{"id":399,"date":"2021-12-30T09:00:05","date_gmt":"2021-12-30T08:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=659164"},"modified":"2021-12-30T09:19:12","modified_gmt":"2021-12-30T08:19:12","slug":"sam-challiss-gear-of-the-year-2021","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/sam-challiss-gear-of-the-year-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Sam Challis\u2019s Gear of the Year 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Sam Challis\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 30 December 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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This type of article tends to necessitate a degree of reflection I wouldn\u2019t ordinarily take the time to fully explore, and this year it has clarified some distinct shifts in my riding behaviour.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t recognise that any changes were being made at the time and they come as something of a surprise given the relative monotony since the pandemic began.<\/p>\n

Comparing now to this time last year though, what, where and how I ride has developed considerably.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a road rider at heart, but I\u2019ve taken to gravel riding<\/a> more and more this year as a way to reinvigorate the time I get to spend in the saddle. It adds variety and spontaneity in a way that the road simply can no longer match, given the limited time\/distance my personal life allows me to cover at any one time.<\/p>\n

As such, my list for our 2021 Gear of the Year series<\/a>\u00a0reflects that. It is dominated by gravel products, where once road would have ruled the roost.<\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019ve gotten too lost in the woods though. Scratch the surface of my picks and you\u2019ll see their roadie influence. The carbon soles, the deep rims and the Lycra is all still there, just with a little extra versatility sprinkled on top.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard it said that versatility permits variety, and as that\u2019s the spice of life I\u2019m pretty happy with where that leaves me in 2021. Roll on the new year.<\/p>\n

Shimano RX8 shoes<\/h2>\n