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 seven of my favourite best value alternatives, all of which are linked below.
00:12Today, 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
00:23to music without actually needing to have an earbud in your ears. Instead, sound is transmitted
00:28through 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 four and a half stars from us here
00:43at Cycling Weekly, they aren't cheap, costing nearly £110. However, recently, we gave five stars
00:50to a similar set of headphones retailing at just 20% of the cost of the Shox. Enter the
00:57Haylou Perfree Lite headphones. Coming in at just $36.99 or £27.69, these headphones offer
01:07all of the same Bluetooth connectivity features and similar technology for a fraction of the price.
01:14For us, it was the clear sound quality, ease of use, and impressive 30-metre range that left
01:20us wondering how these headphones are quite so cheap.
01:25When we think of cycling computers, most of us will point to either Garmin or Wahoo as the go-to
01:31options. But these premium brands both have halo head units well into the hundreds. The Garmin Edge
01:37840, for example, retails at $450 or £430 and shares much of the same functionality as its much
01:46cheaper competitor from the Taiwanese outfit, Brighton. The Brighton Ryder 750 retails at just
01:53shy of £220 or $270, complete with a 2.8-inch coloured touchscreen. Both computers feature GPS tracking and
02:02navigation, Amplus and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as available integration to third-party apps
02:09such as Strava or TrainingPeace. The touchscreen doesn't quite have the same colour contrast as seen
02:16on the Garmin devices. And although smart, the user interface is slightly less refined too. But it's
02:22hard to be overly critical when you are undercutting the market leader by nearly 50%, all the while
02:28maintaining all of the functionality required for some serious riding. Our next value alternative might
02:35seem like a bit of a juxtaposition. That's right, it comes from Rafa. It's fair to say the British
02:41cycling clothing brand is known more widely for its premium level cycling kit. But,
02:46take a proper look at its whole range and you'll see a lot of fabric technology trickle down to a
02:52more palatable price point. Of all the shorts we've tested here at Cycling Weekly, one of our
02:57firm favourites is the LeCol Pro Bib Short 2s. They perform great in a multitude of weather conditions
03:03and they feature a really plush chamois which is great for comfort. But, this is all attached to a
03:09price tag of £185. Rafa's core bib shorts by comparison retail for £110. Now, while this isn't
03:18at the budget end of the bib shorts spectrum, they do represent good value for money. The Rafa core bib
03:24shorts impressed us with the quality of the chamois, the comfortable leg grippers and they're all held
03:29together with some really sturdy stitching. It's fair to say that you won't quite experience the same
03:35armchair ride as some range topping shorts offer. But, in terms of value for money, these shorts from Rafa
03:42are actually seriously competitive. An essential part of any cyclist toolkit is the humble multi-tool.
03:50Packable and versatile, it's safe to say a multi-tool has probably gotten all of us out of a tight spot at one
03:56point or another. Our favourite multi-tool here at Cycling Weekly is the Topic PT30. Even with its £40
04:04price tag, it provides great value thanks to a whole host of tools for almost any eventuality. But,
04:11what if you don't want to shell out £40? Well, that's where the Lifeline Pro 18-in-1 multi-tool comes
04:18in and, as the name suggests, the Lifeline multi-tool has a total of 18 different functions, including
04:252, 4, 6 and 8mm 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 Topic, we were still impressed by the low weight of 118 grams.
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 rivals,
04:51the Lifeline also uses forged tools rather than cheaper wrapped end tools, which should also
04:57seriously improve its longevity. Bikepacking is perhaps the best proof that cycling can be enjoyed
05:04in any way that you want, whether it's competitive racing, cafe riding or exploration. We would all
05:11recommend a bikepacking trip here at Cycling Weekly, but before you embark on your maiden voyage,
05:16you need a way to carry your luggage. The easiest way to carry your gear is by using bikepacking bags.
05:23Designed to fit on almost any bike frame, bikepacking bags come in a variety of different sizes to
05:28attach to the different locations of your bike. When it comes to all-out quality, Waterleaf stills
05:34the show with its range of fully waterproof bikepacking bags, but the German engineering will set you back
05:40£150 for a saddle bag. If it's value you're looking for, then look no further than ZFAL. The French
05:48brand impressed us with its range of bikepacking bags that offer heat-sealed waterproof fabric,
05:53a similar attachment style to the Autolib bags and all of that for just £79.99. You might not get the
06:00same five-year warranty as Autolib and there is a 200g weight penalty, but the saddle bag is also from
06:078-17 litres in capacity thanks to the roll-down dry bag design which is enough for most bikepacking trips.
06:16When you think cycling sunglasses, it's hard to think of any other brand than Oakley.
06:21Synonymous with success, Oakley sunglasses have been made iconic by the likes of Geraint Thomas,
06:27Remco Evenapol and Mattia Vanderpoel. But a quality set of shades goes beyond just looking
06:33good. Glasses can keep your eyes safe from the sun, and in the event of a crash, save your skin too.
06:40But if you don't want to shell out over £200 on a fresh set of Oakley encoders, then Tafosi's
06:47Rail Clarion Photo Tech sunglasses might be for you. The Rail Clarion sunglasses feature a large
06:54photochromatic lens and stylish frameless design. All of this for just £109.99. And if you want to
07:04save even more money, then check out the Crit sunglasses which feature UV protection and a
07:09shatterproof lens for just £69.99. One thing I wish I realised when I was younger was just how much of a
07:17difference solid thermal kit can make to cold weather riding. With many of the best jackets from Rafa
07:23Castelli and Panama Studios costing well over £150, staying warm isn't always cheap. Unless you have
07:31this. The DHB Aeron thermal jersey was dubbed exceptional quality for the money by our tech
07:38team earlier this 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 an awful lot
07:53cheaper than that. For long rides, you need to get comfy. And that means a comfortable saddle,
07:59shoe and cockpit setup. One part of the bike which is often overlooked however, is handlebar tape.
08:07A simple rewrap of your handlebars can make a huge difference. But buying bar tape isn't always that
08:14simple. If you buy cheap, durability can suffer. And if you buy expensive, you can end up paying more
08:21than £30 a roll. So we think that Bontrager has found the sweet spot with its gel cork bar tape.
08:28It's available in a multitude of different colours. The gel cork tape is flexible, easy to wrap and
08:34comfortable and it just costs £14.99. Well done Bontrager. As I mentioned, everything I've spoken
08:42about today is linked below. So let me know what you would go for.
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