Well, this has been some Classics Season, right? To relive some of the very best moments of last weekend’s action check out our incredible Paris-Roubaix gallery by the Grubers.

Looking forward, it’s the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday 16th April, and we have the ultimate guide on the routes, the riders and how to watch the race unfold. My money is on Demi Vollering and Tadej Pogačar topping the podiums.

If you fancy a long read, have a gander at this beautiful gravel ride in Scotland, or read a memoir of Beryl Burton (a great inspiration to yours truly) and get the lowdown on Viola Townsend’s one-of-a-kind carbon fibre bikes.

As always, we’ve got reviews coming out of our ears, including Continental GP5000 All Season TR tyres and GripGrab road shoe covers, and critically, we have the answer to the all-important question: are wider tyres faster? Fingers on buzzers please.

And finally, don’t forget that this weekend is Cyclist Track Days at the glorious Lee Valley VeloPark in London– grab any final remaining tickets here and be prepared for a real hoot.

As for me, this weekend I’ll be celebrating one more trip around the sun on bike, foot, and in pint glasses. Makien cheres – as was apparently the way to say cheers way back in 1225 AD.

Universal Colours kit

As part of the brand’s Volume 7, Universal Colours has launched a French blue version of its Mono jersey, which in my view is just the ticket to the current riding weather.

The jersey is made with recycled Italian fabrics, has strong grippers so it stays in place and is incredibly comfortable.

Universal Colours has also launched a pair of red Mono bib shorts, and I think the combo is rather ravishing. I’ve reviewed these bib shorts before and stand by my 4 stars. Prices start from £120.

Buy the women’s jersey from Sigma Sports (£120)Buy the men’s jersey from Sigma Sports (£120)

Healthspan Elite Performance Cherry concentrate

I’ll admit I was sceptical when I came across this Healthspan cherry supplement, not least because it is actually sour cherry, not just your standard cherry you might get atop a Bakewell tart.

You’d be forgiven if your mind heads straight for those delicious Haribo sour cherry sweets but, truth be told, sour cherry isn’t always a sugary delight.

According to Healthspan sour cherries are full of nutrients, as they are naturally rich in anthocyanins, flavonoids and melatonin.

The concentrated cherry comes in 30ml sachets that contain the same amount as about 100 whole cherries. Just add water and you’ve got a lot of cherry goodness.

Clearly, concentrated cherry is not going to become the new coffee (or green tea if you’re me) but I’m always up for trying something a little bit different.

Buy 24 sachets now from Healthspan (£35.99)

Jack Wolfskin Bike Commute jacket

What it says on the tin, this jacket from Jack Wolfskin is sleek, smart and a nice fit.  

It is made from a 3-layer Texapore fabric, which the brand says is waterproof and windproof, and so far I have found this to be true. 

What I really like about this jacket is that it’s made from recycled polyester monofilament yarn, which means the jacket can be recycled easily at its end of use. This is because it is made one from one yarn, rather than several, the latter making recycling much more difficult.

One element that could be improved is the jacket doesn’t offer a means of tightening the sleeves around the wrists, but this isn’t a dealbreaker.

Shown here in ‘quail’ i.e. lilac, the jacket also comes in black and a reddish brown colour, and in sizes XS to XXL. The men’s version comes in olive, black and navy blue.

Buy the women’s jacket from Jack Wolfskin (£270)Buy the men’s jacket from Jack Wolfskin (£270)

Pulsin powders and bars

Food, glorious food (hot sausage and mustard) – the lyrics from Lionel Bart’s über-famous song from the musical Oliver! but which also aptly describes how I feel about the stuff which we eat.

Talking of consumables, I’ve been trying Pulsin’s range of powders and bars and here are a few that have taken my fancy.

The cacao and maca super shake has 20g of complete plant-based protein per serving and lots of B vitamins. Pulsin suggest adding water or milk to it but, the thing is, I can’t cope with chocolatey protein shake style drinks as they just don’t do it for me, so what’s a gal to do? Add a few spoonfuls to porridge.

Another tasty offering is the high fibre brownie, which comes in a host of flavours, my current favourite being the chocolate hazelnut one. It’s vegan, gluten free and contains lots of dates, peanuts, cacao, and some fun things like green tea extra and concentrated grape juice. One bar contains 157 calories, 11g of carbs, 5.3g of fibre and 4.5g of protein.

There are also snacks for specific diets like the chocolate fudge and peanut keto bar, which contains 13 grams of plant-based protein and tastes pretty good.

Buy now from Pulsin from £40 for a vegan starter bundle

What we’re into this week: Cracked Earth film

Cracked Earth is a 30-minute documentary which captures the lives of cyclists worldwide living in areas where climate change is no longer a future threat, but a daily reality.

It has been launched by Shift Cycling Culture, a foundation aiming to accelerate collective climate action in the global cycling industry and community.

The Cracked Earth Premiere Tour includes screenings in Amsterdam, Berlin, Melbourne, London, Girona, Bristol, Copenhagen and Milan, with many more dates and locations being added. Check out the list here and to request a screening, contact hello@shiftcyclingculture.com

Tags: In the Drops