The people behind Alpkit know a thing or two about mountains. They’ve turned their passion for all things vertical into a business and now offer all the top-notch kit you could ever need to climb, run, walk or ride in the Alps – hence the name Alpkit. See what they did there? They’re based in the marginally more forgiving Peak District, and one of their most popular bikes is the Sonder Transmitter. It’s a super responsive hardtail with Rockshox up front. Sram gears and disc brakes means you can treat the trails like a fun-loving hooligan and still come home in one piece. If you fancy a go, book a demo at their Nottingham factory or take a full test ride for £39 a day. If you then buy the bike, Alpkit will refund your money (alpkit.com).
Price: £999
Frame: 6061 aluminium
Gears: Sram NX 11-speed
Wheels: WTB Trail Blazers
Inspiration for Christmas cyclists
People often moan about how hard it is to buy gifts for men. Well, if they are cyclists it’s not hard at all. Here are five last-minute ideas to help make someone’s Christmas that little bit more special. And, of course, if your mother/wife/sister/auntie is a cycling fan, she’ll love these, too.
Odlo Classic bike polo shirt, £55 Odlo Practical and comfortable: this short-sleeve bike polo shirt is perfect for long weekend rides as it has two back pockets, or it will happily great casual T-shirt during food and drink pit stops next summer.
2XU Water bottle, £10 2XU This premium 2XU easy-flow bottle is engineered to keep athletes hydrated while on the go. Featuring a rubber stop to prevent leaks, ridged mid-sections for grip, and flexibility for fast, easy-squeeze output. Includes clear side gauge for monitoring of liquid levels. At 750ml, it’s bigger than some of the more expensive alternatives. It’s also free of the chemical bisphenol-a (BPA), commonly found in a variety of consumer products, and known to cause to a range of health problems.
dhb Blok short sleeve jersey Intersection, £45 Wiggle The Intersection jersey offers you the wow factor as well as great performance. Bold, bright and distinctive, the design is based on Strava heat maps from the roads around London. Popular routes glow brighter, with major intersections forming focal points; darker tones are the roads less travelled. The fabric naturally wicks moisture away from the skin; it has an anti-bacterial control treatment; UPF 30+; three drop pockets at the rear and a secure zip pocket for storing valuables.
LifeLine Essential torque wrench set, £27.50 Wiggle Install components with calibrated precision. The LifeLine Essential torque wrench allows you to apply the correct tension and clamping force when fitting and adjusting components, helping prevent costly damage or dangerous loosening of bolts.
GripGrab Hurricane gloves, £40 Wiggle These are comfortable cross-season cycling gloves made from waterproof, breathable and lightweight materials. They are excellent for wet and windy conditions and provide great insulation and maximum freedom of movement along with good fit and grip.
Happy Christmas and ride safely out there!
Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166
