With a chill in the air and the rain hammering it down here in the south west, our attention has fully turned to the autumn and winter kit that#s landed in the office. It's overshoes and gloves on, and unfortunately that's probably the way it will stay until spring!
Tifosi Alliant Fototec Light Night Lens Sunglasses
£99.99
Tifosi's Fototec lenses are designed to adapt to a wide range of light conditions, so are particularly useful if you ride off-road/on paths and still need to protect your eyes from road dirt. The polycarbonate lenses offer a large, uninterrupted surface area that give plenty of peripheral vision, and they incorporate Glare Guard technolovy to keep out UV rays. They're also vented to prevent fogging, and are interchangeable for when you need to change them. Are the Alliants as versatile as claimed? Ian Walker's review is due soon.
zyrofisher.co.uk
£135.00
Although it has 'run' in the title, the Pro backpack from Iamrunbox is supposed to be ideal for cyclists too (and parkour enthusiasts according to the promo video) and is designed to keep your work clothes crease-free thanks to its specially designed compartments. There's a laptop section suitable for a 13.5" laptop and also an external shoe bag attachment which you can buy separately. It weighs just 945g, and has straps accross the chest to keep it secure. Is it worth the big old price tag? The verdict will be in shortly...
iamrunbox.com
£32.99
These could be just what we need as the weather starts to turn, promising waterproof and windproof protection against cold weather with minimal bulkiness. A micro-fleece lining keeps your hands warm, while the construcion is multi-layered so you still have a positive feel around the fingertips to make sure you don't mess up during that all-important Strava upload. Could they keep your hands warm in an avalanche? Siobhan Kelly is finding out...
£425.00
The 2019 version of the Sirrus hybrid is described as 'a simple and stylish way to begin your fitness adventure', with a light aluminium frame and steel fork equipped with a rack and mudguard mounts so you can head off the beaten track. The Shimano Tourney 3x8 drivetrain gives you plenty of low gers for climbs, and it's equipped with V brakes and tough 32mm tyres. Would Matt Lamy give the Sirrus some serious consideration? Find out in his test report soon...
specialized.com
Santini Aquazero Vega bib tights
£140.00
These high-tech tights from Santini have anti-shock protection in the chamois pad, with an anti-twist gel core that should keep your bum happy even over the most brutal bumps on the road. The Aquazero treatment keeps them water resistant even after multiple washes, and they have a breathable thermofleece construction with jacquard elastic braces and a mesh insert at the back. Are they now Ash's top tights for the colder months? His review is coming soon...
zyrofisher.co.uk
To read all of road.cc's latest test reports, head over to our reviews section. If you want some more advice before splashing the cash, check out our buyer's guides.
After cobbling together a few hundred quid during his student days off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story), Jack bought his first road bike at the age of 20 and has been hooked ever since. He joined road.cc in 2017 having previously being Staff Writer at 220 Triathlon magazine, and reports on all things tech as well as editing road.cc's live blog. He is also the news editor of our electric-powered sister site eBikeTips. Jack's preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking (the latter being another long story), and on Sunday afternoons he can often be found on an M5 service station indulging in his favourite post-race meal of 20 chicken nuggets, a sausage roll, caramel shortbread and a large strawberry milkshake.