Oh, happy days! We’ve hit that point in the calendar where we plan for the year ahead while looking toward a few weeks of winding down. As in years past, it’s also an opportunity to look back, reminisce about the past 12 months, and hopefully figure out how to do more of the good things. And given we’re all a bit (a lot) cycling-mad, it’s a chance to look back at some of the products that were along for the ride.
Truthfully, it’s been a hell of a year … hardships in the family, broken bones for my partner, seemingly endless bouts of sickness, and what felt like a long spell of unseasonal rain. All that has contributed to my riding being terribly inconsistent. Still, amongst all that, the bike continually broke through the clouds and brought sunshine into my life. My distances weren’t significant, but the positive impact the riding had sure was.
The items on this list are the type of products I look forward to using while also being things I can comfortably recommend to others. Looking back at the previous years of these lists shows almost all of the selections stand the test of time, and I could quite simply hit the republish button on my 2023 Favourite Things list and have it all remain true for today. I won’t do that, and so here are six new (admittedly premium) products that made me pause over this past year and think, “yeah, these things are excellent.”
Shimano S-Sphyre XC903 shoes
Going off-road has always been where my heart is. Whether for gravel or cross-country riding, I’ve long loved the efficient feel and secure hold of a high-end cross-country race shoe. And very few seem to fit my average-width feet as well as Shimano.
I’ve used a variety of Shimano’s top-end cross-country shoes over the past two decades, and the latest S-Phyre XC903s (review by Caley Fretz) feel like home with new artwork on the walls. The familiar last and more-supple microfiber upper holds my feet with a gentle grasp. That sole is wonderfully stiff to mimic a road shoe and the rubber tread blocks are of a good height to be stable against an SPD pedal.
When the pedals stop turning, the shoe's decently grippy tread design spans the full length. However, in an effort to reduce weight, an unprotected area near the bridge of the foot will quickly suffer from cosmetic wear – it is the only part of my shoes that shows some cutting.
Mine are white and that is certainly a polarising choice in a shoe made for going into dirt and grime. Truthfully, I love the look of them, but a single step into a giant mud bog was enough for me to regret choosing white. Thankfully they're also available in black, blue, or a limited-edition camo. Still, from a fit, feel, and function point of view, these shoes set a high bar.
Price: US$450 / AU$600
Project321 G3 hubs
Hubs are surprisingly tricky business. They look simple – many high-end rear hubs use a similar pawl or ratchet-based drive mechanism and then roll on four rows of bearings within an aluminium shell. And yet, there’s so much nuance in them that only a few have been able to make hubs that stand the test of time. It’s too early to tell whether Project321’s new G3 hubs will eventually hold such legendary status, but early signs are looking good for the now Toronto-based company under new ownership.
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