Schwalbe Ice Spiker preview

NOTE: There is an up to date review of these tyres.

Over the last few days, the UK has experienced colder than average temperatures.

This is apparently due to a stream of cold air from Scandinavia which is going to persist for a few more days, possibly weeks.

It has already brought snow to several parts of Scotland and Northern England. It is expected to bring snow down South too.

In preparation for the possibility of snow and ice on the road, I decided to invest in a set of studded tyres.

Sportful winter cycling gear review

Sportful is an Italian make, and I have been purchasing their items ever since I found them to be the most comfortable and best value for money.

Exposure Lights Strada review

I recently purchased the 2010 Exposure Lights Strada.

I was originally going to wait for the 2011 mk2 model version of this light, but the light was not going to be available until November.

Being commuting daily (and nightly!) I needed a light sooner.

I managed to get hold of the mk1 Strada for £180, which was a fair price.

The light arrived with all the accessories, including the remote switch, same as the mk2 model.

The only difference is that for 2011, Exposure have included their USB-compatible mains charger, which can be purchased separately anyway.

The mk1 model emits 480 lumens at full beam, compared to the 600 lumens of the mk2.

They both have similar road-oriented optics, which spread the light horizontally over the whole lane rather than in a torch-like spot.

And that's where I can recommend this light over any of the competition at this price point.