My Cotic Rocket long term test frame has ridden some hard miles, raced a bit of enduro, tested a lot of components and been an awesome long travel partner. Whilst the Longshot geometry is progressive and right up my street, I learned to live with the linkage driven single pivot action of the Droplink suspension and ultimately I had a shed load of fun aboard this speed machine.

Bontrager released a new line of water resistant Adventure Bags today designed to give bikepackers, gravel riders, and commuters a better option for neatly and efficiently hauling their gear. Built to fit the Trek Checkpoint and the Farley, there's a Top Tube and a Frame Bag and they aren't too pricey either. 

Gear has been non-stop through the door this week and we've picked out five of the coolest and most interesting pieces here. There are brand new shoes from Fizik and gloves from Hirzl , the company that says they offer the ultimate glove experience. There's some mid-range Candy pedals, photochromic gasses from RAD 8 and finally a new Prime Kanza carbon gravel wheels at a modest price from Chain Reaction Cycles/Wiggle. 

Given the no-nonsense name – dhb MTB Women’s Lightweight Packable Shell Jacket – you won't be surprised to learn it's just that: a thin and light (off-road) jacket that packs up small enough to lose in the bottom of your backpack. It’s not super waterproof in prolonged rain though, and it can get pretty sweaty, so it's an emergency-only piece of kit.

Trials rider, Chris Akrigg is one of the riders we love to watch the most and his new video, Crossroads is no different! Riding his Mongoose adventure steed, the Guide, complete with drop bars and skinny tyres, Akrigg sets out to astonish us with his sheer skill as he defies gravity on the gravel bike. Mission accomplished. 

Time has just launched a new pedal designed for gravel and adventure cyclists as well as touring riders and cyclo-cross racers. There are three models in the lineup, all use Time's existing IClic system and are based around two bolt cleats similar to their current mountain bike cleats.

The Dakine Arsenal 3L women’s waterproof jacket is a hardy coat for the worst weather. It’s super waterproof, pretty breathable and great for deepest winter. It's hard to keep those lighter parts clean, but it is pretty packable for such a thick jacket and it keeps you dry in the grip of a storm.

The dbh Aeron women’s short sleeved merino base layer is a great shoulder-season underlayer that washes well, dries quickly and has a soft feel against the skin. It retains its shape well too, though it's on the thin side for serious winter use.

The Floe women’s mountain bike short from Alpkit is a durable, comfortable and well-made option in a crowded market, with water-resistant coating and trail-ready styling. They're a bit too short to play well with kneepads, though, which seems quite an oversight.