There's no getting away from the fact that road cycling is expensive, so in this video Sam Gupta runs through 7 different pieces of kit that stand to be great value alternatives to the more expensive counterparts. He has found better value options that rival the best cycling headunits, the best cycling sunglasses, the best cycling multitools and the best cycling shorts.
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00:00 Big brands will have you believe that cycling has to be really expensive, but I don't think it does.
00:06 So I've rounded up seven of my favourite best value alternatives, all of which are linked below.
00:12 Today, listening to music goes hand in hand with working out. And thanks to bone conducting
00:18 headphones, cycling is no different. Bone conducting headphones allow you to listen to music without
00:23 actually needing to have an earbud in your ears. Instead, sound is transmitted through your cheek
00:29 bones, allowing for increased awareness whilst you're riding. For a long time now, Shox has been
00:35 the market leader with the likes of its Open Run Pro. And though they are really good headphones,
00:41 receiving four and a half stars from us here at Cycling Weekly, they aren't cheap, costing nearly
00:46 £110. However, recently, we gave five stars to a similar set of headphones retailing at just
00:54 20% of the cost of the Shox. Enter the Haylou Perfree Lite headphones. Coming in at just $36.99
01:01 or £27.69, these headphones offer all of the same Bluetooth connectivity features
01:09 and similar technology for a fraction of the price. For us, it was the clear sound quality,
01:16 ease of use and impressive 30 metre range that left us wondering how these headphones
01:23 are quite so cheap. When we think of cycling computers, most of us will point to either Garmin
01:29 or Wahoo as the go-to options. But these premium brands both have Haylou head units
01:35 well into the hundreds. The Garmin Edge 840, for example, retails at $450 or £430 and shares much
01:43 of the same functionality as its much cheaper competitor from the Taiwanese outfit, Bryton.
01:50 The Bryton Rider 750 retails at just shy of £220 or $270, complete with a 2.8-inch coloured
01:59 touchscreen. Both computers feature GPS tracking and navigation, ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity,
02:06 as well as available integration to third-party apps such as Strava or TrainingPeaks. The
02:12 touchscreen doesn't quite have the same colour contrast as seen on the Garmin devices, and
02:17 although smart, the user interface is slightly less refined too. But it's hard to be overly
02:23 critical when you are undercutting the market leader by nearly 50%, all the while maintaining
02:29 all of the functionality required for some serious riding. Our next value alternative
02:35 might seem like a bit of a juxtaposition. That's right, it comes from Rafa. It's fair to say the
02:41 British cycling clothing brand is known more widely for its premium level cycling kit. But
02:46 take a proper look at its whole range and you'll see a lot of fabric technology trickle down to a
02:52 more palatable price point. Of all the shorts we've tested here at Cycling Weekly, one of our
02:56 firm favourites is the Lecole Pro Bib Short 2s. They perform great in a multitude of weather
03:02 conditions and they feature a really plush chamois which is great for comfort, but this is all
03:08 attached to a price tag of £185. Rafa's Core Bib Shorts by comparison retail for £110. Now,
03:17 while this isn't at the budget end of the bib short spectrum, they do represent good value for
03:23 money. The Rafa Core Bib Shorts impressed us with the quality of the chamois, the comfortable leg
03:28 grippers, and they're all held together with some really sturdy stitching. It's fair to say that
03:33 you won't quite experience the same armchair ride as some range topping shorts offer, but in terms
03:39 of value for money, these shorts from Rafa are actually seriously competitive. An essential part
03:46 of any cyclist's toolkit is the humble multi-tool. Packable and versatile, it's safe to say a multi-tool
03:53 has probably gotten all of us out of a tight spot at one point or another. Our favourite multi-tool
03:59 here at Cycling Weekly is the Topik PT30. Even with its £40 price tag, it provides great value
04:06 thanks to a whole host of tools for almost any eventuality. But what if you don't want to shell
04:13 out £40? Well, that's where the Lifeline Pro 18-in-1 Multi-Tool comes in and as the name suggests,
04:20 the Lifeline Multi-Tool has a total of 18 different functions including 2, 4, 6, and 8mm
04:27 hex keys, common torx keys, a chain tool, and screwdrivers too. Although you don't get the
04:33 same flat pack form factor as the Topik, we were still impressed by the low weight of 118g.
04:38 In our multi-tool group test, it was also the only tool to incorporate a CO2 inflator,
04:45 which could be a real blessing, particularly if you use tubeless tyres. Like its more expensive
04:50 rivals, the Lifeline also uses forged tools rather than cheaper wrapped end tools, which
04:56 should also seriously improve its longevity. Bikepacking is perhaps the best proof that
05:03 cycling can be enjoyed in any way that you want, whether it's competitive racing, cafe riding, or
05:09 exploration. We would all recommend a bikepacking trip here at Cycling Weekly,
05:14 but before you embark on your maiden voyage, you need a way to carry your luggage.
05:18 The easiest way to carry your gear is by using bikepacking bags. Designed to fit on almost any
05:24 bike frame, bikepacking bags come in a variety of different sizes to attach to the different
05:29 locations of your bike. When it comes to all-out quality, Waterleaf stills the show with its range
05:35 of fully waterproof bikepacking bags, but the German engineering will set you back £150 for a
05:42 saddlebag. If it's value you're looking for, then look no further than Z-Fal. The French brand
05:48 impressed us with its range of bikepacking bags that offer heat-sealed waterproof fabric,
05:53 a similar attachment style to the Waterleaf bags, and all of that for just £79.99. You might not
05:59 get the same 5-year warranty as Waterleaf, and there is a 200g weight penalty, but the saddlebag
06:06 is also from 8-17 litres in capacity thanks to the roll-down dry bag design, which is enough
06:13 for most bikepacking trips. When you think cycling sunglasses, it's hard to think of any other brand
06:20 than Oakley. Synonymous with success, Oakley sunglasses have been made iconic by the likes
06:26 of Geraint Thomas, Remco Evenepoel and Mathieu van der Poel. But a quality set of shades goes
06:32 beyond just looking good. Glasses can keep your eyes safe from the sun, and in the event of a crash,
06:37 save your skin too. But if you don't want to shell out over £200 on a fresh set of Oakley encoders,
06:46 then Tafosi's Rail Clarion Phototech sunglasses might be for you. The Rail Clarion sunglasses
06:53 feature a large photochromatic lens and stylish frameless design. All of this for just £109.99.
07:02 And if you want to save even more money, then check out the Crit sunglasses,
07:07 which feature UV protection and a shatterproof lens for just £69.99.
07:14 One thing I wish I realised when I was younger was just how much of a difference
07:18 solid thermal kit can make to cold weather riding. With many of the best jackets from Rafa,
07:23 Castelli and Panamau studios costing well over £150, staying warm isn't always cheap.
07:30 Unless you have this. The DHB Airon Thermal jersey was dubbed "exceptional quality for the money"
07:38 by our tech team earlier this year, and for good reason. It's warm, provides a great race fit,
07:44 and features quality pockets and cuffs, all for £85. Though with current discounts,
07:51 you may be able to find it an awful lot cheaper than that.
07:54 For long rides, you need to get comfy, and that means a comfortable saddle,
07:59 shoe and cockpit setup. One part of the bike which is often overlooked however,
08:05 is handlebar tape. A simple re-wrap of your handlebars can make a huge difference. But,
08:12 buying bar tape isn't always that simple. If you buy cheap, durability can suffer. And if you buy
08:18 expensive, you can end up paying more than £30 a roll. So, we think that Bontrager has found the
08:25 sweet spot with its Gel Cork Bar Tape. It's available in a multitude of different colours.
08:31 The Gel Cork Tape is flexible, easy to wrap and comfortable, and it just costs £14.99.
08:38 Well done Bontrager. As I mentioned, everything I've spoken about today is linked below,
08:43 so let me know what you would go for.