In the run up to my first sportive, L’Etape London, on 25th September, I’ve been getting out on my bike more often especially to clock up the mileage as best I can each Sunday.

I’ve also used every ride to try out kit, test nutrition strategies for race day and figure out what the bare essentials are I need to carry with me each time I go out to ride. After weeks (if not months in some cases) of testing I have a few items that I’d love to share with you:

Stolen Goat Jersey

Before I got this jersey, I’d come across the brand once or twice on IG. The pink jersey immediately caught my eye and I figured it’d go towards helping me be extra visible when on the road.

I chose a small which is my usual size in regular fit (as opposed to professional fit) cycling clothes; it’s a really close fit but not tight. The short sleeved arms have no seams so it helps them to sit flush on your arms without creating sausage arms (in addition to the potential sausage legs you may have from your shorts).

One of the most important factors for me in a cycling jersey is the addition of pockets on the back; if you’re out on a ride and don’t want to carry a bag then they’re useful for stowing your food, phone (& selfie stick), keys, tissues etc.

The first time I wore this jersey it did seem to ride up at the back a bit but I think this may have been a combination between the bib shorts I wore (not from Stolen Goat) and the drawstring bag I had on my back for the entire ride. On the day when the sun eventually peeked out, I was able to just unzip the zipper at the neck and allow myself some extra air to cool down.

HipLok FLX

After attending SPIN Festival again earlier this year and bumping into the awesome peeps at Hiplok again I was more than pleased to see the newest addition to their range, the FLX.

I’m already a fan of their locks (check out my post about them here last year) but since moving to Essex I mostly go out on rides as opposed to commuting so the need for a heavy lock has been reduced.

The FLX must be the smallest lock I think I’ve ever seen – a three digit combination and a wire with an added light and clip so you can easily attach it to your clothes or bag. Having an extra light never hurts especially if you end up being out after dark and not planned for it!

It’s nice and lightweight too meaning it can be used as an additional lock when you’re out and about. I’ve used it on a group ride when we’ve locked our bikes up outdoors (to head into a restaurant for brunch, obviously) and then secured all of our wheels with the FLX.

Threo Cycling Shorts

Threo were a brand I was aware of already but I used the opportunity of SPIN Festival again to meet them in person and also check out the kit for size and quality. I choose a pair of the Richmond Park cycling shorts and after having worn them on numerous rides, I’m 99% sure they’re gonna be my choice for race day.

I love that they’re not bib shorts so I don’t have to get fully undressed each time I need to use the bathroom. Come race day, I don’t wanna be scrambling around in a portaloo.

However, the waistband comes up nice and high, especially at the back and never moves – I never notice them when they’re on and that is always a good thing! There’s also a zippered pocket in the back waistband which is useful to store a small set of keys safely.

I’m wearing them here, you just can’t see that much of them 😉

Of utmost importance too is the chamois; the pad that sits in the crotch of the shorts and provides extra cushioning for what will be hours on the saddle.

When I wore the Threo shorts, there was nothing notable to report; when I wore a different pair and spent a considerable amount of time adjusting them I realise how much I appreciated the Threo ones!

As an aside, I’m not sure if this is a cyclist thing but I despise wearing shorts and jerseys that don’t match. I wouldn’t wear an outfit to workout or teach that didn’t match so it really hurts my heart when I have to do so on the bike.

But bike kit doesn’t come cheap so I can understand why people do it. I’m lucky enough to have an official Tour de France jersey that pairs amazingly well with the Threo shorts which is another reason I’m likely to wear them on race day!

Quad Lock Case

After a few weeks of long Sunday rides I realised I had a problem that needed solving. Whenever I was cycling to a destination that I wasn’t sure of the route, I had to stop every so often to get my phone out and check the route. This added considerable time to my journeys and almost made me miss a ride one particular week!

Image Credit: Quad Lock Case FB Page

So I reached out to the #UKCycleChat community on Twitter and asked what device they recommended to attach my phone to bike and this is what they suggested.

I picked up mine online from Evans specifically for an iPhone 6/6s as I don’t plan on changing my phone anytime soon (check out the range here).

If I should change my phone though, I’d just need to get a new case or an adaptor to stick on my new phone as the bike mount would still be fine.

Image Credit: Quad Lock Case FB Page

I think this was one of the best improvements to my rides in recent weeks; it takes 60s to fit and when I tested it out on a fickle day (rain and sun alternating) it was no issue as it also comes with an extra cover to put over your phone to protect it. It’s looks and feels secure when cycling and once you get the hang of attaching and removing it, that takes just a moment.

P20 Sun Protection

So I never really thought I’d be talking about sun cream when I’m still on the island of Great Britain but I am. Over the past month we’ve had some half decent weather with a good dose of sunshine.

Even when the clouds have been out (don’t be fooled) the sun is still getting through even if you can’t see it. I’ve been using P20 suncream as you only need to apply it once a day, 15 minutes before you become exposed to the sun and then the bottle can be left indoors while I head out on the road for the morning.

It’s part of my pre ride routine now after I get out of the shower. I should also note, it’s not really a cream, more of a clear lotion so there are no streaks left behind and it absorbs quickly and thoroughly.

I love it because it’s also safe for use on your face (prob the most exposed part of your body when out and about). It’s also classed as ‘very water resistant’ so you don’t have to worry about the rain or sweat compromising your coverage!

BUY IT from Boots || Wiggle || Amazon

So that’s my run down of the kit I’ve been testing over the last few weeks for the sportive.

At this stage, I’m pretty happy with everything I have got. The only thing I would consider updating before I get to the start line are my shoes; I find they start to get uncomfortable after a long time as I think my toes are a little squashed in them.

Hopefully I find the time (and money) to update them before my event but if not, I will make do for now. I’m off to an evening at a bike shop in a couple of weeks with Chris Boardman in attendance and they will be doing bike checks here so that will be the final check for my little blue bicycle.

Any kit tips for me?! Anything that will make me more comfortable or make life easier?!

Elle