I tried to ride more off-road this year. I say ‘tried’ as I’ve become increasingly addicted to time trialling in the last few years and really enjoy the speed but also like to spread my saddle time across many disciplines. To me, there are a lot of similarities between time trialling, marathon mountain biking and gravel racing – most of the time, you’re riding alone, and it becomes a race against the clock. Like road racing and time trialling, aerodynamics is becoming more of a thing in gravel, too, as riders look to cover as much ground in as short a time as possible.
Thanks to this pursuit of speed, the crossover between disciplines is undeniable. This pursuit has become the cornerstone of one particular brand — SRAM, with its groupsets that can be mixed and matched across the road, MTB, and gravel riding disciplines. It makes sense to have a cross-compatible ecosystem, as this takes the guesswork out of groupset selection and streamlines the user experience. SRAM is also one of the leading protagonists in the aero gravel revolution, and I foresee most manufacturers following suit.
My standout products this year are naturally all performance-focused, and they were thoroughly tested across many races and events. I ride a lot. Along with colleague Matt Page, we probably spend more hours riding bikes than most journalists — not just because we love being on the bike but because we enjoy putting products through the wringer. I can assure you that my 800 hours in the saddle were put to good use.
Like every year, I hope my gear of the year selections inspire you to ride your bike more.
Best bike – Rondo Ruut CF1 G2 gravel bike
A lot of the current crop of gravel bikes all look the same and I don’t see this changing any time soon – especially considering the increase of aerodynamically optimised offerings. That’s one of the reasons the new Rondo Ruut stood out for me.
Unlike classic frame triangle designs, the Ruut CF preaches the notion of form following function with radically lowered seat stays and a kinked top tube. But the seat tube is probably its most divisive design feature. All these design quirks are functional as much as they are visual and the result is a bike that rides with composure and confidence.
I’d like to see it fitted with a contemporary aero gravel wheelset and SRAM T-Type drivetrain to fully maximise its potential. Other than that, the Rondo Ruut CF1 G2 gravel bike has a lot to offer the buyer regarding value for money and all-round capability. Factor in the Polish company’s lifetime warranty, and it becomes an even more appealing consideration.
Read my Rondo Ruut CF1 G2 review for more information.
Mountain bike of the year – Lauf Elja Ultimate Flight Attendant
Lauf Elja, by Aaron Borrill
The Lauf Elja is the Icelandic brand’s first attempt at the mountain bike concept and, again, it’s another divisive pick from me. It eschews modern mountain bike design for a unique blueprint that won’t appeal to everyone – in fact, many onlookers think it’s an e-bike.
Utilising a unique, leaf-spring-inspired triangle and lacking traditional horizontal chainstays, the Elja employs oversized pivot bearings, which maximises the main pivot spacing and oversized shapes. It also runs two bottom brackets – one for the crank and one for the suspension pivot which is a novel idea.
Despite its hefty-looking proportions, the Lauf Elja tips the scales at 11.3kg, making it one of the lightest full-fat cross-country bikes on the market – with pedals and 2.8-inch tyres fitted. The bike pictured here is the range-topping Elja Ultimate Flight Attendant featuring a SRAM Eagle Transmission XX SL drivetrain, a RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate fork/RockShox Sid Ultimate Flight Attendant suspension combo, RockShox Reverb AXS dropper and Zipp 1Zero HiTop S carbon wheels.
Look out for the review dropping in the new year.
Best wheelset – Parcours FKT gravel wheels
Parcours FKT gravel wheels, by Aaron Borrill
Aero gravel is well and truly a thing now. The Parcours FKT gravel wheels find themselves in a unique space with the only threats coming from the Zipp 303 XPLR S and Swiss Side Gravon Carbon 500 wheels. Status and reputation are always going to be a factor among racing enthusiasts but so is pricing and, based on that fact alone, Parcours is at a slight advantage coming in at £1,199 for what is a premium top-of-the-range wheelset.
The FKT wheels feature a 47mm rim depth and weigh 1,500g for a complete set, while the spoke count comes in at 24 front/rear in a two-cross lacing pattern. Hub-wise, the drive mechanism comprises the same six-pawl freehub and 44T ratchet as the brand’s road hubs owing to the quicker engagement needed and lighter overall system weight.
Overall, it’s hard to beat the value of the Parcours FKT gravel wheels. There is no question about their speed and overall comfort but, ultimately, in the current economic climate, the pricepoint sets them apart from their rivals.
All the details can be found in my Parcours FKT gravel wheelset review.
Best item of clothing – Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid Long Sleeve Jersey
Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid Long Sleeve Jersey, by Aaron Borrill
I”ve always had a soft spot for Q36.5 and love what the Italian company is doing, partly because I’m a Vincenzo Nibali fanboy and he is involved with the brand in an ambassadorial role. With most clothing brands trying to fill a trendy, cafe-racer-style niche, there’s a degree of snobbery happening at the minute and I want nothing to do with that – this is where Q36.5 comes in.
The brand takes a scientific approach to clothing design and focuses more on function than overt trendiness. That’s not to say the products don’t look good – they do and the understated nature of the range makes it ideal for riders who want a technical performance fit with genuine weather-rated materials.
The Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid Long Sleeve Jersey has been my go-to option recently. While minimalist in look and feel, the jersey performs flawlessly in the cold, retaining a body-hugging fit that doesn’t inhibit movement or comfort. Available in three colours – black, grey and navy – it uses a trio of fabrics, pinstripe material on the back panel for ventilation, a hybrid fabric on the chest and outer arms for wind control and an insulating fleece for the inner arms and stomach. I love it.
Best helmet – POC Cytal Carbon helmet
POC Cytal Carbon, by Aaron Borrill
The POC Cytal might be a road helmet but off-road cyclists have been mixing things up for a while now and we’ve often seen road helmets employed by riders such as Nino Schurter. Besides, if you like going fast, road bike helmets pose many benefits including enhanced aerodynamic properties. The POC Cytal is the Swedish brand’s range-topping helmet. It boasts superior ventilation thanks to the large front scoops and a carbon wing which enhances airflow and cooling.
The external polycarbonate shell is bonded to an internal EPS foam structure with varying densities to optimise protection. While there are no Mips or Spin rotational safety liners, POC emphasises safety as “the cornerstone of the development and design process,” constructing the Cytal Carbon helmet with its in-house Finite Element Model research and testing. It features an expanded polystyrene liner claimed to offer “the ideal balance of low weight and crash protection”, while the carbon wing is designed to help force distribution during impact.
Despite this, the Cytal Carbon has achieved the highest (five-star) rating through Virginia Tech’s independent testing. Weight for a medium is claimed to be 250g – my test unit came in at 252g. Performance-wise, I’ve been using the helmet most of summer and autumn and have been impressed by the comfort and cooling it offers. While it feels a little on the bulky side, it balances size, weight and aesthetics impressively.
The Cytal Carbon is currently only available in black and will set you back £360.
Best component – Favero Assioma MX Pro power meter
Favero Assioma Pro MX-2 crank detail, by Aaron Borrill
I’ve been a fan of Favero Electronics since I tested my first power meter from the brand in 2019, the Favero Assioma Duo. Six years down the line, I still use them and the accuracy is as good as when I first unboxed the pedals. Riders have been asking for an off-road-specific solution and the Italian company has finally delivered it.
As many cyclists know, accurate and consistently reliable power meters are hard to find – especially for off-road use, but Favero Electronics has killed it with the Assioma Pro MX-2 power pedals. They look good, add no significant weight to your bike and provide rock-solid performance regardless of the weather conditions and terrain. The best part about a pedal option is the ability to swap it between bikes with ease – something that will find favour with many riders.
In today’s cost of living crisis, a sub-£600 power meter is a rarity and Favero has ensured its Assioma Pro MX-2 pedals have hit all the markers. At present, there is nothing on the market as accurate, reliable, durable and easy to set up. The Favero Assioma Pro MX-2 pedals are the best off-road-specific power meter on the market.
Have a look at my Favero Assioma Pro MX-2 pedals review for more info.
Best groupset – SRAM Red XPLR AXS
SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset.JPG, by Aaron Borrill
The new SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset will take some doing to beat based purely on its refinement, overall performance and premium nature. The American company has nailed the formula – particularly the parts sharing across its groupsets. Not only has this lowered manufacturing cost but also unified the corporate look and feel across all products in the portfolio. Despite this, it’s still fairly dear in terms of pricing. The groupset will set you back £3,980 if you purchase it outright.
Overall, SRAM has done an excellent job anticipating the rise of gravel racing and catering to the gravel-racing demographic and it shows in every detail. From the sharp braking and shifting performance to the refined ergonomics and aesthetics, there isn’t anything currently able to match the SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset.
Want to know more? I’ve got you covered with the SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset review.
Best product – Gtechniq Ceramic Coating
Gtechniq Ceramic, by Gtechniq Ceramic
I get pedantic when it comes to cleaning my bikes. I hate dirt – especially after I’ve spent hours cleaning my bike. Naturally, I’ve tried many products, but nothing has worked as intended – well, until using Gtechniq’s Ceramic Coating… the stuff just works.
When applied, the ceramic coating forms a durable layer of clear ceramic treatment that prevents dirt and grime from accumulating on the frame. While it takes time to properly apply it (you’ll need to thoroughly clean your bike before the treatment and follow the instructions) the result is immediately evident. Not only does water bead off the surface, but grit and other contaminants struggle to bond with the layer, resulting in a cleaner frame. The bonus is that a quick hose and wipe will effortlessly remove all grime.
Make sure you read our feature, ‘Cleaning and protecting your bike is made easy with Gtechniq Ceramic‘, if you’re interested in taking your bike protection to the next level.