Louis Garneau

These Louis Garneau Mondo Evo shorts might not be cheap but they put in a high-level performance to justify their price tag.

Louis Garneau's Wind-Eco gloves are proof that winter designs needn't feel like the proverbial cardboard box getting in the way of slick shifts and smooth braking. These gloves are reckoned to have a very broad operating temperature range of between -10 and +14 degrees which pretty much makes them a three season glove for most British conditions, wind protection and moisture trafficking appear perfectly synched, retaining warmth while banishing clammy hands. I liked them a lot.

Louis Garneau's Lathi gloves are an extreme design for the worst that winter can hurl at us, the despite their slightly cumbersome appearance are surprising dextrous and, thanks to their two part design, give excellent climate control whatever direction the mercury is hurtling.

Louis Garneau may sound like a haute couture brand, but this Canadian company manufactures a wide range of cycling kit, including these Sotchi Gloves, which are ideal for spring and autumn riding, when it's too chilly for track mitts, but not cold or wet enough for full-on winter gauntlets. Indeed they also work well (if it's dry) on the sort of mild winter days we've had so many of this year.

It's a sign of the times, but I suspect that most people's new years' resolutions will include a promise to do more exercise. For cyclists, this usually entails more hours spent in the saddle which is easier said than done given the typical January weather these islands see. Step in the Louis Garneau Gemini bib tights. As a proper winter conditions bib tight, these take some beating and they don't break the bank either.

I've had the pleasure of testing a bunch of Louis Garneau's winter gear lately, and have found it all to be well thought out and constructed but I was a little disappointed by these Oslo bib tights.

The Massimo Jacket is intended as a high performance winter jacket, capable of tackling the worst of the cold whilst also handling the odd spot of rain. Hailing from Quebec, the folks over at Louis Garneau undoubtedly have plenty of experience of riding in harsh weather; experience which shines through in the fit and features on the Massimo.

Louis Garneau's Electra 2 convertible windproof/gilet forms a versatile all-round outer layer for autumn and spring. it's not particularly warm or waterproof but still comes in handy until winter kicks in, and even then it has its uses.