Gear of the year: Oli Woodman's 2016 picks

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Once again the months have flown by and I can't quite believe I'm writing this article. Like the rest of the authors in this series, I've taken the time to pull out some of the bikes and bits that've contributed to another great year on two wheels. Including everything from a five year old rental bike to the latest GoPro, the list is somewhat random.

• Horse for the Course: Cannondale Flash 29 for the Dolomiti Superbike
• The Pinnacle Dolomite 6 is the disc road bike you've not yet considered
• Brompton S2L review

2016 Pinnacle Dolomite Six

I bought this Pinnacle Dolomite Six at the start of the year after my much loved Norco Search long-term test bike went back to Evans Cycles. At the time, trying to find a road bike with hydraulic discs and a decent groupset was hard enough, yet finding one that cost just £1300 was almost unheard of. 

The Dolomite frame doesn't have any fancy shapes, it doesn't have beautiful welds or funky graphics. Look at it at a distance and it's basically two black circles at either end of two black triangles. But that's good, it means I can string it up to a lamp post or prop it up outside a village shop while I pop inside. Other riders tend not to look twice too.

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I've swapped out the original tyres, stem and saddle for parts to my preference but other than that it's proven to be a fast, fun and reliable way to get about. Sadly the derailleur hanger on my frame was one affected by a recall earlier this year from Evans (if you've got a 2015/6 Pinnacle/HOY bicycle then I couldn't recommend enough that you read this!), and I'm currently in the process of getting that sorted out. To read more on the Pinnacle Dolomite Six have a read of this article.

This 2012 Cannondale Flash 29er

This particular Cannondale Flash and I came to meet under the strangest of circumstances but sparked a relationship that I didn't want to end. Truth be told, it was more of a dirty one night stand but that didn't stop me from including it in this list.

Having blindly accepted an invite to my first marathon race a few months before, I was fortunate enough to be provided with a bike for the occasion. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect as the bike was provided by a local rental firm and I'd not get to see it until just hours before the race.

Fizik Tundra

Vulpine commuter backpack

This pack was sent to me a little over a year ago, and I still use it daily – on and off the bike. Originally, I was unimpressed with the bag's large, undivided main compartment and annoyed by its fiddly buckle. You know what, though, I was too harsh on this one. 

Having scored the bag with just two stars the first time around, I've since found its rather unusual layout to be ideal for carrying my camera kit. It has also held up really well despite use in all-weather. Now, with Christmas spirit in the air, I've bumped its original score up by a star and recognised it as a piece of kit I'd rather not be without. 

GoPro Hero 5

Brompton S2L

I've owned a Brompton for more than ten years already but was curious to see if the nation's favourite folder had changed much in the past decade or so. 

I ended up calling in this blue 2016 example to work it out for myself. As it turns out, the Brompton certainly hasn't changed a lot, it simply hasn't had to. The small changes Brompton has made do make a big difference, though. You can read all about it in the full Brompton S2L review I posted earlier this year.

You can read more at BikeRadar.com

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