For me, 2021 is a year of exploration. This is reflected in the products I most agree with.

Since 2017, on CyclingTips, we have been posting "10 products I like" year-end summary articles, but this is the first time I threw a hat on a ring. This is partly because I will not review too many new technologies within my responsibilities, but I will not go out and buy a lot of new bicycle equipment by myself. As my colleague confirmed (perhaps shook his head disappointedly) in the past few years, I have ridden more or less the same bicycle, wearing the same shoes and the same helmet. "If it doesn't break..." Wait.

But this year I actually noticed some changes in my cycling habits, so I actually think I have something to share with one of the posts. So here is: the first time I cracked the "10 products I like" article. Be nice to people.

A few years ago, I reviewed a Cannondale Synapse for CT in Italy and bought a Cannondale Synapse (those are the days when people do things). But after buying a bike, I never really rode it as I should. It is obviously heavier than my CAAD10, so whenever I go out to climb-most of my rides-I usually just reach out for my CAAD.

But earlier this year, I finally decided it was time to spend more time on Synapse. To do this, I will turn it into a pseudo-gravel bicycle, which is very suitable for driving on many gravel roads and roads near me. When he heard about my plan, my colleague Iain Treloar gave me a pair of old GravelKings that he didn't use, and that was basically it.

GravelKings is awesome. They inspire me to explore more, ride more gravel, and ride more synapses as planned, which is what I like. When I got them, the tires were a bit worn out, but even though I had ridden them in places where I should never ride them, they still held them well.

I have always liked cycling (I blame my colleague Andy Van Bergen for this), and these tires give me many opportunities. I'm talking about a 20% gradient descent on the fire escape under loose ruts, where the thickness of the rock is twice the thickness of the tire. Something rough.

Despite this punishment, I haven't got an apartment yet. When the tire finally fits it, I will get more, possibly a width of 32 mm.

(It is worth mentioning that the Ritchey Zeta WCS disc wheels installed by GravelKings. They have also proven to be bulletproof, and I have been impressed so far. Thanks to Davey Dome for the connection.)

Price: $50/$64 per tire More information: Panaracerusa.com 

Speaking of exploring and off the beaten track, 2021 is really the year of Wandrer for me. Among the countless lockdowns experienced in Melbourne, Wandrer is a godsend. It helps me find new places to ride and rewards me with points when I do so. I really like some gamification in the ride, and if it means more exploration, then I am here.

Thanks to Wandrer, I have a lot of rides this year, including at least a little bit of hiking on some rock walls that cannot be ridden, but those moments always feel like an adventure rather than a drag. Thanks to Wandrer, I also fought fierce battles with other riders this year, trying to see who can ride the most unique kilometers in a given area in a month (and thus get extra Wandrer points). marvelous.

In short, if you like to explore by bike and you haven't checked Wandrer, then you really should.

Price: Start some Strava events for free; full access is $30 per year. More information: Wandrer.earth

You can design routes for your ride in many ways, but Strava Routes has always been my first choice this year, especially when I use Wandrer. It is stylish and well-designed, but I especially like the Wandrer Overlay plugin for Google Chrome, which can display the roads (or rough gravel roads) you have ridden and not ridden in a given area in Strava Routes. It is perfect for designing a ride to maximize your Wandrer points! (Note: Overlays are also applicable to other route builders, such as Ride With GPS).

I also like that the routes I created in Strava Routes on my computer can be used on the smartphone app. I created routes in Strava Routes all year, and then opened them on my phone to track them when I was out riding.

Price: Free for Strava account. More information: Strava.com/routes

I have always known that Quad Lock makes great mounts, but until 2021, I will have the opportunity to actually test them myself. I wrote an article about Wandrer for me and got a few mounts, put one on my CAAD and one on my Synapse. They are still there, and I use them every time I ride.

Just putting my iPhone 12 in the front allows me to use much more screen space than any bicycle GPS. Given that I often check Strava Routes-and often try to find paths that I have never walked before-the larger screen is a real boon.

The mount is easy to set up, and once installed, it is as solid as a rock, making it easy to get the phone in and out. I particularly like the external stand-I find that the tabs that disengage the phone are much better than the equivalent device on the pole stand.

Price: A full set (phone case and stand) starts from AUD 70. More information: QuadLockcase.com.au

You may have noticed that many CT employees have sports watches in their "10 Favorite Products in 2021" list. I'm not sure what to do. Does it herald a broader trend in cycling? who knows. Either way, I also have a multi-sport watch on my list this year.

I have been using Forerunner 920XT since 2015, and since then, I have used it when I run (and sometimes even swim). In the past I used it occasionally to ride a bicycle, but since I packed my Lezyne GPS after the Everest in February (which I think is a form of protest), I almost only use Forerunner watches when riding (unless occasionally Short rides recorded with my mobile phone).

why? This is probably a convenient thing. After Lezyne died, I never wanted to pay for a new GPS, and I already had a watch. I started using this watch and it proved to be very suitable for my needs. Considering that my mobile phone performs better than any GPS in mapping, and I have a QuadLock mount, and I don’t have a strong desire to stare at the data for a long time, it makes sense to use a watch as my watch. Recording equipment.

It captures everything I need-the power data when I ride CAAD, the heart rate data when I ride or run, and in general it is very reliable. Given that I am running these days, I like that I only need a device to track any exercise I am doing. To be honest, I don’t see myself buying a new cycling GPS anytime soon.

Price: It seems to be discontinued (Forerunner 945 is the current model). More information: Garmin.com

My first contact with Aeolus Comp was in 2020, but it was this year that I was really impressed by it. Enough, when I turn Synapse into a gravel bike, I want a new saddle, Aeolus Comp is a breeze.

These days I really don’t ride anything without a cutout, and the cutout of Aeolus Comp is huge. So this is a tick. The short nose design works well for me, and the saddle is also a perfect combination that is just soft enough and not too soft. In addition, it is about 120 Australian dollars, the price seems reasonable to me. I am a fan.

Price: 120 AUD / 90 USD More information: Trekbikes.com.au

Earlier this year, I was looking for some new full-finger gloves for cold winter morning riding, and I thought I would try something different. Instead of spending $30 or more on suitable cycling gloves, I decided to try a cheaper option from Bunnings Warehouse, Australia's largest home hardware chain. They are simply amazing.

They are not waterproof (but few gloves are really waterproof, right?), and they don't do that much on ultra-cold days. But on those cool mornings, you only need something to get rid of the cold, and these are perfect.

They have mesh on the back of the hand, which makes them beautiful and breathable, and the rubber surface on the palm makes them very grippy, which I like. But my favorite feature is their elasticity and how well they fit the hand. It always feels good to wear them.

Price: AUD 7.98 More information: Bunnings.com.au

I tested several different headphones in 2021, but Earshots from New Zealand have become my first choice. They just do everything I need them to do.

They are easy to connect to my phone via Bluetooth, magnets can fix them on my ears very well, and they are very comfortable. I like that their design also allows some road noise, which makes me feel like I haven't sacrificed spatial awareness, even if it does mean that I often have to pause the headset when I descend (assuming I really want to hear what I'm listening to).

As I wrote in my comment, I found that the pause/play button is a bit too hard. If you are listening to music, the audio quality is not very good, but in general these are great. There is also a new version in production. I'm glad to check it when they land.

Price: 169.75 NZD/159 AUD/122 USD/103 Euro (free shipping in New Zealand; international uniform shipping fee is 10 NZD) More information: earshots.com

In another difficult year, cycling is not only a good escape (thanks to COVID), it is also the only time I listen to a podcast. My colleagues in CT make some excellent podcasts that are definitely worth your time, but personally, I tend to spend more time listening to shows about my other hobbies.

Sometimes I listen to music-related podcasts, such as Song Exploder or the recent Daniel Johns podcast (oh, look, free links to some music I made), but most of the time I listen to a podcast about Magic: The Gathering -The best collectible card game ever.

For those who are not familiar with it, it is very nerdy-dragons, knights, battles, a lot of mathematics-I like it. This is a game that is relatively easy to learn but difficult to master. I really like the mental stimulation it provides. Not to mention the social fun of the game (playing with partners or in local tournaments) and the creativity it inspires (building and adjusting decks).

Limited Resources is one of the biggest and best podcasts about Magic. This year I spent many afternoons cycling, riding on quiet local roads, listening to LR's new episodes. I think I will do the same thing for a long time.

Price: Free (or a few dollars per month to support it through Patreon). More information: LRcast.com

I cannot fail to include this. From last year to early 2021, I wrote my first book. It's all about Mount Everest-where it came from, how it grew up, what it involves, etc.

I think you will like to read it? I do. I think it will be a great Christmas gift for the cyclist in your life (or yourself)? Yes, too. But for these reasons, it is not on my list.

For me, after more than a year of work, getting this book easily became one of the highlights of my year. Writing a book is such a long process, and it happens almost entirely on the screen. Finally holding this book in real life, flipping through it, and seeing how it turns out-I am very proud.

Price: 29 Australian dollars (hardcover); 11 Australian dollars (ebook) More information: Amazon (or better yet, your local bookstore).

Stay tuned for more "10 products I like in 2021" articles from other members of the CyclingTips team. At the same time, you can catch up with all the picks from last year. Or go further back to our archive of reviews for 2019, 2018 and 2017.