Im going to try to write this first paragraph without sounding like an old git reminiscing about the good old days of biking. First off Ill say that the old days, the late 1980s early 1990s when Mountain bikes were new and those of us who got into off road riding at that time took our first pedal in the dirt were pretty bad. Bad bikes unless you spent a silly amount of money, bad components and hardly any parts back up if you broke anything. This was pre internet so no surfing the web for the best prices or how to videos, even your local bike shop unless you were very very lucky was really only interested in road bikes so were reluctant to stock parts for MTBs.ok, I know those of you born this side of the milienium are now thinking get on with it grandad! well my point is (and this will reinforce the old fogey opinions) youve never had it so good!Back then, we expected that the bike was probably not going to make it to the end of the ride without some sort of mechanical. Im not just talking punctures either although they were many as we only had tubes and tyres were heavy and still managed to be fragile. Im talking about broken chains, rear mechs, front mechs (remember them?) 26 rims that needed truing after every ride, ball bearings either seizing as the seals were so bad water just flowed straight past them or bearings just falling out as the manufacturing tolerances were stuck in the 70s and not designed for the job. It was fun, learning to rebuild your bike on a friday night until 1am so you could at least get to the start of the ride on Saturday morning was a great way to learn how things worked and Im still amazed I could rebuild a shimano freehub with bearings scrounged from my local motor factors on my stairs with totally inappropriate tools, some of which came from the cutlery draw in the kitchen!I think Ive painted a picture there and Ive done it to point out how good todays bikes are. We have come a long way. The bikes still shift with deraileurs be it cable or electronic but I cant remember the last time I had a mechanical problem out riding and with the advent of tubeless technology I have to check my pump and tyreslevers are still working every now and again as they get used so infrequently. Bikes are much more reliable now and are built so they can take on the demands of off road riding and still be in one piece afterwards. But being blas about this reliability is a mistake. Even the best most expensive bike still needs maintenance, you need tools to do this and to fit those gram saving upgrades to your pride and joy, some tools will even indirectly save you money.So here are a few of the tools I think every home mechanic should have in the garage/shed/bottom of the stairs, Topeak and their importer Extra UK very kindly took a look at my list and sent out the Topeak tools they thought best fitted the bill.Topeak Hex setA good quality set of Allen wrenches/Keys should be at the heart of every cyclists home maintenance kit, this one from Topeak runs from 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10mm. They are T type and the T piece is moveable, sliding from one side to the other enabling you to get into tight areas. The T gives you more control and leverage than the standard L shaped wrench. Each also has a plastic speed sleeve on the main shaft which you can hold while you twizzle (technical engineering term for turning rapidly) the end for rapid tightening and untightening of bolts. The wrenches have a straight cut end rather than a ball end. This makes engaging bolt heads at an angle more awkward but does ensure the risk of rounding off of allen bolts is reduced and gives excellent tool to bolt engagement when undoing stubborn hardware.The tools come in a plastic stand that feels robust, has a magnetic tray so you dont loose tiny steel parts and the hex key carrier can be detached to hang on a tool wall. It also fits to topeaks work stand, the E-up Pro. The tools seem to be of excellent quality and weight and should last many years of bike tinkering by expert and the most hamfisted amongst us *waves* alike. The size range should be adequate for all modern gravel, MTB and road bikes unless your bike has some left of field bolt head sizes, if it does its probably Italian.topeak JoBlow sport ex pumptopeak JoBlow sport ex pump smart head Even in the days of tubeless tyre technology you still need to add or reduce the air pressure in tyres. A track pump is a home workshop must have. It takes all the work out of pumping up tyres that you get with using a small hand pump. This JoBlow 120 is the ideal thing to have, its not complicated at all, you dont even have to swap parts in the pump head to change from Presta (thin) to Schrader (car valve) valves. The Topeak smart head does both without fuss. I even used this pump to inflate a car tyre in an emergency one frosty 5am Morning. There I was half asleep on my non working day standing outside not looking forward to swapping and losing the parts of my old pump (all are set to presta) in the dark but i suddenly thought of the smart head and it just pushed straight on, with the lever locked I was able to inflate the tyre and get my other half off to work and go back to bed, I was in love with Topeak smart heads from then on!The Topeak Sport EX pump will inflate tyres to 120psi, hence the name but even roadies have abandonned rock hard tyres now havent they? but if you need that pressure itll do it. Ive even used it to seat tubeless tyres but that might be more about how tight the tyre bead was on the rim and the quality of my rim taping. It isnt designed for that job but it was a pleasant surprise. The pressure dial is large and even though its situated at the bottom of the pump it is easy to read. Ive got nothing other than my thumbs to test the accuracy of the dial but it is definately in the ball park of how much squidge I like from my tyres at 30psi. The pump has a barrel made of steel and a plastic foot and feels sturdy enough to take some knocks. At less than 37 at time of writing it is great value and I cant see you needing anything more than this for your home workshop.Topeak cable cutterTopeak cable cutters nifty cable end openerFrayed cables not only look bad they can get you into trouble too. The frayed end can fail, pull out form under a bolt when under tension and this is at best a loss of gears and at worst a loss of teeth if its a brake inner on a non hydraulic system. Frayed cables are also a nightmare to thread through cables and ferrules if not cut precisely. The Topeak cable and housing cutter looks like a set of garden pruners but it is a simple design that works perfectly every time. They are long enough to get the required leverage to cut neatly through gear and brake inner cable and also through outer cable leaving a neat end with no fraying. They are spring loaded too making life easier. These cutters also have a bonus feature Ive not seen on other models and thats a little pin that you can push into an outer cable and to open up the plastic sleeve to allow much easier access to pass an inner cable through. In a world where there are 100s of cable cutters out there doing the same job that little feature elevates the Topeak version above all the others.Topeak Shuttle tyre leversWith the demise of tubed tyres, tyre levers have become somewhat redundant until it comes time to swap tyres. These Topeak shuttle levers then are a worthy edition to your tool arsenal. Made of tough engineering grade plastic (I presume that makes then stronger?) they come as a set of two levers, one long and one shorter. The longer one has more leverage for stubborn tyres and because they are plastic they are less likely to damage rim tape or wheel rims if you have to get aggressive with them. They clip together which should stop them from getting lost in messy sheds or cars.However, because of the size of the one lever its not something id carry on the bike as theyd take up too much room and if you are running tubeless youll hardly ever need them but they are perfect for home and when a little more oomph is needed to remove or pop on a tyre.Topeak Essential ToolshopTopeak chain tool and ratchetTopeak torque sleeveTopeak quick link pliers and chain hookUp to now the tools have been the basic essentials you get you started with home maintenance. Now if you want to go a touch further Topeak have their Essential Toolshop and it is pretty comprehensive. It consists of Hex (allen) bits 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 mm. Torx bits T10, T15, T20, T25, T30, T40. Phillps x 2 and flat head bits. it has a ratchet for the bits with an extension bar (or speed sleeve as Topeak call it), a chain tool, chain quick link pliers and chain hook to aid rejoining chains, a disc brake/pad spacer and a torque sleeve to make sure your bolts are tightened to manufacturers spec. this all comes in a robust compact carry case. Weirdly, even though this is a lot of tools, all of which are relevant for home bike maintenance the bits are small and fiddly and when swapping the most used bits, the 4-5mm I soon reverted to the Hex key set above. However the essential tool kit was perfect for keeping in the van/car for car park repairs or bolt checks, its come on every biking holiday and was much better than lugging bigger tools around. So, if you are stuck for space at home, I have friends who have to keep their bike in a cupboard under the stairs Harry Potter style then the Essential tool kit is ideal for keeping on a shelf somewhere taking up minimal space and works equally well in a cluttered garage or shed filled with lawn mowers. Topeak chain wear indicatorFinally a tool every cyclist should own. If you dont own any other tools i recommend you buy one of these first. Its a chain wear indicator and its a tool that can save you money. A chain wears out, even a well lubricated one wears out and wears the other steel components it touches such as chainrings, cassette sprockets and pulley wheels on a rear derraileur at the same time. This is fine if you regularly change your chain. however if you dont and wait until a chain is so worn out it starts to affect shifting or all the teeth on everything resemble sharks fins its too late. The wear on other components will be to such a level that simply adding a new chain wont be enough. that brand new unworn chain will not interact with the other components that have litterally changed tooth shape to match the other chain. this causes skipping and chain slip. This is where it gets expensive, changing a cassette, chainring and associated items is going to cost an absolute fortune in parts (and labour if you need a mechanics help).So this tool that costs less than 6 can save you hundreds of pounds by letting you know when to change a chain before it starts wearing out your drivetrain to the point of no return. its very straight forward to use but rather than write paragraphs in a how to style ive stolen Topeaks instructions to show how easy it is, Im sure (hoping) they dont mind.All of these Topeak tools Ive written about have been in use working on my bike for the last 4 months. they endured my hamfistedness, got covered in oil and grease, have been sworn at when Ive dropped one and the bolt Ive been loosening has fallen to the floor never to be seen again. The essential tool kit has been to 3 different countries in the back of my van and saved a couple of my rides from being cancelled and helped a few strangers to get their bike going again. Ive even fixed a couple of machines at work with that kit as no tools were in site! Nothing has broken, none of them look worn out so im confident to say that they will last the average home bike mechanic for years and years and with that longevity in mind it makes the inital outlay to buy them seem more and more insignificant.You can find all of Topeaks tools, those above and many many more on their website here but be careful, once you start buying tools it can get addictive!

Over the last 6 months the bike accessory market has seen a flood of E-inflators. These small rechargable pumps have been marketed as a replacement for the traditional hand pump. Those pumps have been around really since bikes changed from solid tyres to pneumatic rubber versions and are carried on the bike or in a pocket so in the event of a puncture or just a tyre pressure adjustment to cope with a change in riding terrain you can add or release air to suit.The big thing that those traditional pumps have going for them is that they are mechanical. You as the rider are the engine that powers them. As long as youve made the required number of cake shop stops on your ride you should have endless energy to power them. The downside of course is that you need to carry that pump and pumping up a tyre, especially a road tyre to say 90psi takes quite a bit of effort. CO2 cannisters I hear you say! small, effective and they can seat a tyre onto the wheel rim easily. What I say is that they are mainly a one shot job, if you get the applicator incorrectly fitted to the valve you lose all the gas in one go, they can burn your fingers with the extreme cold the escaping gas produces and that cold doesnt always play well with tyre sealant. They are also not refillable and become litter straight away.So a small, rechargable pump sounds ideal doesnt it. lightweight compared to a frame pump, can be used again and again and they work with any sealant on the market. The air being pushed out of them even creates heat instead of cold (theres even a warning about this on most inflators). The fact that its powered by a battery (hard to dispose of) and charged by electricity that (in the UK) is generated by coal fired or nuclear power stations and so is bad for the enviroment is another thing to consider. Then again modern frame pumps are mostly plastic and lets not even go there!So, with the positives and the negatives of the concept of an e-inflator laid out lets look at the Topeak E-Booster mini. Ive tested quite a few inflators now (5 others in fact) but the Topeak version has come along as the first that has UK distributor backing when it comes to warranty etc. Obviously they are all manufactured in China. All the others were direct from China also and any issues would need to be dealt with by contacting a company overseas. So 1st point to Topeak and Extra UK.The Topeak E-Booster Mini weighs in at only 121g on my unverified kitchen scales and is 5.4 x 3.2 x 7.3mm in size.. It has an electronic display showing battery status and switchable PSI/BAR, an on/off button and +/- buttons. it comes with interchangable parts to fit presta or schrader valves and some disassembly is requred to change these over, but thats no different to any other pump. Generally youll adjust it to how your valves are configured once and never change it again. it also comes with a flexible extension tube so if the inflator doesnt fit between your spokes because of deep section rims or weird spoke patterns you can still use it. Topeak also recommend using the extension on TPU inner tubes as the heat generated by the pump might melt the plastic valves!Operation is simple, a long press on the on button to turn the pump on. then using the + or buttons set the PSi you want your tyre to inflate to. Then push the pump onto the valve and press the on button once and the pump will start pushing air into the tyre. Heres a warning, these things are LOUD! and that goes for all e-inflators Ive tried. The Topeak E-Booster Mini then happily pumps your tyre up to the pressure youve chosen and then shuts itself off when the pressure is achieved. If you want to stop it before then then one press of the on button will stop the inflator. Ive not checked to see if the pump achieves the stated pressure as I dont have anything accurate enough to check. What I do have though is my thumbs and they are never wrong! So a quick squeeze to see if its in the normal range I like and then pull the pump off the valve and you are good to go. An extra feature on the Topeak E-Booster Mini Ive not seen on any other inflator is the fact it has a torch light. A double tap on the on button turns the light on or off, quite handy when you drop your valve cap in the grass on a night ride!Topeak claim that the E-Booster Mini on one charge will pump 80psi into 70028 road tyres 3 times and 25psi into 29 x 2.4 4 times. Ive found that itll inflate a typical gravel tyre such as a 700 x 45 to 35psi 4 times. The inflator takes 45-50 minutes to charge from zero to full using a USB-C cable and a little longer if thats via a laptop or similar. The box also contains a handy drawer string cloth bag to keep the inflator and accessories together.So, would I choose to throw away my traditional frame pump and just use an e-inflator? Well, yes and no. For local riding which in my case is probably 85% of my riding Id definately only take the electric inflator. With the reliability of tubeless technology these days I cant actually remember the last time I had to use a frame mounted pump, in fact Id better check its not seized up! So Im more than happy to rely on an e-inflator when im not too far from home and know where i am at all times and I think 4 tyre inflations would cover any eventuality. If i was riding a multi day ride somewhere remote Id want analog back up of a manual pump.Would I chose the Topeak E-Booster Mini over all the other e-inlfators Ive tried? Yes definately, its proved to be reliable and robust, its taken a few knocks and drops and continued to work as described but a big thing for me is the UK back up and the peace of mind that comes with it.you can find more details on the Topeak E-Booster Mini here

If you are reading this in the southern hemisphere and spring has now turned to summer, well number 1, please dont show off and 2, keep this review in mind for April onwards when those of us in the frozen/rain soddern northern hemisphere are feeling smug about there being more light in the day.Unfortunately back in the reality of a UK winter where its starting to get dark at 4pm and other than riding at the weekend (or your designated day off in the week) youll be riding in the dark. To do that you need a decent light to enable you to be seen by other people and to see by.moon titan max mountmoon titan max usb-cmoon titan max wireless chargingThe Moon TitanMax is pretty unique as its shape is cuboid and not like any other light Ive seen. It is 62 x 48 x 56 mm and weighs 152g on my unvarified kitchen scales. It boasts 1700 lumens at full power and has two beam modes, Moon describes these as city and highway. this is a bit confusing as they both of these say urban commuting to me but city is the lower power setting. if you think of city as being a mode to not dazzle oncoming traffic (or dipped headlights if you are a car driver) and highway as full beam and much more suited to off road cycling. Essentially city has a shorter throw and highway lights up the road/trail further ahead.Moon titan max city lowMoon titan max city highMoon titan max highway lowMoon titan max highway highCity mode also gives you three flashing modes, mode 1,2 (100 lumens) and day flash (800 lumens) and will last a claimed 140hrs at the lowest lumen setting. highway has two modes, one is 1000 lumens and the other 1700. You switch from city to highway by double clicking the on-off button when the light is switched on.In the box is an out front mount which comes with the option to just clamp on the light, to run the light and your favourite bike computer or using an included adaptor the light/computer and an action cam. It also comes with a bluetooth handlebar remote with which you can swap between modes. It has a USB-C charging port (2hrs for a full charge). This port is 2-way and you could use the light as a power bank!moon titan max bar remotemoon titan max on garmin stem mountmoon titan max on action cam mountTalking of charging, you can also charge the light wirelessly by just placing it on a charging pad. The light also comes in 5 different colours, which is nice, even if its pretty superfluous in the dark!Riding in the dark on the road the city mode is more than enough and even in the lowest setting other road users would need a hell of an excuse to say they didnt see you coming head on or behind them. Side on the moon titan max suffers the same as most lights and its much harder to see, this is where fluorescent clothing comes in handy. The flashing modes are great for those gloomy days or near dusk and help you stand out. The daytime flash is effective even in full daylight as it gives a very bright pulse of 800 lumens and is perfect for those that feel the need to have a light on at all times.Off road you definately need the higher power setting as the city setting gets a bit lost and seems to spread sideways rather than projecting forward. The highway setting throws the beam much further forward allowing you to see obstacles sooner. Due to the shape of the lens the beam pattern is square rather than a cone seen on more regular shaped lights. This doesnt detract from the lights ability to light up the trail but does take a little getting used to if you are familiar with other lights.moon titan max stem cap mountmoon titan max stem cap mountThe big downside for me was the outfront mount. Its just too flexible. With just the light fitted it vibrates on tarmac and when ridden off road that movement is much worse and makes the light seem to flicker. Add a computer or an action cam to it and this trait is exacerbated. I ended up using my stem cap garmin mount in the end and this proved much more sturdy but of course I lost the option to run other accessories at the same time.The Moon Titan Max light is an excellent all rounder with a good run time, quick charging with a wireless charging option that is useful for commuting in day and night time and can hold its own against much more expensive lights. The fact it looks different is a plus point for me but it is let down by the plastic out front mount. Maybe spend the money saved over more expensive lights to by a metal mount?you can find more details on the Moon Titan Max light here

When it comes to feet, mine run cold and Im always searching for the perfect solution to keeping my toes comfortable when the temperatures drop to single or minus figures. So it was either very brave or very foolish for Northwave to take up the challenge with their Celsius Arctic GTX shoes. Warning: theres a lot of acronyms and product names in this review, such is the current fashion in the bike industry. Still, Celsius Arctic GTX does on the face of it sound impressively warm doesnt it? Luckily the period of riding in these coincided with the UK weather reverting to normal with a named storm, torrential rain, floods that then turned into a cold snap of windscreen scraping mornings and crunchy puddles, so all in all perfect test conditions!Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX the clean unworn editionOk, lets get some of the jargon and acronyms out of the way first, the Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX boots are advertised as having a Cirrus XT 4L membrane made by Gore-Tex for waterproofness and breathability, 200g recycled Primaloft Gold thermal padding inside and a 4 layer Arctic insole. More of a shoe with a neoprene cuff than a boot they close using a X-Dial SLW3 (think Boa but with a quick release lever) and a zip up the inside of the cuff. The sole has an aggressive looking Jaws Evo sole tread, with a SPD cleat pocket and the provision of fitting football boot studs at the toe for added traction if you are fit/mad enough to run with your bike on a cyclocross race.Enough of the jargon, what are they like to wear? Well i asked for a size larger than my normal summer shoe size as I intended to run thicker or waterproof socks with them and Northwave agreed that was a good idea. With a thicker sock on my feet I attempted to put them on for the first time. Theres definately a knack to it. Inside the shoe are two red straps to aid pulling them on and they are needed. It was a bit of a wrestle to be honest and i was instantly worried I needed an even bigger size. However once on and my socks straightened by wiggling my feet in the shoe they felt totally the right size and i had plenty of toe wiggle room. Infact they are sort of T.A.R.D.I.S like as they seem bigger when on than when putting on if that makes sense?Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX pull on strapsNorthwave Celsius Arctic GTX primaloft interiorOnce on and the dial turned to snug the front of the shoe down and the zip done up they feel really comfortable, theres loads of adjustment with the X-Dial and the neoprene like cuff fits well around the ankle and allows unhindered ankle joint articulation. So no resistance to pedalling.Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX sole & cleat pocketNorthwave Celsius Arctic GTX generous cleat adjustmentthe sole has a very generous amount of cleat adjustment, Id go as far as saying the most Ive experienced on any clip in shoe. I set it as far back as it could go thinking the shoes were like most others and soon realised I had to move the cleat back towards the toe which is unheard of in my experience! The sole is aggressive and theres lots of grip even without the toe studs for hike a bike sections. The close spaced knobs will get clogged with clay and leaves (your soil conditions may be different) but a quick bang on the pedals soon clears them though. Taking of walking, the sole has just the right amount of flex for trotting up muddy trails and lets face it more importantly they wont make you look like a penguin when walking up to the counter in your favourite coffee/cake/chip shop/pub. Despite this flex there is plenty of stiffness at the cleat for efficient pedalling.Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX test conditionsAre they waterproof then? the shoe part of the boot definately is, i know this because I deliberately on your behalf pedalled my bike through all the floods, stood in X-dial deep puddles and tried to (unsuccessfully) leap across a ford. The neoprene cuff though isnt, its weather proof but will eventually get damp from spray. Bear in mind though that theres a big hole in the shoe where your foot goes in so a wet sock cuff is equally caused by water running down the leg of my waterproof trousers as much as the neoprene. The good thing about neoprene though and why its excellent as a wet suit is that despite being damp it still insulates the wearer by trapping body heat. On the wettest day when i removed the shoes the top of my sock was damp but from the ankle down was as dry as when I put them on. Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX in the wildNorthwave Celsius Arctic GTX full frontalDespite having to really tug to get the shoes on the straps have remained intact. the X-Dial looks fragile put I have accidentally smashed it into a concrete bollard (Northwave sell spares) and the release lever allows very easy adjustment, in a juxtposition to putting them on the shoes come off at the end of a ride very easily which messes with my mind somewhat. Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX X-Dial adjusterNorthwave Celsius Arctic GTX side zipDid the Northwave Celcius Arctic GTX shoes keep my feet warm? Northwave neednt have worried (I expect they werent losing any sleep) as my feet stayed warmer in these shoes a lot longer than Ive experienced before. id go as far as saying they are the warmest cycling shoes/boots that Ive tried so far and as the temperature drops the further we get into winter im looking forward to spending longer out on the bike than previous years.Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX making wavesNorthwave Celsius Arctic GTX will never be this clean againThe Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX shoe is a comfortable, efficient pedalling, warm and weatherproof shoe thatll help you go further for longer in the grimmest of conditions.you can see more details on the shoes on the Northwave websiteNorthwave havent paid for this review, they took the risk of an honest review, there are no affiliate links or discount codes. I do (I hope) get to keep the shoes, not that anyone would want then after my plates of meat have been in them for a few weeks!

Back in 2020 as the first Covid lockdown loomed I contacted the owner of Fustle Bikes, It was a speculative move on my part. UKGRAVELCO up to that point was mainly based around instagram, reviews were on this website, including a couple of bikes but it was small potatoes really and reviews were mainly via contacts id made working in bike shops. I wanted to expand this but not review a bike from the mainstream big manufacturers as every website or magazine did this. instead i looked for more interesting brands who, even though the gravel scene was just beginning to gain momentum, were doing something different and putting their own design ideas into a bike rather than just rehashing a road frame with more clearance but sticking with traditional road bike geometry.Fustle Causeway G2do both regularlyFustle Bikes stood out as they were a fledgling bike company based in Northern Ireland and were designing their frames from scratch and using the experience of riding on the very same sort of terrain as we do in the UK rather than Californina or Wisconsin. That bike was the original Fustle Causeway G1 and I got to test it in the spring of 2020, you can read the original review here its worth reading the review to get a backround on this new version but if you dont have the time the spoiler is this.I liked the bike so much i bought a frameset myself and its been my main bike for the last five years.new Fustle Causeway G2 V G1So to say i was intrigued by this latest iteration of the Causeway frameset would be a great understatement. Fustle in the meatime had brought out another frame, the Lakelander, which leans slightly more towards racing but has had a great reception. it was also Fustles first forary into carbon fibre and I was hoping for a version of the Causeway I love but in a lighter plastic package.Alistair, the owner and designer at Fustle bikes sent me a bike that he had ridden at a local gravel sportive in Ireland. It was built with a basic 11 speed groupset and finishing kit and He was apologetic that it wasnt the 12 speed Shimano GRX kit that all the production bikes get, this was down to the bike having launched a month or so before and all the available 12 sp stuff was going on bikes being sent out to customers. It was ideal for me though as my original bike has the very same groupset so comparing the two frames and how they ride would be much easier.Fustle Causeway G2 T47 bottom braketFustle Causeway G2 UDH readySide by side the two frames look very different. Alistair has taken feedback from customers and his own experience and added features to the new frame. the first is the front triangle. the G2 has much more space inside the frame for bottles or bags than the previous frame. its true that two large bottles would reduce the carrying capacity and size of any frame bag you decided to fit on the G1. the new frame manages to add more room without losing much of the standover. the top tube still slopes from headset to seatpost giving ample crotch clearance.Fustle Causeway G2 mountsintegrated but cleanTalking of mounts and bike packing, the G2 has bolt mounts on the top tube, two sets inside the front triangle (one set that has three bolts so you can alter the position of a bottle cage up and down) mounts underneath the down tube, with rack and mudguard mounts on the rear end. The fork also gets three mounts per leg/blade too.The next big difference on the new frame is tyre clearance. Officially the G2 will take a 50mm tyre with loads of mud room between that tyre and the frame. unofficially, and Ive tried it, a 2.1 (53mm) tyre will also fit. So the new trend of big tyres on gravel bikes is covered.clearancefordaysThe frame features a T47 bottom bracket. You dont need to know what that is just know that it is a threaded system and 100% less hassle to maintain and replace than a press-fit bottom bracket would be and thanks should go to Fustle for using this. they also use a Rideworks T47 BB which is a UK company making parts in the UK so applause for that too.The seatpost clamp and adjustment is accessed from under the rear of the top tube and can be a bit fiddly to adjust as its hard to see but this is a minor thing because (especially if using a dropper post) youll set the height and not have to adjust it again other than for maintenance.Fustle Causeway G2 hidden seatpost boltCause and effectFIT and sizing The original G1 frame came in only 3 sizes, S/M M/L and L/XL and some riders found this limiting when trying to get a good fit. The new G2 frame is avaliable XS, S,M,L,XL so should make the frame accessable to more riders. the geometry of the new bike has been teaked and the reach is slightly shorter and the head angle a tiny bit slacker. the wheelbase remains the same. Like for like the new frame is around 700g (1.5lb) lighter than the originalThe cable routing is all internal including the dropper post. It looks amazing but does mean all those cables run through the inside of the headset bearings making changing those bearings at best a pain if you have the skills and tools or at worst expensive if you are paying a mechanic to dismantle the bike and rebleed the hydraulic system to change what in effect is a 10 part. Most carbon bikes now have this internal hose/cable routing so its nothing unique to Fustle. All that said though the bearings on my G1 are 5 years old and have suffered all sorts of abuse in all weathers and are still as smooth as the day I got the bike so not too much of a worry as Fustle clearly use quality components.Finally on frame differences is the Fustle branding logo. Its in the normal place youd expect on the side of the down tube. I know this seems a weird thing to point out but on the G1 the logo hides under the top tube, gets covered in mud from the front wheel and you cant see it. just a tiny thing but its always annoyed me!Fustle Causeway G2 logoFustle Causeway G2 painti must also mention the paint on the frame too, the colour is Dunseverick Dingleberry and is a lucious deep colour that has a lovely pearl fleck to it if seen in the sun. The other paint option is Bushfoot Dune which ive not seen in the flesh.HOW DOES IT RIDE So no matter how the frame looks or how many features it has had added it always comes down to how it rides. Quite frankly its got big shoes to fill as the G1 rides superbly and in my case definately flatters my riding style. Carbon bikes are often described as being able to dampen fibrations and give a more comfortable ride. Well yes that can be the case but they can also be as stiff as hell and give the harshest feel. It all comes down to how the sheets of carbon are layered into the mould and where stiffness is added or compliance dialled in. Alistair the designer has vast experience of bike design and has put all that knowledge into the G2 and it showsTarmac, yes the T word, I know some of you spend a lot of time on the black top on your gravel bike so i need to tell you that the G2 bowls along very efficiently on tarmac and yes on our current rough ass roads it does feel smoother than the G1. it also turns into corners well with no flex at the head tube and despite the slacker head angle compared to a road bike it doesnt feel sluggish or slow to turn. It does feel like the bike wants to propel you forward when you stamp on the pedals, the side to side flex of the frame is miniscule and you feel like non of your energy is wasted. It doesnt though batter you, itd be perfect for a cobbled sportive ride. if you are intending to ride it more on the road or with a road club id get the double chainset version to try and match any of your buddies using road groupsets as although the 1 x range of gears is perfectly adequate the quick changes of pace in a group ride are better suited to the double set up. One other thing to note if using as a road or winter bike is that because of the massive tyre clearance youd be able to run a wider tyre and still fit full mudguards.With full mudguards and a double chainset set up this bike would make a stunning long distance mile eater, perfect for Audax in fact.Off road is where the pressure to perform was highest for me, I set the bike up to be as close as possible to my original G1, reach, handlebar and saddle height etc so Id be feeling at home straight away and able to concentrate on how the frame and fork felt in comparison and get over the new bike feel. this took a couple of rides to get right. Then I took the bike on familiar trails where I knew exactly how the old bike felt. All in all I think Ive ridden around 300 miles during the time I had the bike to test.Theres a video below thatll show you the sort of stuff I was riding and if you have time please take a look as it does give an insight on how the bike handled. Riding the new frame felt different to the alloy version as soon as I started the first climb, yes, the lighter weight does make a difference. I swapped wheels and bags between the two and the new bike was just under 4lbs (1.8kg) lighter. The aforementioned feeling of all your effort being used to move the bike on tarmac applies here too. the bike is agile and you can pick a line on techy climbs with confidence. Its easy to lift the front wheel over roots and fallen branches but it still tracks well in ruts and loose gravel. Riding along flat chunky gravel feels different too, this is no suspension bike, you can still feel the terrain under the wheels and youre not isolated from anything but you do get a floaty feeling that combined with the pedalling efficiency makes you want to go faster! Downhill on gravel/fireroad and the typical cross country trails near my house I found myself using the brakes less and just letting the bike flow and do the work. Its lack of weight doesnt mean it bounces off every hump or stone like a pinball like some light weight bikes do. Im no engineer but I guess this the the slightly slacker head angle of the new bike helping here. the G1 is a fun and engaging descender helped by the length of its wheel base keeping things balanced and non twitchy, this is exactly the same on the new G2 and is confidence inspiring. theres a set of steps youll see in the video which on a MTB ill usually drop off the last step of to maintain speed. On a gravel bike Ill be slower and roll down them. After riding them once and going back a few times to film different angles I also dropped off the last step on the G2! Add the dropper post into the equation too and the bike becomes a little ripper down steep techy XC trails. Sit with your hands on the drops and you feel in control and stable. The Fustle Causeway G2, and I hesitate to say this as its a bit of a clich is a great all-rounder. Itll scoot along quite nicely on tarmac, Its forgiving enough to be a long distance bikepacking bike but having said all that where this bike shines for me is off road and thats where it excels. if you are a beginner or coming from a road bike backround to gravel the G2 will flatter you and help you gain confidence, if you are an MTBer at heart youll feel at home as soon as you hit the dirt.So i guess as I own the original Causeway i should say which of the bikes I prefer. I do love the aluminium G1 it handles great and weve had some top adventures together but if i had he money id definately go for the G2, same great handling in a lighter package and all that tyre and front triangle clearance, whats not to like!This Fustle Causeway G2 is like the person your mom warned you about but you ignored her, met up with that person and had the most incredible summer that youll remember forever!heres the video of my few weeks riding the G2, please take a look and please subscribe to my youtube channel, it costs nothing but really helps me grow this website.you can find more information on Fustle Bikes here

I am a self confessed thick bar tape hater, I dont even like wearing gloves unless the temperatures really take a dip. So the concept of a cushioned bar tape designed to provide excellent damping with 2.5mm thickness left me a bit cold.Fitting was relatively easy, the tape doesnt have much stretch but is flexible enough to fit around the shifters without the need for cheat strip use and theres plenty of it to fit my 44cm bars which have a generous flare to contend with too.Ergon BT allroad bar tapeErgon BT allroad bar tapethe tape has the usual sticky strip on the underside but its not too superglue like that you cant unwind it from the bars to make adjustments if you need to when fitting. The tape comes with simple push in bar end plugs but i opted to use my own wedge plugs because they match the frame colour and Im a tart! The tape does come in other colours, white, blue, red and green. Green would have been my prefered colour (see previous sentence).Ergon BT allroad bar tapeErgon BT allroad bar tapeThe Ergon allroad tape has a patterned finish said to aid grip and looks pretty good too. After a month of riding, including in the rain I found that my fears about the thickness of the tape were unfounded. The tape has a pleasing squish and is grippy without being tacky even with bare hands. The 2.5mm thickness does give the feeling that its actually giving a little help with the vibration coming from the bike compared to my usual tape that was much thinner. The Ergon Allroad bartape has survived very hot sun (yay!), dust, mud and quite a bit of sweat. It has coped well with being leaned on various cafe and pub walls, lots and lots of bramble brushing, hedgrow interfaces and being loaded into vehicles. Infact with a quick wash with soapy water it looks almost like its just been mounted to the bike.Ergon pitch this tape for riding on all roads and they have a gravel specific tape that is 1mm thicker but I think if you are like me and dont get on with the very thick bar tapes then this all you need. Its up there with the premium bar tapes when it comes to price (34.99 RRP) but performs well if not better than its competitionErgon BT Allroad Bar tape, a tape for all roads and off roads, its expensive but the comfort and ability to brush off the rigors of off road riding is worth it.you can find more details here ALLROAD BT this is not an affiliate link, although I dont think Extra UK will want it back!

The People behind GRVL.CC are first and foremost riders. I know this because Ive been riding with them. What they also have is years of experience designing sportswear for other companies, some of them very big in the sports world. youve probably worn some of their designs but dont know it. The GRVL guys though wanted to produce products with more sustainability, in factories that are enviromentally friendly but still give the quality that they demand. All that is a tall order right?They sent me out a pair of their GRVL bib shorts to try and Ive been riding short and long distances in them over the last couple of months to see if that list of demands theyve made for themselves translates into something comfortable to wear, because you can have the most ethical clothing in the world but if it doesnt feel good when you ride youre not going to keep wearing it.The first thing youll notice is that these shorts look like they have a baggy short included and they kind of do, but its sewn into the traditional lycra leg and joins at the inner thigh seam. So its not a lycra short inside a baggy one, its permanently fixed too. GRVL say its to give the rider extra protection from the weather, dust and mud. The GRVL logo appears on one leg, this is actually a nightmare for photos because its the non drive side leg (otherwise known as the left) and all shots of the bike should be from the driveside, thats an unwritten bicycle marketing rule right there. I kinda like theyve gone against the rules, lets hope its deliberate!The logo shows up in a couple of other places and is embossed on the shoulder straps and the bottom of the legs and is a nice stylish touch that makes them stand out from other shorts in this price bracket.There are two rear pockets which Id say were perfect for small snacks and gels etc. I did manage to get my phone in there (pixel 6) but had to position it sideways and stretch the pocket as in the vertical postion the pocket only just reached half way up the phone and it didnt feel secure. Not really a fail on the shorts though as a phone isnt what every rider stuffs in the pack pocket.The fit is excellent, I usually take an XL size and these were a good fit, Id have liked to try the next size down for a little more compression on the legs but when riding they felt spot on.When I first posted a picture on my instagram account of these shorts I received a direct message from someone who had tried the shorts and said they wanted to warn me of the minimal padding on the chamois. GRVL say the chamois is for comfort for rough terrain and big adventures You can see from the picture that the padding isnt as thick as some shorts on the market. I didnt find this a problem when riding up to 60+ mile and lots of shorter rides. Not to be too graphic but my backside is well used to riding long distance on my saddle so it is a bit hardened off. A beginner rider might have a different view on this but I will say that too much padding is as bad non at all. The chamois does seem to breathe well though and Ive been glad of this the last few weeks of high tempertures in the UK.These shorts are not cheap, currently (July 2025) they retail at 185, not the most expensive shorts out there by any means but also not the most affordable. However, they are comfortable and the materials feel like quality. After numerous washes and abrasions from riding they still look good so GRVL have achieved that part of their wish list, the ethical side I take their word for as as I mentioned, they arent a faceless corporation, they actually go riding and Id trust that over any fancy marketing campaign .The extra baggy short look im not sure about. After a long time cargo pocket sceptic but now adopter I missed the leg pockets when riding. The GRVL.CC bib short is comfortable over long distance, excells in its price bracket and manages to look different in a sea of similar looking bib shorts. If the integrated baggy short look is your thing then Id definately consider these over a big name brand who just care about the profit margin.

Cyclists get a lot of flak from the non cycling fraternity for wearing the uniform of lycra shorts, tight fitting hi-viz yellow jersey (or dayglo/aero, add your own social media insult, usually from a post reporting a collision between a motor vehicle and a cyclist, their clothes somehow proving it was the riders fault!) and a cap and its a shame that even though lots of us dont wear that outfit for riding we get grouped into the same tired stereotype.However, one item on that list Id say while not essential to riding, can enhance the experience much more than the latest carbon wheelset or electronic shifting gizmo. That item is the humble cycling cap or if you want to be really pretentious, a casquette.Caps are great for wearing under a helmet when its cold, hot, when its wet or when its sunny. they also work for all these reasons without being under a helmet. At the cafe stop, the pub, the campsite etc etc. i take one on every ride in case I need it for any of the above reasons and not just because Im folically challenged. I also did the same when i had enough hair to flick out of my eyes..did i say theyll keep hair and sweat out of your eyes too?Uncle Pete THIS IS UNCLE PETE on instagram sent me a message asking if Id like to review one of his handmade cycling caps. Being a big fan of the humble cap I of course agreed. Pete asked me to measure my head where the rim of a cap would normally sit, easily done with a tape measure and a mirror or a piece of string and a rule. Even easier if you have someone to measure it for you. He asked me what colour/pattern material I wanted and to look at his Etsy site for ideas. Now, I am lazy and colour blind so I said Id leave it to him to decide.A few days later a parcel arrived for me and the cap in the pictures was the result. This navy blue cap is very understated, i was expecting something much more jazzy but I have to say it looks classy and not out of place in the non cycling side of my life, then i checked the lining material which was covered in a skull and crossbones material! A hidden treat.The cap is super soft with a shallow stiff brim, I much prefer the smaller brim, it fits with helmets much better and looks so more stylish than the usual long brim seen on most caps which i always find hinders vision when on the bike unless you push your helmet too far backwards. The cap doesnt have an elasticated rim because it doesnt need one, its made to measure. This cap wins massively over off the peg caps because of this. Off the peg caps in my experience are either too big or too tight if you dont possess an average size head and not many of us do.The cap has served me well the last few weeks and is so comfortable and its been tested in some of the best weather the UK has had in a while. Its kept my head from being sunburnt and you can see from the pictures its been sweated in a few times. Its made of cotton with a cotton liner and so is quite breathable but obviously in really hot weather the cotton does soak up any moisture. It does however wash really well.I really wish Id taken the time to choose a brighter colour as this cap has quickly become my favourite and it deserves to shout look at me! the quality and finish is top notch and many many times better than the run of the mill caps available. Yes, its currently 30 for a cap, but thats only 5-10 more than the will it/wont it fit cap with a big brand name on it that probably cost pennies to make in china.Ive even experimented with wearing it with the lining on the outside!The quality of construction, the comfort, materials used and the fact its specifically made for your head by hand is worth every penny, just choose your colour and pattern wisely and treat yourself.Petes Etsy shop can be found here Uncle Petes Handmade

I recently got invited to visit the Brooks England factory in Smethwick, Birmingham as they were having an open weekend and conducting tours of the factory. Of course I accepted, especially as the premises is only a 14 mile pedal from my house using the extensive local canal system.It wasnt until I looked into the intinery and the history of the company that I realised what an opportunity this was. Brooks havent opened their factory to the public for over 150 years so this literally could be a once in a life time visit!Brooks have a long long history in cycling, if you are seriously into your cycling then you have probably heard of Brooks and their leather saddles. If you are not into cycling at all and are asked to describe or draw a bicycle saddle i guarrantee you will picture the traditional Brooks B17 saddle that has been in continous production for over 100 years.Brooks B17It said that Brooks founder John Boultbee Brooks, a horse saddle manufacturer since 1866 when the company was founded was unhappy at how the wooden saddle on his bike felt (we can all sympathise Im sure) and decided he was going to make a better one out of leather and the first patent was filed in 1882. The company has been making saddles since then, has been bought, sold, rescued and is now owned by Selle Royal who make all the non leather saddles in Italy but the Smethick factory continues to hand make saddles to this day.The Day started with coffee and pastries in the factory loading bay and a tour of the bike makers and designers set up in the courtyard who were all known for their use of Brooks saddles on their bikes. its the best coffee Ive had in a loading bay ever! The factory is just how youd expect one to look dating back that far, it could have been a movie set but all the old boxes and stock on the shelves were there for a reason, even the toilet block should be a listed building it was so authentic!We then began the tour, guided by a guy who had been at the factory since he was 16 and he explained later hes done pretty much every job in the factory from tea boy to machine press operator, even a stint in HR! The tour progressed from the very loud presses which were very loud to the cutting out of the leather which is soaked in water to soften it before its put into a press/shaper. Some of the machines were over 100 years old and i asked one of the guys, what happens when one of these machines that hasnt been in production for so long breaks? He said, we just make a new part from scratch for it and if we cant do it Birminghams renowned jewelry quarter is a couple of miles away and there are small factories there that can make anything you want.we saw springs and saddle frames being bent into shape using, quite frankly lethal looking machines which undoubtedly back in the day didnt have all the safety guards they do today attached to them.we went from raw materials through to the finishing touch of riveting the Brooks logo, also stamped in house, to the saddles. At every stage there was a human operating the machinery, it was mass production but on a much smaller and personal scale than Id expected before visiting.As we walked around I took the time to chat to the staff working there and I asked one candidly if they were amused that all these people were interested to see and photograph all the small parts of what must be a mundane everyday job to them and he said, no, he was proud that there was interest and he loved being there and what they do, of the people i chatted to the shortest time working there was 16 years, so they must like it!It was an incredible day, i can honestly say one of the best things Ive done as part of running UKGRAVELCO, I could have stayed there watching the process all day and not been bored. totally not how i thought it would be. The day was so well organised, fascinating and the people so friendly, open and warm. No robots, no CNC machines just skilled craft persons shaping metal and leather into some of the best cycling products on the market. What made it great for me was being able to chat to the people on the factory floor and despite it being their day job the enthusiasm and pride in the company came through.You can get a bit blas when you read the phrase hand made but now I know the true meaning and value of that label. With Brooks England though I think that also includes pride and maybe a little love in every product too. Massive thanks to @brooksengland and @extra_uk for inviting me. you can see all the products that Brooks manufacture here Brooks england and if it doesnt take another 150 years for them to open the factory to the public again make sure you are on that tour!all the black and white professional pictures were taken by Dan Phillips Photography the less professional colour ones by me!

British brand Altura have long been known for good value practical clothing and kit. This season they have expanded their all roads collection and these items seem perfect for commuting, gravel biking and riding in general so to see if whats written on paper is true I tried a few pieces out to see if they lived up to their billing.altura all road cargo shortsaltura all road cargo shortsAll roads Cargo Shorts. First up then is an essential, in my opinion, part of any cyclists wardrobe if riding medium to long distance and that is a pair of padded shorts. I was a long time sceptic of bib shorts with pockets on the legs but since trying them Ive become a complete convert and now wouldnt consider a pair of bib shorts without some sort of storage option.The Altura Cargo shorts actually have 5 pockets. two on one leg, one on the other, two rear pockets in a similar spot to where jersey pockets would be and also a loop at the rear which I found perfect to store an Altura rain pullover jacket.The two pockets on one leg i found a perfect size to hold a phone and some gels and keep them separate from each other and the other side perfect for a bag of walkers! The two rear jersey pockets are sized just like jersey pockets so anything youd be able to stuff in a top youll be able to fit here too. Bear in mind though that whatever you stow here will be nearer the heat of your body so chocolate bars are probably out but gels should be easier to swallow when warmer! Obviously if you put something heavy or unwieldy in the pockets they will drag the short legs down but trial and error is your friend here.altura all road cargo shortsaltura all road cargo short padThe pad in the shorts is comfortable for short and medium rides without any chamois cream for me, anything over 50 miles Ill be slathering on the cream to stop any hot spots, but this is the same for any padded short regardless of cost.The sizing is realistic, I usually take an XL to feel comfortable at over 6ft tall and XL in these shorts was spot on. numerous washes havent made the shorts baggy or tight so I can say with confidence they are worth a place in your wardrobe and may end up as your go to shorts.All Roads Shorts At the other end of the spectrum are the Altura All Roads baggy shorts. Ive put those quotation marks in as although the shorts are baggy compared to bib shorts they are quite fitted and so look normal, more quotes but what I mean is you could wear these as everyday shorts and no one would bat an eyelid. Ride to work and wear them all day or in the pub. Personally id add a padded short too if going any distance as these shorts have no padding. What they do have tough is a stretch fabric so pedalling is easy in them with no pulling.altura all road shortsaltura all road shorts adjusterThe shorts have waist adjusters and three pockets. The rear is zipped for security and the two side pockets are very useable in that you can ride with a phone in the pocket without it interfering with pedalling action. The material is lovely and soft to the touch but maybe a little thick to wear on the hottest of days. Sizing again is realistic and large for me with a 34 waist was spot on.altura all road shortsaltura all road shorts and shirtAll Roads Cycling Shirt The ubiquitous check shirt, sometimes known as a flannel. Well Alturas verion is not flannel at all. Its a technical fabric more akin to a cycling jersey and is made of a polyester ripstop material, very handy when riding through the UKs overgrown bridleway network. It has a lovely amount of stretch to the fabric has two chest pockets and snap button (or press-stud if youre old enough) which makes venting on climbs very easy. Because its not flannel it folds up compactly so is great to stow away on your bike for pub stops or bike packing when youve made camp and are sitting around the fireok, maybe eating rehydrated cardboard dinners and hiding from midges but you know what I mean. The shirt also has some reflective detailing if the check pateern isnt enough to get you noticed.altura all road cycling shirtaltura all road cycling shirt frontA shirt like this should be in every riders kit as its so versatile and comfy to wear.Altura Esker Cave Trail Hoody Hoodies for bike riding? doesnt the hood just fill with air and act as a brake? sometimes yea in a high wind or speed situation but it really is just occasional and the benefits outweigh that drawback massively. The Altura Cave hoody (not sure what the Cave bit is about if im honest) is a soft feel jacket with high loft fleece areas on the chest and outer upper arms, just where windchill will make its presence felt. because of this its really an early or late in the day or an Autumn-winter-spring garment. The two zippered front pockets are big enough to stash a phone and the hoody is treated with a water repellent coating to shrug off spray and a light shower. And the hood? its actually elasticated so itll fit over a helmet and not fly off.altura Esker hoodyinside altura Esker hoodyThis hoody has been so comfortable and because the test period co-incided with the hottest spring for years has seen more use off the bike than on. That just shows its versatility though.altura Esker hoody and all road shortsaltura Esker hoody and all road shortsAltura Esker Waterproof Packable jacket Riding in the UK you will need a waterproof jacket at some point unfortunately. In my mind there are two types of waterproof cycling jacket. One that you wear when its already raining when you leave the house or one that you take with you, tucked away somewhere on you or the bike incase it starts raining when you are already mid ride. This Altura jacket is for the latter and it works pefectly in this respect as it is very packable and will fold away into its own pocket. altura all roads waterproof jacketaltura all roads waterproof jacketIt is full waterproof with taped seams and has vents front and rear to aid breathability and an integrated hood. the hood has a drawstring adjuster to tailor the fit and prevent it blowing about. the jacket is cut for cycling and has sleeves that are longer to account for the cycling position. The cuffs are also partially elastic to stop draughts blowing up the sleeves. Again the fit is real world.altura all roads waterproof jacketaltura all roads waterproof jacket and waterproof trousersAs with any waterproof jacket, even the most expensive, you will get warm riding in this jacket in warm humid conditions, thats unavoidable but this jacket is no worse in that respect than jackets costing three times as much.An essential waterproof jacket that takes up no room at all so you can take it with you for when you need it.and you will!Altura All Roads Packable Waterproof Trousers Do you really need waterproof trousers? Ive always thought this as all the waterproof leg wear Ive tried in the past has been franly, horrible. Rustlely, clammy and hot is my experience with waterproof trousers so I put these on in trepidation, prepared to absolutely hate them but, what a revelation, these Altura waterproof trousers were truly excellent. Altura All Roads Packable Waterproof TrousersAltura All Roads Packable Waterproof Trousers side zipI picked a day when it had been raining for a couple of days and was still raining to give them a proper test. First thing to note is that the zip fly is off set to one side so no bunching up when you bend over and theres a waist adjuster to get the fit just right. theres also a side pocket that these trousers actually roll up into and are of small enough bulk to stash away on the bike making them perfect for bike packing or commuting.Altura All Roads Packable Waterproof TrousersAltura All Roads Packable Waterproof TrousersThe main thing I loved about these trousers was the fit. most cycling trousers tend to not have the correct articulation at the knee and the pedalling action pulls the trousers down when the knee grips the fabric. No such thing happened here, even standing up i didnt have to adjust the waist height everytime. The material has a waterproof coating which made water bead off them and despite riding for a couple of hours in the rain in them I didnt feel like i was over heating.Fit again is good but Id like to improve a couple of things, first the length. Id like the legs to be longer, when riding there was a gap between trouser leg hem and shoe. easily rectified with a waterproof sock btu if you were using these as an emergency rain stopper them water will run off them into your shoes. the other thing is also hem related. the hem is elasticated and this ensures minimal trouser-chain interfaces but they fit so well here its definately a shoe off situation to get them on in that emergency deluge situation.Those two things are far outweighed by how good the trousers perform and also how quiet they are when pedalling. no annoying rustle of the fabric. Invest in some waterproof socks, buy a pair of these altura all roads waterproof trousers and go and play in the rain!Altura Esker Eco Trail Trouser winter riding sucks right? Its cold, dark and motivation is at an all time low. bib tights are just not cutting it in the single digit temps. Thats my feeling anyway so I bought the old version of these trousers and wore them with bibs and knee warmers underneath and they kept me toasty and able to extend rides because of the warm and how comfortqble they were.Altura Esker Eco Trail TrousersAltura Esker Eco Trail Trousers adjusterI was keen to try this new version to see if they were still as good and what differences there might be. The ECO part of the name is the result of using recycled materials in the fabric. theres a water repellent coating that works well and the fit is great. the waist is a wrap around design with the adjuster over to one side so it doesnt stick in your belly when in the cycling position. The material has a great stretch to it and it doesnt hamper pedalling at all. Altura say theres enough room at the knee for low profile knee pads, not something Ive ever used but this room means the knees are free to move and dont pull the material down. the close fitting hem length means theres no flapping that might put the material into the chain.Altura Esker Eco Trail Trousers hemAltura Esker Eco Trail Trouser raised rearThe fit is just as good as the original pair i bought and they pedal equally as well. If you hate riding through nettles and brambles in summer then these trousers are your go to. Despite me wearing mine in winter i have tried them in more clement conditions just to see how they faired and you wont feel like a grain of rice in a boil in the bag sachet. They also pack up fairly small too so definately an option for bike packing.The Altura Esker trail trousers are still my favourite full length riding trews!This is just the tip of Alturas clothing iceberg, they do road specific , commuting and MTB stuff too but these pieces above seem to cross all genres and so fit gravel riding perfectly.The Altura All roads and Esker clothing range is good value, has realistic, real human sizing and is carefully designed by people who know about UK riding. Definately check them out when looking for kit to go riding in.heres a link to alturas website, its not an afiliate link so I dont get any money for this review, I do however get to keep the kit that they sent to me, afterall, no-one would want those bib shorts now would they?hmm, maybe of of those specialist websites!