It’s been almost a full five days without our web leader Will Strickson and yet somehow we’re still struggling on. The classics are here, the sun is out, and he’s missing it all doing whatever it is you do in the icy big apple.
Depending on when you log on today, the E3 Saxo Bank race may well have already kicked off. Coverage starts at 12:50 on HBO Max/3pm UK time on TV and Robyn has all the information you need right here. Robyn also shared news of Nairo Quintana’s retirement and Chris Froome’s new hustle in Pro Log.
If you’re after some more timeless content, our tech editor Sam Challis has written a full history of the BMC Teammachine, and the icon it has become. Sam’s review of Shimano’s new gravel groupset GRX GX827 is now on the website too.
If it’s kit you’re thinking about, then we’ve had a huge tranche of reviews drop in this week. From gilets to baselayers, a good place to start is Assos’ new springtime base layer or Sportful’s Fiandre Pro gilet. Talking of kit, deputy editor James Spender has had Castelli and Sportful’s global manager Steve Smith on the podcast to talk all things apparel.
Otherwise, you’re stuck with me and my drops.
We Rode All Night book
Another of Gareth Cartman’s cycling books, We Rode All Day, was a fictionalised account of the 1919 Tour de France. With artistic license, Cartman recounted the experience of a brutal tour from the minds and mouths of the participating riders.
We Rode All Night is the story of the 1926 Tour de France, again from the perspective of the riders. Their task is to complete the 5,745km race (the 2025 Tour was just 3,320km) without expiring; easier said than done when the Pyrenees are disappearing into a fog peppered with thunder and lightning.
Organiser Henri Desgrange, the man with the power to mount rescue operations or simply do nothing, is thrust into the spotlight. Cartman unwinds spools of narrative, uncovering failing marriages, grieving domestiques and struggling champions, all under the umbrella of this one brutal race.
Sunski Bernina Glasses
Sometimes full-fat cycling glasses aren’t what’s required. For those days when you’re maybe commuting in the morning but will need some civilian shades at lunch time, glasses that cover both bases like the Sunski Berninas, are far more appropriate.
Firstly, the lenses are great. The CR-39 polycarbonate lenses are polarised with 100% UVA and UVB protection, meaning the field of vision is clear, sharp and safe.
For additional sun protection, there are perforated sidewings built into the outer edge of each frame, meaning your peripheral vision gets a genuine block of shade exactly where it needs it. (Think a dialled-down version of glacier glasses from early arctic explorer photographs.)
The other materials used feel refined and sturdy, from the tortoise-shell recycled plastic through to the electroplated stainless steel arms and nose bridge. Handily for a klutz like me, Sunski’s warranty runs for as long as you own the glasses. If they break under ‘normal use’, you will get a replacement, or they’ll be fixed.
Pas Normal Studios Off-Race Tech Pants
I’ve flogged the life out of my previous commuter-friendly cycling trousers to the point where they’re neither waterproof, quick-drying, or remotely snug around the waistband – so the launch of these Off-Race trousers from Pas Normal Studios comes at just the right time. PNS says the trousers are designed for spring and early summer which makes sense as the nylon and spandex material, which is both brushable and textured, sort of like a sturdy version of crepe paper, is thin and not insulated.
Because of this, I’ve found them to be nicely breathable on the commute though Pas says don’t expect much waterproofing beyond the DWR added to the coating. The elasticated drawstrings at each ankle are really useful for keeping material away from the drivetrain and there are two zipped valuables pocket that I use constantly.
And yes, they are Pas Normal, so there’s a decent sprinkling of Gen-Z trendy baked into the general fit template. I’m normally a large (and XL in PNS on-bike kit) but these are a medium and still a little on the loose side. So, make of that what you will.
Chrome Industries Kadet sling
Chrome Industries has a bag for more or less every occasion. The courier-adjacent design of the Kadet model has most bases covered if you’re looking to transport small cargo while on the bike or running. This isn’t the totally waterproof edition – locate the Kadet WP for that feature – but it’s super durable and features the signature buckle so that you know it’s a Chrome you’re wearing. The Kadet comes in three different sizes, 5L, 15L and 9L (pictured) and slings super securely over one shoulder, courtesy of an additional interlocking strap.
As well as a wire-reinforced ripstop material to enhance durability, there are also specific cycling-friendly design features like the padded D-lock holster, built-in bottle opener (essential) and reflective detailing. The dimensions allow for a 7″ tablet to be stored, while the 9L volume means it can carry a load of essentials at once.
Plus, it looks very fetching in this dirty pinky mauvey colourway. Because it’s Chrome, you benefit from its excellent reputation for making hard-wearing and long-lasting gear. There’s a lifetime guarantee and I think they actually match the trousers. Well I never.
What we’re into this week: Nomadland
One of the things people tend not to mention about becoming a parent (for the second time in this case) is quite how much reading it’s possible to get done. With a small human strapped to your body, no possibility of sitting down and absolute silence required, a book or magazine is the way to go.
Having rewatched the film recently, I decided to dig a little deeper and pick up a second-hand copy of the non-fiction masterpiece the film is based on. And boy am I glad I did. Where the film – clearly at the behest of Amazon- skims over some of the grimmer elements of this modern nomadic lifestyle that relies so oddly on the very heart of the corporate machine, the book lays everything bare.
Excoriating polemics about the hateful impact of Amazon on almost every element of our capitalist society. Miles and miles and miles of tat in warehouses, none of which will last more than a month, inevitably ending up in landfill, is just one of the powerful images passed down by the people who pack those boxes up close.
The film is nice, the cinematography is pretty, and the use of the actual characters in the book as actors is inspired. But if the film is a keyhole, the book is the door. Go on and push it open.