Rohan

They're good all-purpose shorts, these Outriders from Rohan. They're bike-specific in a very understated way, well constructed and comfy; just the thing for short rides and any destination where showing up in lycra might be frowned upon.

We tested the Rohan Elite Stormer jacket some time ago, and while we liked the performance of the fabric, we had our reservations about the slightly upright commuter cut. It's a similar story with this lightweight Windrider jacket, but the fit doesn't seem to matter so much here. Anyway, it's a pricey but well-conceived windproof with some standout features, most notably its performance in the rain.

The Rohan Cadence Polo is a well made and smart shirt that performs well on the bike and looks good off it. It certainly isn't cheap, but it should last and it's a useful bit of kit for leisure riding and plain clothes commuting.

Rohan certainly couldn't be considered Johnny-come-latelys in the outdoor clothing field, but cycling apparel is a new direction for them. This Elite Stormer jacket manages to be light, breathable and waterproof – normally you have to pick two – and is certainly packs in some high performance to justify the £195 price tag. It does come up slightly odd in the fit department though.

When this landed on my desk, I was initially sceptical. First off, the Rohan Bumper Liner looks a bit like sanitary wear or an incontinence pad and more importantly, the idea of a stand alone chamois pad is one that just somehow doesn't, erm, sit right.