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Summer’s all but over, so we’re beginning to turn our attention to bikes, tech and kit for the autumn and winter. Here’s the best of the bunch from our August review pile that earned road.cc Recommends awards, including some off-season-friendly products that we persevered with through the heatwave. It’s a hard life…
- USWE Hydration pack
- Ahooga E-Max
- Van Rysel EDR-G GRX
- Cikada Touring
- Garmin Varia Rearvue 820
- ThinkRider XXPRO Direct Drive Trainer
- Evoc Road Bike Bag Pro
USWE Hydration Pack
Buy from Sigma Sports for £89.00
Our ultra endurance specialist Matt Page was very impressed with this two-litre hydration pack from USWE, and now knows why it’s becoming a familiar site at races.
His verdict was this: “USWE has created a deceptively simple pack that is close to perfect for its intended role. Movement is kept to a minimum, the fastening system is genuinely innovative yet effortless to use, and comfort remains excellent even on the longest rides. If your priority is carrying fluids efficiently for racing or long-distance adventures where speed matters, the Race 2.0 is the most comfortable and user-friendly hydration pack or vest-style system I have used.”
Read our full review of the USE Hydration Pack
Ahooga E-Max
This premium folding e-bike looks great and rides great too, says Richard Peace, with an innovative design and exceptional performance on hills to justify the price tag.
“It’s a bike that has many original design elements aimed at improving practicality and performance in an area where it has often proven tricky for manufacturers to reconcile the conflicting needs of foldability, lightness and effective electric assistance,” says Richard.
Only the relatively small battery and fold size – that’s not quite as compact as a Brompton – came in for criticism, but for most commuters neither of these factors should be a dealbreaker.
Read our full review of the Ahooga E-Max
Van Rysel EDR-G GRX
Available soon from Decathlon UK
Van Rysel bikes almost always hit the spot when it comes to balancing quality with exceptional value, and the all new EDR-G GRX is set to be another hit according to our chief bike reviewer Stu Kerton.
He describes it as a “well priced, versatile endurance gravel machine” that is “perfect for those who want to explore in comfort”, recommending a few upgrades after purchasing to really make it sing. 50mm tyre clearance, a toolkit integrated into the downtube and 1×12 gearing make this a really practical machine, too.
Read our full review of the Van Rysel EDR-G GRX
Cikada Touring
Buy from Sweatband for £1,499.99
Our second e-bike to make the grade this month is this affordable touring rig from Cikada, that is “a big bike with big specs”, says Richard Peace.
A powerful mid-drive Bafang motor, big battery, room rack and ginormous 27.5in x 2.8in tyres make this an ideal bike for load-carrying, and not much can beat it in the £1500-£2000 price category.
“In short, the Cikada Touring is one of the best value e-bikes I’ve tried in a long time – if they could add more bespoke carrying accessories it would add even more capability to an already very capable e-bike,” adds Richard.
Read our full review of the Cikada Touring
Garmin Varia Rearvue 820
Buy from Team Cycles for £235.00
Garmin’s updated Varia Rearvue sets the rear bike radar standard once more, according to Paul Grele, who says it “…takes on the best of the competition and proves why Garmin’s radar lights are still the benchmark.” Just the £260 price tag and some missing alerts on other brands of head unit came in for minor criticisms.
“This model ups the radar game, visually showing more useful detail than before, but retaining the right amount of audible alerts. It improves situational awareness significantly, and is now more customisable than ever. Add in an excellent light and a fast recharge time, and it’s pretty much unbeatable.”
Read our full review of the Garmin Varia Rearvue 820
ThinkRider XXPRO Direct Drive Trainer
It wasn’t long ago that you needed to spend the best part of a grand to invest in a smart trainer of any sort – and in 2026, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to affordable options. For under £300, you can now get a trainer that’s as good – if not better – than something that would have been three times the price just a few short years ago, says our reviewer Dave Atkinson:
“It’s a great option that’s easy to use and spits out accurate power numbers. For the money, it’s simple to recommend.”
Read our full review of the ThinkRider XXPRO Direct Drive Trainer
Evoc Road Bike Bag Pro
If you want premium protection for your bike when travelling without the bulk of a hard case, Evoc’s Road Bike Bag Pro should be right towards the top of your wishlist, says reviewer Becky.
It provides an “excellent balance of protection, practicality and minimal bike assembly for frequent travellers”, plus it’s easy to pack and move around. The design is also well considered when it comes to modern bike features like integrated cockpits and internal cabling.
Read our full review of the Evoc Road Bike Bag Pro
To see the full archive of products that have been awarded road.cc Recommends badges over the years, head over to the road.cc Recommends section
