Phew what a year! 2016 involved the first ever Women's Road Bike of the Year Awards, the launch of the exciting new Liv Hail mountain bike and Specialized Ruby road bike with it's unusual suspension system, plus a whole load of bike riding and gear testing.
In terms of women's cycling products, it's been a significant one. Brands are focusing more and more attention on the women's market on both the road and mountain bike side of things. New products, new bikes, ambassador programs and more are being developed and released and it can only be a good thing — more choice and better products.
And while there's some great stuff out there, the following kit moves up the scale from great to indispensable. These are the bits of kit I find myself wearing or using time and time again. The gloves I have to wash frequently because I wear them all the time, the tyres give me the confidence to tackle slippery root-riddled chutes of doom, and the saddle has made long road miles a whole lot more comfortable.
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7Mesh Revo waterproof shorts
These shorts have been a revelation — pun intended. Now, I've tried waterproof shorts and indeed waterproof trousers before, but they've always been a little lacking in the fit stakes and I've ended up feeling a little boil in the bag after several hours in the saddle. The Revo shorts change all that with the ends of the shorts cut on a fore/aft diagonal so the front hangs lower when standing. When riding, this means the front stays over the tops of the knees rather than riding up, providing good coverage and also fitting easily over knee pads.
The breathable Gore-Tex membrane makes these more than waterproof to fend off several multi-day rides in the very wet South West of England and, even wetter, Iceland in autumn. The fabric is much less stiff than other waterproof shorts, feels light and is highly breathable. Adjustable tabs at each hip allow for a comfortable fit and there are even pockets for stowing your jelly babies or snack of choice.
e*thirteen TRS 650b tyres
Yeti W's Enduro Gloves
Specialized Power Pro saddle
Crank Brothers Y-16 multitool
Giro Montara helmet
Specialized S-Works 6 shoes
Liv Tangle 3/4 Off-road Jersey
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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