Name: Rob M
Role: Merchandising.
Current Bikes: Orange 5 Pro, Santa Cruz Roadster, Charge Duster, Cannondale F800
Miles a Week: 50 miles commuting, various for fun when I can find the motivation.

The gifts I’m buying

For my best mate: Knog Presto Messenger Bag A great little bag he can stuff his work bits in and what a bargain!. £24.99
For my Dad: Park Tool Coffee Mug, Park Tool Pint Glass and Park Tool Pizza Cutter These will be perfect gifts for my dad. £7.49 Park Mug, £5.39 Park Pint Glass, £14.09 Park Pizza Tool
For my Girlfriend: Pearl Izumi ladies Insulator Windproof Jacket Pearl Izumi ladies Insulator Windproof Jacket for that retro chic look. £50.50
Gifts I’d like to receive:
Stocking filler: Muc-Off Micro Fibre Cloth If you have not yet discovered the wonder of Microfiber for all your polishing needs..Shame on you!. £3.99
Happy Days: Lifeline Pro Toolkit All my tools in one place..Unlikely! £89.99
I’d be lucky: Campagnolo Record Pista Chain set Ohhh shiny! £224.30

Name: Doug
Age: 21
Role: Mechanic
Current Bikes: Giant Trance X3, Carrera Valour, Ironhorse Sunday
Miles a Week:70 – 100

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The gifts I’m buying

Dad: Exposure Redeye Rear Light A perfect match for his Exposure Joystick and at 1/3 the power of the Joystick it’s a good compromise between battery life and brightness! £36.00
For My Girlfriend: dhb Earnley Ladies Zip neck Base Layer This will keep her a bit warmer over these winter months. £22.99
My Best Mate: Crud Race Pac Mudguard Set I’m buying this for my best mate because I’m fed up with his muddy kit messing up my car and with 25% off who can argue?. £14.99
Gifts I’d like to receive:
Stocking Filler: Exposure Triple Cell Battery This will be great to double the life of my Enduro Front light. £81.00
Happy Days: Elite Crono Mag ElastoGel Trainer This would allow me to still get on the bike and keep training while the weather gets really bad!. £130.19
I’d be lucky: Focus First Extreme 2010 Mmmmmmmm Colbolt! £4500.00

Name: Shane
Role: Customer Services
Current Bikes: Focus Black Forest Pro, Trek 2300 Road Bike, Specialised Langster.
Miles a Week: Varies depending on weather, mood, and motivation!

The gifts I’m buying

For my best mate: dhb Earnley Zip neck base layer He’s competing in the Tough Guy endurance event in January and needs all the warm layers possible. £39.99
For my Nephew (aged 7): Bell Fraction Youth Helmet My Nephew has just started bombing around on a BMX and so a cool cycle helmet like the Bell Fraction should go down well! £22.49
For my Niece: Ogio Girls Shifter Rucksack This will be perfect for carrying all her school books and laptop to and fro from school everyday. £39.99
Gifts I’d like to receive:
Stocking filler: Charge Sponge Handlebar Grips A little something to pimp up my Focus Black Forest Pro for next summer!. £8.99
Happy Days: Race Face Hoodlum Windproof Jacket For chilling out after riding/racing, a nice soft shell jacket like this would be perfect! £89.96
I’d be lucky: Garmin Edge 705 MTB Package No more to be found wondering where I am, how far I’ve come, how far to go and how fast I’ve been. This would give me all the information I need and possibly more! £368.95

Name: Steffen
Age: 26
Role: Web designer
Current Bikes: Focus Raven Expert 2008, Thunderbird (rusty lowrider) & Charge Plug Racer 09
Miles a Week:35 (when the weather is warm!)

The gifts I’m buying

The Lady: Nike iPod Armband.Nike have released a great running system this year with Nike+. A fantastic and relatively inexpensive way to track your own progress on your runs. £18.00
Also for my Lady: Nike Plus ipod Sensor & Receiver Kit.This great little device will attach to your shoes and track your distance/time at every landmark point while recording for you to keep and track yourself, genius! Girls are always going on about running, now she has no excuse! £17.10
The Old Man: Helly Hansen Freeze Half Zip Long Sleeve Base Layer. My old man gets cold in the winter, he doesn’t ride but baselayers are a great option for him, and I always like to make sure he is nice and cosy. £45.00
Gifts I’d like to receive:
Stocking Filler: Lizard Skins Carbon Leather PatchesReal leather, a great little idea to stop annoying cable rub! £5.85
Happy Days: Surly Tuggnut Chain Tensioner. Ever stomp on the pedals just to have your rear wheel slide forward in the dropouts and throw your chain? I have! This little device will be just the ticket to stop my chain from going slack! . £17.99
I’d be lucky: Charge Dish Wheelsets (Painted): This would put a smile on my face come Christmas day! £152.99

Name: Jason
Age: 31
Role: Wiggle Marketing
Current Bikes: 1966 DNA Hopper, Flatland BMX, Marin Northside ACX 05, Norco Fluid LT3 08 (custom build), Focus Superbud Team 09
Miles a Week: 20 miles total commute, weekend rides & occasional epics.

The gifts I’m buying

For my best mate: Schwalbe Land Cruiser Tyres.These will assist him on his commute to work with its great rolling resistance plus the risk of punctures are reduced with the anti puncture protection system built in. £9.44
For my brother in law: Muc-Off Ultimate Cleaning Kit.Seeing as he is new to cycling and got himself a Focus MTB, to keep his Focus in tip top condition a Muc-Off Cleaning kit will help keep it looking brand new! £26.99
For my Girlfriend: Pearl Izumi Barrier Winter Gloves.These will be great for her long dog walks this winter. £39.59
Gifts I’d like to receive:
Stocking filler: Crank Brothers Eggbeater C Pedals: Just the thing I need to reduce some weight off my Superbud! . £45.00
Happy Days: SixSixOne Filter SPD MTB Shoes: A nice pair of SixSixOne Filter SPD Shoes, trendiness and function on and off the bike! £62.99
I’d be lucky: Mavic Crossmax ST Disc Wheel Set 2009: Go on somebody treat me!!!! £540.00

Name: Del
Role: Mechanic
Miles a week: 100, + Weekend rides
Current bikes: 04 Kona Dawg Primo (custom build), Kinesis Maxlight XC (custom build), Tank DS1 Jump Bike (custom build), Haro Marry SS 29er.

The gifts I’m buying

For Mum and Dad: SealSkinz Mid Thermal Merino Waterproof Socks . £25.20
My Niece: Bell Trigger Youth Helmet. £22.49
My friends little one: LifeLine Toddler Runabout Daysack. £11.69
Gifts I’d like to receive:
Stocking Filler: Hope Stainless Bottom Bracket. £61.66
Happy Days: Rockshox Recon Race OE 2009 Forks. £227.69
I’d be Lucky!: Charge Duster Ti Hardtail Frame. £1299.99

Rich Land Our guy in Merchandising has written a interesting piece on brushed shorts and why you should take notice.. Read on.

Those with a careful eye may have noticed over the last 12 months the rise of the ‘brushed short’, why many may ask. With brands like Castelli, dhb and Sportful having an option, it may be time for you to take notice. There are a few reasons why, here are my thoughts.

The brushed short is not as hot as a pair of ¾ or tights but takes the edge off the chill in the air. I like products that offer a wider spectrum of use and months to be used in, these are my products that really punch above their weight and become essential items. I have three pairs in the wardrobe now and I will add a couple more, I like the concept that much.

They are popular on both the mountain bike circuit (with multi time champion Jenny Copnall fan) and in the Professional peloton. No self respecting Classics rider would be without a pair and thanks to Castelli they are making that widely known by including a set in the Cervelo Test Team kit section of their portfolio.

Spotted this nice review of the dhb Southsea Jacket from thewashingmachinepost.net

dhb southsea waterproof jacket

We are strange creatures of habit, and as a result often creatures of unconscious stupidity. It is my firm belief that the only way to properly test anything that arrives with the word waterproof somewhere about its person, is simply to go out and ride it in the rain; the heavier, the better. With the clocks going back one hour this weekend (in the UK), British summertime officially ends, but it’s not quite winter just yet. That the weather has yet to cotton on to this state of affairs is not entirely unsurprising, Saturday morning dawning windy, getting (a lot) windier, accompanied by the obligatory horizontal rain, provided the ideal, if slightly insane, opportunity to test a Southsea waterproof jacket from dhb, the clothing arm (pun intended) of online sales persons, Wiggle.

Now I might be insane, but I’m not completely mad, so while I did extricate the colnago kicking and screaming from the bike shed, I didn’t go too far, a choice made all the more startlingly real by a gale force crosswind, gusting to around 55kph; this makes it very difficult to keep riding in a straight line. It also makes it difficult to get semi-decent, rain-soaked photos. but all this accumulated difficulty has exactly the same effect on the jacket; if the rain is being blown at its outer coating with a ferocity that was perhaps not considered at the time of design and construction, it would be interesting to rate its performance.

The Southsea jacket is offered in two sartorially acceptable styles, both paying lip service to that of tweed in grey or brown. the fabric is, if i understand the accompanying literature correctly, a 2.5 layer breathable fabric (quite how one defines half a layer, i know not) featuring fully taped seams, and thus 100% waterproof. It was this latter promise that had me flogging myself through the Islay countryside, when feet up in front of the telly would have been by far the better option. The full-length two-way zip is enclosed behind a storm flap that poppers into place, with double studs at the neck. It is this latter component of the jacket that may just be its partial downfall. According to Wiggle, the Southsea is intended as a commuter jacket, hence the styling: the jacket sent to me was a medium as requested, and I confess to it seeming a tad large. I am ever so slightly on the slim side, so perhaps I’d be better off with the smaller size, though in its favour, the length was good and the sleeve length excellent. My main problem was with the upper reaches around the chest and shoulders, and concomitantly, the collar.

dhb Southsea jacket is of a generous height, taller at the back than front (which did seem rather contrary in a drop handlebar position, but then I doubt too many commuters ride such machines). But this apparent excess of inner space – which poses far less of a problem on, than off the bike – leads to the collar being a lot less close-fitting than is sensible when faced with the more extreme end of Britain’s weather systems. It is fleecy lined, but its wideness allowed the only ingress of rain throughout the ride: the collar and shoulders of my jersey were a trifle damp. It’s also possible that the height of the collar was just a smidgeon too high to be considered visually appealing, though this perception might change if it were a closer fit.

On returning from my 22km wet and windy exploration, my dhb long-sleeve jersey was pretty darned close to bone dry (apart from the aforementioned jersey collar), an impressive feat in the ferocity of the rain, and doubly so considering the effort expended pedalling against what will become my training partner until March next year. the plasticity of the taped lining had seemed less than appealing when first examined, but i do have to hand it to dhb; they have provided a rather high degree of breathability for very little money. The slightly dropped tail seems also to be of correct proportion, since there was no tell-tale damp and muddy patch at the hem, under the centre rear pocket of the jersey. Nice one.

The hard-worked camera along for the trip, resided in one of two flap fastening rear pockets, the right of which has a cunningly concealed zipped internal pocket all of its own. provided the flaps are kept shut, though not necessarily poppered, the contents would appear to remain faithfully dry. Both sleeves of commendable length, have velcro straps on the cuffs to allow for exclusion of the elements (tight shut today) or open to aid breathability on warmer days. My only real gripe, and not uncharacteristically, a trivial one, is the lack of a tab inside the collar that would allow the jacket to be hung on a coat peg. Considering its delineation as a commuter jacket, and thus likely committed to a life of pubs, coffee shops and offices, the omission of such a simple feature seems unfortunate. However, in most other ways, the Southsea ticks all the right boxes, though just watch the sizing when ordering.

The ordering bit is likely to fill you with even more joy, since 100% breathable and waterproof, in this instance, costs only £59.49, quite an incredible price for something so practical and stylish at the same time. It’s not really something you’d wear on the club run, but Wiggle have been fairly clear in the market for which it is intended. If you own a brompton, you’re sorted.

As to my allusion to the unconscious stupidity born of habit, at the start of this piece, I refer to the bizarre behaviour exhibited in trying manfully to avoid puddles of all sizes, when already soaked through (lower half only), and the bike wearing crud roadracers. As if all that surface water was going to make much difference?

The southsea jacket will be available from the end of November 2009.

Wiggle

Posted Saturday 24 October 2009

There’s nothing more irritating than your bike or kit not performing as it should. But like most things in life, with a little bit of TLC there’s no reason why your gear shouldn’t be at the top of its game. Admittedly, washing your bike is never your top priority after a chilly winter ride, but at this time of year bike maintenance becomes more important than ever.

That’s where LifeLine comes in. Lifeline products range from top quality tools, lubricants and cleaning fluids to workstands, bottle cages and lights. All of our mechanics here @ Wiggle use LifeLine gear – and they’re in good company. This season, 11 top pro cycling teams including Columbia Highroad, Cervelo and Saxo Bank used Lifeline lubes to ensure everything ran smoothly for riders in the pro peloton.

Each tool is custom-designed to do its intended job then manufactured to precise tolerances, whether it’s a multi-tool, a chain whip or a pedal wrench. The Workshop Tool Kits and Professional Tool Kits are comprehensive sets which ensure you’re 100 per cent equipped and they’ve scored top marks in product tests. The Deluxe Workstand is perfect for any garage or workshop and an ideal Christmas gift for the rider who’s always in need of a second pair of hands when tweaking with their bike.

When it comes to lubrication, the wide range of oils, greases and lubes will help ensure you keep everything running smoothly. There are also cleaning kits and brush sets – essential after wet, muddy rides. And it doesn’t stop there: puncture kits and levers, track pumps and front and rear lights, they’re all part of the LifeLine range.

View the full range of LifeLine cycling essentials.

Now on site we have the Bell Faction which sets a new standard in skate inspired helmets with superior style fit and comfort. As ridden by a whole host of BMX and Skate Super Heroes, such as Dave Mirra and Tony Hawk, the Faction is perfect for street, dirt, or riding ramps. 12 vents provide excellent cooling as you try to nail that move time and time again!

A dual density foam liner with thicker foam at the front for greater impact resistance where it is most needed and a high impact ABS shell for maximum protection and excellent resistance to knocks and scrapes. It’s plush internal padding and adjustable straps ensure the perfect fit.

Available in 3 sizes to suit all heads
Weight: 426 grams
Meets CE EN1078 and ASTM 1492 skate certification

The Bell Faction has designs created by Paul Frank. His designs are born out of the need for a fun outlet celebrating creativity and individuality, Paul Frank Industries (PFI) was formally incorporated in December of 1997. With its bright color palette and unique sensibilities, the company has attracted an almost cult-like following of all ages that love PFI’s witty take on every day objects.

View all of the Bell Faction, Paul Frank designs.