TOUR test centre: Overshoes, long cycling shorts and handlebar tape put to the test

For really bad weather: overshoes from Gorewear

The new Sleet insulated overshoes from Gorewear are not only particularly warm, but also very light. An overshoe weighs just 120 grams, which is equivalent to the weight of a short summer jersey. Thanks to the waterproof membrane and impregnated outer skin, the shoe covers, which are available in two colours, offer the best weather protection, while the padding keeps your feet at operating temperature for a long time even at below zero degrees. Depending on your individual sensitivity to the cold, we recommend test rides with socks of different thicknesses so that your feet don't sweat too quickly and then cool down.

Overall, the overshoes are well made and also have robust stitching at the cut-outs for the pedal plates and heels. The zip, which is positioned slightly inwards, is very practical when putting on the overshoes and makes it easy to put them on and take them off without straining. In our opinion, the overshoes are very tight, which is why a size larger may be the better choice.

• Price: 100 Euro >> at Amazon or Alltricks available
• Sizes: 37/39 to 46/48

PLUS: Good weather protection, zip, reflective material, nice and warm

MINUS: none

For dry winter days: Falke men's biking tights

Everyone knows Falke socks, but not yet the new cycling clothing line from the German family business. After initially only offering cycling socks, the Sauerland-based company is now gradually expanding its range to include long and short cycling shorts and jerseys, in both men's and women's cuts. In keeping with the season, we tried out the men's biking tights. Weighing 290 grams (size L, normal fit), the trousers are lined on the inside with roughened Roubaix material and are correspondingly comfortable to wear. The 14-centimetre-long zips at the bottom of the trouser legs are practical and make them easier to put on and take off. We also liked the wide monoelasticated braces, which sit comfortably on the shoulders.

The seat pad, which is effectively 13 centimetres wide, sits and dampens unobtrusively in the trouser box, which is very high for our taste and makes it unnecessarily difficult to put on the trousers and take a pee break due to its tight and narrow elasticated waist. We can recommend the trousers for dry days with temperatures above zero degrees; there are no membrane inserts or waterproofing for bad weather.

• Price: 230 Euro
• Sizes: S to XXL
• Weight: 290 grams in size L

PLUS: Comfortable to wear, bottom zips

MINUS: Weather protection, tight trouser box

For wide handlebars: Haritakee ReCycle handlebar tape

According to the manufacturer NG, the Haritakee ReCycle handlebar tape consists of 50 per cent recycled PET bottles and 50 per cent jute fibres. At two and a half metres, it is significantly longer than standard tapes, and at 105 grams (including aluminium handlebar end plugs) it is also very light. Available in three colours, the tape can be wrapped like any other, tight radii are no problem and the aluminium end plugs with screw expander look classy. However, there is no adhesive tape for the end on the stem. The woven structure is very grippy, even when wet. Due to its extra length, the eco handlebar tape is particularly suitable for very wide handlebars or for handlebars with aerobars or bar ends, which would otherwise require an extra pack of handlebar tape.

• Price: 30 Euro
• Length: 2.5 metres
• Colours: black, grey, brown

PLUS: Material, length, feel

MINUS: no final band

For winding paths: cable laying aid from Park Tool

The Internal Cable Routing Kit is the name of the practical tool from Park Tool, which is designed to fiddle shift and brake cables through the frame maze. Our workshop crew tried it out many times during the assembly of numerous test racing bikes. Your judgement: It works.

The set contains five two metre long cables with five different connection heads for shift and brake cables, hydraulic lines and rubber adapters for all electronic shift cables from Campagnolo, Shimano and SRAM. When assembling a racer, the required guide cables can be routed through the frame tube from the outside using a strong auxiliary magnet; when dismantling, these should be placed in the tube with the routed cables and lines as placeholders for reassembly, according to the tip from our assembly professionals.

• Price: 103 Euro >> available here

PLUS: Faster installation of internally routed cables, compatibility

MINUS: Relatively expensive