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A spontaneous tour can be planned quickly, whereas a gravel adventure requires a little preparation. For both cases, we have tested all kinds of useful parts that are sure to come in handy on a gravel tour and are guaranteed to make the ride a success.
Fizik handlebar tape
Fizik, the Italian manufacturer of bicycle accessories, has introduced a new collection of handlebar tapes for road and gravel bikes. They are designed to provide more control and comfort on the handlebars. The range includes various models in different thicknesses between 2 and 3.5 millimetres. There is also a choice of classic, soft and non-slip surfaces. In terms of colour, the palette ranges from black and white to blue and red tones to eye-catching neon colours. We wrapped the 3.5 millimetre thick version of the "Terra Solocush Tacky" on a colleague's gravel bike and tried it out. We already liked the elastic material when wrapping, which fits smoothly and wrinkle-free around every curve; the adhesive strip adheres well, which conversely makes corrections during wrapping a little more difficult. The grip feels good in all weathers and the special cushioning promised by the manufacturer is expectedly inconspicuous. The grip tape weighs 87 grams. Price: 44,90 Euro >> available here.
+ easy to wind, good grip, many variations
Velocio Adventure Cargo Bib Short
Velocio actually combines the Ultralight jersey with trousers from the same collection. We choose an Adventure Cargo Bib Short to be prepared for summer bikepacking tours. The shorts are made from the same material as the Ultralight collection. The pockets are huge, so you can stuff a lot into them. What our tester particularly likes is Velocio's FlyFree design: the bib is pee-friendly. Despite the straps, you can take a wee break without having to take your top off. However, it is cut high at the back, making it more difficult to pull down when squatting down. There is also a men's model. Price: 241.95 euros.
+ large cargo pockets, pee-friendly
- expensive, relatively high cut at the back
Velocio long sleeve jersey
Long sleeve jersey in midsummer? Yes, to protect against harmful UV rays, Velocio has made the sleeves and back of the Ultralight Mesh Long Sleeve from a material that corresponds to a sun protection factor of 50. Our tester has long favoured long sleeves for long summer rides, but she had never seen a jersey as thin and airy as Velocio's before. The manufacturer, which belongs to SRAM, offers two coloured and one uncoloured version, which only has the zip as a colour accent. A small step for less waste. Price: 152.95 euros.
+ really light and airy
- small triangle on the shoulder without UV protection
Fingerscrossed Bra
The tester is 1.60 metres tall, has an underbust measurement of 79 centimetres and a chest measurement of 89 centimetres. She usually wears loose bras, which mainly hold the heart rate belt in place. The Fingerscrossed Bra (size S) sits snugly under the bust. The back is very comfortable. With other products, the seams on the shoulders often pinch, especially when the shorts and a hydration waistcoat are added. The test bra has no seams in this area to prevent possible pressure points. The zip is unusual, but practical. Price: 80 Euro >> available here.
+ Good, pressure-avoiding seam placement
- slightly tight under the bust for the tester's measurements (size S)
Fingerscrossed socks
The off-road socks from Fingerscrossed have entered their second generation. The material is more airy and there are no longer any anti-slip studs. The socks provide support around the ankle and instep to offer safety when pushing and carrying. The manufacturer promises breathability and durability. We have not yet been able to test the latter. Compared to the first generation, the off-road socks are significantly more airy. They fit snugly and wrinkle-free, so that you don't want to take them off - until it gets cooler. In cooler temperatures, the tight and actually comfortable fit leads to cold feet. Price: 24 Euro >> available here.
+ sit really comfortably
- feet get cold more quickly on cold days
Maxalami tubeless repair kit
We were able to test the Maxalami tubeless repair set "Gravel Twister" faster than we would have liked. Apparently a tyre had suffered a defect on the previous tour: it started to hiss when we tried to inflate it. We had placed the Gravel Twister in the end of the handlebars the day before; after a little trial and error, we were able to find the right plug thickness so that the tool would fit into the handlebars. It is easy to remove for patching and the "sausage" can be threaded in as usual and inserted into the tyre. Now the air holds. The repair tool can also be stored in the crank. It is suitable for inner diameters from 16 to 24 millimetres. The set contains five 1.5 millimetre tubeless patches. Once these have been used up, replenishment costs 3.90 euros. Price: 34.90 euros
+ Simple and familiar handling as with other tubeless repair kits
- wears a little on the handlebar end (slightly thicker than handlebar end plugs)
Wahoo Elemnt V3 bike computer
The latest Wahoo Elemnt Roam bears the abbreviation V3, which marks the latest development stage of the popular GPS computer, which is said to bring many improvements. The 110 gram route and training companion now offers 64 GB of memory and, according to the manufacturer, a battery life of up to 25 hours - a big plus compared to its predecessor. The 2.8-inch touch display impresses with its brilliant colour display and responds reliably even in the rain or when wearing gloves thanks to the button control. Nevertheless, in strong sunlight, the display is sometimes difficult to read in automatic mode - a manual brightness control would be desirable. The new menu navigation with the "Ready-to-Ride" screen is a success, it appears tidy and intuitive to use. However, the new Wahoo app is required for setup instead of the previous Elemnt app. The - theoretically possible - pairing with a Garmin radar failed in the test; we were unable to determine whether this was due to Wahoo or Garmin. Overall, a strong device without serious weaknesses, but with room for improvement in detail. Price: 449 Euro >> available here.
+ Battery life, memory, button operation
- Readability in sunlight
Sonax wheel cleaner
One of the few cleaners in the TOUR test that has its strengths in dissolving grease and is very gentle on the material; the slim bottle supports the good handling thanks to the ergonomic handle; the gel-like agent can be dosed well, but does not always hit the dirt accurately. Price: 15 euros >> available here*.
Silca mini compressor Elettrico Ultimate
It has plenty of power: in the practical test, the new Silca Elettrico Ultimate mini compressor pumped four 45 mm wide gravel tyres to 2.5 bar and two slimmer 28 mm road bike tyres to six bar with one battery charge. This is a practical performance for the 242 gram (8 x 5.5 x 3.5 centimetres) battery-powered pump, which heats up to a good 50 degrees and indicates its exhaustion with the word "Hot!" on the easy-to-read display (charging time around one hour). We know from other brands that the small compressors heat up considerably when inflating, but the Silca is one of the few pumps that displays this as a warning to protect against damage. The accessories include all the necessary adapters for different wheel valves; with the included pointed mouthpiece, it also fits ball valves. The compressor switches between bar and PSI units at the touch of a button, and the three-button operation is self-explanatory. The elegant, anodised and screwed metal housing is pleasant to the touch and of much higher quality than most competitors, but the price of 180 euros is, as is typical for Silca, also considerably higher. Price: 179 Euro >> available here.
+ top workmanship, powerful, easy to operate
Fidlock saddlebag
The magnetic closure is Fidlock's trademark; the drinking bottles with matching holder are well-known and proven. New to the range is the "Saddle Bag" with magnetic "Pinclip", which we tried out in size S with a volume of 400 millilitres (size M: 600 millilitres). The saddle and roll closure can be snapped into place with one hand and as if by magic, the bag can be attached to and removed from the saddle in no time at all. We found opening the roll-top fastener fiddly, but overall the lightweight and robust small carrier weighing just under 140 grams is impressive. It is waterproof and keeps the contents dry even in constant rain. Price: 50 euros >> available here.
+ robust, waterproof, lightweight
- Roller shutter fiddly
Woolpower short-sleeved shirt
The short-sleeved round neck shirt from Woolpower weighs 150 grams in size M. This makes the "Tee Lite", which is available in black and olive green, ideal for rides in the temperature range between five and fifteen degrees; at higher temperatures, it can quickly become too warm in this very comfortable shirt. Thanks to the 80 per cent merino content (20 per cent polyamide), the shirt does not smell even after repeated wear. However, it does not transport sweat to the next layer as quickly as pure synthetic fibre vests. Woolpower describes the fit as "close-fitting", we recommend a size M for a 1.80 metre tall and 80 kilogramme cyclist; the size L was clearly too big for our taste. The shirt is available in sizes XXS to XXL. We would have liked a more flexible neckline. Price: 90 euros >> available here.
+ Material feels nice against the skin, fluffy
- Collar not very flexible
Lezyne bike light
The model names give it away: The new Deca 1200 StVZO bike light from Lezyne combines road approval with a high output of 1200 lumens to illuminate trails at night. The new Strip+ Ai Alert StVZO rear light also features brake detection. For longer light duration, you can tap into the Infinite Light Power Pack XL+, an additional battery with a capacity of 13,200 mAh, which can also be used as an external USB-C charger for smartphones or sat navs. The light output and quality of the lights are excellent. The Lezyne package we tested, consisting of front and rear light plus additional battery, costs around 320 euros, but is likely to be cheaper in the relevant online shops. Weight: 215 grams (front light), 339 grams (additional battery), 71 grams (rear light). Price: 150 Euro (front light), 130 euros (additional battery), 45 Euro (rear light).
+ Luminous
- Front light holder could be longer
Fizik overshoes
The weatherproof overshoes from Fizik are lightweight and fold up small. The material is slippery on the inside, so putting them on is easier than expected. Take your shoes off, slip your feet through the overshoes, put your shoes on, slip the overshoes over the toes of your shoes and close them at the bottom. The protectors have to be tugged to the side so that they cover the shoe well. The overshoes weigh 59 grams in size S. Price: 59 euros.
Three parts for the micro-adventure
Our testers are constantly on the move and push their material and equipment to the limit - even on multi-day tours. Some of these products have proven themselves on more than 60 trips.
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 25° sleeping bag
Nature, silence, an owl calls into the night - and the sleeping bag rustles as if it were filled with aluminium foil. Not so with the Fly Creek from Big Agnes, which is pleasantly quiet. It is also nice and light: (703 grams incl. pack sack) when lifted, but also on the body. A striking feature is the cut with a central zip that is not continuous. Otherwise, the Fly Creek is a classic mummy sleeping bag with a thick hood that can be zipped up high. When it's warm, you can efficiently get some air by opening the zip and folding the warming cover over your chest. The disadvantage, at least for the less agile, is that the sleeping bag can only be opened over about a third of its length. This means that you have to crawl to get in and out. If it is cold, however, there is no cold bridge at the feet. Here, only the smooth, soft fabric caresses the toes. Price: 500 euros >> available here.
Ortovox Bivy Bag Bivy bag
A bivouac sack is designed for emergency scenarios. In other words, you wrap yourself in it when you are at the end of your tether. A silver coating on the inside reflects body heat. You can also use the bivy sack as a base for your sleeping mat, especially if you are bivouacking on grass. The bag weighs 273 grams. Price: 120 euros >> available here.
Victorinox Ranger pocket knife
The Swiss Army Knife is a classic and certainly not an insider tip. But it's great for overnighters. It can be used to uncork red wine, slice cheese and bread or remove splinters. It has a tool for most requirements, weighs 118 grams and is available in several versions. Price: 65 euros >> available here.
