With its black shiny finish and simplistic looks, the Shimano Compact Wind Vest could be mistaken for a glorified bin bag but it is much, much better than that. Keeping you warm where you need it and cool where you don't, it does everything you'd want of a good gilet.

Heading out for a ride into a chilly northerly, you soon notice how effective the Vest is. I could feel the wind on my arms, hands and legs, even though they were all covered, but the front of my torso was warm; no, make that toasty. There was a really noticeable difference between the areas covered by that polyester windproof panel and those not.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The windproofing covers your front and reaches right up and over your shoulders. The mid-section of the rear uses a much lighter mesh construction, which means the Wind Vest is very breathable. Even working hard on a climb with a long-sleeve jersey underneath, I never got overwhelmed in perspiration.

Shimano Mens Compact Wind vest - shoulders.jpg

The arm holes fit snugly too, and not in an uncomfortable way like I found with the recently tested Condor Professional. This stops any of the breeze whipping in around your armpits.

Shimano Mens Compact Wind vest - riding.jpg

The Shimano has an all-round better cut than the Condor too – close enough throughout to reduce any flappy material, but in no way restrictive to your movements. You also get a decent length dropped tail to keep you covered when stretched out over the bike.

Shimano Mens Compact Wind vest - back.jpg

At the rear there's a zipped pocket big enough to hold a phone and some energy gels or other ride essentials, which is handy as you don't have access to your main jersey pockets really unless you stop.

Shimano Mens Compact Wind vest - pocket.jpg

Weight is key with a gilet like this, and at 95g the Shimano is heavier than the exceptionally light 78g Condor – not that you'd be able to tell in the real world. Stuff it in your jersey pocket and you aren't going to notice it at all, plus it folds down to a very small package size.

The full-length zip has a large material tab on it, which makes for easy adjustment even with gloves on, plus it helps if you want to put on or remove the gilet while riding.

Shimano Mens Compact Wind vest - chest.jpg

A claim of '360 degree highly visible reflectivity' might make you think the Vest could be exactly what you are after for a bit of night riding, but don't get too excited. At best it's a few token reflective patches; the one on the rear pocket isn't too bad, plus you've got one on each side that might get picked up at a junction, but they aren't exactly screaming. Also, the Shimano logo is the only thing that is reflective around the front, and that'll be pretty invisible once you are riding.

> Buyer's Guide: 9 of the best cycling gilets

Looking at pricing, the Shimano is more expensive than both the Condor and dhb Aeron Lightweight Windslam, the latter scoring very highly in our review.

The Shimano has a much better fit for me than the Condor, so I would happily splash the extra tenner on this, but the dhb would just take the top spot thanks to details such as being able to access your jersey pockets through openings in the side.

However, the overall quality and finish of the Shimano is top notch, and if you did pay the little extra you wouldn't be disappointed.

Verdict

Impressive windproofing from such a lightweight gilet at a competitive price

A groupset is a collection of matching components used by a bike manufacturer to turn a frame into a bike. But confusingly, the term doesn’t cover all the parts on a bike, so let’s take a look at what it does cover, and why groupsets exist.

The first groupsets were produced by Italian component maker Campagnolo and just as today, a groupset was a collection of components that matched visually and in quality and function. The shapes of the various cast, forged and machined parts of a groupset all follow similar lines. Often there will be a common colour too, with various shades of grey currently in vogue.

Who makes groupsets?

logos.png

The big names in bike component manufacturing are Shimano, Campagnolo, and SRAM, and these are the brands you’ll see almost exclusively on the groupsets fitted to bikes. In fact, you’ll have to look fairly hard to find anything but Shimano, such is the Japanese company’s domination of the market. You’ll find SRAM groupsets on a few mid-priced bikes, but this American-based company is currently focussing on cyclocross and gravel/adventure bikes with its 1X transmissions that combine a single chainring with a very wide-range sprocket set. Next year, we can also expect to start seeing groupsets from Taiwanese/Italian manufacturer FSA.

There used to be more. Mavic made some strikingly-styled groupsets in the 1980s, and we previously wrote about the demise of SunTour of Japan and Zeus of Spain. Sachs, part of the German Mannesman industrial conglomerate, made groupsets in the 1990s before selling its designs and production facilities to SRAM. A few other brands have appeared on groupsets, but usually some of the parts have been rebranded components rom other manufacturers. Italian company Miche, for example, used to offer groupsets with rebranded SunTour deraillers, while Galli, also from Italy, made its own brakes and derailleurs but rebranded other companies’ parts for the rest of its groupsets.

Today, each of the big three makes a range of groupsets covering bikes from the entry level up to professional racing. The table at the foot of the page lists them, and gives an idea of the cost of the bikes you'll find them on. 

What’s in a groupset?

campagnolo-record-groupset.jpg

Campagnolo invented the groupset. Dripping with carbon fibre and titanium, Super Record is its top offering.

A modern groupset usually comprises brakes, brake/gear levers, chainset, derailleurs, chain and sprockets. That’s changed over time, though. For example, there was a time when a groupset included pedals and hubs. Groupset makers still offer hubs and pedals that are designated as part of a group, but it’s rare to see them on off-the-peg bikes. Bike makers usually buy complete wheels, sometimes from the groupset manufacturer — Shimano, Campagnolo and SRAM all make wheels — sometimes from another company. Bikes often come with very basic pedals, or none at all. The customer is expected to fit their chosen pedal system. Campagnolo and Shimano used to offer headsets and seatposts, Shimano made handlebar stems for a while (and very lovely they were too, as Kim Chee points out in the comments), Campagnolo has dabbled in saddles and for a while made highly-regarded rims.

What about the other bits?

A bike’s bar, stem, saddle and seatpost will come from a different company than the one supplying the groupset. There’s no particular reason for this, except that groupset makers tend to have long-standing specialisation in moving parts and leave the less complicated components alone.

But we’re talking about the bike industry so it’s Not That Simple. Some manufacturers of non-groupset components have expanded beyond that original remit, notably FSA and Ritchey with headsets, wheels and chainsets. From the other direction, Shimano owns Pro Bike Gear, which makes bars, stems, saddles, seatposts and wheels, plus bags and accessories. You’ll need tyres and tubes, but it’s otherwise possible to build a completely Shimano/Pro-equipped bike, and when FSA’s gear system becomes available (see below), you’ll be able to the same with its parts.

Why have a groupset at all?

Trek_2017_A_2_EMONDA_SLR_10_H1.jpeg

In its top-end Emonda SLR 10, Trek carries the colours of the SRAM Red eTap group to the whole bike

We’ve already touched on two reasons why groupsets exist: matching aesthetics and matching quality. A bike with a complete groupset looks good, because the chainset, brakes, levers and derailleurs will all be the same colour and share other visual features. Perhaps more importantly, the quality of all the parts will be similar, so you can expect them all to be similarly durable. The metal treatments and high-strength alloys that make pivots and bearings more durable and that also make parts lighter are expensive, so better groupsets are pricier. If you ride 10,000 miles per year, the reliability of an expensive groupset is a decent investment; if you’re a 2,000 mile-a-year weekend warrior, perhaps not so much.

Materials themselves may delineate groupsets. You won’t find any carbon fibre in Campagnolo’s entry-level Veloce groupset, but its top-end Super Record groupset is positively dripping with composites, as well as a fair amount of titanium. That use of high-tech materials makes Super Record the lightest groupset on the market, as well as the most expensive.

24430_sram_red_22_groupset_new_2016_model.jpg

Another reason is that a bike with a complete groupset almost always works better than one with a mix of parts from different manufacturers. Component makers design their shifters to pull just the right amount of cable for each gear shift or braking action, and their sprockets and chainrings to grab their chains and move them smoothly from one tooth to another. Change almost any component and things won’t work quite as well.

That said, some manufacturers are pretty good at making compatible parts. SRAM sprockets work well enough in Shimano transmissions and it’s not unusual to find KMC chains on bikes equipped with any of the big three’s groupsets. In fact, KMC is widely reported to supply chains to Shimano, so you’d expect its chains to work with Shimano gears. Nevertheless, with rare exceptions, if you want your bike to work as well as it possibly can, then fitting a complete groupset is the way to go.

What’s the future of groupsets?

Dura-Ace 9150 Di2.jpg

Shimano's Dura-Ace R9150, introduced for the 2017 model year, is the state-of-the-art electronic-shifting groupset

The barrier to entering the groupset market is high. Most of the customers are bike manufacturers with well-established relationships with their existing suppliers. You need substantial amounts of heavy machinery for the forging, casting, stamping and moulding processes that convert raw metal to bike parts, and either robots or inexpensive labour to assemble them.

As a result, nobody enters the field with a complete groupset. The trick is to get started with a part that’s better than what’s already available, or at least very different from it. SRAM did this with its throttle-style gear shifter GripShift, and expanded by buying other companies like Sachs (derailleurs), Avid (brakes) and Truvativ (chainsets).

FSA K-Force WE groupet - 2.jpg

The rear derailleur of the FSA K-Force WE electronic groupset

A new entrant we’ll almost certainly see in the near future is FSA. Its logo is already a common sight on bikes with its chainsets, seatposts, bars, stem and headsets. FSA has been threatening for years to make complete groupsets for road bikes, but so far has only produced a triathlon bike set. At the 2016 Tour de France, prototypes of an FSA electronic gear system, dubbed K-Force WE, appeared on the bike of top Italian rider Ivan Basso. A few weeks later FSA showed off the new shifters at the Eurobike show  and our Dave Arthur was able to take it for a spin.

The reason it’s taken so long for FSA to get a groupset out is probably that decent-quality road bikes now all have combined gear and brake levers. There are only so many ways to do this and they’re all covered by patents held by Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo. However, since Shimano introduced its STI brake/shift levers in 1990, its patents on that design should now have expired. That we’ve not seen copies yet is testament to Shimano’s technical expertise in getting a quite delicate mechanism to work reliably.

The trend over the last few years has been to ever-greater integration between parts, and that will continue. In the days before indexed shifting you could use a Campagnolo derailleur with Shimano gear levers (though Campagnolo derailleurs of that era shifted so badly it’s a mystery why you’d want to). You can’t do that now and be certain the indexing will work properly, nor should you use Shimano levers with Campagnolo brakes — they have different cable pull requirements. And you definitely can’t use SRAM hydraulic brakes with Shimano levers because they use different, totally incompatible hydraulic fluids.

Imagine a system that senses that you’re braking and changes gear for you. That would require a level of integration beyond the current state of the art. Or how about a seatpost that automatically adjusts your saddle height within a range: lower for descending, higher for climbing?

Read more: Your complete guide to SRAM road bike groupsets
Read more: Your complete guide to Campagnolo road bike groupsets
​Read more: Your complete guide to Shimano road bike groupsets

Know your groupsets

The table below lists the groupsets currently offered by Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo, along with the recommended retail price of a complete set of each one. These prices are for groupsets with rim brakes so that the comparison is fair as Campagnolo's recently announced discs aren't yet shipping.

We’ve also listed the approximate price range of bikes with each group. For the most part, these are bikes with rim brakes too. We have to stress these ranges are very approximate. Some groupsets are very uncommon on off-the-peg bikes, so we’ve used online bike builders from Comtat Cycles and Ribble to come up with prices of bikes you could spec up.

It might still be early November but Christmas is on the way so we’re running a series of articles here on road.cc suggesting gifts for cyclists, and if you really want to shell out on someone special here are some money no object ideas.

When we say ‘money no object’ we’re not implying that everything here is luxury, but our suggested items do tend to be priced towards the higher end of their respective categories, and they demand that you dig quite deep into your finances – very deep in some cases!

Mavic Comete Ultimate shoes £900 

Admittedly, £900 is a ridiculous amount to spend on cycling shoes but this is the ‘money no object’ gift guide! These offer lots of interesting tech and an amazing performance for racing. If you want some slightly more sensibly priced footwear, check out our other shoe reviews. But if you're heart's set on these, they're only available at Sigma Sports, so head on over there to pick up a pair.

Read our review. 

Artful Kicks custom painted shoes £various

If £900 shoes lack the personal touch, Artful Kicks will custom paint cycling footwear of your choice so you can have something unique.

Read our story. 

PowerTap P1S Single Side Powermeter Set £550
Buy now for 12% off at Evans Cycles

PowerTap P1S power meter pedals 2.jpg

All the kool kidz are training with power these days and, despite costing £550, the PowerTap P1S pedals are actually among the less expensive options. They're easy to set up and to swap between bikes, they work well and are compatible with a wide variety of head units. They’d make a great gift for anyone with a focus on fitness and/or racing.

The aforementioned discount over at Evans Cycles brings the price of these pedals right down to £439.99 - Buy now!

Read our review. 

Here’s our advice on choosing a cycling power meter.

Hill and Ellis Professor Bike Bag £195

Hill and Ellis Professor bike bag - worn.jpg

The Hill and Ellis Professor is a beautifully made satchel you can attach to your rack, and it performs as well off the bike as it does on. You’re worried about what happens when it rains, right? It comes with a high-vis rain cover. road.cc’s Simon loves his, and he’s a man of taste and refinement. That’s what he told me, anyway. 

Read our review.

Silca T-Ratchet Kit + Ti-Torque Kit £100 
Buy now over at Evans Cycles

Silca T-Ratchet Kit and TI-Torque Kit - inside.jpg

This is a beautifully made, superlight, and multi-functional set of tools that would make a great gift. The tools live in a beautiful waxed canvas cloth case that’s magnetically closed, snapping shut for compact storage in a jersey pocket. 

Evans Cycles currently has stock of the kit, so head on over there if you're looking to make the bike fettler in your life very happy. 

Read our review. 

Prologo CPC Airing Nago Evo Nack saddle £249.99 
Buy now for 16% off at Tredz

Prologo 2017 CPC Airing Nago Evo Nack.jpg

The name is arguably too long, but with carbon-fibre rails and CPC (Connect, Power, Control) polymer on the upper, the Prologo CPC Airing Nago Evo Nack saddle does have the advantage of looking expensive. Bonus! Even more important, reviewer George found it to be super-comfy.

Read our review. 

Rapha Leather Race Bag £595

Rapha Leather Race Bag.jpg

Rapha offers a water resistant Cordura race bag (currently out of stock) but if you want to go all in, this version “is constructed from a fine full-grain leather sourced from an artisan French tannery”. Well, of course. You wouldn’t expect anyone to rock up at a race with anything less, would you? 

See it here. 

Brooks Pickwick Leather backpack £340

Brooks Pickwick Leather.jpg

If you’re buying for someone who uses their bike for commuting or urban riding, Brooks’ Pickwick Leather backpack is a high quality bit of kit that’s “designed by André Klauser in London and manufactured in the hills of Tuscany by Italian artisans”. 

What is it with all the artisans? They’re cleaning up these days. 

Of course, heading over to Brooks and shelling out on the artisan leather isn't your only option. If you've been swept away by the design, but £340 is a little outside of your budget, you can buy the water-resistant canvas edition for £139.50 over at Tredz.

Get more info here.

CycleOps Hammer direct drive smart trainer £1,000
Buy now at Wiggle for 11% off

CycleOps Hammer Direct Drive SMART Trainer - from back.jpg

This is a fully-featured indoor trainer to use with Zwift and similar apps, and it’s especially welcome at this time of year when the weather’s cold and damp. It has a smooth, realistic pedalling feel, accurate power measurement, high maximum resistance, and an air of reassuring solidity. It even folds away for more compact storage. The Hammer is a doddle to set up and, despite it’s name, is also quiet. The price has just been reduced from £1,200 to £1,000

Read our review. 

Chpt3 The Rocka 1.61 £300
Buy now for 13% off at Sigma Sports

Chpt.III Rocka.jpg

David Millar's Chpt3 brand describes its clothing, made by Castelli, as “premium cycling apparel”. The Rocka is based on Castelli's existing Gabba, but it comes in less of a race cut with extra features added, such as a front pocket and a buttoned flap at the collar.

Find out more.

Specialized S-Works Womens Prevail II helmet £175
Buy now over at Hargroves Cycles

Specialized S-Works Women's Prevail II Helmet - front.jpg

The Prevail  has long been a popular helmet with performance-focused cyclists because it's comfortable, well ventilated and seriously lightweight. This new version retains everything that was good about original but has a much lower profile. It not only looks better but offers improved ventilation and sweat management as well as reduced wind noise.

Read our review. 

Roval CLX 50 Disc wheels £1,870 
Buy now over at Evans Cycles

Specialized Roval CLX 50 DISC Wheelset.jpg

The Roval CLX 50s (with 50mm-deep rims) combine the aero performance of deep section rims with the lightness of shallower rims, coming in at 1,415g with disc brake hubs. They put in an excellent performance across the board, proving fast and stable with impressive handling. There are more aerodynamically efficient wheels and there are lighter wheels, but these strike a really good all-round balance that works well in most situations.

Read our review. 

Castelli Idro Jacket £260 
Buy now over at Wiggle 

Castelli Idro Jacket.jpg

The Idro is made of the waterproof, amazingly breathable and highly packable Gore-Tex Active fabric, as are the 7Mesh Oro and the Gore Bike Wear One that we’ve also reviewed here on road.cc. None of these jackets are cheap – largely thanks to the high-tech fabric used – but they perform superbly and pretty much any rider would be delighted to receive one. 

Read our review. 

Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey £179.99 
Buy now for 5% off at Wiggle

Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey.jpg

If you’re thinking of buying someone a Christmas jumper this year, here’s a little tip: don’t. Wacky doesn’t equal funny. Instead, get them a top they’ll really appreciate like this brilliant three-season Windstopper jersey that provides very good protection against wind and rain. It’s also lightweight and slim fitting with excellent breathability, and there’s not a snowman or reindeer in sight. A top pick!

Read our review. 

Barbour x Brompton Merton Wax Jacket £299
Buy now at John Lewis

Barbour x Brompton Bromley.jpg

Brompton, of folding bike fame, has teamed up with luxury outdoor fashion brand Barbour to offer a range of different jackets for both men and women. This is the women's Bromley which boasts features like reflective tape in the collar, a dropped hem at the rear and venting. It looks good off the bike too.

Find out more. 

Exposure Strada 1200 £289.96
Buy now for 10% off at Rutland Cycling

The Exposure Strada 1200 is a well-made and durable light that offers all the illumination you could need on the road and very good battery life. With an aluminium shell and a good mount, it has an air of quality and should last ages.

Read our first review.

Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset £3,097.99
Buy now for 37% off at Wiggle

Dura-Ace 9150 Di2.jpg

The new version of Shimano’s top level road groupset offers a stunning performance without any real weakness: superb braking, excellent shifting and a more integrated design than previously. We always quote RRPs, but shop around and you’ll find it cheaper.

Read our first ride. 

Colnago Concept frameset £3,499.95
Buy now for 5% off at Merlin Cycles

The Concept is a stunning aero road bike with awesome speed and the excellent handling that is synonymous with the celebrated brand. It offers a slice of Italian exotic fused with ultra modern aero design. That's what Dave said in his review, anyway. And it looks cool!

Read our review.

Shand custom frame and fork £various

If you want to give someone the perfect bike, how about getting it made to their exact size and requirements? There are a lot of frame builders out there who can do the job. Shand, for example, specialises in steel frames. A custom bike more expensive than buying off the peg, of course, but you'll end up with something special. 

Check out our feature on great custom handbuilt frames.

Storck Fascenario.3 x Aston Martin £15,777

Okay, this is getting a little out of hand now, but if you do happen to have a friend who’s just had a big win on the horses, maybe they’ll get you one of these for Christmas. Storck has teamed up with Aston Martin to produce a limited run of 107 Fascenario.3s in this finish, built up with a mainly Sram Red eTap wireless groupset, Zipp 303 NSW wheels, THM brakes and cranks and Pirelli PZero Velo tyres. The weight is a claimed 5.9kg. Not a bad little setup, eh?

Read our story. 

Bonfire Night is behind us, the John Lewis ad has been on the telly and it can’t be long until you hear that annoying Shakin’ Stevens song. Yes, Christmas is on the way and this Christmas gift guide is for riders who like to ride fast.

These aren't necessarily gifts designed to help someone ride faster but they're things that'll appeal to people who ride with speed and fitness in mind.

Perhaps you’re a racer or a sportive rider and you want to drop some hints to your family and friends. Or maybe there’s a sporty person in your life who rides a bike primarily for fitness. 

If so, we’ve got suggestions starting at £12.99, and some priced much more.

Have a look through and see if there’s anything that takes your interest. Even if nothing here quite does it for you, it might give you an idea – in which case you can head over to our reviews archive and check out some more options.

Click on the heading for each of our suggestions and you'll link straight through to somewhere to buy it.

Giro Prolight Techlace Cycling Shoes £349

Giro Prolight Techlace Cycling Shoes - side.jpg

Yes, they’re expensive but Giro's Prolight Techlace Cycling Shoes are ultra-light (just 193g per shoe in a size 46) and they put in a big performance. The Textreme carbon soles are stiff and the uppers are laced, Velcro tabs allowing on-the-fly adjustment to the tension. These shoes might be performance focused but they’re also very comfortable. 

Read our review.

The Hardmen - Legends of the Cycling Gods by The Velominati £12.99

Buy now for 32% off at Amazon 

The Hardmen.jpg

Even the most motivated racer needs some extra inspiration from time to time. This book focuses on 36 of cycling's hardest men and women, and rather than dealing with everything that rider achieved, it covers the one defining moment when they implemented Rule #5 (“Harden the fuck up”).

Read our review.

Stages Dash £279

Buy now at Merlin Cycles

Stages Dash and Link - 8.jpg

The Stages Dash (which has had a price reduction since we reviewed it) is an impressive device for training by power, particularly if you buy into the coaching aids offered by the Stages Link web platform. It lacks advanced navigational capability but it communicates with both ANT+ and Bluetooth sensors and can let you know exactly what you should be doing at all times during a training session.

Read our review.

Craft Active Extreme 2.0 CN LS £40

Craft Active Extreme 2.0 CN LS.jpg

If you ride fast you’re going to sweat, and if you sweat you need a base layer that’s good at dealing with it. The Craft Active Extreme 2.0 CN LS puts in a really strong performance to keep you comfortable in temperatures below about 10°C, providing a good level of warmth along with great wicking and breathability.

Read our review.

Secret Training Stealth Training Mix £22.50 

Stealth Training Mix? It certainly sounds like something for those with a need for speed. This is a slow release carbohydrate and hydration drink mix. Our man Liam tried it and he said that subtle flavours package a well-rounded nutrition profile. It's not sweet or sticky, it mixes well and the scoop fits into a standard cycling bottle.

Read our review.

FSA Powerbox power meter £599.95

Buy now for 11% off at Wiggle

FSA Powerbox Alloy Road Chainset.jpg

Training by power is becoming ever more popular for those who want to get the most fitness for their time on the bike, and FSA’s Powerbox, produced in partnership with German company Power2Max, offers a consistent and reliable performance at a not-too-crazy price. Dave did the testing and was highly impressed – easy to install, easy to use, and no reliability issues. 

Read our review. 

Wahoo Kickr Smart Turbo Trainer £999.99

Buy now at Wiggle

wahoo kickr v3.jpg

Granted, not many people are giving presents that cost £1,000, but you never know. Now in its third generation, the Wahoo Kickr continues to be one of the best direct-mount smart trainers on the market, providing easy resistance control, superb realism, rock-solid stability, massive 2,000 watt capacity, and easy connectivity to a range of apps from Zwift to TrainerRoad. Serious indoor training tools don't get much better than this.

Read our review. 

Scott Cadence Plus Mips helmet £169.99

Buy now at Evans Cycles 

Scott Cadence MIPS-9.jpg

This is a good aero helmet that doesn’t sacrifice ventilation, Scott having adapted the MIPS (Multi-Impact Protection System) to improve airflow. It comes with bungs to close up the front vents on cold rides or when you want to be even more aero! 

Read our review. 

Lezyne Sport Floor Drive ABS2 pump £44.99

Buy now for 10% off at Tredz 

Lezyne Sport Floor Drive 2.jpg

You need to get those tyres topped up right for optimal performance! Lezyne's Sport Floor Drive pump uses a new ABS2 head for a leak-free fit on any type of valve without any faffing or changing. It’s a very stable pump that should stand up to years of use and abuse.

Read our review.

Topeak Ninja CO₂+ £39.99

Buy now for 10% off at Wiggle

Topeak Ninja CO2.jpg

The fastest way to get back on the road following a puncture is with a CO₂ inflator. Topeak’s Ninja CO₂+ is a bottle cage with an inflator kit holder, complete with two 16g CO₂ cartridges and Topeak's own Micro AirBooster inflator fixed to the bottom. Two tyre levers are attached to the side of the bottle cage too. It’s a clever little design.

Read our review. 

Sportful R&D Strato jacket £120

Buy now at Wiggle

Sportful R&D Strato Top.jpg

The new Sportful R&D Strato combines a thermal long sleeve jersey and a windproof gilet into one top. Out on the road it provides superb comfort, warmth and breathability. Suitable for temperatures from about 8°C and higher, it’s a great option for spring, autumn and milder winter days.

Read our review. 

Lusso Stripes Gilet £79.99

Lusso Stripes Gillet.jpg

The Lusso Stripes Gilet takes the basic concept of keeping cold air at bay and turns it into a technical and performance tour de force for reasonable money. It’s windproof and the slim, athletic fit means there’s zero flapping, even when riding downhill at speed. It's packed with tech, performs faultlessly, looks the business and fits in a rear pocket when not in use.

Read our review. 

Pro Vibe Aero Carbon Handlebar £299.99

Pro Vibe monocoque UD carbon handlebar.jpg

When performance-focused riders aren’t obsessing about producing watts they’re obsessing about saving them, hence the existence of the Pro Vibe Aero Carbon handlebar, designed with aerodynamics in mind. It's a stunning piece of engineering that cheats the wind with Kamm-tail profiled tops and well-thought-out internal cable routing. Even the section of the drop facing the wind has been narrowed into an oval. Admittedly, it’s not cheap.

Read our review. 

Lezyne Super Drive 1500 XXL £109.99

Buy now for 20% off at Chain Reaction Cycles

Lezyne Super Drive 1500 XXL.jpg

Speed-freaks can’t let a little thing like the dark stand in the way of training. This excellent light runs for ages and comes with Lezyne's Overdrive mode which you can use like a full beam/dipped beam setup in your car, allowing you to barrel down country lanes as fast as you would in the day and then switch to a less intense setting in the face of oncoming traffic. 

Read our review.

Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 SPD-SL pedals £224.99

Buy now for 46% off at Wiggle 

Shimano Dura-Ace Pedal R9100 SPD-SL.jpg

Shimano's top-level Dura-Ace R9100 pedals offer loads of security and stability and they're a few grams lighter than the previous version with a wider pedal platform. The bearings are smooth and if any issues do develop you can open up the pedals for servicing. They should last ages.

Read our review. 

Pearl Izumi Pro Pursuit Cycling Bib Tight £179.99

Buy now on Amazon

Pearl Izumi Pro Pursuit Cycling Bib Tight.jpg

If you are buying for someone who wants foul-weather, full-length bibs for going fast in, look no further. These are warm and comfortable with multiple panels to keep water out and heat in, while being breathable up top. The multi-density PRO Pursuit 1:1 pad (these are also available without a pad for £129.99) feels great in use, so there’s nothing to distract from cranking up the watts. These put in an excellent performance.

Read our review.

Rudy Project Fotonyk Glasses £109.99

rudy-project-fotonyk-black-mat-glasses-2.jpg

These Rudy Project Fotonyk glasses are perfect for riding at any time of the year thanks to their photochromic lenses changing from clear to dark in reaction to lighting levels. They offer great optics and comfort and they don’t fog up, even at the end of a hard, steamy interval, thanks to a cutout at the top outer corner of each lens. These are a joy to wear.

Read our review. 

OTE Dried Cherry Anytime bar £28.08 (box of 24)

Buy now for 17% off at Tredz

OTE Dried Cherry Anytime Bar.jpg

People who like to ride fast need to put the right fuel in the tank, hence these Anytime flapjacks that are made from natural ingredients. As the name suggests, they’re intended for anytime of the day as well as for before and during exercise – a healthy snack to grab between meals. Reviewer Jez said that they’re “tasty, even moreish”.

Read our review. 

Bonza bike box £499 

Bonza Bike Box.jpg

If the person you’re buying for is going on a training camp, this mid-priced hard box will keep their bike safe when they fly. It’s easy to pack, simple to move around and, most important of all, it’s tough and strong.

Read our review

Prime RP-38 carbon wheels £809.99

Buy now for 20% off at Chain Reaction Cycles

Prime RP-38 carbon clincher wheelset.jpg

These wheels are light (1,360g), stiff and well built and they offer a decent braking performance, even in the wet. The 38mm-deep rims give a bit of an aero advantage without being a handful when it gets windy. Eight hundred quid isn't exactly small change but it's not expensive for a set of carbon, tubeless-ready wheels either.

Read our review.

When it comes to clipless pedals, you have the choice between a three-bolt road-style system, like Shimano’s SPD-SL, and a two-bolt mountain bike-style system, such as Shimano’s SPD, and here we’re going to help you decide which is the best option for you.

Check out a whole road.cc forum topic on the subject .

Now, although I’ve already described a three bolt system as ‘road-style’, not everyone who rides on the road opts for this type of pedal, and SPDs are certainly not confined to trail use. 

One other thing to mention up top is that most of the characteristics of Shimano’s SPD-SL system are shared by other three-bolt designs from the likes of Look and Time. Plus, other mountain bike systems are similar in essentials to SPD. We're sticking to Shimano here to keep things simple, but here's a pic of some Look Keo Blade Carbons, just to show we're not biased!

Look Keo Blade Carbon pedals.jpg

Oh, and then there’s Speedplay, a unique system that has many avid fans, although for clarity we’re not going to cover it here. Sorry. If you want to know more about Speedplay, which is particularly valuable for those who need a lot of float, go to our article on 10 of the best clipless pedals. 

Read our pedal reviews here. 

Okay, so what are we talking about when we say SPD and SPD-SL?

Shimano first released its SPD (Shimano Pedaling Dynamics) design way back in 1990. A smaller metal cleat is mounted to your shoe with two bolts, fitting in a recess in the sole. The recessed cleat makes it easier to walk in SPD shoes and helps guide the cleat into the mechanism, so it’s easier to clip in. Originally intended for mountain biking, SPD has become popular with commuting and recreational riders too (Shimano PD-M520, above, £39.99). 

SPD-SL pedals, on the other hand, are quite similar to the original road racing clipless pedals introduced by Look in 1984 (updated many times since) in that the three-bolt cleat stands proud of the sole (Shimano PD-5800, above, £109.99). This allows an uncomplicated, rigid sole, but is awkward to walk in; think of a penguin waddling on ice or a sheep on lino and you’re somewhere close.

"Our pedals are always developed with particular shoes in mind (and vice versa), so we can give riders a complete pedalling system," says Shimano's Ben Hillsdon. "When making a decision on which to go for it's important to consider whether the shoe and pedal combination offer you the right level of usability and comfort for the type of riding you're doing. One of the biggest differences between the two pedal systems is how easy it is to walk in the shoes, which can have a big impact on a rider's experience and mid-ride coffee stop!"

What type of soles are right for you?

When you walk in SPD-SL shoes, the prominent cleat is in contact with the ground. Little tips on the cleat provide some protection against wear but you get relatively little grip. Most manufacturers make three-bolt soles as rigid as possible for cycling performance, and that’s far from ideal when you’re not on the bike. Really, you want to keep walking to a minimum: getting to and from your bike, tapping in and out of the cafe, that kind of thing.  

dhb Aeron Carbon Road Shoe Dial - sides.jpg

The dhb Aeron Carbon Road Shoe Dial that we recently reviewed here on road.cc is a typical shoe for a three-bolt system. It comes with a full-carbon sole that has a 3k weave top layer. 

dhb Aeron Carbon Road Shoe Dial - sole toe.jpg

“Although it's not the most rigid sole ever, it's pretty damn stiff and there's no sense that your power is being directed anywhere but straight into your pedals,” we said.

That’s great when you’re in the saddle, but it doesn’t make for ease of walking. You get very little grip on wet surfaces, while mud and SPD-SL systems really don’t get along.

Read our review of the dhb Aeron Carbon Road Shoe Dial here. 

The fact that an SPD cleat sits in a recess means that when you’re off the bike it’s not in contact with the ground nearly as much as an SPD-SL cleat. Manufacturers can give you a treaded sole that’ll grip on various different surfaces. 

Specialized Recon Mixed Terrain Shoes.jpg

“The grip on the sole is pretty fat, chunky and made from SlipNot rubber tread,” said Jo Burt in his review of Specialized’s two-bolt Recon Mixed Terrain shoes. “There's even a little bit of waffle grip mid-sole should you fluff a clip-in or be a little nervous and need to ride a section resting on the pedal not clipped in, and there are studs in the toe in case any rides see you scrabbling up muddy banks and suchlike.

Specialized Recon Mixed Terrain Shoes - Soles.jpg

“The tread works well in both on and off-road environments, although they're going to flounder in really muddy situations, and for off-bike applications they're confident even in the slipperiest of surfaces – such as the floor of a gent's toilet in a pub.”

Read our review of Specialized’s Mixed Terrain shoes here.

giro-civila-womens-road-cycling-shoes.jpg

The two bolt Giro Civila Women’s road shoes (£129.99) that we recently reviewed is designed for more recreational riding. 

“They are easy to walk in, comfortable for the job and the grippy sole sections offer a much better likelihood of staying on your feet on a tiled or laminate floor than many shoes offering equivalent performance,” we said.

Also, although mountain bike race shoes, like road race shoes, have rigid soles, some shoes designed for SPD pedals offer more flex.

Giro Petra VR Shoes

Giro describes its Petra VR (£84.99), for instance, as “a versatile shoe that combines performance riding features like clipless pedal compatibility with the walkability and comfort of a light hiking shoe” (the recess for the cleat is covered in the picture below).

When she reviewed them here on road.cc Lara Dunn said, “These are one of very few pairs of cycling shoes of this ilk that I've tried that genuinely don't feel like cycling shoes when you're walking, such is the fine-tuning of the flexibility of the sole. The soles are also grippy enough to be genuinely useful to walk in.” 

Check out all of our shoe reviews here.

There are many two-bolt touring shoes out there, like Shimano’s RT5s (£89.99, RT stands for Road Touring).  

Shimano RT5 shoes - sole detail.jpg

“There’s no ultra stiff low profile carbon sole with a road-style three-bolt cleat drilling here,” we said. “Instead, it’s a glass fibre sole with a recessed two-bolt drilling that’ll accept Shimano’s mountain bike SPD cleat system with the raised tread sections ensuring you can walk without fear of slippage. It’s not an aggressive sole like you get on a mountain bike shoe – they’re not intended for walking in muddy conditions, but getting around town, the office or cafes without slipping up and spilling your flat white.”

Read our Shimano RT 5 First Look.  

Eurobike 2017 Shimano CT5 shoes - 2.jpg

Some two-bolt shoes are designed specifically for urban use, like Shimano’s new CT5 (CT stands for City Touring) which have a casual trainer style to them along with an EVA mid sole designed to add walking comfort.

The more time you’re likely to spend walking, the more appealing SPDs become. 

So why wouldn’t you want the treaded outsole that an SPD system allows? There’s no point for a lot of us. If you get on your bike and ride until you get home again, or you just stop for a coffee or to nip into a garage for an emergency Snickers, you might as well save a little weight by doing without.   

Shimano-rp2-women-cycling-shoes.jpg

If you really don't know whether you'll be better off with a two bolt or a three bolt system, some shoes, such as Shimano's RP2 Women (above) are capable of taking either.

Clipping in

Most SPD-SL pedals are single sided, meaning that you can only clip in to them when they are the right way up. With most of the weight at the back of the pedal, they’ll usually hang with the correct side facing backwards towards your foot, so clipping in is straightforward when you get the hang of it. Occasionally, though, bikes do funny things and you might find yourself trying to engage the wrong side of the pedal. Hopefully, no one will notice!

Some people find it easier to clip into SPD pedals than SPD-SLs. First, most (not all) SPD pedals are double-sided, so you can clip in to either side. There’s no such thing as having those pedals the wrong way up.

Second, the recess in the sole of the shoe can help guide the cleat into the mechanism. In truth, though, you’ll probably soon adapt to whichever system you choose.

Shimano PD-T420.png

Shimano Click’r is essentially a variant of SPD with even easier entry and release. You use the same SPD cleats but clipping in and twisting out of Click’r pedals takes far less effort than with standard SPD pedals. You want figures? Shimano reckons it takes 60% less force to clip in, and 50% less force to release.

Shimano PD-R540-LA_.png

Over on the road side, the R540 pedal is available in both a standard and an LA (Light Action) model (£49.99).

All of these pedals have spring tension adjustment allowing you to alter the force holding the cleat in place. It’s a simple hex key job that takes seconds. 

Check out our guide to getting started with clipless pedals.

Contact area and weight

SPD cleats are small and many people find an SPD-SL system more stable, especially when riding out of the saddle. The top-level Dura-Ace 9100 road race pedal, for instance, has a platform that’s 66mm wide.

Read our Shimano Dura-Ace 9100 pedal review. 

You can, though, buy SPDs that have a cage around the pedal body to increase the size of the contact area with your shoe. Shimano’s PD-M424 pedal (below, £44.99), for instance, features a resin cage that’s designed to increase foot stability while the PD-M324 pedal (£49.99) has an SPD mechanism on one side with a steel platform on the other.  

PD-M424

Despite being larger, SPD-SLs are a little lighter than SPDs of an equivalent standard. SPD-SLs weigh from 228g (per pair) for race-focused Dura-Ace R9100 up to 330g for R540.

Shimano PD-M324 pedals

SPDs weigh from 310g for XTR cross-country mountain bike pedals to over 500g. A pair of the M324 SPD/flat pedals (above) just mentioned, for example, weighs 533g. 

People often say that SPD-SLs offer more stability than SPDs. Is that true?

"SPD-SL pedals hold the cleat in three positions whilst the SPD pedal holds the cleat in two positions (fore and aft) to make it easy to unclip in off-road situations." says Shimano's Ben Hillsdon. "With both pedal systems, though, the cleat retention (and therefore the stability of the connection) can be adjusted." 

Cleats

SPD-SL cleats are available with three different amounts of float (the degree to which your feet can rotate while the cleat remains engaged with the pedal). Cleats with red tips are fixed (0°), blue offers 2° of float and yellow gives you 6°. 

Shimano SPD-SL SH12 cleats (1).jpg

The fact that they’re made from plastic and they’re exposed (rather than recessed into the sole of your shoe) means that SPD-SL cleats wear out fairly quickly if you walk far in them on a regular basis.

SPD cleats

SPD cleats are metal and they’re better protected when you walk so they tend to last much longer. They’re cheaper too – £14.99 rather than the £19.99 you have to pay for SPD-SL cleats. 

SH51 SPD cleats allow you to release from the pedal by twisting your heel outwards while SH56 SPD cleats (above) allow you to disengaged by twisting your foot in either direction.

"Common Shimano SPD cleats (like the SH-51) offer at least 6° of float," says Shimano's Ben Hillsdon. "It's worth mentioning that as cleats wear the amount of float increases so it's important to adjust tension on the pedals to reduce unwanted unclipping."

Prices

Shimano R540.jpg

SPD-SL pedal prices start at £49.99 for a pair of PD-R540s (above) and go right up to £224 for Dura-Ace PD-R9100s.

shimano-m520-black-pedal.jpg

SPD pedals are a little cheaper than SPD-SLs of a similar level. They start at £39.99 for PD-M520 (above) and go up to £129.99 for XTR-level PD-M9020 trail pedals. 

Shimano PD-M324 pedals

Multi-purpose M324 SPD pedals are £49.99.

What we say

Comments from the road.cc team

“I find SPDs more practical, particularly for commuting, getting on and off the bike, popping in to Sainsbury's on the way home. They're easier to walk in, and because the cleats are metal they don't wear at anything like the rate of a plastic SPD-SL or my Time road cleats. Even when they do wear, they still work. Also, maybe because I'm more used to them, I find them more comfortable over short to medium distances.”
Tony Farrelly, road.cc editor

“I use SPDs for mixed rides and long rides, and the shoes are better for walking in. Maximal power transfer and platform stiffness aren’t such an issue on a 400km auduax as not falling down the steps at the tea rooms. Also, they’re easier to clip in to because they're double sided, and cleats and pedals cost 3 shillings and sixpence and last about 1,000 years. If I'm racing, or on the chaingang, I use road shoes and SPD-SLs because they look more pro. Erm. I mean, they're lighter and stiffer”
Dave Atkinson, road.cc tech guy

“If it has fat tyres and I know I’ll be heading off-road at some point in the ride, I ride SPDs. If I’m staying on the road I’ll always go for a three-bolt system because I know I won't be doing any walking and prefer the lightness and stiffness for maximising every measly watt of power I can output (even if it's only in my head). That and I'm also using PowerTap's excellent power meter pedals that i can easily swap between test bikes for consistent power measurement.”
Dave Arthur, road.cc technical editor

Tour Tech 2017 - pedals Chris Froome Shimano DA 9100 - 1.jpg

What you say

Comments from the road.cc forum

“When I got back into road a few years back I just took the SPDs off my mountain bike and went riding in my carbon soled mountain bike shoes. It was okay but felt wobbly on climbs.

I was then persuaded to buy SPD—SL and some mid range road shoes… The difference in power transfer, and more importantly, foot stability/knee tracking, was night and day different.

I still use SPD on the mountain bike, but for road riding riding, including hill climbing, long distance and even commuting, it’s SPD-SL.”
hampstead_bandit

“The physical benefits of SPD-SL over SPD's are the wider platform of the cleat and pedal means there is more lateral stability for your foot on the pedal.

“The single sided nature of the SL also reduces the profile of the pedal allowing you to pedal marginally deeper into a corner.

A proper road shoe has a stiff sole all the way to the tip of the toe giving a more stable base, whereas in most MTB shoes the carbon or nylon stops just ahead of the cleat to allow the sole to bend slightly at that point, to aid walking as often required in MTBing.

“Road shoes are generally lighter as they don't have tread and reinforcements, so a slight reduction in rotating mass.

“As with all the bike industry claims, none of the above will make the huge difference they would like you to believe, but I do prefer the more stable, lower profile of a proper road shoe/pedal setup.”
DaSy

“Having learned to ride clipless with SPDs, I thought I should try SPD-SLs on my road bike. I never got on with the clipping in on the SLs. Partly this is because it is much easier clipping in to double-sided pedals, but this is not the only factor - I ride A530 single-sided SPDs on my commuting bike, and even these are much easier than the SPD-SLs, even though they are not double sided.

“I was also really unimpressed with the wear on the plastic SPD-SL cleats. I made a real effort not to walk in them, and they still rapidly wore down such that I think I would have needed to replace them at least twice a year, and they're not cheap.

“If your shoe sole is stiff enough, SPDs are fine.”
Mystery Machine

What are the key factors when choosing a new road bike? It might be price, purpose, style, weight, but for some, it might very well come down to what groupset the bike is equipped with. And one of the most popular groupsets is Shimano's Ultegra, a groupset that combines a competitive price with top-level performance.

Here, then, is a roundup of road bikes fitted with Shimano’s Ultegra groupset. We’re going to focus on the mechanical version of the groupset because it covers a wider range of prices, and just to complicate things there are two Ultegra versions in the shops at the moment. There are plenty of bikes with the old 6800 group around, often at very keen prices, and a few are starting to trickle through with the new version, which is functionally very similar but styled to look like its Dura-Ace big sister.

>> Review: Shimano Ultegra 6800 groupset
>> Read more: Shimano launches new Ultegra R8000 groupset

Ultegra chainset.jpg

If you read Mat’s head to head feature, pitting Shimano Ultegra against its rival SRAM Force, you’ll know that Ultegra-equipped bikes can range in price from about £1,000 right up to £3,000 or more. That means there’s a wide selection of bikes to choose from, with different frame materials and riding purpose, and a choice of disc brakes or aero frames.

Some bikes will feature a full Shimano Ultegra groupset, but at both extremes of the price spectrum, you’re going to find some manufacturers mixing in some other components to help them meet key price points. The most common changes are brake calipers, especially on cheaper models, and sometimes chainsets get swapped for another make.

>> Head to head: Shimano Ultegra v SRAM Force

Let's dive in then...

B’Twin Ultra 720 AF — £1,099

BTwin ultra 720.jpg

Going with an aluminium frame is one way to get maximum value for money. And with modern aluminium frames offering the great performance they do, it’s a choice we can wholeheartedly recommend. B’Twin’s Ultra 720 combines a triple butted aluminium frame with direct mount brakes and internal cable routing, with a carbon fibre fork and a smart paint job. Best of all, it gets a full Shimano Ultegra 11-speed groupset, including the direct mount brake calipers and a compact chainset. The wheels are Mavic’s Cosmic Elite with matching 23mm tyres.

Planet X Pro Carbon Ultegra 2018 – £1,299.99

2018 Planet X Pro Carbon Ultegra R8000.jpg

British company Planet X has a reputation for affordable and well-specced road bikes, and so it’s the case with the Pro Carbon, which as the name suggest, offers a full carbon fibre frame and fork. It's the cheapest carbon fibre road bike with Ultegra that we're aware of. The frame has a compact geometry and it’s been designed to provide long distance riding comfort, so ideal for sportives and leisure cycling. It’s equipped with a full Shimano Ultegra R8000 groupset, and the build is finished off with Vision 30 aluminium wheels with 25mm Hutchinson Nitro 2 wire bead tyres.

Canyon Endurace CF 8.0 2018 — £1,749

2018 Canyon Endurace CF 8.0.jpg

German direct-sales brand Canyon has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity and sales in the UK, and it can always be counted on for providing very good value for money. The Endurace’s carbon fibre frameset is designed to offer a more upright and comfortable riding position than it’s racier Ultimate. You get a full Shimano Ultegra groupset with a compact chainset, along with DT Swiss P1800 wheels and a claimed bike weight of 7.2kg.

If you prefer a speedier ride, then the Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8.0 (£3,199) swaps the sportive frame for one designed in a wind tunnel and switches to deep-section wheels. It retains the identical groupset. It’s a good demonstration of how widely Ultegra is used in a bike manufacturer's range.

Bianchi Oltre XR3 Ultegra — £3,400

2018 Bianchi Oltre XR3 Ultegra.jpeg

Some people say you should never put a Shimano groupset on an Italian frame. We say you should make up your own mind. The Bianchi Oltre XR3 draws inspiration from the company’s top-end race-ready Oltre XR4, but uses less expensive carbon fibre to hit lower price points. It’s a full Shimano Ultegra groupset too, including brakes. Wheels are Fulcrum’s Racing 7 LG shod with Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slicks in 25mm width.

Trek Emonda ALR 6 2018 — £2,000

2018 trek emonda alr 6.jpg

Here’s the 2018 Trek Emonda ALR, which features one of the lightest mass-production aluminium frames we’ve yet come across. It claims 1,050g for a size 56cm, which means it’s lighter than many carbon fibre frames. With the full Shimano Ultegra that this model is equipped with, you’re looking at 7.81kg for the size 58cm we reviewed last year. A nice detail on this bike is the tubeless-ready Bontrager Aeolus Comp wheels; going tubeless is just a case of buying some suitable tyres, and you get the speed boost of aero wheels.

Giant Defy Advanced 1 — £1,849

2018 Giant Defy Advanced 1 CDB Carbon.jpg

Maybe you’ve got your heart set on a road bike with disc brakes? Well, Giant has completely overhauled its Defy endurance/sportive model with disc brakes, and for £1,849, the Defy Advanced 1 offers you a carbon fibre frameset, designed to provide a comfortable ride, with a Shimano Ultegra groupset. For 2017, Giant upgraded the brakes to Shimano hydraulics, a significant improvement over the previous mechanical discs, and that spec carries over for 2018. Giant supplies its own-brand finishing kit and wheels, along with 25mm tubeless tyres.

Liv Avail Advanced 1 – £1,949

2018 Liv Avail Advanced 1.jpg

Giant launched the Liv sub-brand to cater for women cyclists, and the Avail Advanced 1 shares many design features with the Defy, but the company says the carbon layup has been tuned specifically for women. As well as that, the geometry has also been adapted, and Giant has optimised the stem lengths, handlebar width and drop, crank arm lengths and brake lever reach across the size range. It’s similarly equipped, with a Shimano Ultegra 11-speed groupset and hydraulic disc brakes.

Eastway Emitter R2 — £1,400

Eastway Emitter R2 Ultegra 2017.jpg

A new range of bikes for 2017 have been well-received, the Emitter scored well in our annual Bike of the Year awards. This model features a nice looking carbon fibre frame and fork with a complete Shimano Ultegra groupset and Mavic Aksium wheels. It’s well appointed, with Continental Ultrasport tyres, Fizik finishing kit and a Fizik Aliante saddle. There’s space for up to 28mm tyres in the frame and it’ll even take mudguards too, boosting its versatility.

Look 765 — £2,850

2018 Look 765 Optimum.jpg

When we tested the Look 765, a sleek and stylish carbon fibre endurance bike, we were very impressed with its performance. Not all carbon frames are made equal: the Look designers have infused this frame with some linen fibres, which in key places (the fork legs and chainstays) is claimed to help dissipate nasty vibrations from ruining the ride quality. It appears to work, there’s very little road buzz through the saddle or handlebar when riding. This bike is finished with a full Shimano Ultegra groupset and the build is completed by way of some Mavic Aksium wheels and matching tyres, in a comfortable 25mm width.

Read our review of the Look 765

Cervelo S3 Ultegra — £2,999

2018 Cervelo S3 Ultegra.jpg

Cervelo's S3 might have been around since 2009, but it’s still regularly the choice of racers and professionals, and in 2013 it received an update so it's still a decent choice. It's a frame, reckoned by some to still be one of the most aero choices, that combines comfort with skinny rear stays, so you can have your aero cake and eat it. The Shimano Ultegra groupset is complemented by a Rotor 3D30 BBright chainset with 52/36t chainrings, and with Mavic’s Cosmic Elite S wheels, it’s ideal for the privateer racer.

[This article was last updated on December 6, 2017]

I expected excellent performance from these Shimano S-Phyre Winter gloves and they truly deliver. The dexterity is sublime, they're perfectly warm at 2°C and the grip from the palm is perfect. At £99.99, they're certainly expensive, but they work flawlessly.

• Pros: Warm, allow great dexterity, liner included
• Cons: Expensive

For me, gloves are an annoying thing that I have to wear sometimes. If I can get away without wearing them, I will. The times I have to wear them are for racing, with the increased risk of big crashes, and the cold winter months; numb hands aren't fun. Gloves must fit perfectly, allow full control of the handlebar and not cause my hands to become clammy. Otherwise, I'm an unhappy little cyclist.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Taking these Shimano S-Phyre gloves from the smart packaging, I noticed the first feature I like. The gloves are very light. They come in two parts with the main glove being made of a flexible PrimaLoft windproof back and a faux leather palm. There is also a liner glove which at first inspection doesn't look very sturdy but has proved itself to be comfortable, robust and warm.

Shimano S-Phyre Winter Gloves - liners.jpg

Pulling the gloves on, the fit is very close but my large was true to the size guide and comfortable. Shimano says it has designed these with a "3D pre curved" fit. The gloves certainly hang in a curved position when not worn, and conform very well to the hands when in the hoods.

The wrist section is tall and designed to be worn with the S-Phyre jacket. These items really do match up well, but the gloves also work well with other jackets. The close fit at the wrists really helps here, sealing out the wind.

Dexterity is the next priority on my list. Out on the bike I was very pleased with the natural feel you get at the levers. This is the closest you can get to riding with bare hands in any winter glove I've worn. The thin yet robust palm really helps here. It's constructed with three thin layers giving just enough cushioning while allowing natural movement.

Shimano S-Phyre Winter Gloves - palm.jpg

Taking these out for the first time, I was met with super-cold conditions: 2°C and strong winds from the coast. I was using the gloves with the inners and I had comfortable hands all day. The gloves were neither cold, nor did they make my hands sweaty.

They're windproof too, and are also advertised as water resistant. In reality, they will stand up to the occasional shower, or quite a bit of road spray, but water will get in. Thankfully, when it did, my hands didn't freeze and the gloves dried pretty quickly, allowing my hands to stay warm. These won't be very good in persistent rain.

Shimano S-Phyre Winter Gloves - back.jpg

The forefinger and thumb both get a conductive surface on the tips. This worked really well with my iPhone 6s and relatively well with my Garmin Edge 820, although the latter is always a bit hit and miss.

The gloves have stood up very well to washing. I'm careful to keep them away from the tumble drier, and they dry quickly when hung. They've also seen a little cyclo-cross action on a very muddy day. It's not what they're designed for, but they survived without an issue so I'm confident of their durability. I've also had no issues with the stitching.

That brings us on to cost, because at £99.99 you'll want these to last. At this end of the price range, the competition comes from Rapha. Its £70 Pro Team gloves have a similar construction, but according to Dave's testing they're for milder conditions; for colder days you'd be looking at the Deep Winter Gloves, and they're £110 (plus merino liner for £40). I love the fit from these S-Phyre gloves and for me that warrants the price, but it's close to being silly money.

> Buyer's Guide: 21 of the best winter cycling gloves

A much cheaper option, half the price in fact, would be the Sportful Sotto Zero gloves, if you can actually find them for sale anywhere; they're sold out just about everywhere, it would seem.

Overall, if you want the best fit from a winter glove that performs perfectly, the S-Phyres are a very strong option. I'd buy them, but I am incredibly fussy when it comes to gloves. There are very good options for quite a bit less, though, so I suggest you try before you buy.

Verdict

Near-perfect performance but with a hefty price tag

The WH-RS170s are part of Shimano's entry level into the world of disc brake ownership and while they aren't the lightest set of wheels out there, they are strong and well made, so should be ideal for the winter trainer or the odd excursion onto gravel tracks and bridleways.

• Pros: Impressive durability, well priced
• Cons: Heavy

Back in February last year I reviewed Shimano's RX31 wheels and they scored very well all round. They felt much lighter when riding than their actual weight would suggest. These RS170s follow that theme, and not only are they just 140g heavier but a mere £174.98 compared to the RX31s at £299.99. 

> Find your nearest dealer here

The rim is disc brake specific so there is none of that painted brake track that we see on some wheels, just a smooth, rounded 'U' shaped profile. The depth is 24mm with an external width of 23mm (17mm internal), and Shimano recommends tyre widths of 25mm up to 38mm which suits the latest vibe of most riders increasing their rubber width.

Shimano WH-RS170 Clincher wheelset - rim bed.jpg

Tyres are easy to fit too. A pair of 32mm gravel models which were an absolute pig to get on a set of Mavic Aksium Disc wheels slipped onto the Shimanos with very little thumb pressure. It was the same with some 25mm Continentals.

On rim brake wheels you often see different spoking patterns on both wheels and even on the opposing sides of the rear wheel, but disc brakes have changed that. Dealing with the forces of the disc rotor on one side plus the power from the drivetrain sees the rear use 28 spokes laced in a two-cross pattern on both sides, which is also replicated on the front.

Shimano WH-RS170 Clincher wheelset - front hub 2.jpg

Not only does this resist the forces it also makes for a strong wheel, which is ideal if you want to smash through the bumps and water-filled potholes on your winter commute.

I'm pleased to see brass nipples too, having had plenty of corroded and snapped ones after a year of commuting taking in the rough and salted roads of a harsh winter.

Shimano WH-RS170 Clincher wheelset - spokes.jpg

Hub-wise things run smoothly with little resistance thanks to the angular contact bearings of the cup and cone setup, and they are easy to adjust too. The RS170s have seen a lot of water, mud and grit over the test period and aren't showing any signs of grumbling at all.

Shimano WH-RS170 Clincher wheelset - rear hub.jpg

This setup is intended for 12mm thru-axles, which is pretty much the standard that has been settled on for most road and gravel machines lately.

Shimano WH-RS170 Clincher wheelset - front hub.jpg

The freehub is reasonably quiet when freewheeling, and engagement isn't too bad; there are quicker systems out there but you aren't going to notice unless you are really looking for it.

Shimano WH-RS170 Clincher wheelset - rear hub 2.jpg

That's all the techy stuff, so how do they ride?

They're great. As I said earlier, you don't really notice the weight, especially once they're rolling. Acceleration takes a knock, as does sprinting, but that isn't really what these wheels are all about.

> Buyer's Guide: 26 of the best road bike wheelsets

Stiffness is spot on and they turned up nice and true, something that they maintained over the test miles, which included a fair bit of off-road action. If I was running a disc-equipped bike through the winter months this is definitely the type of wheelset I'd be looking for: durability and strength over lightness and speed every day of the week.

Shimano WH-RS170 Clincher wheelset - rim.jpg

The weight – 2.1kg including the rim tape – is pretty similar to Mavic's Aksium Discs, which have a claimed weight of 2,045g for about the same money. I've got a pair of those, and running the RS170s alongside there is very little to split them, so from a value point of view the Shimanos look to be in the right ball park.

On the whole I'd say don't bother looking too much at the specs and weights. If you want a solid, relatively cheap wheelset that's happy to take some abuse then the RS170s are worthy contenders.

Verdict

Great value do-it-all wheels for riders who want strength over speed

Shimano's S-Phyre Winter Baselayer is a brilliant layer that can cope with both cold and mild conditions. It's soft, with a great fit. But the price is very high compared with equally excellent rivals.

• Pros: Brilliant wicking, perfect fit, very robust
• Cons: Expensive

The new range of Shimano S-Phyre clothing is certainly at the premium end of the spectrum. At £69.99, the baselayer is almost, but not quite, the most expensive baselayer we've tested on road.cc. Brands such as Craft, dhb, Rapha and Altura are all producing brilliant but cheaper baselayers, some for a fraction of the S-Phyre's price.

> Find your nearest dealer here

That said, this is a seriously good piece of kit. It has great features, like the venting on the spine, and the fit is excellent.

Shimano S-Phyre Winter Baselayer - back.jpg

That venting comes in the form of a mesh back panel that looks like a honeycomb structure. It certainly works: I never found myself feeling that 'cold, damp back' sensation that usually comes at the cafe stop. It's certainly pleasant to remain comfortable, even after hard training efforts.

There is also venting under the arms, which not only helps regulate body temperature it also seems to regulate body odours too. The baselayer hasn't developed any foul smells, even after two months of heavy use.

Shimano S-Phyre Winter Baselayer - under arm vent.jpg

Fit is also very good, with a close but unrestrictive cut and very little stitching. Shimano has used its anatomic 3D construction to reduce stitching to a minimum, and I have to say, I haven't noticed any.

Be aware that the sizing is decidedly small. I usually wear a small but I fitted this medium perfectly. If you've not got the body of a racing snake, size up by at least one size.

The sleeves are well proportioned with the cuffs sitting right on the wrist. The stretch in the fabric means my chest was unrestricted and the fit across the shoulders is close but comfortable.

The neckline is low, which may put some people off, but I prefer this cut as I can then wear it with a skinsuit for cyclo-cross, then layer with a good snood for training rides. The hem of the main body sits relatively high. This prevents any bunching of fabric at the lower abdomen, which can irritate skin and also leave a visible bunching line beneath your shorts.

Shimano S-Phyre Winter Baselayer - detail.jpg

I'm pleased to report that while the price is high, the baselayer is lasting well. I've used this for cyclo-cross races, caking it in mud, crashing and pressure washing it clean before it's allowed in the washing machine. It's survived everything and still kept its soft feel against the skin.

It does have a whole host of rivals, and many are heavily discounted. The Craft Active Extreme 2.0 baselayer got a great review and is currently only £20 on Wiggle.

> Buyer's Guide: 15 of the best cycling baselayers

A better option for deep winter when the temperature drops below zero is the Rapha Merino Baselayer LS. This is warmer for steady rides but it does struggle at higher intensities. At £65, it's only a fiver cheaper than the S-Phyre, though they are quite a regular feature in the sale section.

The S-Phyre is brilliant, but until it comes down in price I couldn't really recommend it for the average rider. If you need a baselayer for cyclo-cross racing, that's a different matter; the fit under a skinsuit makes it nigh-on perfect.

Verdict

Brilliant wicking and perfect fit but it's very expensive