Topeak have a huge range of bags for bicycles, from rack bags to bar bags and everything in between. In fact the old version of this very bag was my very first frame bag on a gravel bike back in 2018ish when I was riding a 1st gen Trek checkpoint, which was the demo gravel bike of the bike shop I was working in at the time. That was a great bag and lasted quite a while until me repeatedly overstuffing it finally broke the zip. lets see if this latest model is as versatile as its predecessor.The midloader comes in 3 sizes, the test size is a large at 52.5 x 15 x 6 cm and weighs 216g on my un-varified kitchen scales. It comes in one colour-black, with a black interior. It is made of a TPU polyester fabric that Topeak claim is good for an all-weather adventure experience the zips are also weatherproof. There are two compartments each with a full length zip. these zips are single ended, meaning if an item you want is at the end of the bag away from the zip start you have to fully open the entire bag to get to it. The midloader is attached to the frame by a series of velcro straps at various points along the top of the bag, the rear and underneath to fit around the bikes downtube.Both the compartments are plain inside, there are no mesh pockets or zipped areas withing to keep small items, such as keys from being lost with everything else inside the bag. That being said though, the bag has a very generous 4.5L capacity. The midloader is stiffened along the top and bottom and this helps the bag keep its shape when carrying heavier items (up to 4kg). The outside of the bag has an understated graphic design that is reflective which is handy as the sides of the bike are the least visible at night as no one runs side marker lights.The bag is a wedge design which in theory means any loose or small items should make their way to the front of the bag. As you can see above my Fustle Causeway gravel bike has quite a radically sloping top tube and I can just fit a small bottle in the forward cage without it being too much of a chore to get it in and out. You need to take this into consideration when choosing the size of bag you can fitSix months on from fitting the midloader bag it has held up to everyday use very well. its taken a few knocks but cleans up with simple soap and water. It has withstood me deliberately trying to over fill it and the zip remains intact and working like new. You can fit a LOT of stuff inside the larger compartment and the smaller side will easily take a modern smart phone. I generally kept my phone, multitool, house key, tubeless repair tool and money in that side so they were easier to get to and not lost in the bigger side. The big side took a waterproof, my gopro with minitripod, microphone, spare tube and various items of pastry and sandwiches. The bag stayed attached and didnt swing around over rough ground or inept cornering even with heavy items in it (itll carry 4 cans of beer nicely). Id recommend you protect your bike paintwork though as even as steady as it is there is some movement of the straps that might grind any dirt or grit that collects under them into your paint job.The things i think could be inproved are the zips. id like a double ended one so when riding along i could access stuff without having the entire bag open, potentially with items bouncing out. Id like the interior to not be black so you can see things inside easily and id like a few more slots to give more mounting point options.What I love about the Midloader bag is the capacity, you can carry a lot of stuff inside. its super hard wearing but remains lightweight. The big zip handles are great for cold or gloved hands to manipulate. These days a frame bag of this size can easily cost 100+ but I like the fact you can buy the Topeak Midloader for less than 65 if you shop around.When looking at the prices of the Midloader on the internet I noticed you can still buy the original version that I had back in the day for around 20 less. personally Id pay the difference and go for the latest version.you can find more about the Midloader range on the topeak website here

I imagine the guys at Vittoria UK who very kindly sent me these tyres to review are wondering when the heck the review is going to be published! The thing is though I really wanted to try these Vittoria T60 in the conditions that Vittoria claim they excel in, namely mixed conditions. As anyone who lives in the UK will know we have had basically no rain from the end of April to just a few weeks ago in September. Its been wall to wall drought, hoepipe bans, dry resevoirs and people who really shouldnt be, wearing next to no clothing! So thats my excuse, I was waiting for the conditions to become anything but loose and dusty to really try out these tyres. Finally we are back to relative normality and there is actually mud on the trails so heres the review.Lets talk about the colour first. if you hate tan wall tyres you are not going to enjoy these, the reason they are this colour and have the Pro designation is that these tyres are built with 92% renewable and recycled materials! Vittoria even warn on their website that the colour of any two tyres might not match as the recycled materials making up the tyre may differ. How cool is that! For those who like a black tyre or just a black tread and tan sidewall dont fret, the T60 is there for you but you will be missing out on, and Im going to quote hereSo, a lot to take on board there, theres the feel good factor of using a product that uses recycled materials and that is great, Im all for it but are they actually any good as a tyre? Ill admit i was sceptical. I went through the 1980-90s MTB phase of biscuit coloured tyres that looked awesome (look it was 40 years ago!) but fell into one of two camps when it came to performance. they, depending on the manufacturor were either super soft and grippy compound that were fantastic off road but literally sucked on tarmac and almost wore out on one ride or were such a hard compound they lasted forever but were as grippy as a week old dead mackeral on a bar of wet imperial leather soap. So you can see I didnt have a lot of confidence and was probably biased against them from the start. As i fitted them (easy to tubeless up and pop on the bead as it happens) I was telling myself to keep an open mind.Vittoria Pro T60 Gravel tyrehanging with the Vittoria Pro T60 Gravel tyreSpoiler alert, 3 months on the nightmare of biscuit coloured tyres has faded into the backround with leg warmers, ra-ra skirts and the ill-advised curly perm back mullet I thought was fab. These tyres are great!Vittoria say that these T60 pro tyres are 7% faster, 9% grippier, and 34% more puncture resistant than their competitors. Sounds all a bit to racy for me. im sure you like me dont really care how they handle a typical gravel race course, we are more interested in how they deal with off camber singletrack, roots, bricks someone has thrown down so they can stepping stone over a large puddle and whether they drag on tarmac so much that you get to the cafe after all the best cake has been taken by your mates.Vittoria Pro T60 Gravel tyre gurningVittoria Pro T60 Gravel tyre tread carefully!So lets go over that, on tarmac, yes they do offer more drag than a semi or slick tyre, you wont want to be running these if you join your local road bike club run. However they are not that bad at all, theres a tiny rumble on the blacktop as they zip along but its nothing to stress about loss of watts over. Flick off that tarmac onto a section of off road, be it hardpack, loose stones (actual gravel then), grass or mud and they really come into their own.The Vittoria Pro T60s are grippy when climbing and confidence inspiring when leaning the bike over in turns. Ive got the 45mm versions and they feel comfortable on washboard terrain. im running them around 30psi front 35psi rear to make the most of the grip. The side knobs dig in when you lean the bike and bite then turning adding to the confident feel. Vittoria Pro T60 have a recycled nylon anti-puncture belt and sidewall protection but Ive never felt that they lack suppleness. Ive not had one puncture throughout the test period and that includes not topping up the sealant after the 30+ degree heat weve had (i finally dipped the valve and the tool came out dryoops) I did have to top up the air a couple of times though, but thats probably because of the lack of sealant*coughs*Vittoria Pro T60 Gravel tyre no coffee seen Vittoria Pro T60 Gravel tyre brown is the real colour of gravelFinally in the last few weeks Ive been able to ride in wet conditions and all the above can be cut an paste here too. The tread will fill with really sticky mud but short sections of slightly drier ground in between and they do clear quickly. How they will behave in really deep muck remains to be seen but only a few of us are as daft as me and ride though that stuff rather than avoid it.Since gravel biking became a thing (dont message me with your proof of inventing it in the 1800s) tyres have been pretty specialised for certain tyres of riding. There are very few all-rounders that will happily do a bit of everything and do it to the point where you can leave them on all year round. The Vittoria Pro T60 has joined that exclusive club, non of the others though come with the eco-friendly credits that the Pro T60 does.you can find more info on the tyres and the recycled nature of them here*I think the fact that Vittoria call these a race tyre will put off more riders than itll attract, which is a shame as they are a great tyre, so ignore that name if it does.

It has been said to me before that I have a bike bag problem (my tyre problem is worse but lets not go there) and thats because Ive been reviewing bike bags since around 2018 when I got my first gravel bike. Im not claming to be an expert, far from it but I know what works and I know what I like.The current market is flooded with bar bags, I bought my first back in 2018 which I ordered from Cordell.cc in Spain (pre-brexit so it was easy and not stupidly expensive!) and that bag is still going strong even to this day. That bag set the bar (pun intended) and everyone Ive tested since has to come close or surpass it to pass muster.Topeak describe their Tubular bar bag as a duffle which just reminds me of coats worn in the 1980s with a toggle fastening. Sadly no such fastening exsists on this bag but it does come with a full length zip, two end pockets and a bungee cord for extra storage options on the front. Topeak Tubular bar bag endless potential Topeak Tubular bar bagThe bag attaches to the bike via two velcro straps that will fit the chunkiest diameter bars and can easily be trimmed to remove excess on a smaller one. There is a elasticated cord to fit around the bikes head tube to stop the bag flapping around. The bag material is robust, made from 600d polyester, is water repellent and stain resistant. The bag will take up to 3kg of weight is 23 x 14 cm and weighs 259g on my kitchen scales. The version I have is black, you can also get green but on both versions the interior is black. The bag has a stiffener meaning there is no saggy bag syndrome and it keeps its shape if you put a small heavy item in it. The interior is the same polyester as the outer as far as i can tell. Topeak Tubular bar bag velcro strap Topeak Tubular bar bag bar fittingThe bag fits to any bike very easily and is secure once fitted. It takes seconds to remove if you wanted to take it into a cafe/B&B etc or to another bike. The bags capacity is 3.8L so you can stuff quite a few items in it. it will easly take a waterproof jacket, spare tube, e-inflator and sandwiches/cake. The side pockets are generous and ideal for wrappers or energy bars for on the fly snacking. Topeak Tubular bar bag side pocket Topeak Tubular bar bag bungee cordIve had this Topeak Tubular bar bag on various bikes, both gravel and MTB since march 2026 and so despite the summer sun its also seen some rain. The bag is water repellent but id pack any precious items in plastic bags if it looks like there will be a deluge. The size is great, you can get a lot of things inside the bag if you pack carefully but there isnt a lot of stretch in the material, especially the zip. This keeps the bag looking good but does cause a bit of a fight if you want to get to an item at the bottom of the bag under lots of other stuff, especially if you are riding along at the time. The bungee cord on the front does a great job of holding onto the just one more thing items or things you are taking on and off frequently like a gilet or light rain jacket. On a Peak district tour i carried 10 rashers of bacon for around 12 miles secured by the bungee that we picked up in a local butchers. The side pockets are quite deep but could do with a bit more elastication on the opening for added security so id be more likely to trust items such as a multitool or tubeless repair kit without fear of those item bouncing out on rough terrain. The biggest drawback though is the black interior. Even on n a bright sunny day or let alone a gloomy overcast one or at night its difficult to peer in and see whats inside the bag. The affore mentioned tubeless repair kit got lost in there and i spent ages looking for it only to discover it in the black hole under a cap a few rides later. Not a deal breaker but something to note. A nice bright colour in there would make this bag stand out, literally. Topeak Tubular bar bag interior Topeak Tubular bar bag webbingAfter 5 months use the Topeak Tubular bar bag looks as good as the day it arrived, it has withstood rain, mud, dust, at least two crashes and 4 different bikes and remains unscathed. Topeak market this as a commuter/local gravel ride bag and I think they have that right, with a couple of tweaks it would be up there with my Spanish original. That being said the Topeak doesnt look like its been to hell and back like that one does, so if you want something to look good, work well and be good value for money the the Topeak Tubular bar bag is definately one to consider.more information on the Topeak Tubular bar bag can be found here

I reviewed the original Fizik Ergolace GTX shoe back in March 2024, two and a half years on they are still my go to shoe when the weather turns inclement. Perfect for all but deep winter riding, you can read the original review here Ergolace 1If you dont want to read all that (the pictures are pretty) then this is how I summed up the original shoe.. if you want a shoe that will do short rides, epic adventures across the globe, hike a bike up hellvellyn and still not look out of place in the pub (or at work.ask me how I know) then buy the Fizik Terra ergolace shoes. they are not cheap and I dont say this lightly, but they are worth every penny.fizik ergolace 2fizik ergolace 2 chunkyAs you can see I liked the shoe so it was with some excitement and not a little trepidation I got to try the successor, the version 2, its got to be better right? I hope so, but you know when your phone or your computer gets a software update and everything is a little different and not in the place you left it and it takes you ages to get your head around it? Thats what I hoped wouldnt be the case as I like the original shoe so much.fizik ergolace 2, yes that front wheel is bigger!The differences between the two versions are many. Firstly the traditional lace system has gone, its replaced by a speed lace. this is an improvement as fumbling with laces with cold hands was a pain. The shoe is wider as standard as apparently this was a criticism of the original. I do not have wide feet so this was never an issue for me. The shoe nowhas less bulk and now has no tongue like a normal shoe. Its more like a sock that you slip on and has an elasticated cuff. Fizik call it an airprene bootie change from the original design to cut down on overlapping seams and relieve pressure on the forefoot. The outer is a ripstop fabric that even though this is not a practical colour for the UK cleans up very well and dries quickly. The tread on the sole has been completely redesigned in vibram megagrip is much more aggressive and chunky. The similarities are that the shoe retains the Gore-Tex membrane, polyurethane protection panels and a nylon shank for pedalling efficiency but retaining the important flexability for walkingfizik ergolace 2 speedlacefizik ergolace 2 soleThings I like about the new shoe I like the extra roominess, even though I dont have wide feet I have found that the extra room allows your foot to spread out and when wearing a thicker or waterproof sock that extra space is very welcome. I like that Fizik have retained the power transfer stiffness and the walking ability. I helped out for the day in my local bike shop and obviously cycled there but was able to leave the ergolace shoes on all day without discomfort (the cleat is recessed enough so you dont sound like an audition for the Tap dance week of Strictly) the sole seems a little thicker than the old shoe so I had to raise my saddle a little to compensate. I like that despite the complete change to the upper the water resistance and breathability is as good as ever. I like the speed lace too although there isnt as much adjustment as there was with tradtional laces.fizik ergolace 2fizik ergolace 2 cleat pocketThings That are taking me time to adjust to The new bootee system can be a pain as the aperture for your foot reaches a certain width and then stops when the elastic reaches its limit, unlike the old tongue and two halves on the old shoe. You definately need a shoe horn to get your feet in them if you are wearing thicker socks. Once on and youve rucked your socks into position the new shoe is actually more comfortable than the old one, I presume because of the extra width. Im hoping that with time the upper will stretch a little and become less of a fight to put on initially.fizik ergolace 2 not just water but dust resistant too!So is the Fizik Ergolace GTX 2 an improvement over the original? Just about yes. Sometimes change isnt good, this is mostly because you get used to how things feel and work. this time all the good ingredients of the original are there, the pedalling efficiency, the walkability, the comfort, the water resistance and breathability. The addition of the speedlace is welcome as is the updated sole which is much grippier than the original. The jury is still out on the foot wrapping bootie and this jurer hopes that will bed in and the shoe will be perfect. Cross your fingers!you can find more details on the new Fizik Ergolace GTX 2 here

Multitools are not something a lot of us worry or care about until you need one so its easy to throw any old thing in your pocket/bag/tool case and completely forget about it. When you do need it, say when you are about to start the best downhill of the day and you quickly investigate the rubbing brake rotor which has annoyed you all ride only to find three bolts are loose on the front wheel. So you reach for your multlitool in the depths of your bag and realise it doesnt have the T25 bit that you need to save your ride! Suddenly you care about multitools.Topeak Mini PT30 multitoolTopeak Mini PT30 multitoolThese days its easy to overlook these little ride saving tools because bikes are so much more reliable than they were back in the 1980s, parts tend to stay together and are actually designed for the job but as a serial saddle height, bar height etc adjuster I always carry a mutlitool. So why not take one that covers all the bases and that way when youve forgotten about it and a situation arises where you can save your or another riders ride you can blow the pocket/bag fluff off it and come to the rescue?Topeaks Mini PT30 tool is one such item and the one I have is in a very fetching gold colour. It has 30 functions, hence the name and manages to pack them all into a tiny space measuring 7.4 x 4 x 1.9 cm and weighing 168g on my kitchen scale. It also comes in a neat little pouch which protects it, yay! but hides the gold sparkle, boo!Topeak Mini PT30 multitoolTopeak Mini PT30 multitoolThe Mini PT30 body is aluminium and has the folowing tools, deep breath 2L / 2.5 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 mm hex wrenches, 10 mm hex socketT10 / T15 / T25 Torx wrenches14G / 15G / Mavic M7 /4.5mm (Shimano wheel) spoke wrenchesCrMo steel chain tool, chain hook, CrMo master link tool#2 Phillips / flat head screwdriversTire reamer, plug insertion toolSerrated knife/saw, disc spacerTopeak Mini PT30 multitoolTopeak Mini PT30 multitoolAll these are very well made and over the 4 months Ive been using them they havent rounded off, become loose or tarnished. Ive even been using the chain hook in the shed/workshop for messing with chains. The chain tool can be a little fiddly as its quite small and leverage can be an issue on a stubborn link but no more so than any other mini tool Ive tried. However how is differs from those other tools is that it can be unscrewed independantly from the body of the tool and then turned by the 4mm hex, another neat touch is the master link tool which makes rejoining chains easier. As with a lot of multitools the 10mm hex fits over the 8mm to save space and is secured with a spring loaded ball bearing. Unfortunately I seem to have lost the 10mm part over the test period somehow. Thankfully Ive not had to use the tyre reamer for reaming tyres but I have used the serated knife to cut up an apple and some cheese! The fabric case also stops the tool rattling against anything else you have stored away.The Topeak Mini PT30 feels like a quality well made tool and having had it on various bikes and trips and even used it to fit a very expensive machine at work I can definately recommend it as an every ride carry back up. Oh, and its definately got a T25 for those rotor bolts!you can find more details on the Topeak website here MiniPT30

I always find reviews for gravel bike tyres quite contentious as obviously the reviewer doesnt ride the same local trails as I do. One riders gravel can vary wildly from anothers. Some stick to fire roads, others live in a gravel nirvana like Aberfoyle whereas my local riding is a mix of mud, roots, fire roads, singletrack, bridleways all of which can be sunbaked like concrete or resemble a swamp with patches of cookie dough, somtimes in the space of a few miles on the same day. Once in a while I actually get to ride on actual gravel!So you can see any tyre that comes to me for a review is going to be properly put to the test, even in conditions they are not really designed for, such is the uniqueness of the UK gravel scene.Luckily, and I say lucky for you the reader and not me the rider, we have had both biblical rain adding to the already saturated ground and 35 degree temperatures during the weeks Ive been testing these two tyres from Vittoria. Vittoria Terreno T70Vittoria Terreno T50I really like how Vittoria catergorise their tyres, the higher the number, the more knobs/aggressive the tyre is so lets start low and work up. Both tyres were set up tubeless with Vittorias own sealant on my usual wheels. No punctures occured throughout the test and this might be down to Vittorias use of a anti-puncture belt in the construction of both models tested. Both tyres also benefit from Graphine empregnated rubber for suppleness and longevity, endurance casing and reinforced sidewalls.The Vittoria Terreno T50 is what used to be called a semi slick tyre, it has low height knobs in the centre that graduate to much higher knobs on the shoulder of the tyre. Vittoria says the tyre has great efficiency between pavement and off road and I tend to agree. The centre section gives a consistant roll along ability with a near silent performance. The version I tested was the largest avaliable at 50mm. This big size didnt add any noticable drag on tarmac or hard packed trail and I was very glad of the extra volume on rough ground. When the trails became damp I was able to adjust the air pressure for a little more grip to counteract any slide that occured. The side knobs look quite aggressive but when cornering the transition from almost slick to knobbles was smooth and predictable. Any wobble on this type of tyre is usually much more pronounced when cornering hard on tarmac, more so than on dirt. The T50 did not suffer this and I became confident that I could really lean the bike over in turns. The shoulder knobs came into their own when the going got a lot more loamy and would bite into the trail and grip just when you though traction had gone. You need to get a few rides under your belt to get used to this but once learned you are able to use this to your advantage. That said, extreme mud conditions as youd expect arent this tyres forte but as an allrounder with a drier conditions bias they one of the best tyres Ive tried. Vittoria Terreno T70Vittoria terreno T50I had a couple of comments on social media that said the tyres wear out quickly, I put around 300 miles on the tyres and I couldnt see any discernable wear. This also included a long lock up skid when a car tried to T-bone me. I did leave some of the rubber from the side knobs on the giys front bumper though!Vittoria Terreno T70Vittoria Terreno T70 cafe stopthe Vittoria Terreno T70 is Vittorias very successful and popular Mezcal MTB tyre in gravel form. It has more agressive centre knobs than the T50 but these are placed in such a way that they almost form a central ridge that the tyre rolls on. This reduces rolling resistance a lot and there didnt seem to be any drag, although there is a pleasing buzz to them when crusing on tarmac. Off road the T70 had to cope with quite a lot as I managed to find much muddiness. The T70 coped admirably though and traction and turning wasnt an issue. As you can see from the picture that tacky clay/mud will build up on the tyres at slow speed but once you get the wheel spinning again they do clear quickly. In all other conditions from damp to desert (it did get dusty for a couple of days, a guy can dream!) they are in their element and although these were only 45mm in width I found them perfect for my local riding, in fact I think the 50mm version might be overkill for these tyres. If I had to chose between the two tyres it would come down to what time of year it was, late spring-summer-early autumn Id run a T70 on the front wheel and a T50 on the rear for some turn in bite at the front and less rolling resistance and predictable breakway at the rear. The rest of the year and If I could only run one model it would be the T70 as it could cope with anything the UK could throw at it barring extreme weather.you can find out more about Vittorrias gravel range on their website Vittoria.com

Richard Contacted me back in February 2026 asking if I would like to read his book, Restless Lanes about his journey from Lands End to John OGroats. I was reluctant at first because there are too many of these type of books, most seem to exist as a how to guide giving route advice, nutritional recomendations for a fast time and well, frankly contain too much data and not enough adventure. Simply put, not the kind of cycling I am interested in.Chatting to Richard and looking at his Instagram postings as well as reading the synopsis of the book I thought Id give it a try and give the benefit of the doubt. If it turned out to be all about average speeds, energy gels and bypassing views to save a few minutes off your time Id come clean, tell Richard it wasnt my thing and rather than give a negative review I wouldnt post anything about the book.As you gather after reading the last sentence and reading from the start the book was nothing like id expected and so heres my review.When reading any book, to enjoy it you need to feel attuned to the character in the story. In this case the author is also the hero of the tale and within the first chapter i was already on board as we had had a similar childhood bike wise, even down to owning the exact same model (and colour) of full suspension bike back in the 1990s (I wont spoil the book by mentioning which bike). Also our desire to avoid busy traffic laden roads also matches.The book is easy to read and if you sit down with a plan of reading for 10 minutes youll suddenly realise your cuppa has gone cold and its an hour later but youll feel that hour has been used gainfully rather than wasted. The book is not a guide but a journal of gentle adventure and historical discovery in areas of the country we often dont even notice as we speed by in motorized transport. This is done in such a genuinely interesting way it feels like you are talking to a mate rather than being read facts verbatim from a history book. At times I felt like I was in the saddle with the author struggling with the gradients and getting tensed up on descents, if youve ridden at all youll know what I mean or maybe youll feel like the stoker on his tandem as he points out the reason villages are named as they are and what joy or skullduggery has befallen them and why they are there seemingly in the middle of nowhere in the first place.if your hoping for FTP, thresholds and Strava segments look elsewhere but there is a real struggle going on as the author battles not just the elements (did he plan multiple storms for effect?) but the hardest thing of all, his own subconscious, Richard is not an elite athlete, hes just a run of the mill cycle enthusiast like the rest of us, full of self doubt and with maybe a touch of imposter syndrome. I can definitely relate to that. What I cant forgive however is not making the detour to try the cheese in Garstang!Ive read talk of long distance endurance sports not just being about the physical strength but mental strength too and although this is not an Olympic competition or an attempt to climb K2, the LeJog is hard enough physically and the authors struggles to complete the journey are not just confined to aching limbs but lay bare his battle with his own mind to be able to sum up the drive to turn the pedals. That in itself makes the book more readable, more human and more real.So if you are looking for a turn by turn route guide to riding the length of the country then look elsewhere, if you are lookng for a genuinely entertaining read thats informative, sad and funny at times where you end up rooting for the main character to complete the ride then Restless lanes is the book you should read.Find out more about Richard Warrick and how to order a copy of Restless Lanes at Richardwarrick.co.uk

Revel bikes, have you heard of them? If you were into mountain biking in 2019 then you probably will have. They were originally based out of Colorado USA and were a niche but well respected brand, a few years on and they hit the same woes as many companies in the cycle industry and the owner Adam Miller sold the company to a private equity. They in turn ended up closing the company. Then in 2026 Adam bought the company back and the next chapter of Revel Bikes began. Sounds like a fairy story or great marketing doesnt it but its all true. This time though Revel isnt just based in the USA, Thomas Dibley now owns the UK arm of the company and is based in Abergavenny in the heart of Wales. Revel bikes will primarily sell bikes direct to the customer with maybe a few premium shops in the UK.So, great news that Revel are back but why i hear you ask am I writing this when the website is call UKgravelCO? Thats because this time round Revel have a gravel bike, infact they have 2. A titanium frame and the one I got to test which is a carbon framed bike called the Revel Rover.i really want to sharpie mars on thisRevel Rover bridleway specialistThomas got in touch and asked if Id like to try the bike out, I was hardly going to say no was I?! He then actually hand delivered the bike to my door on the day Revel Bikes UK officially launched! Ive managed to get two weeks of intensive riding on the bike, mostly on familiar routes so I could compare how it rides to bikes Im used to.Im always a little trepidatious about bikes designed in the US. They tend to have minimal tyre clearance, which is fine in say California for example and some states even ban off road riding if its wet, In the UK that would mean no riding for around 5 months a year. I was relieved though to find that the Revel Rover is right on trend and has the capacity to run 700x50mm tyres (27.5 x 2.1) In fact the fork clearance looks very generous and some experimentation with a bigger front tyre could be worth trying. Again another up to date feature is the UDH (universal deraileur hanger) allowing all the new Sram road XPLR (and MTB) rear mechs to fit. The frame has internal routing.stop, I know this will make some of you groan but the internal routing on the Revel Rover has internal tubing. No fishing about in the frame hoping the cable will magically find the exit, just push the hose or cable in one end and out it pops in the right place, fantastic! Theres more though because the hoses or cables dont route through the headset, so no dismantling of the bike to change a bearing or a big bike shop labour bill to fit a 20 part. Well done Revel!Revel Rover generous clearanceRevel Rover clearance for days!Its also refreshing to see that Revel has chosen not to got down the aero is everything road. there are some lovely curves and profiles on the bike such as the hour glass seatstays and it even has a proper seat post clamp, not a wedge or bolt hidden in the frame. It also has a round seatpost rather than an eliptical one so fitting a dropper post if you want one is much easier. The frame has 3 sets of bottle bosses inside the front triangle and one set under the down tube near the bottom bracket. interestingly there are no top tube or fork bottle mounts or mudguard eyelets.Revel Rover standard headset, yes, yes!Revel Rover hydration is keyThroughout the range of builds on the Revel website the one common denominator is the frame and fork so even of you go for the entry level Sram Apex build youll still get the same frame as the top specification bike. The only change is the bike colour. The bike on test is the sin city colour and I presume this refers to the black and white film of the same name as the frame is a mix of white and black.or is it? Actually in direct sunlight the black paint sparkles with reds, blues, purples and is a real feature. Weirdly though the Revel frame branding is under the top tube so youve got to get on your knees or turn the bike over to see it.this does not do the pint justiceRevel Rover understated brandingI tend not to mention the finishing kit on bikes as its all so subjective and riders will probably fit their favourite saddle, stem and handle bars the first day they get the bike but if its your first bike then the carbon Zipp bars, stem and SDG saddle are top quality items. This bike came with Srams Force XPLR groupset, a pair of Zipp 303s wheels and Revels own branded carbon seatpost, very fancy. The size large bike weighed in at just under 19.8lbs/8.98kg. Special mention must go to the new shape Sram levers, they are 100 times better than the old shape, they actually feel like theyve been designed for off road riding whereas the old lever was just the standard road one co-opted into a gravel groupset. Brake feel was tremendous and as a long time Shimano user who has never got on with Sram brakes at all these are far in away the best Sram brakes Ive used performance and asthetic wise. The crisp shift of the electronic AXS rear mech was faultless too.The gearing is 1 x 13, 40t chanring and 10-46t cassette. Finally I must mention the tyres and commend who ever decided to spec the bike with Maxxis Rambler tyres (here in 45mm size) as they are an excellent all rounder and reflect that someone who has ridden a gravel bike off road has had a hand in it. Too many new off the peg gravel bikes come with slick or semi slick tyres which are at the very least unsuitable for most conditions and sometimes lethal in those wet UK months I mentioned above. Round of applause emoji for Revel Bikes for that.Revel Rover curvesland?classy kitcool comfortSo to the most important part, how did the Revel Rover ride? As youd expect of a bike weighing sub 9kg it climbs very well the 10-46 cassette was low enough paired with the 40t chanring for me not to miss the 38-11x51t set up on my personal bike. I was able to spin up gradients that would have had me standing up on my regular bike. Being able to change gear with one finger with the electronic shifters encouraged rowdy behaviour on the flat and downhill. The frame is very responsive to pedal input, theres hardly if any side to side movement when putting the power down, only my leg and lung capacity held it back. It felt like a race bike on climbs and the flat but then point it down hill on something rooty and twisty and the bike wasnt skittish like youd assume a race bike would be. Neither was it slow and ponderous to steer. It was confident and sure footed. The head angle is 71.5 degrees so not super slack and not twitchy. The excellent tyres also contribute to this. The Zipp wheels were stiff and direct but at no time did I feel like all the terrain roughness was being transmitted through the frame into me so those frame profiles were working as designed to protect the rider. I could sit and batter on through the rough stuff without feeling broken myself.Revel Rover cafe stopRevel Rover pie shop ride (ultra race not pictured)So the Revel Rover rides beautifully, it has impeccable manners but it will respond instantly if you want to push it hard. The only thing you might have to get creative with is if you want to go on long bike packing trips. It would be great for credit card touring (or lightpacking) with minimal kit or the Ultra races/Gravel sportives but the lack of fork mount and top tube bosses might hold you back from long tours carrying all your worldly goods. There are more specialised bikes for that though.Revel Rover and grass up the middleRevel Rover not motorised!At slow speeds the bike is mild mannered and perfect for everyday riding with a bar bag and a bell on the bars on a cafe run and then like a super hero you could pop into a phonebox, swap the bar bag for a hydration vest, fill the multiple bottle mounts with your favourite electrolyte and go and ride an ultra!The Revel Rover is pitched as an all rounder and thats exactly what it is, mild mannered if you want but put your foot down and itll fly. The design of easy internal routing is refreshing to see and the enlightened specification of the kit on the bike just adds to this ready for anything feel.you can find more details on the Revel Rover at the Revel bikes website for a look at how the bike rides pleae watch the youtube video below and please consider subscribing!

When you think about it, tyres are one of the most inportant parts on a bicycle. They are the only way that the bike connects to the ground and the size, tread pattern, air pressure and rubber softness/hardness (compound) are all vital to how the bike performs in a straight line, uphill, down hill and on corners. The other big factor is what the ground conditions under the tyre are like at the time of riding.Ill go out on a limb here and say there is no tyre that covers all the bases, dry, wet, muddy, icy, tarmac, gravel, roots etc and I know these are the conditions the majority you ride in too. There is no perfect tyre but some come close with just a few compromises.Continental have been in the tyre making game for donkeys years so know a thing or two about tyres. The Terra series has quite a few different models that have been well received by riders all over the globe but really I dont care about that. What I need is a tyre that works where I ride and if you are in the UK too probably where you also ride. The name adventure conjours up epic riding in inaccessable jungles, icy windswept plateaus whilst surviving by foraging food from the hedgerow after riding 500k in one day. Well, the West Midlands isnt like that. What I have is tarmac, clay based soil, leaf litter, lots and lots of wet slimy roots at all times except summer and axle deep floods in winter. So yea, getting to work at some points in the year can be an adventure!Continental Terra Adventure centre and side knobsContinental Terra AdventureContinental say the terra adventure blurs the lines between MTB and gravel and that its predominently for off road riding. The tyres have quite close spaced knobs down the centre of the tyre which actually roll quite well on tarmac, they have a lot less rolling resistance than i thought they would have even in this 55mm size (more on this later). this also works well on hardpacked dirt and gravel paths. The shoulder knobs are slightly more pronounced and angled to bite into the ground when you lean the bike over. The tyres are tubeless ready and work with hooked and hookless rims. The tanwall tyres I tested weigh 734g/735g eachContinental Terra AdventureContinental Terra AdventureFitting the tyres and adding sealant was easy and straightforward and inflated with a track pump, this is a lot to do with the rim type and tape set up though, your experience may be different but Ive had to work much harder to get other tyres to stay inflated on these rims than the Conti terra adventures. There was no sidewall sealant weep or overnight deflation.How did they ride? well lets first tackle the size issue, yes they are 55mm which is equivalent to a 2.1 tyre. A lot of you will be saying they are not a gravel tyre at this width and right now that is pretty much true (Im running them om my Cotic Cascade which is a drop bar MTB thatll actually take 2.4 tyres) but with new gravel bikes being made with 50mm tyre clearance then I think 55mm isnt far off. You can of course buy Terra Adventure tyres in 45mm.Continental Terra Adventure rocky Continental Terra Adventure prime gravel!Its spring time locally and even though winter brought floods to the local area it has dried up remarkably quickly and so it was a novelty seeking out muddy sections to test the tyres in rather than avoiding them. the terra adventures did quite well in mud, if its really sticky the centre knobs will get clogged and here the wide size of the tyre didnt help and could sometimes start to slide. Leaning the bike into turns and letting the side knobs bite worked much better though. The tyres do quickly clear that mud when you hit a drier section. On firmer dirt and gravel the tyres performed really well maintaining purchase on the ground and the more I rode the more confidence I had in them even to the point of deliberately seeking out off camber stuff to push the limits of the grip. On tarmac there is a pleasant buzz as they roll along but they didnt feel draggy at all and at no time do you feel that it takes more effort to propel yourself forward.I found the tyres to be quite pressure sensitive especially on tarmac. Too much air especially in the front tyre when cornering made the bike ride on those taller side knobs making it feel unstable. Dropping the pressure down eliminated this completely. I ended up with around 35psi rear, 30psi front as a good compromise for on/off road riding. Dropping those pressures also made the ride incredibly comfortable. Gravel chatter and rooty trails caused much less vibration to the arms and saddle this would greatly benefit long distance rides leading to less fatique. In fact perfect for adventures! maybe the name is correct afterallContinental Terra Adventure singletrackContinental Terra AdventureOverall I was very impressed with the Continental Terra Adventure tyre in all but the muddiest conditions, definately a tyre to consider if upgrading your tyres for a more all road model.The continental terra adventure tyre is a great tyre for 3.5 seasons of the year and if you are a rider who avoids winter mud completely its a tyre you might not want to take off.You can find more details on the Continental tyre website Terra Adventure

I will be the first to admit, back packs or waist packs are not my favourite way to carry things on a bike, so I asked my good friend Dan Daniel Phillips Photography to try it out as he commutes by bike and also walks (shudder!) around taking photos with various bags so has a lot of experience of the genre. Here are his thoughts on the Victory Chimp Out There Hip/Sling Pack...When I first started riding, I used to use a Hip Pack (back then known as a Bum Bag) most ofthe time, especially when riding further afield and needing to carry a bit more than just aspare tube and a multitool. Ive used them in a range of different sizes and from severaldifferent brands, which is why Im guessing Gary from UK Gravel Collective asked me toreview the Out There Hip Pack/Sling Bag from Victory Chimp.Victoria Chimp Out There Hip/Sling Pack additional bungieVictoria Chimp Out There Hip/Sling Pack contentsNow I feel its only fair, for full disclosure, that I highlight the following, since my riding hasinvolved less mountain biking and more gravel riding/bikepacking adventures, strappingbags to my bike rather than to myself has become the norm, and for most rides, its ahandlebar bag or a small frame pack that I use to carry the essentials. Taking the bags off mybike and putting their contents into the Out There hip pack felt a bit odd, but there was noissue with fitting everything I usually carry into it with a fair bit of space to spare.The stated capacity is 6 litres and I easily fitted my wallet and phone (slid into the meshdivider for easy access), my keys attached to the provided key clip ensuring they could beeasily accessed rather than them falling to the bottom and needing to be rummaged for, abuff, a cycling cap, arm warmers, a multitool, tyre levers, spare tube, caf lock, a set oflights, my glasses , tubeless plugs and a small case I carry with spares, patches etc. All of thisfitted in the main pocket and I could have easily fitted some snacks had I not planned a cafstop. This also left the front and rear pockets empty had I needed any additional space.Victoria Chimp Out There Hip/Sling Pack optional bottle holderVictoria Chimp Out There Hip/Sling Pack quick releaseA feature I really liked is the quick release cargo net on the bottom of the pack which I usedto carry my waterproof jacket, (an essential with the recent changeable UK conditions). Thebungy cords that form the net are adjustable and held my jacket really securely, but thequick release buckle meant it could be easily accessed should I encounter a shower, withouthaving to open the pack and expose the rest of its contents to the elements.The pack Victory Chimp sent over came in a really nice olive-green colour, with reflective details, butblack and multi-coloured options are also available. It is made of 1000D Cordura so shouldbe very tough with a bright orange Waterproof liner covered in a subtle banana motif. Zipsare water resistant YKK AquaGuard and the waist belt connects using a really easy tooperate Fidlock magnetic buckle (Im a big fan of the Fidlock system and have several bagsthat utilise it).The pack was easy to adjust to size (Victory Chimp state it fits waists up to 56/142 cm) andonce set up the mesh padded back panel and wings made it comfortable to wear. One ofthe most annoying things Ive found with some hip packs Ive owned, is that the waist strapworks loose when riding ,resulting in the pack sliding lower and me having to stop to tightenit back up again. The Out There pack didnt suffer from this frustration during any of therides I used it on.Another nice little touch is the customisable Velcro patch system on the front of the pack,allowing you to add your favourite patch and make it your own. (Victory Chimp sell a coupleof different patch sets separately for this very reason).Victoria Chimp Out There Hip/Sling PackVictoria Chimp Out There Hip/Sling Pack paddingAs well as riding with the pack I also used it on a couple of walks, but utilised as a sling packon my back rather than around my waist. Again, it had plenty of capacity to carry everythingI needed, the only downside with wearing it in this way is that the main strap lacks any sortof padding meaning if you carry a reasonably heavy load, it does dig into your shoulder alittle.So, was there anything else I didnt like about the pack? Well yes there are a couple ofthings that I dont feel work that well and both of them revolve around the options providedto use the pack for hydration purposes.The first is the Hydration port which Victory Chimp suggest can be used for a water bladderhose or headphones. Although I didnt try using a bladder in the pack as I didnt have onethat would fit, I feel that this would really limit the storage space and also the weight itwould add, could make the pack quite uncomfortable to wear. I also dont know manypeople who use wired earphones since the advent of Bluetooth ear buds, so this seems anunnecessary addition and one that has the potential to make the pack less weatherresistant.Victory chimp Hip pack Specifications: Size:30 x 15 x 10 cm Weight:308g(392g with bottle holder) Carrying Capacity: 6 Litres Materials: Cordura + Ripstop nylon liner Zips: YKK AquaGuardThe second is the removable bottle holster. This attaches using straps which slide throughthe molle loops on either side of the pack. Its quick and easy to attach and remove and thebungy cord that slips over the top of a water bottle held it very securely in the holster. Theissue is the length of the straps used to attach it to the pack. Once attached the holster hasspace to slide up and down meaning that when riding over even slightly rougher terrain, itbounced up and down jabbing me in the ribs on several occasions. The holster worked muchbetter when I used it while walking, but as Victory Chimp is predominantly a provider ofgear for cycling, this seemed like a bit of an oversight. Again, as most cyclists have at leastone bottle cage on their bikes, I feel this is also an addition that could have been omittedand wouldnt have affected the usefulness of the pack.Overall, the Victory Chimp Out There hip pack is well made and generally well thought out. If yourelooking for one pack that can be utilised for riding, hiking and for everyday carry, then youwont go far wrong, providing being able to carry some kind of drink in it, isnt a dealbreaker for you.Big thanks to Dan for writing this review and for Victory Chimp for sending the out there packs for us to try, both the Bar bag (review here) and the Hip pack seem UK proof, i.e. well made, waterproof and robust and look like theyll take on everything gravel riding can throw at them. For more details and a look at Victory Chimps other products check out their website www.victorychimp.cc