We're not sure if you've read, but cyclocross has been in the news in a big way this week. Now, we don't think there's anything untoward going on inside the seat tube of the Raleigh RX below, but you'll have to buy one to find out.

Of course, if you're going to go looking for - or installing your own - hidden motors in cyclocross bikes from Chain Reaction Cycles, you'll need some tools. Fortunately, the DealCatcher's got you covered there. Over at Hargroves their Essence Tool Kit from IceToolz has seen a 33% discount.

On a totally unrelated note, Leisure Lakes Bikes have 30% off their rather charming looking selection of Castelli Gregge 12 Socks.

Check 'em out.

Chain Reaction Cycles

46% off Raleigh RX Race Cyclo X Bike 2015
WAS £1849.99 | NOW £999.99

We reviewed the RX Race's older brother back in 2013. We gave its earlier incarnation a solid 8/10, if that can give you any idea what to expect from this 2015 edition.

The modern day RX will see you through harsh weather on your daily commute and deep mud on a cyclocross course.

We can't testify as to the ease of which a motor could be installed into the seat tube, but I guess that's something you can explore for yourselves.

- Read more: road.cc's Raleigh RX Comp review

Hargroves Cycles

33% off IceToolz Essence Tool kit
WAS £59.95 | NOW £39.95

We jested earlier that you'd need tools to install a hidden motor into your bike.

Of course you'll need tools, but maybe not these tools.

These tools are for everything from repairs, fettles, tweeks, and replacements. Below is a list of the bits you'll get with your incredibly cheap purchase:

SIS/Shimano BB Tool (11B1); 8 Groove Spoke wrench (12F8); Cassette Tool (09C1); Crank Puller 04C2); Chain Tool (61C2); 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 & 6mm Hex Key Set (36Q1); 6 adjustable wrench (25H6); 8mm Hex key (35V8); 8 & 10mm open ended spanner; 2 x Flat head screw drivers; 2 x Cross head screw drivers; 1/2 Drive adapter; Hollowtech 2/MegaExo BB Tool (11F1); Chain Whip; Pedal & Box Wrench (34A2); & a Nylon Tyre Lever Set.

Leisure Lakes Bikes

30% off Castelli Gregge 12 Socks
WAS £16.00 | NOW £11.20

Finally, socks.

You can never have too many socks. Ever. If you were denied the pleasure of opening a pair for Christmas, now's the chance to treat yourself.

These are top quality Castelli socks. Merino wool - with fabulous moisture wicking abilities, comfort in temperatures between 0-12 degrees, and a 12cm cuff for extra protection from the elements for your feet.

We tested Castelli's first iteration of the Sanremo Thermosuit a couple of years ago and found it to be a quality bit of kit. Castelli has brought out its second edition of the all-in-one winter bodysuit, and with a little extra protection from the elements it continues to impress in the cold and the wet.

The idea behind the Thermosuit is really two-fold. For racers, fast riders and general drag-coefficient connoisseurs, it provides an aerodynamic take on the 'flappy jersey and baggy tights' combo of old. On top of that, stitching a jersey to a pair of tights means Castelli can bin the bib straps and use the figure-hugging jersey as support for the tights and pad.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

This leads to a pretty comfy garment to ride in, albeit one that is slightly odd to get into for the first handful of times you wear it. The nearest thing I can compare it to is putting on a wetsuit – albeit with much less swearing.

For this second iteration, Castelli has taken the fabric and general construction of its Gabba 2 long-sleeve jersey (Iwein tested the short-sleeve version last year) and combined it with its Sorpasso tights to make a serious bit of winter kit. The original Thermosuit combined the Sorpasso tights with the Trasparente top. I'm not entirely sure how much difference this makes, as both jerseys are made from the same material, with the Gabba having a bit more coverage from the elements at the back.

The Gabba material isn't quite as neopreney (is that a word?) as some of the thicker stuff I've seen used in the past, but it's been reasonably effective in the short bursts of rain I've been caught in.

The pad is Castelli's Progetto X2 Air variant (as it was in the previous model). I didn't have any issues with it; it's plenty comfortable and stays in place.

Storage solutions

As with a standard jersey, you get three rear pockets and they sit pretty tightly against your back – great for stashing smaller items such as keys and phones, but less good for bulkier things like pumps and tubes. There's no zipped pocket but I don't see that as a major issue as the other three are all pretty secure. I never had any concerns about losing my phone during a particularly aggressive bunnyhop or on really rough roads/bridleways.

Castelli says this Thermosuit is aimed at temperature ranges between 5 and 15°C, which I wouldn't say I completely agree with. I think you'd get pretty hot pretty quickly riding in 15°C in this. At the colder end of the scale I generally always wore a baselayer underneath, and if it got properly cold I put another jacket or gilet over the top of it too.

The zips seem robust on both the jersey and ankle grippers, and they had overlapping fabric where needed to prevent any irritation against the skin, which is a plus. Similarly, the ankle and wrist grippers achieved the right balance between secure and comfortable, keeping any nasty breezes out.

Suit you...

I can only really find two drawbacks to the Thermosuit. The first wasn't a problem for me, but if your upper and lower proportions are significantly different you might struggle to find a size that works. Secondly, I found that while the low section at the front of the tights was great for comfort breaks, at times I would have liked it a bit higher just to give a nice warm overlap of material around my midsection where the tights and jacket meet.

Finally, a quick word on value. It can be quick because we summed it up for the last version of this garment, and not much has really changed. The price is exactly the same as the original, which is great – yes, £250 is no doubt a large chunk of money to part with (less if you shop around), but for that chunk you get the combination of Castelli'sGabba 2 jersey and Sorpasso tights. Buying the two separately would cost you considerably more. You could argue that having the two separate lets you chop and change a bit more, but I'm not sure I'd pay the difference just for that benefit.

> Check out our guide to the best winter cycling jackets here

Overall I've enjoyed my time riding in the Sanremo Thermosuit, whether it's been on fast winter outings or lazier Sunday rides. Castelli hasn't changed much with this version, and you can kind of see why. It works well, so why would you? I like the blue and black colours too, even if the visibility on dingy roads has taken a bit of a hit over the old fluoro/black combo.

Verdict

A comfortable, aerodynamic take on combining winter tights and a jersey into a single bit of kit

The Castelli Pave is a high-performance lightweight waterproof shell, made of eVent fabric. That's expensive stuff, but still the price here is a bit of a shocker. It performs very well, though, keeping even heavy rain on the outside with an impressive level of breathability to keep you reasonably comfortable.

Castelli says the Pave is a simplified version of its (even more expensive) Tempesta waterproof, lacking that jacket's pockets and adjustable cuffs. The RRP is probably enough to put quite a lot of people off, no matter how much they like the pavé photoprint, but the fact is it can be found in many places at much-reduced prices, when it becomes a really decent option.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

A number of brands use eVent fabric, with the goal of providing the holy grail of rain protection combined with breathability. It uses Direct Venting technology to allow water vapour to pass through microscopic pores even when the fabric is dry – eVent says that conventional polyurethane breathable membranes only allow moisture transfer when the fabric is wet, meaning that you need to get hot and damp before the sweat really escapes. This, it is claimed, makes eVent 30 per cent more breathable than its closest competitor.

Castelli says that the eVent fabric used in the Pave is an exclusive ultralight version. We weighed the large size at 221g, which is indeed a decent weight for a "proper" waterproof, though it appears there is lighter still – Dhb's eVent ASV waterproof jacket has a claimed weight of 133g for a medium, although I've not tried one and can't verify this. The Dhb jacket is, as you'd expect, rather less pricey than the Pave too, at £100. Vermarc's Extreme Rain Jacket, which Mike tested last year, is slightly lighter and significantly cheaper, being made of a less high-end membrane, which I suspect isn't as breathable as what we have here.

I wore the Pave in a wide range of conditions and it did an excellent job of keeping me dry, shrugging off rain and road spray for rides of a few hours without a problem. The zip is a waterproof YKK Vislon with a storm flap behind it, and this didn't let anything through either.

The jacket really does breathe particularly well, too – wearing it over a baselayer I stayed comfortable even when riding at pace with the temperature around 8-12°C. With most waterproof jackets, I tend to use them only when it's already raining when I set out, otherwise favouring a gilet or a softshell, depending on temperature. With the Pave I was happy using it even if there was only a threat of rain, as the usual downsides of a hard shell were largely absent.

It packs down very well - it was no trouble fitting it in a jersey pocket, so if you do find you're getting too warm, it's easy to stow. One thing you can't do is to wear it with a rucksack; Castelli says so explicitly. This is most likely because of risk to the externally-taped seams, but it may be that the fabric itself won't cope with the abrasion. I was initially concerned about the durability of those taped seams, but after a few months of pretty regular use they've not shown any tendency to peel or lift.

The eVent fabric feels softer and more comfortable than traditional hard shells – more like a thin windproof than a waterproof. It feels okay against the skin, but I'd still always opt for a long-sleeved baselayer or jersey underneath. It's quiet too, which is welcome, so you don't hear it flapping as much as some. Unlike the fabric used in the Bontrager Velocis Stormshell it isn't stretchy, but it is well fitted. It's certainly not race-tight, though – I had plenty of room for a couple of layers underneath with the large size. What happened to "Italian sizing"?

I've not yet really mentioned one of the most striking elements of the Pave, namely the rather bold photoprint across the torso. Pavé is French for cobbles, as seen every spring in the Classics races like Paris-Roubaix, and here, all over your jacket. I hated it at first, but feel less strongly by the end of the test period; other people's views could best be described as mixed. If it's not your thing, there are plain black and blue versions available too.

> Check out our guide to the best winter cycling jackets here

Only the cobbled version has the bright fluoro tail, but they all have the reflective tape at the very bottom around the back, which helps with night-time visibility. There is also silicone gripper strip to stop it riding up, located above the fluoro bum panel. The two scorpion logos are printed as part of the design rather than stuck on or stitched in place, so they won't come off.

From a performance perspective, then, the Pave certainly delivers. Excellent protection from wind and rain combined with high breathability means it is a viable option for any cool weather riding even if rain is but a distant risk. Personally, I preferred the fit of the less expensive Bontrager Velocis, which I was testing at the same time. The Velocis also has more comprehensive reflectives, a useful pocket and is better looking to my eyes. But now that the Pave can be bought for a lot less than RRP, it is on more even terms with the competition, and I'd say it is certainly worth considering.

Verdict

High performance waterproof at a pretty eye-watering price; the pattern might make your eyes water too

Castelli, Italian manufacturer of high-end cycle apparel, has produced a simple yet effective skull cap in its Viva Thermo Skully.

It's a thin thermal layer designed to be worn under the helmet, and it performs its job brilliantly. At first glance I was concerned that it would be too thin to deal with the cold snaps the UK has had recently – but those concerns were unfounded.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

With a fleece liner and a shower resistant layer on the outside, the Viva Thermo Skully is stretchy and fits comfortably around the head – and heads of all sizes too. The cut means there's no bunching or excess, which makes adjustment of your helmet to accommodate it unnecessary. Just pop it on and away you go with lots of comfort and warmth.

The seams are well constructed, and while not taped they are flat to avoid any annoying digging or chafing against your helmet. The edges are actually seamless around the base, which also adds to comfort too.

The skull cap washes very well – after a few uses the fleece lining has remained as soft as it was when new, and the colours stay vibrant. This is particularly good, considering the bright red nature of the sample I had on test. If that doesn't match your kit, though, you can get it in blue or yellow fluoro, as well as more neutral white and black with the Castelli branding around the base. (And pastel blue 'Donna' versions for women – because men's and women's head shapes are so different...)

> Check out our guide to the best cycling kit to keep you warm in winter here

As with many Castelli products, it's on the pricey side at £19, but to be honest it's a nice piece that will last multiple winters, and does a great job in wintry conditions – just as good as my merino wool alternative.

Verdict

A simple product done very well

Castelli has been introducing its shiny grey high-visibility material to a number of garments. Its Reflex Overshoes not only keep your feet as dry as can be with a big hole in the bottom for your shoe cleats, but help you be seen on murky days and at night.

Pulling the Reflexes over my shoes – they're designed for road shoes – it's clear the company's fame for small-fitting sizes also extends to its overshoe range. I have quite small feet at 42/43s, depending on the shoe I'm wearing, and the overshoes in a large (recommended for 43-44) involved a bit of elbow grease to pull on. Once on, though, the fit was snug and taut around my shoes. There's probably some kind of aero benefit there, along with them just looking good.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

The outer material, along with being fantastically visible when lit up by car lights, is plenty windproof and waterproof. It's always tricky to judge how waterproof a pair of overshoes is, given that they all share the not-very-waterproof feature of having a massive cleat hole in the bottom. Nonetheless, in downpours my feet never were unhappy. The Reflexes aren't as warm as a thick pair of neoprene overshoes, but the combination of resistant outer material with some fleecy insulated internal material did better than I expected.

The seams are all sealed pretty well to add to the Reflexes' resistance to the elements, and the zippers are slightly offset outwards of the customary "straight up the back" location for a zipper. I thought this worked well, and helped when it came to doing them up as you don't have to bunch all the material toward the zip as much.

The Cordura sole is noticeably tougher than the rest of the material on the overshoe, but it's still not that tough, and my test pair of Reflexes are already starting to show signs of wear.

> Check out our guide to essential wet weather gear and clothing here

For me, overshoes are pretty much mandatory garments during cold winter commutes and training rides. Particularly on commutes, my feet spend a fair amount of time on the ground at lights, and walking into the office. As such, I wear out overshoes material pretty quickly, and I don't think I've ever managed to make a set last more than a year. To all intents and purposes, they are a consumable item.

Castelli says the Reflexes are designed for winter training rides and chaingangs – and "are not designed for walking in" – but even so I'm struggling with the current discounted price of £50.25, let alone the £75 RRP. They're great overshoes in terms of fit, function and visibility, but £75 is decent jersey money.

Verdict

High visibility overshoes that protect against the elements, but not robust enough to justify the price

Chamois cream. You either get it, or you don't. If you do, this new Castelli Chamois Dry Lube is really rather good, as good as anything else on the market. It's perfect for increasing comfort in the saddle for your epic rides, and it's easy to apply so you won't make a mess in the bathroom.

The Dry Lube – not to be confused with the stuff you put on a bicycle chain – is part of Castelli's new Linea Pelle cream range, which also includes two types of embrocation and muscle-warming cream. Yes, that's right, the Italian company no longer just makes clothing. It's even doing luggage and saddlebags too.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

Each one comes in a typically stylish tube with a dispensing pump button, making it easy to release as much cream as you need, and avoiding accidentally discharging too much. It gives you about a fingertip's worth with easy squeeze, and two squirts are about right to lather up the undercarriage. It's the least messy chamois cream I've ever tested, much easier than those that come in a tub and other tubes.

Castelli has manufactured the cream using natural tea tree oils, which it reckons provides a calming sensation for the skin and reduces friction. Reading the ingredients is, well, you need a degree in chemistry to make head or tail of any of it: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Coco-caprylate, Cetearyl Glucoside... that's just a few of them.

All those mysterious ingredients blend together to form a cream that's wet when it squirms out of the tube, but doesn't feel soggy or greasy once applied, as is often the way with chamois creams. Instead of feeling wet, it dries out quickly to leave a nice protective barrier.

Castelli doesn't make a preference for skin or chamois application, you'll surely have your own preferred method. In case you're wondering, I opt for the direct approach – it's less messy and you hit the right spot every time.

The aim of any chamois cream is to make riding in the saddle more comfortable, and it does this, according to Castelli, by stopping chafing. It also "helps fight infection without turning your chamois into a wet nappy" says the company.

I can quite happily bosh out a 200km ride without any chamois cream, but doing such a ride is made marginally more comfortable with a bit of cream lubricating the shorts padding. Where I find chamois cream really useful is when you're riding every day, sometimes twice a day, when a lot of saddle time can lead to irritation.

This is where a chamois cream provides a nice little comfort boost and prevents chafing from occurring, or – if it has already occurred – provides a nice alleviating effect. It's a good preventative and also a remedy.

> Check out our reviews of more skincare and embrocation products here

All chamois creams do pretty much the same job, but some achieve better results. For Castelli's first attempt, I'm very impressed. It's easy to apply, it isn't messy and it keeps working long into a ride. Everything you want from such a cream.

The price, £15.99 for a 100ml tube, is on the high side, and is more expensive than my go-to chamois cream, the rather excellent Sportique Century Riding Cream. That comes in at £9.99 for a 100ml tube, and it's also available in a 180ml size for £14.99.

Verdict

A very nice chamois cream with easy application

The Mortirolo has been part of Castelli's winter jacket line-up for many years; the Reflex model is based on the same softshell design as the original but with large swathes of reflective material across the shoulders and waist. This lights up impressively in car headlights, but, unlike plenty of other high-vis outerwear, when the sun is up the fit and styling don't scream 'commuter'.

The Mortirolo Reflex looks and performs just like a high-end winter jacket should. It's made from Gore's Windstopper X-Fast fabric – a nominally windproof and water resistant material – and features a thick-pile fleecy interior lining throughout. It's very comfortable against the skin when you're only wearing a short-sleeved baselayer underneath.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

Although not technically waterproof, the Reflex's ability to shrug off rain is impressive, so much so that I never felt the need to wear a separate waterproof if I knew I'd only be out in the rain for less than an hour. Despite the fabric soaking up water, the thickness of the jacket means it takes a long time for moisture to actually make it through to the inside. This proved ideal for my daily 10-mile commute as I didn't have to fuss with packing a separate waterproof 'just in case'.

The jacket's thickness also comes in handy for fending off the cold. Castelli puts the Reflex's wearable temperature range as between 6°C and -15°C, which my experience showed to be about right. With the chest vent zips open, this range can perhaps be extended up a couple of degrees, but anything warmer and it quickly becomes too hot. For most of my riding in the past couple of months, featuring temperatures of 0-6°C, a long-sleeve wool baselayer and perhaps a neck warmer was all I needed under the Reflex to remain comfortable.

In normal daylight, the Reflex just looks like any other top-end winter jacket, but in low-light conditions, it positively lights up because of the reflective panels on the shoulders and waist, providing 360 degrees of visibility. Numerous comments from riding buddies and even strangers just passing by made me realise just how reflective the jacket is. It really is quite impressive.

When it comes to fit, the Reflex is typical Castelli in that most people will need to go up one (if they're on the slim side) or two sizes. 'Sporty' would be a good description of the fit itself – the jacket has skinny arms, a slim cut and a very dropped waist at the rear; it's tailored to fit well on the bike, but a little awkward walking around the office or other public places. Despite the nod to commuting and practicality through the use of reflective material, the Reflex is still very much a performance-orientated bit of kit, most at home on the bike, with tight-fitting layers beneath.

As you might expect from a brand with Castelli's reputation, the small details have all been well thought out and executed. Up front, the YKK zip is a fairly hefty number, with a large zip pull that's easy to grasp and manipulate with thick winter gloves. The chest ventilation zips are much slimmer, but then these are much more likely to be used when wearing thinner gloves.

Unusually, the waist forgoes the typical strip of silicone and relies on being elasticated to stay in place, which it does fine. Out back, there are three pockets providing enough space to fuel any long winter ride.

Construction quality is spot on too – the jacket has held up to a winter's worth of daily commutes and longer weekend rides without showing any signs of wear. Despite the warnings, it's been through a number of tumble drying cycles (on low heat), and the reflective panels are still as good as new.

> Check out our guide to the best winter cycling jackets here

In summary, the Mortirolo Reflex is an excellent jacket. At £200 it's at the high end of the market, and because of the fit and performance it's likely to appeal mainly to those using it for recreational rather than utilitarian purposes. But the introduction of the reflective panels transforms it into something than can legitimately be worn seven days a week; whether that makes it worth the money is ultimately up to you.

Verdict

A top performing winter jacket that transforms in low-light conditions

Radial Cycles get today's DealCatcher up and running - or rolling, if you'd prefer - with a huge, limited-time offer on their Revere Carbon 1.1 road bike.

A full price Radial Revere Carbon 1.1 offers fantastic value, so we'd seriously reccommend you take a look at this deal as soon as possible because it expires on April 22nd!

Once you've had a look at Radial's excellent offer you'll be free to explore the rest of our wares, which are cycling jerseys today.

Over at Ribble Cycles you've got a choice of two excellent Altura women's jerseys - jerseys which we reviewed very positively here at road.cc.

And finally, Cycle Surgery have got a cracking 30% off Castelli's Free AR 4.0 cycling jersey. 

Radial Cycles - Promoted deal

40% off the Radial Revere Carbon 1.1 105
WAS £1399.00 | NOW £850.00

Radial Revere 1.1 105.png

Whether you're looking for a bargain bike build, or a fantastic carbon frame with the view to build it up to something bigger and better over the years, the Radial Revere is a fantastic option.

The classy carbon frame, built by Radial themselves, is of exceptional quality and, combined with the carbon fork and headset, it weighs in under that all-important 1000g mark.

You'll be getting Shimano's 105 groupset with this set-up, although the Revere is also available with SRAM Apex and Rival, as well as an Easton AXR Aero road wheelset, Kenda tyres, as well as free shipping.

We had a play with the Radial Revere Carbon 1.1, but the SRAM Apex-running iteration. We really enjoyed the short time we spent with it. You can check that out here:

- Read more: road.cc's SRAM Apex First Ride

Rember, this deal will only be valid until the 22nd!

Also, if you're after some more Radial Cycles bargains, check out their promoted deals page. If gravel cycling or inner-city commuting are more your thing, they've got you covered there:

- Check out: Radial Cycles promoted deals

Ribble

56% off Altura's Synchro Women's Jersey
WAS £35.99 | NOW £17.54

Altura Womens Synchro Short Sleeve Jersey.jpg

The weather's improving, which means those trusty long sleeved jerseys are coming towards the end of their usable lifespan - this year at least... we hope.

So, you'll be needing to update your wardrobe for some late-spring, early-summer appropriate items.

You could do a lot worse than these Altura Synchro jerseys.

Reviewed by us back in December 2014, they got the thumbs up as a comfortable jersey with tight fitting stretch fabric that offers a performance fit without any constrictions.

- Read more: road.cc's Altura Synchro Jersey review

Cycle Surgery

30% off Castelli's Free AR 4.0 Jersey
WAS £89.99 | NOW £62.99

Castelli Free AR 4.0 Jersey.jpg

Finally, trusty Castelli get involved in the DealCatcher fun with their fantastic Free AR 4.0 Jersey, which isn't quite as free as the name would have you believe.

That said, even though Cycle Surgery aren't giving the jersey away, they're offering it to you lot for a considerable chunk less than normal.

The AR in the Free AR jersey stands for Aero Race. We've got a bit of experience reviewing Castelli's Aero Race range here at road.cc, so we'd like to impart a little of what we've learned to you now.

We saw the Aero Race 5.0 come through our doors, and our esteemed reviewer Jez Ash took to reviewing the top for us.

He said that the surprisingly tight fitting 5.0 worked incredibly well on the aerodynamic front, while perhaps not being the best bet for an all-day ride.

The Free 4.0 appears to focus slightly more on the comfort side of things while keeping its aerodynamic heritage intact.

For a better feel of what the AR range can offer you, check out Jez's review below:

- Read more: road.cc's Castelli Aero Race 5.0 review

Stop looking out the window. Seriously, don't look. Ignore all of the evidence and just listen to what we've got to say: summer is coming.

It's the end of April, and yeah, there have been reports of snow and sleet in parts of the UK, but when have we ever let a little bit of bad weather stop us from getting excited for the impending summer months?

Exactly. We haven't. And we're not going to start now.

So, in that vein, the DealCatcher's got a particularly summery DealCatcher to get you in the mood.

Starting with Ribble's unbelievable full carbon Evo Pro that will be your perfect summer riding companion - especially now that you can get your hands on it for under £800.

Second up is Castelli's Formula FZ summer jersey which is on offer over at Evans Cycles. It's the perfect sunny day performance jersey for riders who aren't looking to cut the blood supply off to their arms in a bid to shave a couple of aerodynamically granted seconds off their best Strava times.

Finally, the folks over at Science in Sport have sliced 40% off of their asking price for their REGO Recovery mix. It's the perfect blend of protein, carbohydrates, and electrolytes to help you maintain those muscular gains while putting you in the best possible position to get up and ride efficiently again tomorrow.

Ribble Cycles

20% off Ribble's Evo Pro Special Edition Road Bike
WAS £999.99 | NOW £799.99

Ribble Evo Pro Carbon.jpg

First we're paying a visit to Ribble Cycles.

Ribble have a fantastic bike building platform on their website which allows you to create bike builds of incredible value from a mixture of their own in-house Ribble branded bits, and your favourite component suppliers.

However, they'll sometimes offer a pre-made build that blows even the value of their bike building platform out of the water.

This full carbon set-up will only set you back £799.99 and for that incredibly low price you'll be getting SRAM's Rival 22 groupset, Fulcrum's Racing Sport Wheelset, a Selle Italia X1 Plus Flow saddle, Deda RHM01 handlebars, and of course Ribble's fantastic 3K carbon race frame.

The sum of these parts should come to a price point significantly higher than the one you'll be paying - just check out the road.cc reviews for the SRAM groupset hanging from this beast of a machine:

- Read more: road.cc SRAM Rival 22 review

Evans Cycles

49% off Castelli's Formula FZ Jersey
WAS £69.99 | NOW £35.00

Castelli Formula FZ Jersey.PNG

So, we clarified earlier that summer is on its way - despite the evidence at hand for many of you.

Once that bit of information sinks in, your mind will probably wander back to one of the most pressing issues in your life right now: working on your summer wardrobe.

If that is infact where your mind is wandering, let us point you in the direction of the sale on Castelli's Formula FZ jersey over at Evans Cycles.

At what is essentially a 50% discount, this summer oriented jersey offers fantastic value.

The full zip - which is weirdly where the FZ in the jersey's name comes from - will be helpful on those toasty summer climbs, while the slightly looser, more comfortable, fit offers a lot of the aerodynamic benefits of a professional team jersey without any of the uncomfortable, potentially unnecessary, pinch points for those of us who aren't quite built like Chris Froome.

If you want a bit of an idea as to what to expect, here's a review of a reasonably similar jersey from Castelli that graced our review desk a while ago:

- Read more: road.cc's Castelli Entrata jersey review

Science in Sport

40% off SiS REGO Rapid Recovery Mix
WAS £24.00 | NOW £14.39

SIS Rego Rapid Recovery 1kg.png

Finally, seeing as this sleet snow-like weather won't be around for long, we imagine you'll be wanting to get into the saddle a whole lot more than you have been over the last few months.

If that's the case, it's not going to be easy going on those poor, underutilised legs of yours - especially for the first few weeks.

So, let us help you. 

Science in Sport's REGO Rapid Recovery mix has a bit of Ronseal - as in, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

You're not only saving around £10 here, you're saving days of riding time. The combination of whey protein, elctrolytes, and carbohydrates in the mix provide the perfect concoction to facilitate muscle growth and mineral replacement so that you'll be good to go the morning after a long ride.

Don't believe us? We've had experience with SiS's REGO range - their REGO Protein Bars performed fantastically when they came our way for review:

- Read more: road.cc's SiS REGO Choc and Protein Bar review

Linea Pelle is Castelli's new skincare range comprising Chamois Dry Lube, Foul Weather Cream and Warming Embro Cream. They're all available individually but if you want to save a few quid and get a free mesh bag you can buy this Combi pack. Some of it's good, some of it's average – read on to find the best bits...

In the winter months it's normally pretty easy to protect your skin from the elements: you just cover it up with clothing, basically. Spring, autumn and summer can be trickier; temperatures can change throughout a ride, as can rain, wind and whatever else Mother Nature fancies throwing at you. That's where embrocation creams come into play.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

Foul Weather Cream

This 100ml tube contains a water resistant barrier cream against rain, road spray, wind and the cold, which is ideal for when you know you're going to be starting a ride or race in grim conditions but you still want or need to wear shorts.

By squeezing the dispenser you find yourself with quite a thick gel in your hands which rubs into your skin quite easily, providing a slight warming effect. It's a quick job and although it leaves your hands a bit on the greasy side, it's easy to remove with the help of a wet wipe.

Against the elements it's not so great though. The longest I felt the benefits from it was 30 minutes of riding and it wasn't even raining that hard; there was a fair bit of road spray but I wasn't splashing through puddles.

By the end of that half hour the Foul Weather Cream had all been washed off and I was back to just my bare skin. The cold feeling was quite noticeable, though, so when this stuff is on your legs it's certainly keeping your muscles warm.

Verdict: More damp weather cream than foul weather cream

Warming Embro Cream

Creams and oils like these are designed to warm the muscles before exercise, so it's ideal if you haven't had time for a decent warm up or if you know you are going to be stood at the start line on a cold day before the off.

The Embro Cream is pretty pleasant stuff to use, and again is dispensed by a pump rather than just squeezing the 100ml tube. It's a reasonably thick consistency which isn't overly greasy, though it'll take a good four of five squirts to cover your entire legs.

The smell of menthol hits you straight away, especially if you've applied it indoors, and you definitely need to make sure you wash your hands before touching other parts of your body.

Although the smell is strong, the overall warming effect it creates isn't that intense, especially not compared with the Elite Warming Oil I've been using for years.

I've used the Castelli stuff for quite a few test rides in a range of conditions from freezing up to around 10 degrees and to be honest the effects are pretty underwhelming, especially when you consider the price – £13.33 when you buy it as part of this kit.

Verdict: Mild muscle warmer that is barely detectable

Chamois Dry Lube

Dave Arthur recently tested this product on its own, which you can take a look at here and I would pretty much agree with his views.

It's called a dry lube rather than a chamois cream, and as soon as you start to rub it into your skin it dries into an almost waxy like substance, allowing your skin to move against your shorts without friction. Not having that cold, wet feeling when you first get on the saddle is one to savour.

Like Dave, I'm not a big user of chamois creams, tending to save it for epic rides or as a repair measure if I've suffered irritation, but I found myself using the Castelli lube quite a bit compared with others I have in my cupboard.

A little goes a long way too, so even though it's quite pricey the pump dispenser meant I used quite a bit less than I would have of other products.

> Check out our reviews of more skincare and embrocation products here

The longest jaunt was a 160km ride with just over six hours in the saddle, and the Castelli Dry Lube worked brilliantly. You didn't know you were wearing it and it washed off in the shower leaving no oily residue.

Verdict: Pricey but a worthwhile addition to your cycling kit, especially for multi-day efforts

Overall I'd consider buying the Chamois Dry Lube, but shop around for cheaper, more effective alternatives to the other two products.

Verdict

Expensive skin care range with only the chamois cream standing out among the competitors

The Castelli Perfetto Light is an exceptionally good short-sleeve jersey that offers windproofing and water resistance in a lightweight package. It's a lot like Castelli's genre-defining Gabba but slightly dialled back; a little less hardcore, and a bit more breathable.

Chances are that if you've been road riding for a while you'll know about Castelli's Gabba, right? In short, it's a windproof, highly water-resistant, and breathable jersey in a performance cut, and it has set the standards in that market over the past five years. (Bloody hell! Five years!) You can check out our review of the Castelli Gabba 2 jersey here. 

> Find your nearest dealer here

The Perfetto Light follows a similar concept but it's not quite as windproof or as waterproof. It is more breathable, though, and a lighter weight, so it's suitable for warmer conditions.

'What makes the difference between the Perfetto Light and the Gabba?' you ask.

Okay, keep your wig on, I was getting to that.

Like the Gabba, the Perfetto Light uses a Gore Windstopper fabric, but whereas the Gabba uses Windstopper X-Lite Plus, it's Windstopper 150 for the Perfetto Light. Although not as stretchy lengthwise, Windstopper 150 is very stretchy across its width and is also about 25 per cent lighter.

Castelli Perfetto Light SS Drive Blue - riding.jpg

This Windstopper 150 is used for the front panels, the collar, the yoke, the tops of the arms and the tail. Or, to make things easier, it's the blue stuff in our pictures! It's a softshell fabric that, as the name tells you, stops air getting through, and it's also very water-resistant.

Castelli Perfetto Light SS Drive Blue - collar.jpg

Whereas the Gabba is made from Windstopper almost throughout, the rear panels and the underside of the Perfetto Light's arms are made from Nano Light Pro fabric.

'What's that?'

Give me a chance, will ya? It's like the Nano Flex that Castelli uses for some tights and arm warmers, but without the brushed back. And Nano Flex, before you ask, is a warm polyamide/elastane mix that's given a coating of silicone 'nanofilaments' to make water roll off the surface rather than soaking in. (Check out our review of the Nanoflex Pro Bibtights here.) 

Castelli Perfetto Light SS Drive Blue - back.jpg

Pull the Perfetto Light on and the cut is that of a slim-fitting race jersey. As I mentioned, the Windstopper 150 fabric (the blue stuff) doesn't feel quite as stretchy as Windstopper X-Lite Plus but, on the other hand, the Nano Light Pro is considerably more stretchy, so chances are you'll get a close fit without anything feeling too tight.

Castelli Perfetto Light SS Drive Blue - sleeve.jpg

Head out into the big wide world and the Perfetto Light immediately impresses. The Windstopper 150 just doesn't let cold air through but it does allow sweaty vapour to get out well, and the Nano Light Pro fabric is as breathable as a pair of Roubaix tights, say, or thick bib shorts. There's no membrane in there to hinder the escape of damp air.

This, along with the fact that it's fairly lightweight, means the Perfetto is suitable for quite warm weather. I've used it with arm warmers in temperatures from about 11°C right up to 18°C and been perfectly comfortable (I do seem to run cold compared to most other people). It might be good for a couple of degrees warmer but we've not had the weather to check that yet. That temperature range covers most of the UK spring and autumn, plus a lot of early mornings and late evenings in the summer, so you're certain to get your money's worth here.

> Check out our guide to the best windproof jackets here

​Talking of which, the Perfetto Light is a little cheaper than the Gabba (£140), and a fiver less than the Endura FS260-Pro SL Classics Jersey, which Mike was very impressed with (though you do get arm warmers for your £129.99). Jez also rated the Stolen Goat Orkaan very highly, and that's priced at £108. Santini's Beta Windstopper Short Sleeve jersey, reviewed on road.cc back in November, is lightweight and cheaper than the Perfetto Light at £109.99, although Stu was a little critical of the fit. 

Although water repellent, the Nano Light Pro panels don't keep out the rain as well as a Windstopper fabric, so the Perfetto Light isn't as weather-proof as the Gabba. On the other hand, it's still pretty impressive, and teamed up with some water repellent arm warmers it can see off road spray and the worst of a short shower.

If you want the official line, Castelli has a whole page on how the Gabba and the Perfetto Light compare. 

Verdict

Exceptional performance from a race-cut windproof jersey that's suitable for a wide range of conditions

The Tour de France is on the horizon, and if you're fully against wearing team jerseys or pulling on a winner's jersey without having 'earned it,' but you really want to get into the spirit of things, we may have the perfect deal for you!

Our first deal of the day comes to you from Merlin Cycles. A pair of Jawbreakers - Oakley's spiritual successor to the groundbreaking Greg Lemond-pioneered Eyeshade Spectrum glasses from the 1980s - are available at a massive 37% discount.

What's more, they bear the Tour de France logo in the bottom left hand corner of the lense - which is great if you're into that sort of thing.

Second up is a Castelli jersey that's perfect for summer climbs up Alps in the south of France or the north of Italy. If you're planning a holiday this summer, or you're just planning on getting out in the British heat, when it's hot, then this jersey - which has seen a 35% discount - could be right up your street.

Finally, Radial Cycles have a 25% discount on their Shimano 105 totting Radial Revere 1.1 road bike. We took a look at their SRAM Apex version of the Revere 1.1 and we liked what we saw. We also really really like Shimano's 105 groupset, so as far as we're concerned this deal is a winner.

Merlin Cycles

37% off Oakley's Tour de France Jawbreaker Sunglasses
WAS £190.00 | NOW £120.00

Oakley Jawbreaker.jpg

Oakley Jawbreakers are a mainstay of the professional peloton, they've been shielding champion's eyes for years - and now they could offer you their services for a significantly reduced price.

We reviewed the Jawbreaker Prisms back in November, and our tech editor Dave Arthur really liked what he saw.

He said that the larger lens provided a less obstructed field of vision than most other cycling glasses, while also offering sensational clarity and UV protection.

You can read more about his experience with the Oakleys below:

- Read more: road.cc's Oakley Jawbreaker review

Evans Cycles

35% off Catelli's Climber's 2.0 Short Sleeve Jersey
WAS £80.00 | NOW £52.00

castelli-climbers-20-short-sleeve-jersey.jpg

Summer climbs can be a sticky affair if you're not dressed in appropriate clothing.

As the name suggests, the Castelli Cimber's 2.0 Jersey is designed for climbers, specifically for those who like to climb in hot conditions.

The jersey's Strada Pro 3D fabric provides UPF 16 protection from harmful UV rays, weighs an incredibly light 75g per square metre, and has mesh arm grippers to avoid uncomfortable sweaty chaffing.

Castelli claim that in the performance stakes this jersey posted the same wattage scores as their Aero Race 5.0 jersey, which we reviewed incredibly positively - giving it an 8/10 on review in 2014.

- Read more: road.cc's Castelli Aero Race 5.0 review

Radial Cycles

25% off Radial's Revere Carbon 1.1 105 Road Bike
WAS £1399.00 | NOW £1049.99

Radial Cycles Revere 105.png

If you're a relatively new cyclist looking to up your game this summer, getting your hands on a reasonably priced carbon bike running something like Shimano's 105 groupset could be a very good idea - especially if those Strava KoMs still feel out of your reach.

Radial have a few options in the well-priced carbon market, their Revere range being one that we've had a look at - and one we very much like the look of.

We took a look at their SRAM Apex version last year, here's what we thought:

- Read more: road.cc's quick look at Radial's Revere Carbon 1.1 Apex

The DealCatcher's got three massive cycling brands - Specialized, Shimano, and Castelli - for you lot to drool over in today's DealCatcher.

Getting things off to a roaring start are Evans Cycles. They've currently got a massive sale on their 2016 Specialized bikes, including this stunning 25% discount on this year's Allez Sport.

Second are Ribble Cycles and their deal on Shimano's incredible Ultegra 6800 groupset. We reviewed it incredibly favourably a little while back, so at a 54% discount, you're certainly on to a winner here.

Finally, Cycle Surgery have a great deal on a particularly summer Castelli 5.1 Aero jersey. We've not had a chance to review the 5.1, but we have reviewed the 5.0 - a link to that review can be found further down.

Evans Cycles

25% off Specialized's 2016 Allez Sport
WAS £750.00 | NOW £562.50

specialized-allez-sport-2016.jpg

Speciailized must be doing something right. Not only do their Allez models sell like hotcakes year after year, they alos represent - at least they did in 2014 - the third most stolen model of bike in the UK.

We expect their 2016 model to follow suit - not in the theft stakes - rather in the quality stakes.

When we reviewed the Allez Comp back in 2012, our tech editor Mat Brett called it "value-packed" that "puts in a strong performance across the board."

This year you'll be getting Shimano's 9-speed Sora shifters and chain set, a Sunrace cassette, an AXIS Classic wheelset, all hung on Specialized's excellent E5 Premium Aluminium frame.

- Read more: road.cc's Specialized Allez Comp review

Ribble Cycles

54% off Shinamo's Ultegra 6800 groupset
WAS £925.00 | NOW £429.99

Shimano Ultegra 6800.jpg

There's not much more the DealCatcher can do here that our man Dave Atkinson hasn't already dne in his Ultegra review to convince you that Shimano have hit the ball out of the park with their Ultegra groupset.

So, we'll leave the convincing of quality to Mr Atkinson - the 9/10 review can be found below - and we'll just make you aware of the incredibble price drop you've got infront of you here.

Over two years, a 54% drop in price is fantastic. You were already getting fantastic value for money at full price, but at £430, this groupstet that offers "fantastic braking and great shifting" is stunning value for money.

- Read more: road.cc's Shimano Ultegra 6800 groupset review

Cycle Surgery

22% off Catelli's Aero Race 5.1 jersey
WAS £90.00 | NOW £70.00

Castelli Aero 5.1.jpg

Finally, Castelli's Aero Race 5.1 Jersey rounds off a terrific set of deals in today's DealCatcher.

if you want to spend the summer scything through the wind, this is your ticket to victory.

Equally, it'll scythe through the wind in any season, we only suggest the summer because the jersey is exceptionally light - weighing in at 103g - so you'll stay nice and cool even if you're not powering to glory.

If you want more of an idea what Castelli can do in the aerodynamic jersey department, check out our review of the 5.0's cousin, the 5.1 jersey.

- Read more: road.cc's Castellie Aero Race 5.0 jersey review

New for summer 2016, the Mondiale bib shorts are Castelli's top of the line design, promising to be the most comfortable and luxurious bib shorts it's ever made. In a departure from how these things generally work, you won't see any of the pros wearing them. We'll come back to why that is, but they're missing out – these are the best bib shorts I've used. Comfort from Castelli's excellent Progetto X2 Air pad is a given, but the fabric used is unlike any that Castelli has used before, combining comfort, support and a seriously classy feel.

Castelli has dropped the Body Paint bibs from its range, but some of their DNA lives on in the Mondiale, specifically in the exceptionally low seam count. Until really not that long ago, you'd pay more for shorts made from a higher number of panels, as they were reckoned to offer a better fit. Thing is, more panels equals more seams, and the seams are rarely the most comfortable part of anything.

> Find your nearest dealer here

With the Mondiale, the only seams on the lower parts run down the inside of each thigh, and up the middle front and back. In a first, as far as I'm aware, Castelli has taped these seams on the inside with a narrow strip of soft fabric tape. Not for water resistance – none is claimed here – but just to maximise comfort.

Castelli Mondiale Bibshort - front.jpg

The major news in terms of the construction of the Mondiale bibs is the use of a brand new fabric called Cinquanta. It's 50% Lycra, a higher percentage than seen on most shorts, with the balance being polyamide. It's pretty classy looking and feels super primo too. Despite the high Lycra content, it's not significantly more stretchy than that used in most bibs, and certainly nowhere near as elastic as the knitted fabric used in Howies bibs, for example.

Castelli Mondiale Bibshort - back full.jpg

You can't sublimate graphics onto the fabric, and that's the reason you won't see the pros wearing the Mondiale in races – it is only available in plain black. Fans of big logos, these are not your shorts. Instead, there's a very slick silver Castelli logo stuck on the left leg next to a small scorpion, and that's it. Both are remaining firmly in place thus far. I really like the minimalist, classy look.

Castelli Mondiale Bibshort - logo.jpg

When you put them on, the Mondiale bib shorts feel more supportive than Castelli's other top-end shorts, the Free Aero Race. The fabric sits flat against the skin and the fit is excellent. My only quibble was that I found there was a little more pressure around the groin area than I would ideally have liked. Per Castelli's sizing chart, I fall between a medium and a large. This is classic Italian sizing – in reality a medium would have been uncomfortably tight and I'm actually between a large and an XL (as with other Castelli shorts and tights). Consider sizing up, in other words. I tested a large, although in our pictures the model (not me) is wearing a medium.

Castelli Mondiale Bibshort - front full.jpg

It is quite remarkable how it is possible to design bib shorts which fit this well with so few seams. On long rides, I found I never felt the need to adjust the position of the shorts – they stayed perfectly in place for hours. Around the thighs, there are gripper strips bonded inside the openings – 30mm-wide bands with "Mondiale" written in lightly tacky letters. Unusually, it's completely invisible from the outside, contributing to the overall classy looks.

Castelli Mondiale Bibshort - gripper.jpg

The bib straps themselves are also very comfortable, being made of raw-cut seamless fabric. At the front they are lined on the inside with the same red tape as used on the leg openings. The panel at the rear, already made of ultra-lightweight fabric, is perforated to help keep you cool.

Castelli Mondiale Bibshort - back straps.jpg

I've not really talked about the pad yet; it's the same Progetto X2 Air as Castelli uses across its high-end bibs and tights, and as we've reported previously, it's pretty close to perfection. It's quite a complex assembly with two layers that can move independently of each other, and perforated viscous pads that sit under the sit bones, made of a sort of ultra-soft silicone.

Castelli Mondiale Bibshort - pad.jpg

The top layer is made of really soft microdenier fabric with a "bacteriostatic finish". Below this the foam is of varying density and varying thickness, putting padding where you want it and not where you don't. There are perforations through the foam to allow the movement of air, and even riding hard on the hottest of days, I never had any discomfort.

I've owned another pair of Castelli bibs with the same pad and found it consistently comfortable there too. However the various bits of foam and silicone did start to peel apart after a couple of years of regular but not intensive use, on which basis durability may not be on a par with the best.

In the testing period I had no such issues – only the small red stripe between the shoulder blades started to peel off, which has no functional effect that I could determine.

> Check out our guide to the best  bib shorts

A couple of other details to note. As the Mondiale isn't marketed as racewear, there is no radio pocket on the rear. If that's a requirement for you, you've probably got someone providing your clothing anyway. Finally, an interesting detail which is invisible from the outside. Above each hip there is a large rectangle of the same Cinquanta fabric bonded to the inside of the main panel. I couldn't find any explanation as to its function, but it seems likely that it is intended to contribute to the overall fit, reducing stretch in this region to keep the fabric flat against your skin.

At £190, these are the most expensive Castelli bibs yet, although still some way short of top end Rapha or Assos pricing. A lot of us would struggle to justify that sort of outlay, but if that's your budget, they should definitely be on your shortlist. They're the most beautifully made and comfortable bib shorts I've used.

Verdict

Stunning luxury bib shorts at a premium price – if you can afford them, you'll love them

When the weather turns a chilly — or starts to emerge from the frigid depths of winter — arm and leg warmers are a useful weapon in your bad-weather armoury.

Arm warmers can extend the time of the year when you can ear your favourite jersey, or add extra insulation under a jacket if your arms feel the chill. When the weather’s cool but not frigid, leg warmers can keep warm the bits of your legs that aren’t working hard while your thighs keep themselves plenty warm enough in shorts.

That’s especially useful on autumn and spring days that start cold and warm up. When conditions improve you can peel off arm and leg warmers and stuff them in your bag or pockets. Bringing that versatility to your outfit makes arm and leg warmers an essential part of your cycling wardrobe.

Fabrics

Arm and leg warmers are usually made of some sort of insulating fabric that’s thicker than the usual Lycra or jersey material. The most common is a fleece-backed Lycra called Roubaix which traps air against your skin to keep you warm. Super Roubaix, as the name suggests, is a thicker, warmer version of the same idea.

Arm and leg warmers are also made from knitted fabrics, usually some sort of polyester or Merino wool for maximum warmth and luxury. These are often thicker and warmer than Roubaix, and if they’re knitted in one piece they don’t have the seams that some people find annoying.

A big step forward in the last few years has been the introduction of water-repellent fabrics that help keep you dry. Rain beads off Sportful’s NoRain line, Castelli’s NanoFlex and dhb’s Rain Defence fabrics. Water gets through them eventually, but they’re a good first line of defence against damp weather.

You can also get thinner arm covers that protect against the summer sun without adding insulation

Grippers

Lusso Cooltech Leg warmers - gripper

Most warmers use silicone strips to grab your skin, although some very carefully-designed models manage to stay up without it. Some also have silicone on the outside to grab your shorts legs or jersey sleeves to keep them in place too.

Length

X-BIONIC Leg Warmer - knee

Arm warmers are all supposed to be long enough to reach from your upper arm to your wrists, though some manufacturers do offer different sizes to accommodate longer or shorter arms. But as well as shorts-to-ankle leg warmers, you can also get knee warmers that end mid-calf and turn your shorts into three-quarter length tights. If you find it’s your knees that really take the brunt of cold weather, you may find this surprisingly comfortable.

Here are 14 of the arm, leg and knee warmers we've reviewed and liked over the last few years.

Prendas Ciclismo Merkalon Special Edition arm warmers — £7.95

Prendas Meraklon Special Edition Armwarmers 1

The Prendas Meraklon arm warmers are basic but they do a good job and come at an amazingly cheap price.

They're essentially tubes of polypropylene (58%), nylon (40%) and elastane (2%) with a ribbed top and a more tightly woven cuff section at the bottom. A little more air gets through than with fleecy Roubaix fabrics but they're warmer than skinny Lycra warmers – they split the difference between the two. We found them a good option for typical spring/autumn conditions.

Read our review of the Prendas Ciclismo Merkalon Special Edition arm warmers

Caratti Thermal knee warmers — £8

Caratti Thermal Knee Warmer

Carratti have designed these knee warmers for cooler weather, with a breathable thermal fleece inner that keeps rider-generated heat close to the legs, the 80/20 nylon/elastane fabric performs well, and we experienced no problems with breathability on warmer days. The fabric is wind resistant and has shrugged off light showers.

Read our review of the Caratti Thermal knee warmers

Louis Garneau Arm Warmers 2 — £14.99

Louis Garneau Arm Warmers 2

The Louis Garneau Arm Warmers 2 do a good job of keeping your arms warm on cooler autumn rides with a minimum of fuss, and they pass the all-important 'skinny upper arm' test.

Made of Heatmaxx fabric with a fleece inner surface, the warmers feel very soft, providing sufficient warmth for cool spring or autumn weather.

They're a bit less stretchy than some that I've tried, but this doesn't affect the fit. They feel comfortable in all positions on the bike and, crucially, the silicone-lined upper grippers stay in place without digging in. There's no silicone on the lower cuff which means you can remove the warmers easily, even over a pair of gloves.

Read our review of the Louis Garneau Arm Warmers 2

Oneten Roubaix leg warmers — £14.99

Oneten Roubaix Leg Warmers

Oneten’s Roubaix leg warmers made of 80% polyester and 20% Spandex and feel very well made. The brushed inner is soft on your skin, while the outer feels robust and smooth. The spandex helps with the elasticity, making them good for a range of leg lengths.

There are silicone grippers at the top and they work well to keep them up.

A simple tube of fabric with a single seam make them very comfortable to wear. They have the Oneten logo on the base of the leg offering some reflective visibility.

Read our review of the Oneten Roubaix leg warmers

Find a Oneten dealer

Polaris RBS arm warmers — £18.99

Polaris RBS Armwarmers

Polaris's RBS (really bright stuff) arm warmers keep you cosy with their thermal lining and visible with their reflective trim.

The biggest issue our tester had was that they didn't match with anything in his wardrobe, unlike classic “goes with anything” black arm warmers, but they are certainly warm, and provide a decent degree of protection from chilly weather and wind. They are quite tight though, with secure silicone grippers. That’s good if you have skinny arms, not so great if you’ve got guns from another sport.

Read our review of the Polaris RBS arm warmers

Find a Polaris dealer

Castelli Thermoflex arm warmers — £19.99

Castelli thermoflex arm warmers

The advantages of Castelli's Thermoflex arm warmers are individually small, but they all add up to create one of the most comfortable, best fitting sleeves on the market.

The Thermoflex name comes from the fabric. It's a medium-weight fleece to trap a layer of warm air against the skin which it does well providing plenty of warmth in temperatures ranging from mid-single figures to the low teens.

The best thing about the Thermoflex Arm Warmer, though, is the fit. They are anatomically shaped during construction — a pre bent elbow if you like — and the fabric is super stretchy so it fits closely and moves with your arm. This means there are no creases or rucks in the material, better for comfort and aerodynamics.

A neat addition is the silicone grip on the outside at the top to grip your jersey sleeve.

Read our review of the Castelli Thermoflex arm warmers

Castelli Nanoflex knee warmers — £20.99

Castelli NanoFlex knee warmer crop.jpg

Castelli Nanoflex kneewarmers combine two handy functions, keeping your knees both warm and dry. The fabric incorporates silicone filaments that keep the rain out, causing it to bead on the surface and be moved away by the wind.

The inner is a fleecy lining Roubaix style that is very soft to the touch and keeps your knees warm even when the rain eventually gets through. The Thermaflex fabric does exactly what the title suggests, flexes and moves with your leg while travelling through the pedalling motion.

Read our review of the Castelli Nanoflex knee warmers

Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmers — £22

Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmer - riding.jpg

The Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmers work well, keeping out the wind effectively and keeping in warmth nicely. The fit is also a strong point thanks to the left and right-specific fits.

They are made from two different fleece-backed Roubaix fabrics, which Galibier claims are matched to the motion of the pedalling leg. Inside they also have a good fleecy material to help keep warmth in.

Read our review of the Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmers

dhb Regulate leg warmers — £22

dhb-regulate-warm-leg-warmers.jpg

We haven’t tested this exact incarnation of dhb’s well-priced Roubaix, leg warmers, but we liked the very similar Pace Roubaix model.

Those were excellent, with five separate panels to give an 'anatomical' shape - ie, they've got a bend half way down, to match the bend in your leg, and silicone grippers round the inside of the ankle cuff, and around the inside and outside of the thigh cuff so they don't slip down from under your shorts to reveal that annoying and very unstylish inch of bare skin.

With an identical feature set, we’d expect these to be just as good, and the price is very reasonable.

Read our review of the dhb Regulate leg warmers

DeFeet Kneekers knee warmers — £23.99

DeFeet Kneekers Knee Warmers

DeFeet Kneekers are seamless knee warmers. High in comfort and stretch, they're are ideal for autumn cycling.

They’re made from a single seamless tube of Coolmax/Lycra material. They're longer than most knee warmers and that means they can cover the legs well above and below the knee, providing extra insulation on cold autumn rides.

They provide good protection from the cold and rain without any hint of overheating. There’s Aireator mesh in the back panel, which improves heat regulation and also contributes to the comfort, but allowing extra flexibility.

If you want a bit more warmth, there's a Merino wool version too.

Read our review of the DeFeet Kneekers knee warmers

Find a DeFeet dealer

Stolen Goat Orkaan Weather Proof Arm Warmers — £28.49

stolen goat Orkaan Weather Proof Arm Warmers

These arm warmers are from Stolen Goat's Orkaan winter range are made from the same material as their bib tights, so you get a comfortable brushed inner surface and a degree of protection against the cold and wet. They have a section of reflective Pixel material which is a great idea, giving some much needed side visibility for night-time riding.

They always stayed safely tucked inside the jersey sleeves, helped by elasticated cuffs at each end with a silicone Bioracer pattern on the inside.

Read our review of the Stolen Goat Orkaan Weather Proof Arm Warmers

Craft 3D arm warmers — £30

Craft Arm Warmers - worn

As arm warmers go, the Craft 3Ds are at the upper end of the scale, both in the design and technology that has gone in to them and in price. They are nevertheless amazingly good value in terms of versatility, usefulness and all-round ride comfort.

They kept our tester’s arms pleasingly warm on even the coldest days. You really don't notice you are wearing them. The silicone grippers at the top of the arms do the job effectively but unobtrusively, the material is soft to the touch and there is nothing to itch or scratch.

Read our review of the Craft 3D arm warmers

Find a Craft dealer

Castelli Nanoflex Leg Warmers — £40

Castelli Nanoflex Leg Warmer

Castelli's Nanoflex Leg Warmers are well designed and comfortable with the added bonus of being water repellent, thanks to the Nanoflex fabric. It keeps road spray and showers out but harder rain does work through, especially through the bit at the front of your knee that you stretch repeatedly as you pedal. But the point is, these feel like any other leg warmers in terms of feel and breathability – like most, they're made from nylon and Lycra – so there's no down side to that extra water repellency.

Nanoflex aside, these are good leg warmers in their own right, coming with just one flatlock stitched seam up the back, which I haven't found at all irritating. The elasticated gripper has silicone on the inside to hold it against your leg, and on the outside to keep it in place against your shorts. I've never had any trouble there. A YKK zip at the back makes getting them on and off easy, even over your shoes.

Read our review of the Castelli Nanoflex Leg Warmers

Rapha leg warmers — £50

Rapha leg warmers - gripper

Most leg warmers are much of a muchness but these from Rapha are well made with some high-quality features.

They’re made from Roubaix fabric, an ultra-soft blend of polyamide, polyester and elastane that’s stretchy with a fleecy inner face. It feels great next to your skin, is highly breathable, and provides enough warmth for most autumn/winter conditions, although it’s not windproof.

Each leg is made from three separate panels and is constructed to give a slight knee bend that minimises bunching as you pedal. The ankle zips allow you to get them on and off easily over your shoes if the temperature changes mid-ride – a definite bonus – and they come with pullers that snap into place to avoid rattling and zip guards behind to keep them comfy. Silicone grippers top and bottom hold them in place perfectly.

Read our review of the Rapha leg warmers

If you're not a regular DealCatcher reader kitting yourself out with decent cycling gear can be arduous. For the uninitiated there are pit falls of pricing, quality, and value that are always waiting to gobble up the unsuspecting punter.

Fortunately, with the DealCatcher's steady hand we'll see you over those pitfalls, and safely to the promised land of comfortable, quality cycling in great gear for great prices.

Today's edition of salvation via cycling deals comes to you from Decathlon, Ribble Cycles, and Evans Cycles.

We've got jerseys - in the shape of BTwin's excellent 700 jersey - bib shorts - in the shape of Castelli's Free Aero Race Bib Shorts - and bikes - in the shape of Fuji's cyclocross-ready Sportif 1.1.

All three of these products have received road.cc reviews - and excellent ones at that - as well as massive discounts from their respective retailers.

Enjoy.

Decathlon

49% off BTwin's 700 Cycling Jersey
WAS £34.99 | NOW £17.99

BTwin 700 Cycling Jersey.jpg

First up: Decathlon's BTwin 700 Cycling Jersey.

The road.cc review which you can read below called the 700 jersey "another good value garment... [that's] well made, nicely cut, and breathable."

The jersey got an 8/10 while it was here for review, and our man Ash Quinlan said that it was enhanced by the low price tag.

Now that price tag is even lower, the enhancement must be even better. Right?

- Read more: road.cc's BTwin 700 Cycling Jersey review

Ribble Cycles

20% off Castelli's Free Aero Racce Bib Shorts
WAS £130.99 | NOW £103.99

Castelli Free Aero Bib Shorts.jpg

Bib shorts don't always come cheap, but if you ride a lot the expensive ones are very often worth that extra bit of cash.

These Castelli bibs are no different. Our tech editor Dave Arthur sung their praises when he reviewed them; giving the shorts a 9/10.

He said: "with the comfortable Progetto X2 insert, very few seams and widely spaced bib straps, Castelli's Free Race Aero bib shorts are exceptionally good."

- Read more: road.cc's Castelli Free Aero Race Bib Short review

Evans Cycles

30% off Fuji's Sportif 1.1 2016 Road Bike
WAS £1299.00 | NOW £899.00

Fuji Sportif 1_1.PNG

The final piece of today's DealCatcher collection is Fuji's Sportif 1.1 cyclocross bike.

We reviewed last year's 2015 model, and our man Dave Atkinson sung its praises.

The bike rolled away with an 8/10 and he called it a "really good multi-purpose road disc bike that's well specced and comfortable."

- Read more: road.cc's Fuji Sportif 1.1 2016 Road Bike review

Today's DealCatcher comes to you by way of Evans Cycles, Decathlon, and Cycle Surgery with deals on bikes, jackets, and cycling computers.

They're not bad deals, either. Take Sir Chris Hoy's Hoy Alto Irpavi .003 for example, it's had a 15% discount over at Evans Cycles.

The deal merchants over at Decathlon are leading the pack once again with an enormous 36% discount on Garmin's fabulous little Edge 25 GPS unit.

Our final offer of the day comes from Cycle Surgery. If you're a frequent visitor to Cycle Surgery's website you'll notice they've made one or two tweeks to their website's layout, plus they're offering Castelli's Misto Jacket for 40% less than normal.

15% off Hoy's 2016 Alto Irpavi .003 Road Bike
WAS £1500.00 | NOW £1,275.00

HOY Alto Irpavi 003 2016 Road Bike.jpg

Sir Chris Hoy set the 500m flying start track world record at the Bolivian Alto Irpavi velodrome. To commemorate that career embellishing achievement Sir Hoy named his new range of disc brake-equipped all-round road bike line up after the high-altitude track.

The lofty name appears to be backed up by lofty scores in the spec department.

The .003 model sits second in the range's heirarchy. It sports Shimano's excellent 105 chainset alongside a full carbon fork, Alex ATD470 28H wheels, and Shimano's RS505 hydraulic disc brakes.

- Read more: Hoy introduces new Alto Irpavi disc road bike range to 2016 line-up

36% off Garmin's EDGE 25 Ant+/Bluetooth GPS computer
RRP £139.99 | NOW £89.99

Garmin Edge 25 Ant+.jpg

We could very easily make a good things and small packages joke here, but we won't. The Garmin Edge's performance and sheer usability deserves more than that.

Decathlon say that this is the cheapest Garmin Edge 25 in the UK, and they might just be right.

Our man David Arthur gave it a stonking 9/10 when he reviewed it, and at £89.99, you might have been looking at an illusive road.cc 10/10 had the device released at this price. 

- Read more: road.cc's Garmin Edge 25 GPS computer review

40% off Castelli's Misto Jacket
WAS £109.99 | NOW £65.00

Castelli Misto Jacket.jpg

The final deal of the day is Castelli's Misto Jacket which is designed to keep you dry in those surprise autumnal showers that sneak up on you despite early blue skies.

The Misto is made from Torrent 2.5 layer stretch fabric which is both waterproof and breathable. You'll be getting fully waterproofed seams, a tight stretch fit, a high collar for extra protection from water seepage, as well as reflectors on the all 360 degrees of the jersey and it'll fold into it's own pocket.

- Read more: road.cc's buyer's guide to waterproof cycling jackets

In today's DealCatcher we've got one of our pics for the best aluminium road bikes of 2016 at a discount price, alongside a couple of other bits and bobs that will be very useful as the weather continues to deteriorate.

From Hargroves Cycles comes a Specialized Allez with a tasty little 25% discount attached to it. If you follow the link below our listing of the Allez in today's article you'll notice it's the second entry in the round-up we made of 2016 aluminium bikes to look out for.

Second up is Castelli's vaguely named Toe Thingy, which is as cheap as we think you'll find it at the moment over on Ribble Cycles' website.

Finally, your bike's going to get mucky over the next few months, so ask yourself now: are you equipped? If the answer is no, check out the great deal on Muc-Off brushes over at Tweeks Cycles.

Hargroves Cycles

25% off Specialized's Allez Elite 2016 Road Bike
WAS £949.00 | NOW £712.00

Specialized Allez Elite 2016.jpg

Specialized introduced its SmartWeld frame technology to the market via the super expensive £7500 Allez a few years ago. Over the last few years though they've managed to bring the technology to cheaper and cheaper models.

This Allez Elite features that same tech alongside Shimano's newly revised Tiagra groupset. It's a bargain, plain and simple.

- Read more: road.cc's 11 best aluminium road bikes of 2016

Ribble Cycles

14% off Castelli's Toe Thingy
WAS £14.00 | NOW £12.00

Castelli Toe Thingy.PNG

Granted, Castelli's Toe Thingy hasn't got the most descriptive name, but it's a great little bit of kit that'll do wonders for autumnal rides.

Our tech editor Mat Brett says that the Toe Thing "provides a little extra warmth on days that are cool but not so cold that you want to go with full overshoes."

Mat also goes on to call the name "class," we can't help but agree.

- Read more: road.cc's Castelli Toe Thingy review

Tweeks Cycles

31% off Muc-Off's 5-Piece Brush Set
WAS £26.00 | NOW £17.99

Muc-Off five piece brush set.jpg

Finally, Muc-Off's brush set covers all of the basics if you want to keep your bike clean this winter.

Our man Shaun Audane ran the brushes through their paces and liked what he saw, for the most part.

If you're brushless at the moment, this is the perfect place to start, and at this price they're quite a bargain.

- Read more: road.cc's Muc-Off 5-Piece Brush Set review