still better than a kick in the teeth, but given the £14.99 pair of Rock Bros socks from Amazon are just as fast as the £30-50 pairs from all the big brands, it's a damning outcome for anyone charging big money promising aero gains.

And like the 30km/h data above, the distant duo at the bottom of the table (in the form of the hiking socks and the everyday cotton socks) are the exception that proves the rule. There's a further five watts between the slowest aero socks and the slowest non-cycling socks.

I guess my main regret here is not taking more 'normal' cycling socks along to see how they compare, but I'm quite confident they'd sit within the error margin too.

While there's no clear trend that we can see, it's interesting to see how the order differs at the two speeds.

The consistent position of the two non-cycling socks – the hiking socks and the cotton everyday socks – at the bottom of the table is reassurance that the wind tunnel was spitting out accurate numbers. If a pair of woolly socks from my local hiking store outperformed dedicated aero socks, I'd be concerned we'd done something wrong.

Are taller socks faster?

While it's fair to say the difference between each pair of socks is minimal, can we at least spot a trend with taller generally being faster than shorter?

That's long been the general train of thought. It's why we see time triallists in knee-high socks, and partly why the UCI banned socks over a certain height (although that was mainly because they look weird too).

To find out, I've grouped the socks by their height to see if taller does indeed equal faster.

There's a slight bias towards better performance at the taller heights, but it's far from clearcut. We had socks here ranging from 20cm to 26cm tall, but some of the socks in the 20cm category are just as fast as those up at 24 and 26cm.

Are more expensive socks more aero?

This one's so clear-cut that it doesn't even need a graph to prove it. The £3 socks are mid-table, the £14.99 socks are on the podium, and more than one near-£50 pair sits in the bottom third of our test.

There's no clear correlation between price and aerodynamic performance.

On the day, we decided that next time, we'd try to work with a brand like Sockeloen or Vorteq to create a custom-fitted pair to see if that makes any difference. Sockeloen offers a €1000 option that involves aero consultancy, for example.

Of course, cheaper items - socks and otherwise - could cut corners in other areas. They might be faster in a one-minute wind tunnel test, but if they lose their stick and fall down halfway through a ride, or if they lose their stretch and become baggy after three washes, or they fall apart entirely, you're giving away all the aero gains and more.

The contrary to that, though, is that many aero socks from big-name brands are incredibly fragile. Some are much better than others, but the papery finish you get on some is easy to damage. I've ripped three pairs in the past year alone. And the lack of stretch in the material on others means you really need to fight to get them on, which in turn increases the risk of damage.

That's not the subject of today's test, so we will be putting the various socks through their real-world paces to see how they fare in longer-term use.

But even so, when there's no aero performance guarantee, and the risk of damage means they could last just as long as something made less well, why buy something at 3x - or, in the case of the Temu socks, 14x - the price?

Conclusions

There are clearly watts to be saved between the non-cycling socks (everyday cotton and the hiking socks) and the cycling socks, of which the best example is the Veto 1.0.

There is then another small uptick to the nominally 'aero' socks, but the difference between that Veto 1.0 and an 'aero' cycling sock could range anywhere from negative three watts (ie, worse) to a maximum of around six watts (both at 45km/h).

But given our data shows small differences between the aero socks, there's no single winner in today's test. Rule 28 will enjoy the results of the 45km/h test, and likewise Aero Cycling Gear in the 30km/h test, but the reality is the socks are all so close to one another that you, as a consumer, should probably just buy the cheapest, or the ones you like the look of most.

At £3.68, the 'West Biking' socks I bought from Temu promise incredible aero performance in terms of watts saved vs money spent. They did feel pretty basic in their materials, though, as can be expected at a price that would allow you to buy FOURTEEN pairs for the same cost as the most expensive on test.

The feel and quality of the £14.99 'Rock Bros Grid' socks from Amazon were just as good as most of the 'big brand' products, though, so I'd be very tempted to buy those; and that's still between half and a third of the price of most others here. The only downside to those is the big 'Rock' on one leg and 'Bros' on the other, but they make them in dozens of various colours and designs. If they made them in pure white, I expect they'd sell incredibly well.

Assuming you do want to buy something that promises to be aero, there's very little way to know which is the best one for you.

There's no obvious correlation between aero performance and cuff height, price, or brand. They're also all designed to work at varying speeds, and the optimal pair for you will probably depend on what sort of riding you're doing, whether it's windy, how many people you're riding with, and the shape and size of your legs.

Therefore, unless you're going to hire a wind tunnel and a team of data scientists to run simulations on your upcoming race, you're probably best off just buying the cheap ones and spending the rest of the money on carbs.

Individual results

* Denotes price derived through currency conversion.

How we tested

To find out how aerodynamic they were, we took all the socks to the wind tunnel at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub.

The wind tunnel measures CdA (Coefficient of Drag x Area), which quantifies how easily something passes through the air. The 'Coefficient of Drag' is a measure of how easily air passes over something's surface, while the 'Area' is a simple measure of its size. Reducing the size of something isn't always possible (although there is a size difference between a hiking sock and a paper-thin aero sock), so helping the air flow over it neatly is where the aerodynamicist's skill comes in, with things like ribbed fabrics and trip strips.

As you'll have seen above, we tested each pair at two wind speeds: 30km/h and 45km/h, to try to see if any of the socks performed better at one speed over the other. We used a powered roller to spin the wheels at the same speed as the wind, to add a little more realism to the test.

We tested each pair of socks on a static-leg mannequin. While a pedalling leg mannequin is more realistic, it's not something we currently have access to. Fortunately, the repeatability of a static leg mannequin is generally better, so we'd have less accuracy and fewer conclusions. The repeatability of a real rider is much lower, and would have led to an error margin approximately 3x the size of what we had.

We tested at three different yaw angles: -5°, 0°, and +5°. This is a narrower sweep than our bike tests, but it still covered the angles that riders will experience a vast majority of the time, and it still allowed us to calculate a single wind-averaged drag figure representative of real-world conditions. We could have stopped at zero degrees – a direct headwind – since most socks are largely symmetrical, but we opted to test both sides to be more confident in the data we were seeing.

Each measurement was captured for 15 seconds. This is approximately twice as long as needed to see a steady CdA figure and get a result that we can confidently call accurate – a mannequin doesn't move, so there's no unwanted wobbles or head tilts that need to be smoothed out by a longer exposure – but shortening the sample time would have only saved us around five minutes across the whole test, so not really worth it. Better to have extra confidence in the data.

Standardisations

Aside from the socks, everything was kept exactly the same for each test. That includes the bike, the mannequin, its position on the bike, its clothing, its helmet, the shoes, and so on.

We didn't standardise the sock height across all socks, because some are designed to be around 20cm tall, whereas others sat at 26cm. Trying to run everything at 23cm would have meant some being overly stretched, and others being baggy and wrinkled.

Instead, we fitted each one in a way that felt natural – not too stretched, but not loose or baggy – and we measured the height (ensuring it was equal on both legs too). Then we adjusted it to the nearest centimetre, so as to standardise socks somewhat against similar-height competitors.

Those heights were then correlated against performance to see if we could spot a trend between height and aero.

Error margin

To quantify the error margin, we tested the same pair of socks at three points throughout the test and then worked out the maximum gap between them. That difference was then used as the error margin.

That equated to an error margin of 0.2 watts at 30km/h, and was slightly bigger at 45km/h, coming in at 1.17w. Those margins are outlined in the graphs above.

It's important to note that this error margin is around 3x better than the last time we tested aero socks - which was done with a real rider - and resulted in an error margin of over 3 watts. Even so, the error is still big enough to encompass around half the socks we tested, and thus prove that although some are faster than others, the differences are quite minuscule.

Caveats

As ever, our data is representative of our day of testing and is far from the final word on the aerodynamic performance of these products, especially as it might pertain to each individual using them.

We're proud to say the test is completely impartial, and we believe it is the biggest of its kind in terms of the number of products tested, but we don't pretend it's the be-all and end-all.

We simply hope that it provides an extra stream of comparison data for our readers, to help them choose which one to buy in the broader context of other similar aero comparisons, as well as the various other metrics that govern a good or bad purchase (ie price, comfort, aesthetics, and so on).

With that in mind, there are some unexpected results that are worth highlighting. The Velotoze Pro Aero is perhaps the biggest outlier in the 45km/h test. It doesn't align with the 30km/h test, nor Velotoze's own measurements, and we've been back and forth with them to try to understand it. Theories include possibly overstretching the sock on fitting, but we've been unable to pinpoint an obvious error.

Another includes the Sockeloen FSOTP 468. Despite being designed to excel at 46.8km/h (hence the name), it dropped down the order at the nearby 45km/h speed. This is closer to the others and thus could just be a fault of the error margin, but still it's surprising to see it perform worse than its peers at a speed it was designed to excel at. These socks weren't brand new out of the box; they'd been worn a few times since we received them for our prior aero sock test. They hadn't stretched to any noticeable extent, but my strongest theory here is that they've lost some of their performance in age.

The Assos socks were also used, held over from our previous round of sock testing in 2024, and despite performing really well in our previous test, they were mid-table this time. It's possibly a coincidence, but it could add weight to the above.

When making calculations for speed (and in turn, time to complete a 40km TT), we aren't accounting for gradients, corners, drivetrain loss or any other variable. We're looking for the difference between each product here, not an absolute forecast.

And finally, this test wasn't in any way sponsored. We paid for the wind tunnel hire at the normal rate, and this test, like all of our CN Labs projects, is made possible solely and entirely by the paying Cyclingnews subscribers. Without your support, these tests wouldn't happen, so thank you.

Magicshine has built a reputation for offering great-value lights for bikes, but it's been ramping up the power and tech in its more recent models.

The Monteer 12000 is the most powerful light the brand has ever made and is also the brightest bike light on the market. But how does it fare out in the real world, and does anyone really need a 12000-lumen mountain bike light with twice the output as the brightest of its rivals? We tested the Monteer 12000 out on the trails to find out.

Design and specifications

Magicshine stacks five LEDs in the Monteer 12000’s aluminium lamp unit, combining a large central spot with four smaller angled units. The lamp has a simple on/off switch and you can toggle between the flood and spot beams or power up both.

To save you from reaching over to adjust, the light comes with a bar-mounted remote, which is already bound into the light. There’s a little bit of sequencing to access the different options, requiring you to double-press the remote to go from the flashing modes to the dedicated mountain bike modes, but once sorted, you can then toggle up and down quickly. To allow some further customisation, Magicshine also has a dedicated light app for both iOS and Android. You do have to reconnect the light each time via Bluetooth and the app is a little clunky to use, but you can do a full custom tune.

The lamp unit is mounted in a machined aluminium twin clamp, which straddles the front of the stem. It fits 35mm bars out of the box, but shims are provided for smaller bar diameters.

The cells that make up the 14.4V 10,000mAh battery are all housed inside a durable plastic case. This has a slight profile, so it sits relatively neatly against a frame tube and is secured via two Velcro-backed straps.

If you press the button on the side of the battery, it illuminates a small fuel gauge. This has four bars, which roughly equates to 22 percent for each bar, with the last 10 percent shown as a flashing red bar. This isn’t as accurate as a percentage figure, but it’s a bit easier to see when in the saddle.

On the end of the battery pack is an input for the power cable and another for the USB-C charging cable. The system comes with a 600mm cable and a 900mm extension in the box, alongside a plastic helmet mount and two mounting straps. So if you have the neck strength, you can run this beast on your helmet.

Performance

With its twin clamp, the Monteer 12000 is way more solid compared to the Monteer 6000, which uses a single-sided mount. This eliminates a lot of vibration and it’s also a hinged design, so you can attach it without moving the controls or grip. The fixing bolts are also on the top for ease of access.

By loosening the small lever on one side, you can pivot the lamp in the clamp on the trail – but unfortunately, we snapped this on our sample. There is a small hex bolt on the opposite side that does a similar job, but how long this will last is unknown.

The beam pattern produced by the Monteer 12000 isn’t quite as smooth as some, and there is a definite hard edge between the flooded areas and the spot beam. It’s not quite as white or as crisp as Exposure's lights, but picking out the detail is never an issue. The amount of light on full beam is insane, and you can see as far and as wide as you want.

In tight trees and dense undergrowth, there’s quite a bit of bounce back, so I often rode in the medium 6,000 lumen setting in the trees and on climbs. That way you can also extend the 2.2hr run time on full beam to over seven hours. The battery is big enough to do the whole of the night portion of a 24hr race on a single charge, but one of the downsides is it will take most of the rest of the day to recharge.

With so much power going into the lamp, it also gets pretty hot. To keep it as cool as possible there's an air intake at the front of the light and an exhaust port at the rear, as well as a couple of cooling fins. But if you’re worried, you can also monitor the temperature via the app.

The clamp design allows you to mount the lamp below the level of the stem keeping the weight low, but that tool-free adjustment needs to be a bolt, one that you can replace easily if damaged. I’d also like to see wider Velcro straps for the battery and a more integrated system for the remote mounting.

Verdict

With this amount of output for this amount of money, the Monteer 12000 is very impressive. If you’re hitting 30 to 40mph down a gravel road descent at night, its got your back on full power

However, from a purely practical point of view, toggling down to 6,000 or even 3,000 lumens means you can get seriously good run times, and that's how I use it most of the time. Plus, the lower settings mean you don’t have to battle glare bouncing back from objects ahead of you, and they are still bright enough for rapid off-road night rides.

The PAS Normal Mechanism Shell Jacket is, in our expert testers' opinion, the best waterproof jacket on the market.

As part of the premium cycling apparel brand's Mechanism range, the PAS Shell Jacket is hard to find, full stop, never mind with any sort of reduction. Right now you can get this masterpiece of a cycling jacket for £263.50, a rarely, if ever seen discount of 15%, £46.50 off the usual £310 price tag.

Get the PAS Normal Mechanism Shell Jacket for just £263.50 at Team Cycles.

Being a sought-after luxury cycling brand, discounts are rarely seen, so when a PAS Normal deal appears, it's highly advised to jump on it.

Will Jones, Cyclingnews' Senior Tech Writer, called it, "the post-PFAS waterproof jacket that's impressed me the most." Will also added, "The PAS Normal performs when you need it, delivering solid protection, with a great DWR coating, and breathable enough to not get you sweaty – a real winner."

The Rapha Pro Team Gore-Tex Jacket was our best overall waterproof for many years, but after the global PFAS ban, it became extinct.

As our resident expert in waterproof jackets, Will Jones struggled to find a jacket to match the (not environmentally ethical) performance of the PFAS jackets.

Step up the PAS Normal Mechanism Shell Jacket. Featuring a Polartec Power Shield Pro membrane, the PAS boasts a waterproof rating of 6/6 and a breathability rating of 4/6.

On the surface, those numbers are meaningless, but after some research, AKA hidden in the small print, the PAS has a 20,000mm hydrostatic head (which is very waterproof) and 20,000g/m2/24h breathability (which is reasonably breathable).

It is also rated for somewhere in the region of 7ºC down to as low as -10ºC, and Will, in his testing, reckoned all these claims were spot on.

Real-time riding highlights are, of course, its waterproof and breathable performance, but there are plenty of nice details to make it the best of the best. A large, waterproof double zip takes care of business down the front, with a storm flap behind for a belt-and-braces setup, and at the rear are two large, side-entry pockets, also secured with waterproof zips.

Added waterproofing performance includes the taped seams and the sturdy elastic drawcord at the hem, which seals out the elements nicely too.

In summing up his review, Will said, "The PAS Normal Mechanism Shell Jacket is a hardy beast that has re-instilled my confidence in modern waterproof cycling jackets."

At full price, it’s expensive, but it’s hugely protective, able to handle substantial layers underneath, and the best option to keep you dry on the roads.

This PAS Normal Mechanism deal is UK-only, but our handy price checker below will give you the best up-to-date pricing in your territory. For US shoppers, you can find the Mechanism jacket directly at PAS Normal, with all the colour options, but at the full price of $330.

Smart cycle helmets have only existed for a little over a decade, but have quickly become a much-discussed sub-genre. Since emerging in the mid 2010s, pioneering brands have experimented with tech wizardry such as inbuilt heart-rate monitors and Bluetooth speakers.

None of these features has quite set the cycling world alight, but more recent models have focused on better visibility and enhanced safety features.

The whole smart-tech spiel might sound a bit Silicon Valley and will undoubtedly give the purists out there the ick, but the Unit 1 story does come from the heart.

Co-founder Francisco Abelleira resented wearing his “extremely ugly” helmet as a kid, so much so that one murky morning he snuck out without it and was subsequently hit by a car and woke up in hospital. 20 years later, he set out to make a helmet that was safe, visible and appealing to wear.

Following on from the Unit 1 Faro (the brand's 2020 debut), the Aura is a prime example of how the smart helmet has evolved from the somewhat gimmicky to the genuinely useful.

Having launched off the back of a $750,000 crowdfunding campaign, the helmet already had a group of 2,800 supporters eagerly awaiting its arrival; it's easy to see how the helmet's name came about. Post-launch, I’m sure it will have picked up some more fans along the way.

Design and aesthetics 

Unit 1 set out with the intention of building one of the best e-bike helmets that is extremely safe without being "extremely ugly", and they appear to have absolutely nailed the brief when it comes to the former.

The Aura uses a host of smart features to maximise your visibility and keep you safer on the road. Most impressive of which are the LED lights.

When turned off, the lights sit nicely within the contours of the helmet and don’t impinge on the design. When turned on, they offer 350 lumens of front and rear visibility.

In terms of the overall aesthetic, Unit 1 has borrowed elements from urban-style commuter helmets while at the same time including large, linear ventilation more commonly found on traditional road or MTB lids. It’s a nice hybrid mix of the two styles and overall the Aura is a good looking helmet.

The Aura is definitely one of the bulkier urban helmets I’ve tested. My four-year-old son has affectionately taken to calling this my “horse-riding helmet”, and the visor does give off a certain equestrian energy. Despite this, Unit 1 has gone a long way to overcome the ugliness that co-founder, Francisco, was so keen to avoid.

To that point the Aura also comes in a nice range of colourways, including Maverick (pictured), plus the striking green and black Ranger and cool Stingray options.

Components and build 

There is no doubting the Aura’s position as a very smart helmet. Connecting to the Unit 1 app allows you all manner of customisation and control over your lights, which can switch between modes that get you from a 3-hour run time (full power solid) to 30 hours (beacon mode at 50 per cent).

The app also allows you to pair up with the Unit 1 remote and smart lights. The remote attaches to your bars and allows you to indicate by pushing a button, with three different indicator modes to choose from (blinker, half sweep and full sweep). There is even an automatic brake light.

The brake light uses sensors within the remote that can tell when the bike is slowing down, which subsequently tell your lights to change mode. Again, these modes can be chosen so as to make sure they can be differentiated from the helmet’s standard light mode. The sensitivity of the brake light trigger can also be changed so you’re not warning motorists unnecessarily.

The jury is still very much out when it comes to indicators on bikes. Although any additional raising of awareness when you’re about to make a turn is undoubtedly welcome, the benefit only comes when the person it’s meant for gets the message. At the moment I don’t know if drivers will spot the difference between a flashing rear light and an I’m-turning-right flashing rear light.

On a vehicle, where your two indicators are meters apart, it works. On a helmet, where they are in the same LED unit, I’m yet to be convinced. Likewise, on a quieter street where it’s just you and a motorist, it might be more apparent, but on a busy road with lights everywhere, I wouldn’t trust the lights alone.

The Aura also comes with Crash Alert, an inbuilt system that pairs with a smartphone and detects when you’ve had a knock. This detection then sends a message to your emergency contact to let them know, although it does give you a 15-second grace period in which to cancel.

While this will provide extra reassurance for some, for me, it feels like a feature more befitting a ski helmet where the wearer might venture off-piste and lie undetected. Unless your journey to work takes you into the wilds, I’d like to think fellow commuters would come to your rescue.

Beyond the smart features, the Aura uses a pretty standard combination of EPS liner surrounded by a polycarbonate hard shell. Within all this is the tried and tested MIPS system, which gives you added protection in the face of an angled collision. The cradle comes fitted with 7mm polyester padding with the option to switch that out for 12mm padding if required.

For an e-bike helmet, the Aura is well vented, with 14 different channels letting air flow in and out. Given the amount and size of the holes, I was surprised to see my scales near the 600g mark when I weighed my size large. And actually, with the standard-issue magnetic visor, it did notch up a pretty hefty 610g. This is lighter than Unit 1's original Faro model though.

The Aura comes with the NTA 8776 Dutch safety certificate, which is awarded to e-bike helmets tested to withstand higher-speed collisions. It also scored full marks when submitted to the Virginia Tech lab, where helmets are tested to withstand real-world-scenario impacts that would typically lead to concussion.

Performance

In the Aura, Unit 1 claims to have built a helmet “for every ride”. Personally, I’ve mainly been using the Aura on short-to-medium journeys on my electric Tern Quick Haul, however, to test Unit 1’s claim that this is a genuine all-rounder, I’ve also tackled a few 40-minute commutes on my Croix de Fer.

Before tackling the finer points of how this particular helmet sat on my quite particular head, it’s important to highlight the obvious point that no two human heads are exactly the same. So aside from glaring issues with dial adjust systems or a lack of padding, when it comes to finding a comfortable helmet, what works for one person might not work for another. And of course vice versa.

I always take a size large, due to my head being especially long from forehead to the back. My misshapen noggin often means I get pressure points at the front and back from a lot of helmets. I have previously done a lot of shopping around to find something that works (shout out to the recently tested Smith Dispatch and my everyday Giro Syntax).

On first trying on the Aura, personally, I found the size L a bit gappy at the sides, even when I adjusted the cradle to become quite snug at the front and rear. I swapped to the additional 12mm padding, but even then I still found the helmet to feel quite tight against the forehead and against the dial, but at the same time not particularly well fitted or secure at the sides.

For me, the cradle sat quite high above the ears and meant the whole thing had a slight wobble, even when the dial adjuster was tightened as much as I could, but my aforementioned ill-shaped bonce is likely to have played a part here.

I also struggled with getting the straps to sit where I wanted them. The strap divider, which on most helmets slides up and down to get closer to or further away from the ear, on the Aura moves from front to back.

Personally, I wasn’t a fan of this modification as I prefer the straps to sit right up under my ears where they feel the most secure. However, the Fidlock magnetic buckle is a nice addition that allows you to unclip easily with one hand or while wearing chunky winter gloves.

Once the Aura is in situ, there’s a lot to like. I’ll start with the venting. Where a lot of e-bike and urban commuter helmets have opted for a smooth dome at the expense of much airflow, the Aura has managed to craft a lid that has that urban aesthetic without sacrificing ventilation.

You could argue that an e-bike helmet doesn’t need ventilation as the rider won’t be cranking out the watts, but having pedal-assisted my way round London this summer I can assure you that letting some of that warm breeze flow through your sweat-drenched mane offers some welcome relief.

For those warm weather rides the detachable visor offered just the right amount of coverage to fill the gap between the brim of the helmet and the top of my glasses, which is ideal. The magnetic strip, which the visor attaches to, provides enough grip so that the setup feels solid, but removing it doesn’t take a crowbar.

Mine did fall off once when knocked, but that says more about my laissez-faire attitude to bike parking that it does about the design. Unit 1 also offer three larger visors which offer full eye coverage and a range of tinting to really help manage the sunlight.

When the weather turns and the nights draw in, the Aura really comes into its own. The inbuilt lights are genuinely class-leading and provide incredible visibility. While they don’t go as far as to offer 360-degree illumination, there is enough of a curve at both front and rear that motorists will pick you out if approaching side on.

I also tested Unit 1’s Smart Lights and remote, as well as the Torch backpack (complete with light fitting), which all pair up and sync with your helmet, meaning the mode pulsating through your helmet matches that on your lights. Setting up the app and pairing only took a couple of minutes and I didn’t notice any glitches.

I was pretty sceptical about the need for, or the reliability of, indicator lights on a bike. However, having used the Aura alongside the Smart Light, I can see how this could enhance your ability to signal your intentions. Especially when going from regular mode to indicating with a half sweep, as this would mean the light going from being fully lit up to sweeping from one side to the other, but only on the relevant half of the light. If the light was making a full sweep a driver could mistakenly think you’ve just switched modes on the light. Admittedly, this will make more sense if and when you actually start using the light, but essentially I’m convinced that this is more than a gimmick.

The Crash Alert function also seems to work pretty well. A firm whack (not just a casual bump) on the helmet triggers an alert that, if not cancelled in 15 seconds, sends to your nearest or dearest.

Value

For the safety-conscious commuter, the helmet is no place to cut costs. Having said that, £200 is a lot of money. And in this instance, £200 doesn’t even get you the indicator remote.

Unit 1’s “Ride Pack” includes an additional visor plus the indicator remote and comes in at £230 with the helmet. If you’re going to spend the money on the Aura, then it would be remiss not to get the remote.

If you want to be fully kitted out with everything – helmet, Ride Pack, additional lights, and backpack – you’re looking at over £450.

When budgeting for a helmet, anything over £200 is a big outlay, and in the commuter bracket it’s especially pricey. Depending on your criteria, there are some cheaper options available.

When comparing it to smart helmets that offer similar features, one serious competitor is the Abus Hyp-E. It comes with front and rear lights, has a turning function and includes a remote in the package. It also comes with NTA 8776 certification, but lacks a Virginia Tech score and automated crash alerts. The Hyp-E has a £175 RRP / $229 MRSP, but can usually be found for less. A brake light is available as a separate add-on.

If you’re willing to go without smart functions, the Giro Camden comes with NTA 8776, has Mips technology and sports a large, inbuilt rear light, but retails at around £120. The Bern Hudson ticks the same boxes (although the light clicks in rather than being part of the helmet) and can be picked up for just over £100.

Verdict

The Unit 1 Aura is a helmet literally full to the brim with safety certifications and features. With full marks from the Virginia Tech lab, as well as the NTA 8776 certificate in the bag, you don’t need anything more in the way of reassurance when it comes to being effective in a collision.

The Aura also smashes it out of the park on visibility. The front and back lights are very good indeed. Being able to charge both via the helmet’s USB-C port only makes for a more positive experience. Yes, the button is a bit cumbersome, and any customisation of settings needs to be done through the app, but overall the lights are great.

If you want to utilise the indicator functionality, you’ll have to purchase the remote control as it doesn’t come included. This will give your road visibility a whole other dimension, although I’m not fully convinced this is something enough road users are looking out for. If you’re hoping to use the helmet’s lights as indicators in lieu of signalling, I would proceed with caution.

The Aura is also fairly easy on the eye, albeit a bit on the bulky side. It was one of the biggest helmets out there and weighs in at 610g with the visor, so it’s also at the heavier end of the e-bike helmet scale.

Depending on how you intend to use it, the weight might be a deal-breaker, as you start to notice it when riding for long periods unless sat very upright. Yes, the venting is ample and very effective, but if you’re looking for a helmet that works both on a busy e-bike commute and a weekend gravel ride, then I would think again, or make your peace with having one helmet for each purpose.

Personally, I found the fit to be a bit uncomfortable, putting pressure on the back of my head while at the same time not fully wrapping tight around the temples and above the ears But helmet fit is a very subjective matter, and one I would recommend you put to the test yourself.

Clearly the price tag will put some people off, but who am I to put a price on the safety of your grey matter. There are cheaper smart helmets out there, and there are helmets with the same safety certification. However, finding one that does all of this and still appeals to you aesthetically might be a big ask.

Summer is behind us for another year in the Northern Hemisphere, and, to quote my favourite TV show: "Winter is coming". Some cyclists pack away their bike for the season and retire to the pain cave, preferring to ride one of the best smart trainers while the weather is grim and days are shorter.

If you're one of the hardy all-year riders, then firstly kudos is due. You'll also be aware of the benefit of having the best winter cycling apparel. If you're considering winter riding or looking to upgrade your kit, our expert test team have put all the best winter kit to the test across countless kilometres of cold and wet riding.

From winter cycling jackets and waterproof cycling jackets to base layers and winter bib tights, our buying advice has a fine selection to consider. Below I've highlighted the best overall pick in each category, and also added a budget selection to consider too.

As a winter mountaineer as well as a cyclist (yes, I choose to climb the Scottish Munros in freezing conditions), I can thoroughly recommend popping a pair of HotHands Hand Warmers inside your cycling gloves, and I've even tried them in my cycling shoes too.

Best winter cycling jackets

Best waterproof cycling jackets

Best winter bib tights

Best winter bib shorts

Best winter gloves

Best leg warmers

Best arm warmers

Best base layers

Although these best winter kit deals are UK based, below you'll find a selection of cold weather ridiing kit. Relevant to your location, it will automatically show you the best prices in your local currency.

The Sigma Sports Warehouse Clearance landed in my inbox this week, which highlighted some of the best cycling deals they had to offer.

The list was huge and, to be fair, is packed with some real banging discounts.

Shop the Sigma Sports Warehouse Sale.

As Cyclingnews' deal-hunting guru, I've spent several hours sifting through it (so you don't have to), but it quickly became overwhelming, with a ton of items down to the last remnants of stock, and some of it, to be frank, is total garbage.

However, saying the one man's trash is another man's treasure, and who am I to judge if you've been on the hunt for an Oakley Face Mask? Well, the hunt is no longer, because you can relive the COVID-19 days with 97% off and grab it for just 50p. That's a huge £14.50 off the staggering £15 RRP.

After you've picked up one of the best face masks on the market, a new bike might be on your wish list. There are deals across some of the best road bikes and gravel bikes from the likes of Cervelo, Specialized, Trek and more. Including a huge £5,001 off the Cervelo R5 Red XPLR AXS, which is a bike we branded as road bike royalty and awarded a 4.5-star rating.

So the choice is yours, and below you'll find 22 of the best deals, but there are plenty more to be had; you just need to be willing to do some serious sifting.

With it being a clearance, it's the last of the stock, so sizing is limited. We'd say if you see something you're after, then grab it while you can, even if it's that Oakley Face Mask.

The day it emerged that CEO Fran Millar had left the business, premium cycling kit brand Rapha announced provisional financial results, which show the company still has a long way to go to regain financial stability.

Despite asserting that the structures Millar put in place during her two-year tenure are working, the company’s figures show a further reduction in turnover, down from £96m in the 2024 financial year to £89m in 2025, its Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) are also down to a deficit of £5.6m, £3m less than last year.

While the Customer Lifetime Value, the worth of a customer to the business, and a key indicator of customer retention, is up to £634, the company is reporting an operating loss of £21.1m, £4m more than last year and worse than 2023. This marks a ninth consecutive year of operating losses for Rapha.

"These numbers reflect deliberate decisions to invest in our brand, product quality, cycling communities and customer experiences, while reducing our reliance on discount and promotional related activities - choices that will strengthen the business over time," read a statement released on Wednesday, September 23.

According to the press release, Millar put in place a new vision and strategy, before suggesting to the company’s board that she step down "to allow new leadership to guide the next phase."

"While there are encouraging green shoots, we believe significant changes are essential to establish a stronger, more sustainable path forward," Rapha’s press release continued, before suggesting job losses may be on the horizon. "This involves a proposed organisational restructure and a formal consultation process with affected team members will now take place. We believe these proposed changes are necessary but recognise the personal impact on affected colleagues, and we do not take these decisions lightly."

Despite the numbers, the company insists early signs are that the strategy put in place is bearing fruit, with "encouraging revenue growth in a number of our key territories and in our like-for-like Clubhouses, with fewer days on promotion and increased customer acquisition vs last year."

In 2017 the company was sold by founder Simon Mottram to RCZ Investments, a private equity firm headed by the heirs to the Walmart empire, Steuart and Tom Walton.

"My brother and I have been majority owners of Rapha for nine years," Steuart Walton is quoted as saying. "We love the brand, the product, and what Rapha stands for, and we are deeply grateful to the people who have made the company so special.

"Our belief in Rapha has not changed. We remain committed to the power of cycling to make the world a better place and to Rapha’s unique role in advancing that idea."

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There is more upheaval at premium cycling clothing manufacturer Rapha, with Fran Millar announcing that she is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer after two years in the role.

When Millar arrived at Rapha in August 2024 from Belstaff – where she helped turn around the company’s financial performance – she was faced with poor financial results, including seven consecutive years of reduced sales and turnover and rising losses, some on the back of the industry’s post-pandemic slump.

Millar, the former Director of Business Operations at Team Sky, warned of "significant organisational changes to reduce cost" at Rapha, as she confirmed news of her departure – which originally surfaced on the Escape Collective website – in a social media statement on Wednesday.

"After two bonkers and brilliant years, I’ve decided to leave Rapha," Millar wrote.

"The vision and strategy I set are in place, and the path ahead for the brand is clear. What remains is delivery.

"To support that, the business will make significant organisational changes to reduce cost and drive efficiency, and those changes call for a different governance and leadership structure. With that in mind, I proposed to the board that I step down as CEO.

"I am incredibly proud of the passionate, loyal, committed people who work at Rapha across the world and it has been a joy to lead them for two years. All that remains to say is THANK YOU to our team, our members, our customers and the brand. It’s been an honour."

Millar has worked in the cycling industry for most of her working life, helping to found the Face Partnership athlete management and events company in 2000, before moving to help establish Team Sky, where she worked in various roles, during which time she worked with Rapha, who supplied the team with their race clothing between 2013 and 2016.

Leaving as CEO in October 2020, she went on to run two other brands owned by Netcompany Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos Hygienics and Belstaff, before returning to the cycling industry at Rapha.

According to Millar, Rapha had been drifting in the years since 2017, when founder Simon Mottram sold it to RCZ Investments for £200 million, and she blamed a dilution of the brand’s focus, entering the mountain bike and lifestyle markets, as well as too much focus on low price-point products.

"I don’t think we were clear enough about what we were going to try and expand into," she told Luxury Society in November 2025.

"We know we want to grow. We knew we wanted to scale. We’d obviously been bought and I think there was a pressure to demonstrate that the price [of the acquisition] had been worth it."

In a statement issued to Cyclingnews Rapha thanked MIllar for her work at the company.

"With a new vision and strategy in place, CEO Fran Millar suggested to the Board that she step down to allow new leadership to guide the next phase, a decision the Board has accepted," the statement read.

"We extend our sincere thanks to Fran for her leadership over the past two years, during which she stabilised operations, refocused the product roadmap and the global Rapha Cycling Club (RCC) community."

Subscribe to Cyclingnews for comprehensive race coverage of both the UCI Road and Gravel World Championships, alongside the final monument of the season, Il Lombardia. Subscribers get unlimited access to exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! Join today.

As far as helmet manufacturers go, Smith is a relative newcomer to the bike market, having launched its inaugural Forefront MTB lid in 2013. Having made his name making ski goggles, founder Bob Smith patented anti-fog lenses 60 years ago and the company has been innovating ever since.

The Dispatch MIPS is the brand's premium commuter helmet and Smith's snowsports heritage comes through in the design. There are even special vents to help stop your glasses steaming up. Classic Smith.

With a £155 RRP, the Dispatch sits at the higher end of the e-bike-specific helmet range, but there’s a lot to like. The integrated light, NTA 8776 certification and magnetic Fidlock buckle are just a few of the standout features.

I’ve been using the Dispatch MIPS on my e-bike school run and during battery-free commutes into the office. Admittedly, I’ve not had much snow to deal with, but I get the impression the Dispatch would be more than equipped to cope.

Design and aesthetics 

The Dispatch is a stylish, durable commuter helmet with a subtle urban aesthetic. Leaning into its snowsport heritage, Smith has created a lid that wouldn’t look completely out of place on a ski lift, with a minimal domed shell, small vents and an inbuilt Microbrim visor.

The Microbrim is essentially an enlarged section with a very subtle lip at the front of the helmet that both shields your eyes and also facilitates the additional AirEvac vents. These inlets integrate with Smith eyewear and generally help prevent misty specs. The rear vents also allow for the attachment of an integrated light, which comes included with the helmet.

There are plenty of other smart additions to the design, including a Fidlock magnetic buckle and Koroyd protective material used alongside EPS in the liner.

Despite the abundance of features, Smith has kept the shell nice and sleek and the helmet isn’t overly bulky. There aren’t many contours or gaps, which only adds to a solid overall feel. The brand logo is subtle and even with the light attached, the helmet has a stripped-back silhouette which looks high-end.

If stripped-back is your thing, you’ll be pleased to know that Smith has kept things simple when it comes to colour options, too. The latest iteration of the Dispatch comes in two options: black or white.

Components and build 

The first thing you notice about the Dispatch is how solid it feels. There are no creaks or flexes and nothing feels remotely in danger of snapping off should it get dropped. It’s a military-grade piece of kit. So much so I wouldn’t be surprised if Smith launched a matching flak jacket.

The helmet uses MIPS, a system which protects the head from rotational forces during a crash, and uses Koroyd technology in combination with a traditional EPS liner. Koroyd is used “zonally” within the Dispatch, rather than all over, which effectively creates crumple zones that will absorb impact in targeted areas where it’s most likely to be needed.

To back this up, the Dispatch comes with the e-bike-specific NTA 8776 certificate, which means it's been tested at higher speeds and provides increased head coverage compared to regular helmets. It doesn’t, however, currently come with a Virginia Tech rating, although similar Smith helmets do boast all five stars from the reputable testing lab.

Smith’s Vaporfit cradle claims to offer 270-degree adjustment, which should mean less chance of particular pressure points. The system also provides three settings at the rear so you can tune the fit.

Smith haven’t gone overboard with the padding, with none at the rear, but what’s there does come with Ionic+ antimicrobial lining. The fabric contains silver, which actively reduces bacteria and therefore helps keep odours and stains to a minimum.

The straps come complete with a magnetic Fidlock buckle, which means you can unclip with one hand. This might not seem like a huge advantage, but for anyone used to carrying a bag or a child, then actually having one hand free can be a game-changer.

To keep your head cool on warmer days or longer rides, the Dispatch comes with eight vents. At first glance, these don’t seem like much, as the shell is mainly one smooth dome, with vents feeling very much secondary to the overall design. The whole thing weighed in at 394g on my scales, which is pretty impressive given the aforementioned rock-solid feel.

The most unique feature on the Dispatch is the Microbrim visor, which uses Smith’s custom AirEvac vents to channel additional airflow down through the lip of the helmet. With Smith’s ski and snowboard helmets, the vents are specifically aligned to match their own eyewear but, assuming you’re not commuting in ski goggles, as long as the browline of your glasses is quite flat, it should work well whether you’re in Smith specs or not.

Included with your helmet, you’ll find Smith’s integrated LED light, which attaches to the vents at the back. The light takes a Micro USB, rather than the modern USB-C, so you’ll need to keep that charger in the drawer for a few more years yet. You can set it to either a solid red light, a fast flash or a slow flash. The light adds another 28g grams to the total.

Alongside the light, you’ll also find a helmet bag with a drawstring that doubles as shoulder straps. Probably not something that will convince you to splash the cash, but a nice addition nonetheless.

Performance

Overall, the Dispatch was a pleasure to test. The biggest compliment you can give a helmet is that you completely forget you’re wearing it, and that was the case here. It was very comfortable and due to its relatively low weight, it remained pretty inconspicuous to me, even on my 40-minute pedal-powered commute.

Smith claim that the VaporFit dial gives you 270 degrees of adjustment, mitigating any particular pressure points in the cradle. These claims stood up to the test and I didn’t suffer the same pressure I’ve had testing other similar products. My head is large from front to back, meaning I often end up with a pressure point at the front of the cradle and a red mark on my forehead. I didn’t get that with the Dispatch. Of course helmet comfort is quite subjective, so I would always recommend trying for size or double-checking a store’s returns policy.

The height adjustment makes getting the fit right even easier. I found the lowest setting helped make the fit feel more secure. The higher setting will probably help when it comes to ponytails, although it does make the dial a bit harder to adjust.

In terms of aesthetics, the Dispatch isn’t nearly as bulky as some of its peers in the e-bike helmet subgenre, which contains some absolute whoppers. Despite looking quite bulbous in the pictures, when in position it’s much more streamlined. The look definitely borrows from some of Smith’s snowsports cousins, but has clearly been tweaked for the streets.

The shell looks and feels like something that is built to last. It withstood a few little bumps and scuffs during testing and just seems like a solid piece of kit.

The vents are pretty minimal and I was worried they wouldn’t be sufficient enough to keep my head cool on warmer rides. Despite not looking like much, especially compared to more traditional road helmets, these little inlets worked well on my commute. The vents being on the smaller side also helps keep your hair from getting soaked if the heavens open.

I’m also a big fan of the Fidlock buckle. It might seem like a nice-to-have feature rather than something genuinely game-changing, but try telling that to someone trying to remove a helmet whilst also wrestling a clingy one-year-old on the way into nursery.

The light, which Smith describes as “integrated”, clips on to the upper rear vents of the helmet. I’d say integrated is overselling it a bit, as the light is definitely a separate entity, but the clip-on process is very smooth. While in situ, the light works well and is easy to activate while riding. The button protrudes enough making it easy to locate, so you can feel confident you’ve hit the switch if you decide you need some extra visibility mid-ride.

From a performance point of view, it’s difficult to find too many faults. The fit will be something you’ll ultimately need to test yourself, but in terms of design and functionality, this is one of my personal favourite commuter options.

Value

The Dispatch is undoubtedly a premium helmet and comes with a hefty price tag, but after putting it to the test, the performance definitely justifies the expense. The engineering behind both the helmet and its components means you’re getting something that works well, will last you a considerable amount of time and gives will keep you safe in the unfortunate event of a collision.

However, if you’re looking for a similar style of product but want to keep the cost down, there are some options out there. The POC Crane has a similar urban look but comes in a little cheaper at £110 RRP. The POC also has the benefit in having a fluorescent orange option, as well as the black and white available with the Dispatch.

Also in the same bracket aesthetically is the Bern Hudson, which comes with a detachable fabric visor. This one officially comes in at around £137 but is currently reduced to £102 via the brand’s website.

At £99 RRP, the Lazer Verde also has a few more colourways to choose from and is both made from recycled materials and designed to be recycled. The POC, Bern and Lazer all come with the NTA 8776 seal of approval.

Verdict

Overall, this is one of the best e-bike helmets on the market. It ticks all the boxes you’d want and expect, with the addition of some really nice additional features.

It’s a good-looking lid as well. The Matte White colour I tested gave me additional Stormtrooper energy at the lights on my commute. The only other available colour option on this latest model is black, which is a bit disappointing given the previous model comes in the slightly more interesting Slate and Sunrise colourways.

The Dispatch feels extremely durable and offers excellent protection, with the necessary certification to prove it, but it isn’t overly heavy or bulky. The ventilation isn’t excessive, so shouldn’t let too much rain in, but together with breathable Koroyd technology it should keep you cool enough on the commute.

The visor venting is a nice touch, as is the Fidlock buckle. While there isn’t an abundance of padding, the Dispatch feels secure and the VaporFit dial helps you dial-in the fit without creating pressure points.

Where you might feel the pinch is when you come to payment, as this is at the top end of the commuter price bracket. However, the overall performance here justifies the price tag.

I spend much of my time thinking about riding in the rain. I’ve spent the last few years curating our guide to the best waterproof cycling jackets, and in general they’ve become worse over the last couple of years as the use of PFAS gets phased out. It’s a sad fact, but it is for the greater good (any fans of the film Hot Fuzz; feel free to whisper the greater good under your breath now in a thick West Country accent).

There have been some shining lights in the waterproof landscape however, as companies stop focussing on trying to maintain a near-impossible levels of dryness, and reprioritise temperature regulation in the face of impending dampness. One such glimmer of hope was the Castelli Gabba R, and in a similar vein I’ve absolutely adored testing Assos’ Equipe RS Shell Jersey S11.

It’s called a jersey, but in my eyes it’s more like a gilet (or vest, for y’all across the pond), but with sleeves. In fact, it’s the first thing to come along that’s actually managed to supplant my Castelli Perfetto vest when summer turns to autumn, or when winter finally gives way to spring. It’s been stowed in my pockets more times than I can count, it’s come with me up mountains, and it should absolutely be on your list if you like to ride hard in the wet.

Design and aesthetics

I’ll admit, it does look like a jersey, and while you could wear it over a base layer you’d probably struggle as it has no pockets. The Equipe RS Shell Jersey S11 (a typically wordy Assos product name, with Equipe RS denoting it’s from the brand’s most racy line, and S11 designating that this is the highest evolution of this product) takes the form of an aero jersey, but mates a VERY stretchy 2-layer softshell membrane on the front, shoulder, and down the sides of your back with the sleeves from a standard aero jersey, and a wide mesh panel running the length of the spine up to the top of the shoulder blades.

The polyurethane membrane itself boasts a hydrostatic head figure of “>25m”, which is certainly respectable, and a breathability of 40,000g/m2/24hrs, which again, on paper, is certainly impressive. This is more than the hydrostatic head of the Gabba R (5,000mm), though Castelli doesn’t offer a breathability figure for its garment. You do need to remember that breathability will be improved by having a mesh back, something that will also allow water ingress to a far greater degree than the membrane will, and the Assos doesn’t have any taped seams anywhere.

The fit is just like an aero jersey, albeit with a high collar, allowing it to fit like a second skin over whatever you’re already riding hard in, with a little more room engineered into the lower back to account for pockets stuffed full of gels.

There’s a double zip to allow access to the aforementioned pockets, and aid in temperature regulation top and bottom, and a very cropped front to reduce bunching when in a position conducive to going fast. There’s no gripper on the hem, or cinch functionality, but as I’ll get into, it isn’t really necessary. It comes in six sizes, and you should buy it in your usual jersey size. For reference, I have been testing it in a small size, tipping the scales at 137.4g (versus the 155g for my Perfetto vest, admittedly in a medium).

The branding is typically minimal for an Assos shell. You can have any colour you want as long as it's black, save for the Assos logo high on the left shoulder and the rubberised wordmark on the collar. It looks good, it’ll match basically any kit you have, and it doesn’t suffer from what the Castelli Gabba R suffers from, in that it makes you look a little like you have a latex fetish, rather than a cycling one.

Performance

What a joy it is to have some weather protection without that incessant flapping. It’s hard to overstate how omnipresent some flapping is in almost all waterproof (or at least water-resistant) gear, but this is just like wearing an aero jersey over your aero jersey.

The fit is, as is almost always the case with Assos, absolutely perfect. It’s the right length, the right cut, with the right stretch to allow full freedom of movement and access to the pockets without ever stressing that the wind is grabbing at you. It’s tight enough that it doesn’t ride up, meaning a hem gripper is basically obsolete. You do need to be already wearing a close-fitting jersey, however, or you’ll suffer unsightly creases; this is very much a layer for the aero crowd.

The sleeves could be a half-inch longer, to avoid certain jersey sleeves poking out underneath, but that’s my only real gripe with the fit. Even the collar, so often too tight for me (and I’ve not had any Viagra pills stuck in my throat to give me a big neck as yet), is just right.

The weather protection isn’t going to compete with dedicated hardshells like the Pas Normal Mechanism Shell Jacket, or even the lightweight Maap Atmos, but that’s not what it’s for. If you’re riding hard in drizzle and light rain in anything from warm to cool conditions (basically summer, spring, and autumn, outside of downpours and storms), you’ll be golden. It occupies much the same space as the Gabba R in this respect, but works far better as a transient layer as it goes on and off far more easily, with no tacky grabbing of the flesh from the outer fabric, and stuffs into a jersey pocket far more easily.

On drizzly rides where you wouldn’t necessarily bother with anything at all, it’s perfect to throw on for a descent, and basically does whatever a light cycling vest would do, too.

If you’ve never ridden with any of Assos’ mesh-backed garments then you’re missing a trick. I’m surprised other brands haven’t picked it up yet, but in any case it’s marvellous. Much like with the Assos Equipe R Spring Fall LS Jersey S11 that I reviewed last winter, having next to nothing on your spine really helps keep you cool. The leading edges at the front and on the shoulders deal with the worst of the wetness, and this lovely central stripe, relatively devoid of airflow, can steam away quite happily.

If you still find yourself too hot, then the double zip is more than sufficient to adjust accordingly, maximising the time you leave it on before deciding, once again, to stuff it back in a jersey pocket.

It’s so good, in fact, that it has replaced my gilets entirely for road riding.

If you stop, however, you may get chilly. You cannot layer up as well underneath, so will need to be switched on regarding your base layer and arm warmer strategies, but it will cover the same basic conditions as any vest, in my opinion, while also keeping some water out.

Value

At £215, or $315, it isn’t a cheap bit of kit. It is, however, cheaper than a Castelli Gabba R and I would argue a more versatile bit of kit, while also being nominally also aerodynamically optimised and significantly more stylish. It is more expensive than a Perfetto vest, for so long my go-to, but if you are wanting to go fast in a greater range of conditions then the Assos is going to be the better bet.

It’s expensive, but given how good it is at what it does, I actually think it’s decent value. You needn’t trudge through the truly desolate midwinter riding if you don’t want to, and you definitely shouldn’t do it in this, but it’ll certainly make shoulder season more enjoyable, and faster too, I’d wager.

Verdict

I really like the Assos Equipe RS Shell Jersey. It has, for the most part, replaced my gilets in my usual riding wardrobe. It’s packable, protective enough to shrug off a respectable amount of water if you’re going hard, breathable and adjustable enough to avoid getting sweaty, fits like a dream, and looks good. It’s expensive, but it’s barely more expensive than an expensive gilet, and more versatile for shoulder season and summer in my view. A very good bit of kit, and one that will remain in my regular rotation for a long time to come.

Since the PFAS chemical ban and the subsequent mass extinction of Shakedry waterproof technology, the cycling rain jacket landscape has looked a little bleaker.

Generally speaking, the accepted wisdom now is that the best waterproof jackets just aren't as good as they used to be.

A press release from British brand Madison this week alerted us to its new HydroShift Waterproof technology. Madison has launched a new two-layer, PFAS-free waterproof jacket, and while the brand does not promise a return to Shakedry levels of performance, it uses a design that shares some of the features that Shakedry did; could it be a new, viable wet weather option?

The new product set off a healthy debate in the CN Tech Slack channel: was this the return of a PFAS-free Shakedry-type product - surely the ultimate goal for 'green' waterproofs- or merely another 'bin bag'?

We will be testing a sample of the Hydroshift in the coming months and will report back to you on its performance in the UK autumn and winter. The retail price for the jacket will be £199.99

Jackets using Gore-Tex Shakedry material worked incredibly well thanks to certain, now banned, 'forever chemicals' used in production. In a nutshell, these chemicals facilitated both amazing breathability and waterproofing.

Shakedry jackets were superlight because they eschewed any outer textile layer. They were also very breathable, and water just rolled off them; you could also, let's not forget, as the name suggests, literally shake them dry.

Many rain jackets, with exceptions, tend to use a DWR-coated (durable water repellent) outer textile layer, which just isn't as effective as the Shakedry of old. Over time and use, DWR coatings become less effective, and jackets need more maintenance.

The Hydroshift tech

So what creates a link between the immortal Shakedry of old and this new HydroShift jacket? It certainly isn't forever chemicals, as the brand confirmed to us that its jacket is PFAS-free.

The Flux HydroShift Waterproof Packable Jacket does away with a face fabric outer layer. The jacket's 'ultra-hydrophobic microporous polyurethane membrane' is the outer layer of the jacket, which is what Shakedry jackets had, and is what the wet-weather race-specific Castelli Gabba R also does.

The brand's press release says 'a quick shake removes much of the remaining surface water' once you stop riding. This is as close as we get to any actual Shakedry claims, but the choice of language is interesting at very least.

We asked the brand for a little more information on the jacket, and it told us the jacket is designed to deliver breathability where it's needed, i.e climbing, and didn't focus on the highest possible waterproof rating numbers.

'HydroShift takes a different approach. Its microporous hydrophobic membrane allows moisture vapour to escape through open pores from the outset, helping to regulate heat and perspiration before the jacket begins to feel damp or clammy inside.

'The membrane also forms the jacket’s outer surface, removing the conventional face fabric that can absorb rain and eventually wet out. Water instead beads and rolls away, helping the jacket remain light while allowing moisture vapour to continue escaping.'

We are verifying waterproof numbers with the brand, but recent waterproofs have shown us that good breathability often comes at the expense of top-tier waterproofing. Brands will need to successfully combine the two to get anywhere near Shakedry levels of performance.

Designed to be Garmin’s entry level offering when it comes to chest strap heart rate monitors, the Garmin HRM 200 should not be considered lacking in advancements.

Impressively, for a budget heart rate monitor, the HRM 200 can be used for taking heart rate variability (HRV) measurements, something often lacking in chest strap monitors in the entry level market.

Appearance wise, it’s a big update from the previous generation HR monitor, but functionality wise there is little that has changed. That can be viewed as a good thing, given that the previous version just worked very well.

The HRM 200 has been positioned by Garmin as the optimal heart rate monitor to use when optical-based ones, such as wrist or arm-mounted, might not provide adequate data accuracy, such as high moisture/sweat environments where optical HRMs can struggle to remain consistent.

At £79.99, it’s not exactly cheap, but for a HRV (Heart Rate Variability) reading HR monitor, it starts to look better value. But just how well does it compare to other chest strap heart rate monitors on the market?

Design and Aesthetics

The Garmin HRM 200 is the entry-level offering from the brand when it comes to chest strap heart rate monitors. These HR monitors work by detecting the actual electrical signals from your heart, whereas optical sensors use flashing lights to measure pulse based on visual blood flow.

Optical sensors can become less accurate when there is moisture present, such as sweat, so for endurance sports with lots of perspiration, chest-based electrocardiography (ECG) systems are more accurate, as they detect the signal even better with moisture present. These two electrode readers are located on the back of the chest strap, and connect to the main broadcasting pod.

This pod has been heavily redesigned aesthetically. It now features a button on the front, and an LED light. The button needs to be held to enter pairing mode to easily connect to a bike computer or smartwatch, and then a single press to wake it up before use. The front LED has different flash patterns for connecting (orange flash), and being connected (green dual flash). The LED can also display battery level at the point of waking up; Green flash is okay, orange flash is low, red flash is critical.

On the rear of this pod, the coin cell battery, CR2032 in this case, is accessible. New US and Australian regulations require these to use a tool to open, rather than a penny or similar coinage to prevent children from accessing them. Garmin has addressed this very cleverly, making the strap buckle feature two small prongs which fit into this compartment to open up the battery door. Battery life is claimed one year, but it is not clear under what sort of usage that one year life is guaranteed.

Two strap options are available, XS-S (60-85 cm, 23.5"-33.5") and M-XL (80-119 cm, 31.5-47.0"). A simple hook and latch design is used to connect them, while the pod snaps on and off easily with two press studs.

Water resistance is a claimed 3 ATM (atmospheres) so should be able to deal with rain and sweat easily when cycling as that is far lower pressure. Garmin recommends removing the pod and washing the strap after every seven uses. You can also broadcast HRV data to compatible devices, Garmin, of course, recommends one of their Garmin watches. Total weight with the M-XL strap is 63 g (2.2 oz).

Performance

Some heart rate monitors can be a bit of a faff to get adjusted and fitted correctly, no such issues with the Garmin HRM 200. The M-XL strap fits me very well, with the advertised chest size being a good gauge of what size you should order. I also like the neat bit of low friction material that is placed on the inside of the strap hook. On the Wahoo Trackr HRM for example this isn’t present and the hook can dig into your side a little bit. Adjustment of the strap was also very easy and has remained in place throughout the entirety of testing.

Connectivity is also a breeze. Holding the button on the front of the unit until it flashes orange to show it is pairing, it then connects seamlessly with the Garmin Edge 1050 I was using alongside.

In terms of accuracy, to test this I ran a few different heart rate monitors concurrently in a few different scenarios. Indoors, I was using an Apple Watch Ultra 2 on my wrist, along with a Coros HRM on my arm. Both of these perform better when there is no fabric over them, so are ideal for indoors with a vest on. They do both struggle when the going gets sweatier though. For the easier rides, the Garmin HRM 200 tracked well with them, but at higher intensity it tended to read higher, where the others have struggled to reach peak HR readings.

Outdoors, I had the fun of wearing a Wahoo Trackr HRM at the same time, both around my chest. Both devices read consistently across lower intensity riding all the way up to maximal efforts around HR maximum. I’d confidently say that the Garmin HRM 200 reads accurately, as a lot of chest straps do nowadays.