it doesn't have to have been released this year, because I'm a bit of a late adopter and I'm sure many of you are too.
For me it's easily the Ochain R I fitted to my enduro bike a few months ago.
It gives an amazing performance benefit in calming the bike down over rough ground, and it's super-quick to switch between modes - so you can do back-to-back runs to feel exactly what it's doing.
MTB version of the Win Wing for me. Super quick to fit and remove, doesn't look as hideous as a Mudhugger, surprisingly effective from butt level upwards.
Similar product for me. Rimpact Chain Damper. Works exactly as advertised and reduces the drivetrain noise and feedback from an already calm and quiet bike. Would recommend. Plus, the boss of Rimpact might spot it and introduce himself and ask how you're getting on with it as happened to me in Wales. Nice bloke.
155mm cranks. Makes it easier to get over the top of the pedal stroke on the side with the knackered hip, massively reducing pain over a long day out. The problem is they make long cranks feel funny so now I need another two sets.
Also...e-bikes! I'm not here to argue but I got my first e-bike a few months ago and it's been a revelation. I'm riding once or twice a week and enjoying it when I was struggling to get out once or twice a month and usually suffering for it. I can't wait to take it further afield and go properly exploring on it.
Easy one that. Magic Mary radial, I was a bit sceptical but they are very good.
MTB version of the Win Wing for me. Super quick to fit and remove, doesn't look as hideous as a Mudhugger, surprisingly effective from butt level upwards.
I’ll vote for this too. We did a horrendously muddy ride last week and my back was clean as a whistle!
HR3 a close second- voodoo amounts of grip
My new Outbound Trail Evo light is also great but I’ve not been able to use it much due to the weather.
MTB version of the Win Wing for me. Super quick to fit and remove, doesn't look as hideous as a Mudhugger, surprisingly effective from butt level upwards.
Purchased!
I would say bib/dungaree trousers, picked up some Madison ones and they've been great at keeping my lower back covered, cos no one likes a dirt tramp stamp!
MTB version of the Win Wing for me
I reckon I'll be getting one for my new hardtail build, I was v impressed with the gravel version.
And I suppose you only need to buy one, as they're so easy to swap between bikes.
Similar product for me. Rimpact Chain Damper.
There's definitely something in these, eh. Telling that some DH bikes come with Ochains specced as standard now and I guess that will only increase now SRAM own them.
Outlier Pendulum pedals. After initial issues, they’ve been problem free, and work really well.
Similar product for me. Rimpact Chain Damper.
There's definitely something in these, eh. Telling that some DH bikes come with Ochains specced as standard now and I guess that will only increase now SRAM own them.
Yeah, for me I was curious and I had a discount code so I was willing to write it off as an experiment if it didn't work. In reality the difference is night and day.
The Rimpact isn't adjustable so I can't turn it off but I do have a friend with an otherwise identical bike (frame, fork, shock, tyres) so we've both had a chance to test it back to back. He said he was going to order one right away but I don't know if he has yet.
Easy one that. Magic Mary radial, I was a bit sceptical but they are very good.
I am totally prepared to believe the hype on these and will be getting a front radial at some point... when I've made more of a dent in my current tyre stockpile.
Winter boots, especially good most of the year given the weather.
I would say bib/dungaree trousers,
These look really promising. Will see if there's any going cheap in the summer 😀
Diaz Suspension Runt. It transformed a 21 Zeb ultimate that was an emergency purchase earlier this year. Now it's the best fork I've ever used.
Goggles. No... really. It's not an attempt to look rad, or retro, or whatever. In current weather, goggles up on helmet for the climb... and then down on face for the descent, with mud splattering everywhere and eye watering cold air. I'm sold. Mine are borrowed... I'm going to look for a pair of my own in January. Don't think they'll work for rolling trails though.
SRAM Rival E1 XPLR - I've always ridden Shimano and was a bit worried it would be clunky and just not work as well in general (especially as it's low/mid-range) but so far it's been faultless
Diaz Suspension Runt. It transformed a 21 Zeb ultimate that was an emergency purchase earlier this year. Now it's the best fork I've ever used.
This is like an externally adjustable bottomless token widget? Or does it do something else?
My product of last year was the TruTune widget for my Zeb, but I guess that makes the fork much better in a different way (creating magic extra air volume)?
Yes, it turns the airspring positive into a dual chamber, like Manitou & EXT have as stock. Adjustment is with air pressure in each chamber so infinitely adjustable.
Goggles. No... really. It's not an attempt to look rad, or retro, or whatever. In current weather, goggles up on helmet for the climb... and then down on face for the descent, with mud splattering everywhere and eye watering cold air. I'm sold. Mine are borrowed... I'm going to look for a pair of my own in January. Don't think they'll work for rolling trails though.
Create a line of holes at the edges of the lens with a 1 or 2 mm drill bit and you'll see a big reduction in foggyness. I never use them for trail riding though. DH days only.
MTB version of the Win Wing for me. Super quick to fit and remove, doesn't look as hideous as a Mudhugger, surprisingly effective from butt level upwards.
I’ll vote for this too. We did a horrendously muddy ride last week and my back was clean as a whistle!
Any tips on setting them up to minimise rattle n tyre rub? I'm having issues with mine contacting the tyre too often - enough to distract me when riding. I've tweaked the fit a couple of times but no found a happy setup yet. I followed the fitting guidance...
Apart from the noise I like them: very effective at keeping me clean (the bike, less so).
Diaz Suspension Runt. It transformed a 21 Zeb ultimate that was an emergency purchase earlier this year. Now it's the best fork I've ever used.
Argh. Didn't want to hear that. I've got a Zeb I'm never quite happy with, and also a Mezzer Pro on another bike that's brilliant... this could make my Zeb much more adjustable like the Mezzer is.
My product of the year (late to the party as always) is a Hillbilly Grid Trail T9 as a front tyre for winter. Better allrounder than previous Shorty, more confidence inspiring on roots, inexpensive.
Ochain/Rimpact Damper. I sold my 170 Hope cranks earlier this year with the intention of buying either one of those but haven't got around to it yet. I'd want to combine with 160 or 165 crank length too. Might be my product of 2026 😀
Park Tool chain cleaner. Why faff around with old toothbrushes and tshirt rags?
Hmmm.... Interesting ochain comments...
For me, probably pace rc529 frame. Incredibly versatile frame. This year I've run it singlespeed, geared, down the jump spot, local xc, local tech, or with a rigid fork in a bike packing adventure.
There's still configurations I haven't tried like a fully racked and mudguards tourer.
Workx hydroshot during hosepipe ban was also a game changer!
@tomhoward still following those pedals with interest. Have the seen much slop since being sorted?
For me, very late to the party, trail trousers. Always used tights in colder weather but found myself in trail trousers more and more, even when I might typically have worn shorts
Abus Bordo 6000k bike lock. peace of mind in 20 or so european cities this year.
32mm road tyres. I rode 25mm for a long time, then went 28mm to see what the wider tyre hype was all about. Then when I got a pair of DT Swiss ERC wheels I went for 32mm and it's made my commuting so much more enjoyable.
For me, very late to the party, trail trousers. Always used tights in colder weather but found myself in trail trousers more and more, even when I might typically have worn shorts
I was 100% shorts for years and years until I bought my first pair of good riding trousers. Now I've got about 5 pairs of long legged pants and haven't worn shorts in ages.
Somewhat late to the 29er, 1x 12 speed, tubeless party - Cotic Solaris with 29" Vittoria Mezcals (tubeless), 1x 12sp XT 😆 😍
I'm not new to trousers.
But having had various Enduras, and some fake Fox ones; I sprung for the proper Fox trousers this year and barring about 2 months in shorts in the mid summer I have worn them as often as laundry permits.
MaxxGrip tyres with heavier casings on the eeb, made a huge difference in more techy stuff.
Oh, and getting my suspension tuned and set up properly, some love from TF transformed how the bike handled and all for the better.
They're wizards I tell you
Clown horn. Revolutionised the canal towpath section of my work commute over the last 12 months.
Park Tool chain cleaner. Why faff around with old toothbrushes and tshirt rags?
My product of 1998 🙂
Albion burner for me:
ALBIONCYCLING.COM It’s maybe not for everyone but I live at the top of a hill so I start every ride by getting a bit cold. Pop this on at home and then it comes off and into a pocket easily once I’ve warmed up.
Good shout for the Mtb Win Win , i used to try and make the gravel one work on the hardtail in the past. Simple and good.product.
My vote for a product would be the Shutt Velo aka Prendos Windtex winter jacket.
A game changer for me, bib tights, a string style vest under it and it can cope with a.huge range of temperatures ,breaths well and you do not get cold at a long stop either.
Temps range is minus windchill /0 to 12°C is the sweet spot . Worn to 15 degrees on a windy /damp day and not too bad really condsidering its great at lower temps as.well.
It creates a micro climate at skin and keep pretty constant.
Grear for mtb or road cycling.
If u wear too much under it ,it will feel.clammy cold as it will not breath as well and the layer your wearing will be wet/ sweaty. (I found).
Revultionised my weather cold cycling Scotland for shear comfort and not worrying about the cold.
I tried my previous goto layers and I wonder how chose them!
Its not a waterproof though! Showerproof or heavy showers.
(I am a fairly warm rider/ run hot and ride all round so used to cold weather).
Warning it breaths so well, anything in the rear pockets will be damp/wet.
Been a big fan of the XT Di2 upgrade this year.
Now to source a remote dropper!
Camelbak Skyline Lr 10 Low Rider Hydration Pack 3l Black
After avoiding larger hydration packs like the plague for years, this has been a revelation. Allows me to carry a full 3L bladder low and snug, like a hip-pack, but with much better stability. Mesh straps vastly improve ventilation on hot days. Pockets are capacious and sensibly arranged. Nice little touches, including a tool roll and helmet straps for long hike-a-bike sections.
I've not bought much this year so probably the High Roller 3 maxxgrip. Or the OneUp pump and multi tool, hideously expensive but I had a voucher to use. The pump feels high quality and works well, with a spare bottle mount I can swap them between bikes.
Not sure really but the Mobius X8 wrist brace I got second hand off eBay got me riding sooner and more confidently after my scaphoid break, so I'll say that.
Benji’s review of the Decathlon braces in issue 163 has proven to be a revelation.
A mere tenner and my Endura Humvee shorts no longer need to rely on Endura’s garbage belt.
So good I’m contemplating a fresh pair for my pub jeans. Belts are so 18th century.
Gah! Forgot to mention the One-Up V3 dropper, which is kind of an endorsement in itself: it's so good, I just don't think about it at all.
Brooks C17 carved. My first saddle with a hole. I wish I'd done it before my summer riding holiday and not when I came back. Mileage and enjoyment would have been much increased.
Side entry bottle cages. They just seem to be easier (especially on the FS that has limited bottle clearance).
Other than the obvious Atherton S.150 frame I bought... I bought a Hope dropper lever and it's soooo smooth to use. And I'm a sucker for their quality and aesthetics.
Maxxis Highroller 3 in maxxgrip for me.
I'll reserve judgement til the end of hte winter but so far it's been One Tyre To Rule Them All, first tyre I've ever felt happy to leave on a bike all year and that is a massive achievement Nothing clever, and yeah it's slow but it just always works and I'll trade the slowness for the sheer capability and confidence of it. Especially for those unexpectedly slippy/wet days in summer, that immediately paid off a lot of the extra sweat. I probably will still swap for something faster on at least one bike in full summer, and I think possibly once things get really sloppy I'll still end up with a shorty on the full suss. But it'll be because I want to, a nice to have.
In all honesty it's not that much of an upgrade over the Argotal in absolute terms but "almost good enough" is a long way from "actually good enough" it turns out.
(I hope Maxxis do rip off the schwalbe radial carcass, it looks like they have a proto out there. Or better, I hope Schwalbe put a tyre this good on their radial carcass. But for now, no amount of radial sorcery actually beats having a tread and rubber that just really works. This tyre on a radial will roll like a housebrick but it'd be cheat mode on the way down)
For me probably an AliExpress knock off of the Sram piston spreading tool (a tip from a thread on here) - it's made working on my brakes so much less of a faff. I've also bought a 2nd hand bike that came with a Hope Pro 5 rear hub which I just love, and in the summer I discovered Galiber Zephyr gloves which I really get on with as they're quite robust but not too sweaty.
In order of ROI
A sub to TrainerRoad has improved my fitness in ways I hadn't previously considered - endurance and durability being two words they talk about that i hadn't really thought about. Allowing me to score some PBs and almost PBs on some tough local climbs. To be doing that at 60 when previous PBs were 5 or 10 years ago is pretty special i think. And compared to Zwift it doesn't take forever to load, and it adjusts the masters program so i don't get burnt out every 2 weeks
Also got a £12 gilet from Decathlon with a windproof front and breathable back panel - means I don't boil in the bag on those previously mentioned climbs, but stay warm enough too
Have just bought some SQLabs innerbarends (should have put them under the tree probs) and hoping they'll make a difference for my arthritic thumbs - but only one ride in
For me, my stooge WTF 36er, just an absolutely mental bike that carries speed like nothing else and makes me laugh like a **** everytime I ride it.
