Affordable Cycling and Outdoor Gear Anyone?
Believe me I was as surprised as you when I discovered that Aldi will be selling cycling and outdoor gear in its stores this autumn. The supermarket chain famed for offering an affordable alternative to the weekly grocery shop, with its cheaper unbranded range of food and drink, will this week be selling a full range of winter cycling gear.
If, like me, you are used to spending a small fortune on technical gear for outdoor training and adventures, it comes as a pleasant relief to know that there is a competitively priced alternative for kit that really isn’t all that bad. In fact it seems quite good.
The range of cycling gear available in Aldi stores for a limited time from Thursday 26 September includes Merino wool base layers at £15.99 a pop, winter cycling trousers for £13.99, winter cycling jackets for £15.99 and a full bicycle tool kit for just £19.99.
At these prices, I reckon that’s a third of the price you would spend for this kind of gear in other shops. I’ve had a close up look at the winter jacket and cycling trousers. They seem very well designed and made, with brushed fleece inners for warmth and breathable, water and wind repellant outers. They also have reflective details and elasticated silicone gripper hems so they don’t ride up when cycling. I’m reluctantly impressed!
Don’t get me wrong; you’re not going to win any fashion shows with this clothing. It’s not the trendiest cycling gear on the block. The jacket has a worrying resemblance to an 80s shell suit. But what does it matter when you’re hurtling along country roads in the depths of winter?
If staying warm, dry and comfortable are your priorities for your winter biking adventures, and you want to save a few pounds, it will be worth checking out this range available at Aldi over the next few weeks.
So it’s a big thumbs up for Aldi’s efforts to bring affordable cycling gear to the masses. They get 4/5 stars for technical quality, only 2/5 stars to style but a whopping 5/5 stars for value for money. I can’t wait to see the outdoor range in stores from 20 October.
Some inspiration for winter cycling:
