What a three-day week.
The team at Cyclist have been beetling away this week with wrapping up the Giro and another cracker of Robyn’s Extremely Online series.
There’s also a curated highlights reel of Vincenzo Nibali’s career and a deep dive into how green cycling clothing is by yours truly.
On the tech side, we reviewed the Hammerhead Karoo 2 and the unique Classified Powershift gearing system which aims to make front derailleurs redundant. Shimano took us by surprise with its gloriously shiny GRX Limited components, Pinarello launched the radically asymmetrical Grevil F gravel bike and we talked gear ratios.
But before you dig into that good stuff, here are the gear highlights you’ve been waiting for.
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CHPT3 Biarritz kit
CHPT3 launched this women’s collection in collaboration with Garmin in April, and I have been lusting after it ever since.
Just look at that design. It is the merging of Coco Chanel inspiration and the luxuries of the French seaside town of Biarritz.
It is no surprise that this kit is designed by women for women. I love the white lines which effortlessly flatter the female body in all the right places. How refreshing.
The limited edition 3-piece features shorts, a jersey and a base layer.
The shorts have a yoga inspired wide waistband and a road specific chamois and are made from 65% recycled polyamide and 35% elastane whilst the jersey is made from 85% recycled polyamide.
The kit is very comfortable and each piece feels great against skin, and if you ask me, just knocks all other designs out the park.
It is all very à la mode.
Misfits protein bars
Assembled in three layers: biscuity/crumbly base, gooey centre and topped with chocolate, these Misfits protein bars are an ideal on the bike snack.
Each bar contains around 16g of protein, 1g of sugar, is vegan and gluten free.
So far my favourite is the speculoos one, because, well, speculoos are delicious.
Close behind is a surprise contender, banoffee and I am also a huge fan of the chocolate brownie. But really there isn’t a single flavour which doesn’t taste scrumptious.
I sometimes find that protein bars can be dry or too sweet or just plain gross, but these bars are banging.
They come in a variety box of 12 or a single flavour box of 12. I’ll take them all.
Restrap Full Frame Bag
Launched last week, the Restrap Full Frame bag from the brand’s Carry Everything range is a great addition to any bike wardrobe.
It’s everything you would expect from Restrap, durable, practical, water repellent zips and handmade in Yorkshire.
What makes this frame bag stand out is that it has a very clever compartmentalisation feature.
In the main pocket there are Velcro dividers which allow riders to separate compartments. The dividers give the option of splitting the bag in two (there are two zips for easy access) or into three, with the top compartment split into two.
The Velcro dividers fold away neatly when not in use.
It is a great way of avoiding the oft-found chaos of rifling through a bag wondering where on earth I put my multitool.
What I am into this week: Rolland Garros – The French Open
Image credit: Clive Brunskill via Getty
Oh Roland Garros, my love for this tournament is never-ending much like my fandom for its King, Rafa Nadal.
The clay Grand Slam which always throws up some upsets, like Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur losing in the first round, luckily Emma Raducanu did not. That was the second round.
A heart-warming moment was the standing ovation and ceremony given to retiring Frenchman Jo-Wilfred Tsonga. Losing to Casper Ruud in the first round, it was his last ever professional tennis tournament and he bowed out beautifully.
I’m not crying you are.
I’ve had to write my predictions days before you read this so I’m going to stick my neck out.
In the men’s draw, Rafa Nadal will win his 14th French Open, beating the Norwegian maestro Casper Ruud. It will be electric. Rafa will roar, the crowd will roar, I will roar.
In the women’s draw, Iga Świątek will beat Coco Gauff, regaining the title she first won in 2020. Credit will be due to the 18-year-old American who puts up a momentous fight and who many will be tipping for the title next year.
As Roland Garros comes to a close, tennis fans are happy, finally the Slams are back.
But across the channel a miffed Wimbledon will be desperately soul searching since having its ranking points stripped.
And I will be frolicking about at a festival with some pals with a Pimm’s in hand.
Happy bank holiday weekend!