Price: £695
Frame: steel
Weight: 10kg
Gears: 9-speed
Most bikes are made in Taiwan. But not Temple cycles, they’re built in Bristol by a man called Matt and his small team – you can pop in and have a cuppa with them. This new frame is typical of what the friendly independent firm is all about. It’s made to order, you choose the exact size you want before adding various bits and bobs as you wish, from mudguards to panniers and a kick stand to a shiny old-school bell. It’s created not to last a season but a lifetime, and you’ll find it light and practical to ride. It comes with a wide-ranging nine-speed gear, a classic Reynolds steel frame, a pearly powder coat finish and high quality alloy parts throughout. It’s then finished off with a nice handmade pewter head badge and fluted retro crankset. It’s not a bike you’ll ever tire of owning (templecycles.co.uk).
May the force be with you
If you love Star Wars and cycling, then you will definitely want to put this on your Christmas wish list. Performance cycle clothing brand Milltag has released a new Original Stormtrooper jersey, using the iconic designs from Andrew Ainsworth, creator of the Stormtrooper costumes for Star Wars – A New Hope. Milltag, well known in the cycling world for manufacturing custom cycle clothing for brands and clubs, are expanding their Empire (get it?). The jersey comes in two designs, the white ‘Garrison’ and black ‘Shadow’. If you can’t decide which to go for, I’d play safe and get both! The Milltag Original Stormtrooper is available in limited quantities now, followed by a pre-order wave for delivery in time for Christmas. The jersey is available in sizes XS-XXXL in men’s cut and XS-XL in women’s specific cut and costs £75. For more information, see milltag.cc/collection/stormtrooper.
Be ready for Cycle to Work Day for under £100
Wednesday 13 September is National Cycle to Work Day – a celebration of taking two wheels to the office! Last year more than 45,000 people took part, along with the hundreds of thousands who commute to work by bike everyday.
If you are new to this, there are things you’ll need that will make your journey warmer, dryer and safer. Clearly if you are only planning on doing this once, don’t invest, but hopefully this is the first day of your healthier and more fun commute. You can buy all these essentials and still have change from £100.
dhb Slice 15L Rucksack, £23.99, wiggle.com A compact, 15L rucksack perfect for commuting with a modest amount of gear. The dhb Slice has a slim design for a compact, nonrestrictive feel and high-vis finish for enhanced visibility in low lighting conditions. It features both a reflective web light loop and reflective print details.
dhb Flashlight Windproof Gilet, £35, chainreactioncycles.com Designed to make you visible in any lighting conditions and without compromising on reflective components. The main body is finished in brightly coloured fluro fabrics for optimum impact. Reflective trims have been strategically added for total 360 degree visibility with 3M Scotchlite reflective prints and further reflective trim panels of the highest quality and durability featured throughout. Its lightweight construction makes the Flashlight Gilet the perfect addition to your commuting wardrobe. With a relaxed commuter fit, there is room for you to layer up when the weather turns cold and plenty of space to give you unrestricted freedom of movement.
LifeLine Performance CNC Mini Pump, £8, wiggle.com A lightweight and compact pump with a sleek CNC alloy body, 120psi max pressure and a retractable auto-switching dual fitting head. The LifeLine Performance CNC mini pump provides fast and easy tyre inflation without excess weight or bulk. It can be mounted securely on your frame with a mount that attaches to your bottle cage.
Kryptonite Kryptoflex Coiled Key Cable with Frame Bracket, £9.49, wiggle.com This extremely flexible straight cable lock features a twisted steel cable for lightweight yet sturdy security. The reinforced lock head construction with Talon lock pin retention system provides extra holding power.
LifeLine Essential LED Safety Light, Front £5.20 and Rear £4.80, wiggle.com A pair of super bright LED lights with a high grade lens and a precision CNC machined aluminium body. With continuous and flashing modes, simple operation and tool-less mounting, These brilliant LED lights are essential for night riding and commutes.
Continental Quality Road Inner Tube, £3.99, chainreactioncycles.com This is an all purpose inner tube and excellent replacement inner tube for your road bike when you suffer from that inevitable puncture.
Odlo Warm Tube, £10, odlo.com Keep the drafts out on windy winter days with this warm and insulating high-performance tube scarf. Combining great thermal properties with fast-drying, highly breathable fabric for excellent moisture management, this stylish neck warmer easily slips over your head to provide a warm and versatile barrier against the elements.
Biofreeze Pain Relieving Gel, 30ml, £3.49, boots.com Perfect for using before or after an early morning ride or having in your commuter bag, Biofreeze is a must have, offering a quick fix for pain relief. This cool cryotherapy gel is great for minor aches and pains associated with arthritis pain, backache, strains and sprains, it also comes in a great useable size.
Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166
