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.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Big brands will have you believe that cycling has to be really expensive, but I don't think it does.
00:06So I've rounded up 7 of my favourite best value alternatives, all of which are linked below.
00:13Today, listening to music goes hand in hand with working out. And thanks to bone conducting
00:18headphones, cycling is no different. Bone conducting headphones allow you to listen
00:22to music without actually needing to have an earbud in your ears. Instead,
00:27sound is transmitted through your cheekbones, allowing for increased awareness whilst you're
00:32riding. For a long time now, Shox has been the market leader with the likes of its Open Run Pro.
00:38And though they are really good headphones, receiving 4.5 stars from us here at Cycling Weekly,
00:44they aren't cheap, costing nearly £110. However, recently we gave 5 stars to a similar set of
00:52headphones retailing at just 20% of the cost of the Shox. Enter the Haylou Perfree Lite headphones.
00:59Coming in at just $36.99, or £27.69, these headphones offer all of the same Bluetooth
01:08connectivity features and similar technology for a fraction of the price. For us, it was the clear
01:15sound quality, ease of use and impressive 30 metre range that left us wondering how these headphones
01:23are quite so cheap. When we think of cycling computers, most of us will point to either Garmin
01:29or Wahoo as the go-to options. But these premium brands both have Haylou head units
01:35well into the hundreds. The Garmin Edge 840, for example, retails at $450 or £430 and shares
01:43much of the same functionality as its much cheaper competitor from the Taiwanese outfit, Brighton.
01:50The Brighton Rider 750 retails at just shy of £220 or $270, complete with a 2.8-inch coloured
01:59touchscreen. Both computers feature GPS tracking and navigation, ANT+, and Bluetooth connectivity,
02:06as well as available integration to third-party apps such as Strava or TrainingPeaks. The touchscreen
02:13doesn't quite have the same colour contrast as seen on the Garmin devices, and although smart,
02:18the user interface is slightly less refined too. But it's hard to be overly critical when you are
02:24undercutting the market leader by nearly 50%, all the while maintaining all of the functionality
02:30required for some serious riding. Our next value alternative might seem like a bit of
02:36a juxtaposition. That's right, it comes from Raffer. It's fair to say the British cycling
02:41clothing brand is known more widely for its premium level cycling kit. But take a proper
02:47look at its whole range and you'll see a lot of fabric technology trickle down to a more palatable
02:52price point. Of all the shorts we've tested here at Cycling Weekly, one of our firm favourites is
02:58the Lecole Pro Bib Short 2s. They perform great in a multitude of weather conditions, and they
03:03feature a really plush chamois which is great for comfort. But this is all attached to a price tag
03:10of £185. Raffer's core bib shorts, by comparison, retail for £110. Now, while this isn't at the
03:18budget end of the bib short spectrum, they do represent good value for money. The Raffer core
03:24bib shorts impressed us with the quality of the chamois, the comfortable leg grippers,
03:28and they're all held together with some really sturdy stitching. It's fair to say that you won't
03:34quite experience the same armchair ride as some range-topping shorts offer. But in terms of value
03:39for money, these shorts from Raffer are actually seriously competitive. An essential part of any
03:47cyclist's toolkit is the humble multi-tool. Packable and versatile, it's safe to say a multi-tool
03:53has probably gotten all of us out of a tight spot at one point or another. Our favourite multi-tool
03:59here at Cycling Weekly is the Topeak PT30. Even with its £40 price tag, it provides great value
04:06thanks to a whole host of tools for almost any eventuality. But what if you don't want to shell
04:13out £40? Well, that's where the Lifeline Pro 18-in-1 multi-tool comes in. And as the name suggests,
04:20the Lifeline multi-tool has a total of 18 different functions, including two, four, six,
04:26and eight mil hex keys, common torx keys, a chain tool, and screwdrivers too. Although you don't get
04:33the same flat pack form factor as the Topeak, we were still impressed by the low weight of 118g.
04:39In our multi-tool group test, it was also the only tool to incorporate a CO2 inflator,
04:45which could be a real blessing, particularly if you use tubeless tyres. Like its more expensive
04:50rivals, the Lifeline also uses forged tools rather than cheaper wrapped end tools, which
04:56should also seriously improve its longevity. Bikepacking is perhaps the best proof that
05:03cycling can be enjoyed in any way that you want, whether it's competitive racing, cafe riding,
05:08or exploration. We would all recommend a bikepacking trip here at Cycling Weekly,
05:14but before you embark on your maiden voyage, you need a way to carry your luggage.
05:19The easiest way to carry your gear is by using bikepacking bags. Designed to fit on almost any
05:24bike frame, bikepacking bags come in a variety of different sizes to attach to the different
05:29locations of your bike. When it comes to all-out quality, Waterleaf stills the show with its range
05:35of fully waterproof bikepacking bags, but the German engineering will set you back £150 for a
05:42saddlebag. If it's value you're looking for, then look no further than Zifal. The French brand
05:48impressed us with its range of bikepacking bags that offer heat-sealed waterproof fabric, a
05:53similar attachment style to the Waterleaf bags, and all of that for just £79.99. You might not get
06:00the same five-year warranty as Waterleaf, and there is a 200g weight penalty, but the saddlebag
06:06is also from 8-17 litres in capacity thanks to the roll-down dry bag design, which is enough
06:13for most bikepacking trips. When you think cycling sunglasses, it's hard to think of any other brand
06:20than Oakley. Synonymous with success, Oakley sunglasses have been made iconic by the likes
06:26of Geraint Thomas, Remco Evenepoel, and Mattia van der Poel. But a quality set of shades goes
06:32beyond just looking good. Glasses can keep your eyes safe from the sun, and in the event of a crash,
06:38save your skin too. But if you don't want to shell out over £200 on a fresh set of Oakley encoders,
06:46then Tafosi's Rail Clarion Phototech sunglasses might be for you. The Rail Clarion sunglasses
06:53feature a large photochromatic lens and stylish frameless design. All of this for just £109.99.
07:03And if you want to save even more money, then check out the Crit sunglasses,
07:07which feature UV protection and a shatterproof lens for just £69.99.
07:13One thing I wish I realised when I was younger was just how much of a difference solid thermal kit
07:19can make to cold weather riding. With many of the best jackets from Rafa, Castelli and Panama Studios
07:25costing well over £150, staying warm isn't always cheap. Unless you have this.
07:32The DHB Aeron Thermal jersey was dubbed exceptional quality for the money by our tech team earlier
07:39this year, and for good reason. It's warm, provides a great race fit and features quality
07:45pockets and cuffs, all for £85. Though with current discounts, you may be able to find it
07:52an awful lot cheaper than that. For long rides, you need to get comfy,
07:57and that means a comfortable saddle, shoe and cockpit setup. One part of the bike which is
08:03often overlooked, however, is handlebar tape. A simple rewrap of your handlebars can make a huge
08:10difference. But buying bar tape isn't always that simple. If you buy cheap, durability can suffer,
08:18and if you buy expensive, you can end up paying more than £30 a roll.
08:23So we think that Bontrager has found the sweet spot with its gel cork bar tape. It's available
08:29in a multitude of different colours. The gel cork tape is flexible, easy to wrap and comfortable,
08:35and it just costs £14.99. Well done Bontrager. As I mentioned, everything I've spoken about
08:42today is linked below, so let me know what you would go for.