2023 has been a year of major change for me as I left the role of publisher of off.road.cc and took up the reins of reviewer and cycling consultant for the group. The upside of this change meant more time to ‘officially’ ride my bike for work rather than just sneaking it in when I had a spare hour or two. 

Living just 10 miles from Salisbury Plain and amid a spiderweb of sneaky byways, bridleways and the Kennet and Avon Canal cycleway, I am in the perfect location to put a lot of gravel-related kit through its paces and it doesn't seem to matter how many times I ride in this area, there's always another bridleway sign I've missed and trail to try. I've also been exploring the Quantocks, Pembrokeshire, Bristol, East Anglia, The Peak District and more this year plus a little trip to Italy.

In May, I crossed over to the ‘light’ side and rode a road bike from one side of Italy to the other starting in Precara on the opening Time Trial stage of the Giro d’Italia on the East coast and finishing under the pink banner in front of the Colosseum in Rome. It may not have been a gravel ride, although it will be in 2024, but I did manage to thoroughly test those Vento Ferrox shoes, Alpina sunglasses and some other kit while I was at it.

I spent a lot of June and July working out a collection of different routes from our favourite pizza pub to Stonehenge covering as much new ground as possible whilst trying to avoid what was most definitely a build-up of tank exercises on Salisbury Plain. After much testing, crashing, bramble trimming and consultation with firing range wardens, I had it all sorted and we led a group of industry riders around a 35-mile loop in the sunshine almost without incident  – no punctures in my group.

The end of August brought a climbing holiday for my son in Peak District National Park so we took our bikes and whilst he scaled the gritstone each we explored some great routes courtesy of Komoot. One particular 30-mile loop around the South West of Sheffield was awesome passing many of the local climbing spots and giving great views of the National Park on a dry and sunny day.

Recently I have been testing a selection of waterproof kit which has meant getting out in the rain which has not been much of a problem these last two months. Standing in the shower doesn’t let you test the breathability, stretch or fit hunched over on the bars or pushing on the pedals and, bizarrely, I quite like riding in the rain, especially when you have the right kit. Ditto that for cold weather which thankfully we haven’t seen much of down in the South West yet but we will I’m sure and I’ll be out in that for you as well so think of me when you’re sat inside in the warm reading reviews.

Bike of the year - Windover Bikes Bostal

Windover’s Bostal has been a surprise hit for me this year, the subtle French Blue paint job hid a well-chosen round profile Reynolds 853 tubeset specced with a GRX 600 groupset and the Venn Carbon wheel option delivered a very engaging ride on the gravel. 

The more you throw at it the more it seems to revel in the dirt asking you to push on. The short rear end and stiff T47 BB deliver an immediate surge when you stomp on pedals and whilst the head tube allows for good visibility, it’s still super easy to tuck into the drops and turn it up to 11. 

Windover’s long years of frame-building experience are evident in the performance on tap here. Load it up and it’ll ride smoothly all day, strip it down and you can have plenty of fun on the singletrack, fit 40mm slicks and it will sprint like a road bike. 

The Bostal is more than a sum of its parts which is exactly what you want from a small niche bike brand. Book yourself a demo ASAP.

To find out why I liked this bike so much, check out the Windover Bikes Bostal gravel bike review.

Item of clothing of the year - GRVL 3 Season Jacket 

GRVL’s 3 Season Jacket has been a fantastic addition to my riding wardrobe this year seeing repeated use in what was, let’s face it, a pretty rubbish year for sunshine. The ride-specific cut, attention to detail, and impeccable stitching throughout really shout high-end, luckily it’s got the performance to match. It’s extremely comfortable to wear with a soft touch stretchy fabric which is close fitting but not skin-tight so is ideal for layering. It’s also rather amazingly made from recycled ocean plastic which is a huge bonus in my book and hopefully the way forward for lots of brands.

It’s not waterproof rather it’s focused on being exceptionally breathable allowing you to put maximum effort into your ride without soaking you inside. It has a decent water-repellent coating which also does a great job of shrugging off the mud.

The pockets are some of the best located I’ve used and the hood whilst looking daft without a helmet keeps you warm on cold showery rides and sits out the way either rolled up or just close behind your head. All in its great jacket for changeable damp riding conditions which seems to sum up 2023.

To learn a little more about this jacket, head over to the GRVL 3 Seasons jacket review.

Helmet of the year - Endura MT500 

Endura’s MT500 Mips helmet fits so well that it’s my first choice for any mountain bike trail riding or testing. The quality of the Koroyd and EPS construction is first class with a perfect fit and no EPS showing on the underside which is fully covered by its 3D-moulded shell.

The direction of the Koryod makes a difference to the air flow in a helmet and Endura has got that spot on allowing air to escape on hot slow climbs and plenty of cooling air in when you’re on the move. The straps and yokes are solid and don’t require continuous readjustment, the visor clicks smoothly into one of three positions and the cradle is both height adjustable and grips the back of your head comfortably. 

The use of Koroyd in helmets is still fairly unusual with only a few companies opting to use it for its additional strength and increased safety claims, and this version of the MT500 also packs a Mips cradle with its whiplash protection system, so should you crash, your head is in safe hands so to speak. 

The MT500 Mips is a very well-made and well-thought-out design, add in a wide choice of colours from subtle to extrovert, and it’s the perfect choice for your weekend trail riding adventures.

Take a look at the Endura MT500 Mips helmet review.

Shoes of the year - Fizik Vento Ferox


Fizik’s Vento Ferox shoes are starting to look a little less pristine than they were at the start of the year which is hardly surprising considering the amount of miles I have put into them and all the testing that I have done. 

They are the most comfortable race-orientated off-road shoes I’ve ridden. The combination of a single Boa dial and Fizik Powerstrap provides quick easy adjustments on or off the bike, allows for excellent arch support and you can crank it down for tightness for that last maximum effort. 

They are surprisingly stiff when you need them to perform and yet they are somehow comfy enough to hang out with mates and even do a bit of hike-a-bike in if required. They’re best suited to warmer weather though, where their excellent breathability will keep your feet cool. They come in more dirt-friendly colours but I’ve grown to like the Lilac I have here. 

To find out why these shoes were worthy of a spot in my gear of the year, here's the Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon review.

Component of the year - Time XC 8 pedals

Time XC 8 pedals are the underdog of the off-road clip-in pedal world, but don’t let that put you off. Time’s proprietary cleat design is simple and easy to locate on the pedal body and snaps in with a satisfying ‘clack’. The pedals feature adjustable release tension and you can also reverse the cleats, left to right, making it harder or easier to clip in and out. 

Their angular design sheds the muck as soon as you push down on the pedal meaning secure engagement every time you need it and the XC8 pedals have never clogged up during my extended usage. Durability is good with the nickel alloy cleat designed to wear faster than the pedal. If you need more float for your knees or just fancy being able to move around on the pedal and still be clipped in – these are the pedals for you.

For more, here's my full thoughts on the Time XC 8 pedals.

Eye protection - Koo Demos

This is an easy one. The Koo Demos deliver everything you want from a pair of riding glasses with light-enhancing lenses during this murky time of year. The lens is clear, the images are crisp and there are no discernable reflections to annoy you nor any fogging up in use. That they are incredibly comfortable with grippy arms and an adjustable nose piece is a huge bonus as is the ability to add an optical clip-in for those of us who need one and a large selection of reasonably priced lenses for different light conditions. Pricier than some, but well made and good looking to boot.

To find out why I got on with these glasses so well, check out the Koo Demos sunglasses review.

Wheelset of the year - ENVE AG25

The ENVE’s AG25 Gravel wheels have taken an absolute thrashing this year on a selection of bikes, trails and surfaces with different tyres and pressures and come up smelling of roses. Their low weight is a contributing factor in the enjoyment stakes and helps them accelerate easily and their hubs spin forever even after many many washes and repeated riding in the filth. The wide-lipped rim has no doubt been responsible for the zero leak, burp and puncture count and their width helps your chosen tyre to sit squarely allowing you to push the edge of your cornering and grip confidence. 

They might cost a fair chunk more than many carbon gravel wheels out there but they are by no means the most expensive, plus you get ENVE’s amazing building quality and their substantial crash and warranty support should anything go wrong which should help alleviate any post-purchase blues - well that and their awesome performance. A hugely impressive wheelset, buy with confidence.

For more on these wheels, take a look at the ENVE AG25 wheelset review.

Accessory of the year - Thule Epos 2-Bike platform

Thule’s Epos 2-bike platform towbar rack to give it its full name is as close to perfection for a towbar car bike rack as you can get.  Need more detail? Okay, it’s pretty easy to carry one-handed via the handle and stores like a suitcase making it easy to tuck away in the garage or shed. It holds two bikes (or three bikes via a different version) and can cope with heavy e-bikes, mountain, road and gravel bikes (although not Fat bikes without an extra strap). Installing it on your car is super easy due to the low weight and simple locking mechanism. 

Opening the clever clam shape design and extending the support arms with their inbuilt locking clamps is easy and smooth. Everything rotates to work with different sizes and styles of bike and I particularly like the anti-crush main clamps which are very useful for carbon bikes and wheels. Only the lack of carbon rim protectors on the wheel straps and the rough-edged key let the side down - well that and the asking price - but it’s built like a tank and given my previous experience with Thule it will easily last more than five years of regular use. 

Check out my Thule Epos 20bike platform towbar bike rack review to find out why this bike rack is so good.

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