Holiday Gift Guide – Rapha Pro Team Thermal Bib Shorts

I’ll never forget my first pair of thermal shorts—I still have them, in fact. Traditionally a pro-only garment, fleece lined bibs are slowly gaining a foothold in many companies’ product lines. A new addition to their own autumn/winter line, Rapha’s Pro Team Thermal Bib Shorts offer a high-end option for those looking to take the thermal plunge. I’ve been pairing them with the new Merino Knee Warmers (and a little bit of an embro) on days when I previously would have worn tights. (Folks who ride in winters more “cool” than “cold” should grab a pair.) If my wallet makes it through...Continue Reading

Holiday Gift Guide – Giro Prolight SLX Shoes

In about 20 years as a cyclist, I’ve owned five pairs of shoes: Diadora, Carnac, Time, Specialized—and now the Giro Prolight SLX. My first three pairs all used three Velcro straps to secure my feet, and my brief detour from the concept (two straps and a buckle) left me underwhelmed. Buckles break, gunk-up, strip, and flat-out fail. Some of them use protruding bolts that—if your foot’s shaped just right—can press painfully against bones or protrusions. And while, Velcro does indeed have the potential to wear out over time, there’s much less of a chance that your strap will snap in...Continue Reading

Holiday Gift Guide – Giro Aeon Helmet

In 2010, my favorite helmet was the Giro Prolight, a helmet that debuted to mixed reviews at that year’s Tour de France. Why mixed? Well, while it was indeed the lightest helmet on the market at the time, fitting it to your head was a hit-or-miss proposition—if it fit you, it immediately became the most comfortable helmet you ever tried; if it didn’t, well…it didn’t. Giro’s nod to the aesthetics of the original Prolight went over uneasily as well—some loved it, some hated it. And of course, Lance Armstrong’ stubborn allegiance to the company’s Ionos, meant consumers were slow to...Continue Reading

Holiday Gift Guide – Rapha Winter Jersey & Classic Tights

The Winter Jersey feels lighter than it should for something so warm. Lined in all the right places to block the wind—but unlined and vented in others to allow moisture to evaporate—I wore the “jersey” (it’s really more of jersey-jacket hybrid) with only a base-layer underneath in temperatures that dipped into the upper 30’s. In other words, it practically begs you not to overdress. Tapered sleeves and extra-long cuffs protect your wrists while a high, fleece-lined collar keeps your neck warm and toasty.

Pros: Terrific style and features make these some of the best winter items on the market today. The jersey...Continue Reading

Holiday Gift Guide – The Jersey Project & Cyclopedia

With The Jersey Project, Bill Humphreys and Jerry Dunn have created a North American version of the Dutch book Koerstrui (by John van Ierland and Evert de Rooij), a book documenting more than 1,000 historic, iconic, and bizarre cycling jerseys. Visually stunning, you can spend hours leafing through jerseys from all over the world, with several pages added to the original Dutch collection by Humphreys and Dunn commemorating the North American scene.

William Fotheringham’s Cyclopedia: It’s Not About the Bike is the perfect gift for trivia fans who find themselves looking for something they can dip and out of at their leisure. Arranged...Continue Reading