2023 has been a year of long rides for me. I started the year off with the Komoot Women’s Rally in January – 700km across the Canary Islands with 50 other women, including Lael Wilcox.
Next, I took an introvert’s dream holiday: 600km alone around Scotland’s wild landscapes over a long weekend.
In June, I rode the Pennine Rally, 550km off-road from Edinburgh to Manchester with a few hundred others.
Then, in July, I took on my first ultra race, the Bright Midnight. This involved riding 1000km across the wilds of northern Norway. Finally, I am rounding off the year by riding around Cuba over Christmas.
So, as you can imagine, my picks this year are ones that have followed me faithfully on these adventures.
Apidura Backcountry Snack Pouch
- £41
My first pick is from Apidura’s Backcountry range. This snack pouch is a great addition to my bikepacking setup.
It's easy to put on, wrapping around the head tube of the bike and sitting sturdily on the handlebar. It's also waterproof, with a roll-top so you can close it if it starts raining.
Offering 1.2 litres of storage space, the bag gives you access to a great amount of food as you ride.
I found this so useful on some of the longer rides I’ve done, especially because I'm bad at remembering to stop to eat, and so having food right in front of me means I tend to bonk less.
I have filled it up with all means of food, as well as using it to hold an external charger for my Garmin.
It’s a great design and I especially appreciated the carefully placed bumper material on the back to prevent rubbing on the paintwork.
Gore Lupra rain jacket
- £189.99
The Gore Lupra jacket is a lightweight, windproof and waterproof coat that’s intended to give mountain bikers optimum performance when riding trails. I have used it regularly since getting it this summer.
Though it's not completely waterproof, it can handle a downpour with ease. The Lupra is very breathable, and I find it can be worn over softshells without turning into a sweatbox.
I love the colour too – a purple/pink that's bright enough to be visible without startling anyone, and it matches my Genesis Fugio colour scheme.
The cut is perfect – it can be worn with layers underneath, but it isn’t baggy, and the hood fits over my helmet well.
As a do-it-all jacket, I love it. Of course, if it’s completely pouring with rain, the Lupra won’t be able to stop water getting in, but for most autumn and winter riding, it's a great choice.
Garmin Edge 830
- £309
The Garmin Edge 830 is not a new product to me. However, I couldn't leave it out, considering the amount of hard work it has got through this year.
I admit, as a bit of a technophobe, it took me a ridiculously long time to figure out how to use the Garmin 830 (and I fear there are many features I'm not using to their full potential).
However, the Garmin 830 has accompanied me on countless rides this year, and it has done so almost flawlessly.
The route maps are clear and easy to follow, and the battery-saving mode is well-designed and helpful.
I love ClimbPro, which has accompanied me on many multi-coloured toils upwards, and is great for someone who likes to know exact figures of how long and how high every hill is going to be.
It's a small, lightweight bike computer, but is packed with features. I owe it for getting me out of the many remote places I’ve ended up in after a wrong turn.
Giro Fixture MTB helmet
- £59.99
I was looking back through photos from this year and suddenly realised how often I pick up this helmet to wear.
It is my go-to choice, and for that it deserves a mention.
The Fixture is well-designed, with a number of thoughtful touches that make it a good riding companion.
I like the Roc Loc dial, which is easy to use to adjust fit quickly.
The 16 vents in the helmet keep your head cool, even on long hot days, while the substantial peak on the front has saved my nose from sunburn and shaded my eyes from rain.
It only weighs 320g, which is quite light for a mountain biking helmet, especially at this price point.
The shape of the Fixture extends well down around the back and side of your head too, giving great coverage to protect your head if you have an off.
