Here at Cycling Weekly we are in the privileged position of getting our hands on the latest and greatest cycling products. Every year, our testers scrutinise hundreds of products when they’re out riding. From former national champions to ex-pros they have decades of experience behind them and test products on roads all around the UK and in Portland, USA.
They score products based on form, function, performance and value, but our Gear of the Year – featured over the next 10 pages – goes beyond a star rating. These are the products that we have fallen in love with in 2023 and now can’t do without. Whether they saved us from the freezing cold weather, or have just made us want to ride our bikes more, these are our picks from the 2023 season of testing.
Specialized Prime Alpha Jacket
I have taken this jacket on almost every single ride I have been on since August – yes, August! This jacket provides perhaps the best warmth-to-pocket-estate ratio for any piece of kit I have ever tested.
That makes it perfect for the cafe, which, we can all agree, is pretty damn important.
This is a truly versatile jacket, so much so that when I ditched the bike for a week of trekking in the Alps, this is one of the first things I packed – albeit as an underlayer.
It isn’t the cheapest jacket in the world, but its quality provides great value and comfort.
Joe Baker
Wilier Filante SLR Ultegra
This little Italian number (left) is a total dream machine and I don’t mind admitting I joined in the mass outpouring of adoration for the bike’s immense good looks. It’s proof that you can, in fact, have both beautiful form and world-class function. The £9.7k Filante SLR redefined ‘aero’, providing both a stiff and punchy ride that was still predictable and sure-footed, as well as outclassing bikes in the lightweight climbing classification too.
