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, sound is
00:28transmitted through your cheekbones, allowing for increased awareness whilst you're riding.
00:33For 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 118
04:38grams. In 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 of
06:26Geraint Thomas, Remco Evenepoel, and Mattia van der Poel. But a quality set of shades goes beyond
06:32just 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.
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