Temperatures continue to plummet, but that's not putting off team road.cc from braving the cold and testing out a ton of new gear to give you our recommendations. Here's our pick of the products that we'll be delivering verdicts on soon.
£239.99
These are proper winter shoes with no need for overshoes on top, with weather protection down to a teeth-chattering -15°c according to Northwave. The integrated sock has no Velcro or overlaps, instead it's made from a high-stretch thermal neoprene to provide warmth and high flexibility with patented Gore-Tex Rattler membrane inside. A carbon/fibreless combo sole provides stiffness for high power transfer, and there's further weather protection in the toe caps. They're a big spend, but is it justifiable to be your go-to winter shoe without the need for further weather protection? Sean Lacey is finding out now.
i-ride.co.uk
£230.00
Another big ticket item, this jacket is a women's specific weatherproof option from Rapha with a "city-inspired" cut so it's just as wearable off the bike as on it. It's got fully taped internal seams to stop any water and wind getting in, and the hood is made to fit underneath a bike helmet. There's a drop-town tail to stop the spray from muddying your backside, that can easily be stored away in the rear panel. Is it worth the hefty outlay? Tass Whitby is doing the honours of testing it out, with a verdict coming soon.
rapha.cc
£69.95
This compact light has had a revamp, and is now customisable via a Bluetooth app. With 1000 lumens of power, it should be bright enough for trails and you can control the power exactly as you'd like from 1 to 100% through the app. It packs the power in a pretty small space, being just 72g and 45 x 33 x 38mm excluding the battery. The battery just plugs in to the light and is rechargeable via USB; you can also use it as a power pack for your phone off the bike. Last year Stu Kerton wasn't hugely impressed with the Magicshine MJ-900 due to the beam pattern, but will Neil Gander see the bright side of this new and improved version? The review is due soon.
£735.00
We previewed these power pedals in late summer, and after two months of solid use we're ready to deliver our verdict on the new dual-sided offering from Favero. They're cheaper than both the new Garmin Vector 3 and Powertap's P1 pedals, with accuracy claimed at +/-2%. Do they deliver everything they promise in a simple, easy-to-use package? Check out the review later this week.
cycling.favero.com
£219.99
These new kicks from Shimano sit under their top-end S-Phyre shoes, and are meant for all-day comfort for endurance riders. The upper is a stretch-resistance microfibre synthetic leather with a seamless construction, plus perforated venting for breathability and comfort. A new carbon composite outsole is designed for optimal stiffness on long rides while the new curved external heel cup structure secures the heel and foot, with a BOA IP1 dial with hidden wire routing for adjustability. Are they so good there's no need to splash more on S-Phyres? Dave Arthur is testing them now.
shimano-europe.com
For all the latest road.cc test reports, head to our reviews section. If you need more advice before you splash some cash, check out our buyer's guides.
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