The verdict on dhb’s high performance cycling jersey The in-house brand of online cycle superstore Wiggle, dhb is more frequently associated with the value-end of the market, but this is an out-and-out performance jersey. It’s the most racing cut on test, short in the front and very close-fitting. The fabric is largely silky-smooth and stretchy, except for two long panels of mesh from the armpits down to the waistband. I found it light, breathable and comfortable to wear, the three pockets are a good size, although I couldn’t fit my iPhone 6 into the fourth zipped pocket. For riders who like to cut a dash, it also colour coordinates with matching bibshorts.A wonderfully straightforward pack best summed up by the two-strap tightening system that provides a close and comfortable fit across all contact points. Once secure, there’s no bouncing and, with enough room for a change of clothes and a top pocket for storing smaller items, it has everything you need at a very reasonable price.

A front pocket and bottle holder wouldn’t go amiss, although you can attach OMM Go Pods (sold separately). A leviathan of a bag in terms of storage. Undoubtedly the best feature is the 10L capacity ‘Play’ section, with its tarpaulin lining that creates a water-resistant carrier for all your sodden kit. Up top, the ‘Work’ section features a labyrinth of pockets and sealed sections, and a main compartment big enough to house a 13ins laptop. Beware the temptation to overfill the sections, which can create something of a, well, brick on your back. Run-commute bags have to strike a tricky balance between being being lightweight yet roomy enough to pack in all your workday essentials. The Salomon Trail 20L achieves this in some style. The 20L capacity provides ample room for shoes, shirt and trousers, while there’s a zipped pocket for your valuables and a mesh pocket for a water bottle. It feels comfortable on and doesn’t bounce around too much.

As a bonus, it’s just as effective as a roomy race-day bag. Not a traditional running pack, but hear us out, because the Jim Bag isn’t just stylish; A capacity of 56cm long x 28cm wide x 28cm deep means you can pack about twice as much kit as you could with a standard pack. The handles double up as shoulder straps, which sit comfortably, and, although not fully waterproof, we found the material did a decent job of repelling all but the worst of the British weather. A running rucksack should be a reliable and easy-wearing companion, and dhb’s Slice bag is just that. Featuring a main compartment, a second compartment, an outer drinks pocket and chest and waist straps, it has most areas covered. The 15L model comes in at just under £20, too, making it a great low-budget choice for runners who travel light. It does suffer in terms of storage space, though, so opt for the 30L option (£26.99) if packing large items. Packing List :: Bike Touring For Tim Wiggins, cycling is a way of life.

From mountain biking to road cycling and bike touring, he has embraced them all with equal relish. September 2016 marked his hardest multi-day ride to date, an epic bikepacking adventure through France and Spain. Such a long-distance journey required self-sufficiency, but restricted packing space meant serious thought and planning was required for deciding what and how to carry. So we asked Tim to show us how it's done with his bike touring packing list. And for extra advice, information and inspiration, check out Tim's informative blog Life In The Saddle.pelicantm u105 urban laptop backpack The Coasts and Cols Tourkaos backpack tous The idea for the ‘Coasts and Cols’ tour came from a map, and a love of mountains and coastlines. booq boa squeeze laptop backpack

The national map of France pinned to my office wall seeded the idea of exploration, challenge and travel. The route would take in the best roads of the Spanish Sierra Nevada, the Pyrenees mountain range, and the west coast of France. Totalling 1,900km and 28,000 metres of climbing - over 9.5 riding days. The ride would be a serious test of mind, body and kit. View the full route, including the list of 'Cols Conquered' here. Any bike-touring trip that features a serious amount of mountain climbing, as well as a big daily distance quota, requires lightweight, durable and reliable kit. asus rog shuttle backpack priceI selected my carry based on what would keep me comfortable, safe, and performing well day after day.backpack mabinogi The Bike - Kona Private Jakestihl br600 backpack blower reviews

The Kona Private Jake is a cyclocross bike, which doubles up as a commuting bike for me, and also serves as a superb touring bike. Featuring disc brakes, wide-ranging gear, and a robust frame and wheel-set, it was the perfect ride for the mammoth mission. View my Bike Profile: Kona Private Jake blog post here. The aim with my luggage setup was to provide a balanced and lightweight carry, which would handle well on the ascents and descents in the mountains. As a result, I went for two small front panniers, a handlebar bag, a small frame bag, and a bike-packing seat pack. Front Panniers: Arkel Orca 25 fully waterproof panniers (reviewed here) Front Pannier Rack: Thule Tour Rack (reviewed here) Handlebar Bag: Arkel Bags (reviewed here) Seat pack: Restrap Bags (reviewed here) Dry Bags for Storage/Division: Overboard Bags (reviewed here) The highlight of this collection was the Arkel Panniers and Restrap Seatpack. Both these items use fully waterproof roll-top closures, and were superb at keeping the rain out in the Pyrenees.

This is the kit that I wore on the bike. I used every single piece of it throughout the trip, and all of it performed very well. POC Octal Helmet (reviewed here) POC Do Blade Sunglasses (reviewed here) GripGrab Cloudburst Full Finger Gloves GripGrab High Cut Summer Socks (black) x 2 GripGrab Light Arm Warmers Castelli Mesh Base Layer x 2 Castelli Superleggera RS Jersey Castelli Fawesome 2 Gilet Team Wiggle dhb Bib Shorts Gore Bike Wear Oxygen Bib Shorts+ Gore Bike Wear Oxygen 2.0 GORE-TEX Jacket (reviewed here) Sidi Dragon 4 SRS MTB Shoes I'd have a job to pick a highlight from this selection, as all of it performed without fault. To read more about my kit advice for bikepacking head here. For wearing in the evenings, and on my one rest day of the tour - these items were a welcome break from Lycra. This casual clothing was selected because it is light, fast drying, and warm. Primal Europe AireSpan Tee Kathmandu Ultralight Down Jacket

CEP Compression Tights or X-BIONIC Leg Warmers CEP Compression Outdoor Socks (reviewed here) Without a doubt, the highlight of this kit was the Kathmandu down jacket which provided warmth and comfort in the cold mountain evenings. My camping kit was chosen because of its light weight, durability and comfort provision. It is important to ensure that you get a good night's sleep on multi-day trips like this, so I opted for a tent and sleeping mat, rather than a bivvy bag. Most of the products come from the great new Outdoors Range at Wiggle. Kathmandu Lansan 2 Ultralight Tent Nordisk Ven 2.5 Sleeping Mat Mountain Hardwear HyperLamina Spark Sleeping Bag Petzl Tikka RXP Head Torch Jetboil MiniMo Cooking System Nordisk Titanium Cutlery Set Nordisk Titanium Insulated Mug Lifeventure SoftFibre Trek Towel Baby Wipes, Scouring pad, Washing-up liquid and Toilet Roll The highlights from this section were the Nordisk Ven 2.5 Sleeping Mat and Jetboil MiniMo stove.

The ¾ length sleeping mat is super lightweight and packable, but provided a comfortable night's sleep every night. The Jetboil stove is compact, but a great cooking tool for tasty evening grub. A mini tool kit, to keep me rolling throughout the 1900 kilometres of the 'Coasts and Cols' Tour. LifeLine Inner Tubes x 2 Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV Pump (with gauge) Lezyne CRV 20 Multi-tool Lezyne Patch Kit and Levers Zip Ties, Gorilla Tape and Insulation Tape Black Mamba Workshop Gloves (reviewed here) SRAM Quick-links x 2 Spare Gear Cable InnerThese are items that every touring cyclist should include in their carry: Lezyne Macro Drive Front Light See.Sense ICON Rear Light (reviewed here) Wahoo ELEMNT Bike Computer (reviewed here) Notstrøm Power Bank (reviewed here) Leatherman Charge Titanium Multi-tool (reviewed here) Wiggle 800ml Water Bottle 24Bottles 1 litre Stainless Water Bottle (reviewed here) Monkii Bottle Cage (reviewed here)