Cyclist
In the Drops: Tailfin’s frame bag, Kostüme’s limited edition eco kit, bold Condor Pro Socks, Apidura’s City backpack and a recycling Wasteland
I’m honoured to make my debut on the start line for In the Drops – rest assured I’m sat here in matching bibs and jersey, unlike some other maglia rosa wearers I could mention. The Cyclist schedule gods have obliged by providing the open goal of a little-known race called The Giro d’Italia for my contextual background noise. With a passable number of my predictions not quite totally obliterated by Stage 6, I’m feeling pretty sage.
For anyone thinking about a little flutter, I’d point you in Robyn and Ewan’s direction, whose crystal gazes rest on research and informed speculation, rather than the jewellery choices of the GC candidates.
Elsewhere on the site, there is the usual spread laid on for the eyes of the inquisitive rider. To base layer or not to base layer when riding in the summer is the quiz we’ve pulled from the archive this week. There’s also an enlightening interview with Ralph Denk whose Bora-Hansgrohe team will soon be welcoming some bulls (red ones) into their china shop. Other big news this week included the launch of Monument Cycling TV’s streaming service, which should provide a huge and welcome boost for British cycling, and kicks off with the Lincoln GP this weekend.
And there is one more thing. What’s this in my bag? Oh, my own trumpet. How did it get there? And next to it: a link to Cyclist‘s write-up of the Pan Celtic Race in 2023. Sorry, I’ll only plug it once. Riding almost 2,500km in a week gives me (I hope) a tooting pass. And don’t forget about the latest edition of the podcast, where James, Pete and the delightful Krishnan Guru-Murthy sit down together to freewheel through AI, politics, and, yes, cycling.
Kostüme Kit Edit 003
Bristol-based – but continental-sounding – apparel brand Kostüme is onto its third rollout of limited-edition kit runs. This made-to-order ethos feeds into the company’s environment-first approach. The latest, #EDIT003, launched at the end of April and has fabric design from abstract artist Remi Rough woven into the Audax and ultra-distance-focussed kit. Handily, it’s anything but rough and feels delightful against my fragile Celtic skin.
This loud jersey has six pockets – including an overlaid double-width vented pocket that can easily handle a hardback book if that’s your bag – and is made from 100% recycled materials. Kostüme bills it as game for pretty much everything ride-wise, and it’s been working nicely for me in this hellacious season some people are referring to as spring.
The accompanying cap is sporting similar vented panelling to the jersey, and at the back even has an elasticated sort of snapback band – something you don’t see every day.
- Buy now from Kostüme (£145)
Tailfin Frame Bag
Three years in the making and announced with all the trappings of a landmark global political event – (hats off to the comms team) – the Tailfin Frame bag adds another staple to the Bristol brand’s armoury. (I’m not West Country-biased I promise). Tailfin has already set the world of ultra luggage alight with its thru-axle-based posh pannier system that seems to have done for the domination of the seatpost bag. But it ain’t stopping there.
So what’s the big deal – it’s just a frame bag right? Wrong my friend. As well as coming in nine sizes (with a handy online sizer), two different styles, an optional bottle dropper, being very protective of paintwork, and (obviously) totally waterproof, it also makes a mean cortado, loves cleaning, and will file your tax return for you if you post the figures through the zip hole. (Only some of this is true).
Attend any ultra race or Audax this year and it’ll be a case of Tailfins everywhere and not a shark in sight. Now, if only it would rain a bit so I could properly test it out.
- Buy now from Tailfin (£105)
Condor Pro Team Socks
Every year when I blow out those candles I keep my wish a secret. But now that it has come true I can share it. Finally, Condor will sell you a pair of cycling socks complete with silver ions that will strangle those pesky foot odours into submission. *Tosses old sack of bronze ions into the bin*
The Condor Pro Socks are performance-oriented and come in four classic block shades with a bit of striped detailing. The cuff is eight inches high to keep your calves on the right side of the sartorial velo police. They’re dead comfy and do that thing where they hug the underside of your foot arches like a friendly asphyxiating snake.
My only issue: they don’t come in white. Alas, we all need a bit of colour in our get up and the silver ions make up for it anyway.
- Buy now from Condor Cycles (£14.99)
Apidura City Bag 20l
There’s nothing like a new, empty bag to get my juices going. I’m not sure why. The sight of vacant litres of air sparks possibility somewhere deep inside me. Probably for the same reason my house is full of brand-new, unblemished notebooks. The promise of the blank page and all those novels I’ll never write. At least with the bags I do always end up using them, even If it’s just for moving house.
The Apidura City Backpack 20l didn’t stay vacant for long. It’s commuter-ready and fully waterproof, so you can rest easy that your laptop and your emergency layers are going to stay dry no matter how religious the downpour gets. There are some handy internal pockets, including a zipped flat section, and there’s an external zipper that has a neat key holder concealed within.
They also do a messenger bag in the same material, which is worth checking out if one of your shoulders is particularly valuable or you’re just a massive diva. Personally, I prefer the reliable double-strapped design – and I’m getting used to the innovative little clip system that looks kind of meek but does stay very much shut.
Apidura scores some decent environmental points by detailing the climate footprint of each item it sells. If you’re looking to crush your emissions entirely, check out its Revive programme where you can pick up refurbished, repaired and sampled goods at a discount.
- Buy now from Apidura (£130)
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What we’re into this week: The Wasteland by Oliver Franklin-Wallis
Having just exited the world of commercial publishing, I’m hyper-aware that the word ‘essential’ is bandied around on blurbs willy-nilly. It’s essential that you brake before careering over the edge of a ravine; it’s not essential that you read a novel about suburban families murdering their neighbours.
But I will say that – without actually qualifying as essential – Oliver Frankin-Wallis’s book detailing our relationship with rubbish and waste is a staggering bit of reportage. From second-hand clothes markets in Africa, to landfill sites in India, and rows and rows of incinerators and oozing nuclear dumps far closer to home, the sheer scale of crap that we produce, chuck out, and magic out of sight is utterly nauseating and slightly panic-inducing.
Franklin-Wallis lets us know, with poise and no little optimism, that the bin is not any kind of final destination. It is actually a smelly portal to a global kaleidoscope of trash that no one really wants to deal with. (Oh and that compostable plastic cellophane stuff isn’t properly compostable. Sorry.)
Read it and pass it on. Just don’t put it in the recycling.
- Buy now from Bookshop (£19)
The post In the Drops: Tailfin’s frame bag, Kostüme’s limited edition eco kit, bold Condor Pro Socks, Apidura’s City backpack and a recycling Wasteland appeared first on Cyclist.