There's no getting away from the fact that road cycling is expensive, so in this video Sam Gupta runs through 7 different pieces of kit that stand to be great value alternatives to the more expensive counterparts. He has found better value options that rival the best cycling headunits, the best cycling sunglasses, the best cycling multitools and the best cycling shorts.
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00:00Big brands will have you believe that cycling has to be really expensive, but I don't think it does.
00:06So, I've rounded up seven of my favourite best value alternatives, all of which are linked below.
00:12Today, listening to music goes hand in hand with working out, and thanks to bone conducting
00:18headphones, cycling is no different. Bone conducting headphones allow you to listen
00:23to music without actually needing to have an earbud in your ears. Instead, sound is transmitted
00:28through your cheekbones, allowing for increased awareness whilst you're riding.
00:33For a long time now, Shox has been the market leader, with the likes of its Open Run Pro.
00:38And though they are really good headphones, receiving four and a half stars from us here
00:43at Cycling Weekly, they aren't cheap, costing nearly £110. However, recently, we gave five stars
00:50to a similar set of headphones retailing at just 20% of the cost of the Shox. Enter the
00:57Haylou Perfree Lite headphones. Coming in at just $36.99 or £27.69, these headphones offer
01:07all of the same Bluetooth connectivity features and similar technology for a fraction of the price.
01:14For us, it was the clear sound quality, ease of use, and impressive 30-metre range that left
01:20us wondering how these headphones are quite so cheap.
01:25When we think of cycling computers, most of us will point to either Garmin or Wahoo as the go-to
01:31options. But these premium brands both have halo head units well into the hundreds. The Garmin Edge
01:37840, for example, retails at $450 or £430 and shares much of the same functionality as its much
01:46cheaper competitor from the Taiwanese outfit, Brighton. The Brighton Ryder 750 retails at just
01:53shy of £220 or $270, complete with a 2.8-inch coloured touchscreen. Both computers feature GPS
02:02tracking and navigation, and plus, and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as available integration
02:08to third-party apps such as Strava or TrainingPeace. The touchscreen doesn't quite have the same colour
02:15contrast as seen on the Garmin devices, and although smart, the user interface is slightly
02:20less refined too. But it's hard to be overly critical when you are undercutting the market
02:25leader by nearly 50%, all the while maintaining all of the functionality required for some serious
02:32riding.
02:32Our next value alternative might seem like a bit of a juxtaposition. That's right,
02:38it comes from Rafa. It's fair to say the British cycling clothing brand is known more widely for its
02:43premium level cycling kit, but take a proper look at its whole range and you'll see a lot of fabric
02:50technology trickle down to a more palatable price point. Of all the shorts we've tested here at
02:55Cycling Weekly, one of our firm favourites is the LeCol Pro Bibshort 2s. They perform great in a
03:01multitude of weather conditions, and they feature a really plush chamois which is great for comfort,
03:06but this is all attached to a price tag of £185. Rafa's core bib shorts, by comparison,
03:14retail for £110. Now, while this isn't at the budget end of the bib shorts spectrum,
03:20they do represent good value for money. The Rafa core bib shorts impressed us with the quality of the
03:26chamois, the comfortable leg grippers, and they're all held together with some really sturdy stitching.
03:32It's fair to say that you won't quite experience the same armchair ride as some range topping shorts
03:38offer, but in terms of value for money, these shorts from Rafa are actually seriously competitive.
03:45An essential part of any cyclist toolkit is the humble multi-tool. Packable and versatile, it's safe to
03:52say a multi-tool has probably gotten all of us out of a tight spot at one point or another.
03:58Our favourite multi-tool here at Cycling Weekly is the Topic PT30. Even with its £40 price tag,
04:05it provides great value, thanks to a whole host of tools for almost any eventuality.
04:10But what if you don't want to shell out £40? Well, that's where the Lifeline Pro 18-in-1
04:17multi-tool comes in, and as the name suggests, the Lifeline multi-tool has a total of 18 different
04:24functions, including two, four, six, and eight mil hex keys, common torx keys, a chain tool,
04:30and screwdrivers too. Although you don't get the same flat pack form factor as the Topic,
04:35we were still impressed by the low weight of 118 grams. In our multi-tool group test, it was also the
04:42only tool to incorporate a CO2 inflator, which could be a real blessing, particularly if you
04:48use tubeless tyres. Like its more expensive rivals, the Lifeline also uses forged tools,
04:53rather than cheaper wrapped end tools, which should also seriously improve its longevity.
05:00Bikepacking is perhaps the best proof that cycling can be enjoyed in any way that you want,
05:06whether it's competitive racing, cafe riding, or exploration. We would all recommend a bikepacking
05:12trip here at Cycling Weekly, but before you embark on your maiden voyage, you need a way to carry your
05:18luggage. The easiest way to carry your gear is by using bikepacking bags. Designed to fit on almost any
05:24bike frame, bikepacking bags come in a variety of different sizes to attach to the different locations
05:30of your bike. When it comes to all-out quality, Waterleaf stills the show with its range of fully
05:35waterproof bikepacking bags, but the German engineering will set you back £150 for a saddle bag.
05:44If it's value you're looking for, then look no further than ZFAL. The French brand impressed us
05:49with its range of bikepacking bags that offer heat-sealed waterproof fabric, a similar attachment
05:54style to the Autolib bags, and all of that for just £79.99. You might not get the same five-year
06:00warranty as Autolib, and there is a 200g weight penalty, but the saddle bag is also from 8-17 litres
06:09in capacity thanks to the roll-down dry bag design, which is enough for most bikepacking trips.
06:16When you think cycling sunglasses, it's hard to think of any other brand than Oakley. Synonymous with
06:22success, Oakley sunglasses have been made iconic by the likes of Geraint Thomas, Remco Evenipole,
06:28and Mattia Vanderpoel. But a quality set of shades goes beyond just looking good. Glasses can keep
06:35your eyes safe from the sun, and in the event of a crash, save your skin too. But if you don't want
06:41to shell out over £200 on a fresh set of Oakley encoders, then Tafosi's Rail Clarion Phototech
06:49sunglasses might be for you. The Rail Clarion sunglasses feature a large photo-chromatic lens,
06:56and stylish frameless design. All of this for just £109.99. And if you want to save even more
07:05money, then check out the Crit sunglasses, which feature UV protection and a shatterproof lens for
07:11just £69.99. One thing I wish I realised when I was younger was just how much of a difference
07:18solid thermal kit can make to cold weather riding. With many of the best jackets from Rafa, Castelli,
07:24and Panama Studios costing well over £150, staying warm isn't always cheap. Unless you have this.
07:31The DHB Aerom Thermal jersey was dubbed exceptional quality for the money by our tech team earlier this
07:40year. And for good reason. It's warm, provides a great race fit, and features quality pockets and
07:46cuffs. All for £85. Though with current discounts, you may be able to find it an awful lot cheaper than
07:53that. For long rides, you need to get comfy. And that means a comfortable saddle, shoe,
08:00and cockpit setup. One part of the bike which is often overlooked, however, is handlebar tape.
08:07A simple rewrap of your handlebars can make a huge difference. But buying bar tape isn't always that
08:14simple. If you buy cheap, durability can suffer. And if you buy expensive, you can end up paying more
08:21than £30 a roll. So we think that Bontrager has found the sweet spot with its gel cork bar tape.
08:28It's available in a multitude of different colours. The gel cork tape is flexible, easy to wrap,
08:34and comfortable. And it just costs £14.99. Well done, Bontrager. As I mentioned,
08:41everything I've spoken about today is linked below. So let me know what you would go for.