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.
00:32For 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 all of
01:07the same Bluetooth connectivity features and similar technology for a fraction of the price.
01:13For us, it was the clear sound quality, ease of use, and impressive 30-metre range that left us
01:20wondering how these headphones are quite so cheap. When we think of cycling computers, most of us will
01:28point to either Garmin or Wahoo as the go-to options. But these premium brands both have halo
01:34head units well 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 Ryder 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 and Bluetooth connectivity,
02:06as well as available integration to third-party apps such as Strava or TrainingPeace. The touchscreen
02:12doesn'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 a juxtaposition.
02:38That's right, it comes from Rafa. It's fair to say the British cycling clothing brand is known more
02:43widely for its premium level cycling kit, but take a proper look at its whole range and you'll see a
02:49lot of fabric technology trickle down to a more palatable price point. Of all the shorts we've tested
02:55here at Cycling Weekly, one of our firm favourites is the Lecolle Pro Bibshort 2s. They perform great
03:01in a multitude of weather conditions and they feature a really plush chamois which is great for
03:06comfort, but this is all attached to a price tag of £185. Rafa's core bib shorts by comparison
03:14retail for £110. Now, while this isn't at the budget end of the bib shorts spectrum,
03:20they do represent good value for money. The Rafa core bib shorts impressed us with the quality of
03:26the chamois, the comfortable leg grippers and they're all held together with some really sturdy
03:31stitching. It's fair to say that you won't quite experience the same armchair ride as some range
03:37topping shorts offer, but in terms of value for money, these shorts from Rafa are actually seriously
03:43competitive. An essential part of any cyclist toolkit is the humble multi-tool. Packable and versatile,
03:51it's safe to say a multi-tool has probably gotten all of us out of a tight spot at one
03:56point or another.
03:57Our favourite multi-tool here at Cycling Weekly is the Topic PT30. Even with its £40 price tag,
04:05it provides great value thanks to a whole host of tools for almost any eventuality. But what if you
04:12don't want to shell out £40? Well, that's where the Lifeline Pro 18-in-1 multi-tool comes in,
04:18and as the name suggests, the Lifeline multi-tool has a total of 18 different functions, including 2,
04:264, 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, which could be
04:45a real blessing, particularly if you use tubeless tyres. Like its more expensive rivals, the Lifeline
04:52also uses forged tools rather than cheaper wrapped end tools, which should also seriously improve its
04:58longevity. Bikepacking is perhaps the best proof that cycling can be enjoyed in any way that you want,
05:06whether it's competitive racing, cafe riding or exploration. We would all recommend a bikepacking
05:12trip here at Cycling Weekly, but before you embark on your maiden voyage, you need a way to carry your
05:18luggage. The 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 locations
05:30of your bike. When it comes to all-out quality, Waterleave steals the show with its range of fully
05:35waterproof bikepacking bags, but the German engineering will set you back £150 for a saddlebag.
05:44If it's value you're looking for, then look no further than Z-Fal. The French brand impressed us
05:49with its range of bikepacking bags that offer heat-sealed waterproof fabric, a similar attachment
05:54style to the Autolib bags, and all of that for just £79.99. You might not get the same five
06:00-year
06:01warranty as Autolib, and there is a 200g weight penalty, but the saddlebag is also from 8-17 litres
06:09in 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. Synonymous with
06:22success, Oakley sunglasses have been made iconic by the likes of Geraint Thomas, Remco Evenipole,
06:29and Mattia Vanderpoel. But a quality set of shades goes beyond just looking good. Glasses can keep
06:35your eyes safe from the sun, and in the event of a crash, save your skin too. But if you
06:41don't want
06:41to shell out over £200 on a fresh set of Oakley encoders, then Tafosi's Rail Clarion Phototech
06:49sunglasses might be for you. The Rail Clarion sunglasses feature a large photochromatic lens
06:55and stylish frameless design. All of this for just £109.99. And if you want to save even more money,
07:05then check out the Crit sunglasses, which 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
07:19make 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 this
07:39year. And for good reason. It's warm, provides a great race fit and features quality pockets and
07:46cuffs. All for £85. Though with current discounts, you may be able to find it an awful lot cheaper than
07:53that. For long rides, you need to get comfy. And that means a comfortable saddle, shoe and cockpit
08:01set up. One part of the bike which is often overlooked, however, is handlebar tape. A simple
08:07rewrap 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.
