Cue Noddy Holder: it’s Christmas. Yes, this is our final In the Drops before the big day, so it’s almost definitely too late to order one of these things for a gift, but cycling is for life, so that’s fine.
Despite a festive wind-down (it’s not really a wind-down behind the scenes there’s a magazine to produce), we’ve had some good content on the website this week, including our new guide to the best winter cycling jackets plus a big rejigging of our best road bikes guide.
We’ve also had reviews of the Ribble Allroad SL R, Rouvy app and the reasonably priced Coospo bike computer, and we went behind the scenes at Giant’s factory in Taiwan.
The pro side has been ticking over too, with our Pro Log news round-up, Jayco-AlUla’s incredible new Maap kit and Ewan’s big analysis on the state of every men’s WorldTour team. We still have a couple of articles to come on the Vuelta 2025 route and whether the pros have lost their work-life balance.
Let’s get in the drops.
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Albion Zoa Mountain jacket
One of my favourite things to come through the door this year has hit late. Albion’s new Zoa Mountain jacket is an insulated jacket for on and off-bike use that is both lightweight (claimed 365g for a medium) and packable, it has four zip pockets, a rear pocket the jacket packs into (which Albion says can turn it into a great pillow – an adjustable hood, a double front zip and reflective details.
Deep breath.
But with all of that considered, I’ve not even got to the most impressive highlights, and that’s in the materials themselves.
The Zoa Mountain jacket is made using Pertex Quantum NetPlus fabric, which is produced using 100% recycled fishing net – it’s 100% post-consumer recycled net and 100% traceable. Find out more about NetPlus here, and find out more about the incredible technical details of the lightweight, windproof and water-resistant Pertex Quantum here.
It also uses Primaloft Gold Active insulation, which helps keep the weight down and insulation up and maintains its thickness even with repeated squishing to pack it away. And because it’s synthetic it can keep its warmth when wet too.
- Buy the Zoa Mountain jacket now from Albion (£240)
Sella Italia SLR Boost 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow saddle
Yes that is a long product name but for good reason. Sella Italia = brand. SLR = 'neutral-shaped' saddles that support riders whether they move a lot or not at all. Boost = short nose saddles. Kit Carbonio = carbon rails. Superflow = the big hole in the middle. Oh and of course 3D means it's 3D printed.
What more is there to say?
Well, plenty. Sella Italia's proprietary 3D printed pattern has a double-layer of padding with differing cushioning zones throughout for what Sella Italia calls 'progressive absorption' to balance comfort and support. The 3D printing itself is done with Carbon DLS technology, which is resin-based and uses ultraviolet light to cure the liquid into form. This method is supposed to produce fully dense material, which a powder-based method doesn't, and it uses less water too. Find out more about Carbon DLS 3D printing here.
The 10mm longer carbon rails help with strength, comfort and adjustability – and it's raw carbon so it looks cool.
It comes in two widths, S3 or L3 depending on which width – 130mm or 145mm – is better for you (3 is just indicating it's a Superflow saddle with the big hole).
This S3 is only 169g too by my kitchen scales.
- Buy the saddle now from Sella Italia (£409.99)
Universal Colours Sweatshirt
On the other end of the naming spectrum, this is a new sweatshirt from Universal Colours.
It's part of a wider move by most cycling clothing brands to expand into casual or semi-casual clothing, so you can represent cycling off the bike too (and because of fashion and that).
Made in a oversized fit and with a heavier cotton, it's very comfy – just what you'd want to change into post-ride. It also had ribbed side panels for an extra bit of stretch.
Universal Colours is another company that is ethically conscious. The sweatshirt is made with organised cotton, which is biodegradable, and the logos featured are made with a biodegradable reflective film. It's made in Portugal in a factory approved for good social and environmental practice.
As well as third 'wasabi green', the jumper comes in 'hard purple' and 'charcoal black', and you can get it in hoodie form too, which has different colour options.
- Buy the sweatshirt now from Universal Colours (£70)
What we're into this week: the Cyclist Magazine Podcast in video! Plus playlist #25
It's been a long time coming but the Cyclist Magazine Podcast is now on YouTube!
For those of you who prefer to watch things all our new episodes will now be available in video form too, and we're uploading some of our recent interviews to get things moving.
So you can now watch our interviews with Tom Pidcock (recorded pre Q36.5 move) and Tadej Pogačar, and we've got our first brand new to YouTube episode going live on Boxing Day with a very special guest. It's going to be off the chain.
If you prefer audio-only, we'll still be in all the same places as before.
Speaking of audio, I've gathered my last new music playlist of the year. This time of year is always short on new releases, so it's a pocket-sized playlist but that doesn't mean it's not brimming with good stuff.
Highlights include the new Kendrick Lamar album, new stuff from Sam Fender, a Wunderhorse song I didn't appreciate enough first time around so I've brought it back, a new album from Good Morning and my favourite song of the moment from Julia Jacklin and Faye Webster.
I've also included the best three-song run on an album all year from Doechii, the album's not new new but I only listened to her for the first time on her amazing Stephen Colbert performance. Listen to these three in order.
- Listen to In the Drops #25 on Spotify
- Check out all my In the Drops playlists
We've got one more In the Drops of the year coming next week, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
