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How does Friday always come around so fast? Because we’re all just waiting for In the Drops to return, right? Of course and here it is, another selection of stuff we – in this case I – like.

This week has been a busy one for #content, with hype for the start of the 2022 Vuelta a España today slowly building, and we gathered our list of favourites and how to watch the race, and learnt that graphic design is Mads Pedersen’s passion.

Also today, Dan Bigham is hoping to be the man to finally break Victor Campenaerts’ Hour Record in Grenchen. Here’s how to watch that.

We also celebrated two iconic riders at opposite ends of their careers, with Robyn Davidson counting down her top five favourite Tom Dumoulin moments on his retirement, and Andy McGrath profiling World Champion Elisa Balsamo.

Meanwhile, Marcus Leach delivered his latest bonk-defying Big Ride, taking on the famous Passo Dello Stelvio three times in one ride, just 12 hours after completing the Stelvio Santini Gran Fondo.

This week was also a big one for tech news with Giant launching its new Propel aero bike with a revised cockpit and rear end shaving weight and refining compliance and stiffness to make it a one-stop-shop race bike. Alongside that, Giant’s wheel partner Cadex launched its new 50 Ultra Disc wheels and Aero 25mm tyres.

Finally, talking of Giant, legendary bike designer Mike Burrows, the brains behind Chris Boardman’s Lotus 108 and the original Giant TCR, sadly died this week. To celebrate the life of a great man, we revisited our profile of Burrows from all the way back in 2013.

Now, onto the new stuff.

Photo: Pannier.cc / Matt Grayson

Now, you may have cottoned onto the fact that the name of this series is a double entendre playing on the drops of a bike’s handlebars and the ‘drops’ of new products. Some members of the Cyclist team don’t like the term’s use in the latter sense but as a wise man once said, we’re gonna do it anyway.

A while ago, I brought to you the anorak of Specialized and Fjällräven’s first set of collaborative kit, now there has been a second drop.

This time last week I was lucky enough to be invited on one of my favourite ever press trips to test out the new stuff,  including bags and clothing, on a bikepacking trip around the Peak District guided by Pannier.cc.

The above getup, the Field Suit, might look like I was on safari, but in incredibly hot conditions having the breeze run through my garments was really nice. It’s not for everyone – and I’m not sure it’s even for me – but it would work for some. Plus it comes in black, which would be a better choice if it weren’t 30°C.

There’s also a technical T-shirt, baggy shorts and trousers, as well as thermal T-shirt and shorts, and a dress. Yes, you read that right.

Bagwise, I was kitted out with the Handlebar Bag (on the Handlebar Rack), which doubles up as a satchel off the bike, Snack Bag, which I used for a portable charger, Frame Bag M, which was very spacious, and the two Cool Cave 20-litre panniers with Cave Dry Bags.

This was plenty of space for two days worth of stuff and snacks that I didn’t get through, but there’s also a Top Tube Bag and Seatbag Harness for carrying even more. And nothing fell off over some sketchy gravel and moutain bike trails, though I did lose a packet of ready salted crisps. If someone in the Peaks comes across them can you send them to the Cyclist office please.

Talking of collabs, this T-shirt from Australian brands Maap and Perks and Mini is one of my favourite items of clothing at the moment, both on and off the bike.

It’s absolutely not the most technical of the ‘tech tee’ genre, but it does just enough to make it quick-drying when you get a sweat on on the bike and it feels enough like a normal T-shirt to wear all day without feeling like you should be exercising.

Great day out for the @maap_cc technical t-shirt pic.twitter.com/UQAiKRHaW0

The tee is not the only item in this shared collections with cargo bib shorts, socks, a jacket and a more jazzy MTB shirt. And it also comes in black and white if you don’t like the purple and orange combo, but I do.

I wore it on that historically hot day a few weeks back and I was very proud of myself.

Catchy name right? This is actually one of those rare occasions when a product’s name is actually longer than the thing it’s describing. Okay that might be exaggerating but if you’re zoomed in and have large text switched on, it actually isn’t.

This mini pump from ETC is under 21cm long, so fits perfectly in a pocket or bag without taking up too much room.

The stylish, almost lightsaber-like look keeps the real star of the show under wraps, again like a lightsaber, with the cap peeling off to reveal a hose that can be unscrewed to then pump up tyres with either Presta or Schrader valves.

And if you don’t want it in your pocket, it comes with a mount to attach it to your bike’s unused bottle bosses.

Photo: Pannier.cc / Matt Grayson

Last weekend I came crashing down to earth because of the aforementioned Peak District trip. With excellent weather, riding – helped by having an e-bike, which was excellent fun – people and food, it was just an awesome two days.

So this is just a brief recommendation to check out the work of pannier.cc and North Town Kitchen in Sheffield, who rustled up some incredible food at the campsite, including the largest prawns I’ve ever seen, as well as treating us as our final destination once we got back into the city. 10/10 would recommend.

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Finally, it’s that time again if anyone cares. Each time it’s my turn to host this magical article I share my favourite new music that has come out in the meantime and this one, my eighth, may be the Best One Yet.

While all the songs have been truly rinsed, my favourites as of now are ‘Love of Your Life’ by Kynsy, ‘Warpaint’ by Lizzie Reid, ‘Sorry, Not Sorry’ by Freak Slug, ‘Let The Lights On’ by Sorry, ‘Weeds’ by Beach Bunny, ‘Dog Eat Dog’ by Tommy Lefroy, ‘Tiger Woods’ by Willie J Healey and ‘I've Got a Friend’ by Maggie Rogers.

I could’ve named them all. It’s truly all killer. See you next time, have a good weekend and enjoy the Vuelta.

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