Raleigh Willard 2

Gravel grinder, pro-commuter, real-world road bike. Whatever you may call the Raleigh Willard 2, it is part of a growing genre of bikes well suited to how most people actually ride. While explicitly built for the epic gravel rides that are currently all the rage, the large tires, disc brakes, and slightly more relaxed geometry as compared to a racing road bike of the Willard make a compelling argument for a solid all around platform. Add skinny tires and it’s a capable road bike, mount fenders for the commute, run it out of the box and keep riding past where the pavement ends.

The $1750 Willard 2 has a 6061 aluminum alloy frame with a tapered steerer, disc tabs, rack/fender mounts and an English thread bottom bracket with an alloy steerer carbon fork with a post mount disc. The underside of the toptube is sculpted for comfortable portage, the seatstays flattened to take a bit of the edge off of harsh roads, and with generous clearance all around even with the stock 40 mm tires. The 58 cm Willard has 440 mm chainstays, 71.5º/72.5º head/seat angles, and 72.5 mm bottom bracket drop for a more comfortable and stable all-day ride as compared to a racier ‘cross bike with similar tire clearances. A full 11-speed Shimano 105 drivetrain is a solid choice, with most of the feel of top-end groups and a reputation of lasting for years of use. 50/34 rings and an 11-28 cassette are a good match for commuting, pieces of uphill dirt, and all-day rides. TRP Sprye mechanical disc brakes do the stopping and have a particularly good lever feel due to the dual pad actuation. The complete bike as shipped without pedals weighs 22.8 lbs.

The Willard 2 is a versatile bike, capable of everyday road rides and epic mixed surface adventures alike. The gearing and geometry err towards long rides and rolling hills—I can see many hours spent exploring suburban roads and abandoned railways. I like the downtube cable routing, though I wish there was a barrel adjuster on the front deraileur run. Competitive riders, or people overly concerned with the scale, may find themselves lacing up racier wheels down the road, but the Novatec hubs and Weinmann rims, while unremarkable, are serviceable and match the purpose of the bike. Check out the lower priced $1300 Willard 1 with the same frame and fork and Sora-level component spec. www.raleighusa.com

Chrome Warm Work Shirt

Price: $180

Size: S, M, L, XL

Colors: Reversible Black/Orange

Features: Water-resistant ripstop nylon construction, reversible, fully insulated, reflective details, ventilated yoke, bike specific fit.

Better viewed as a jacket than a shirt, the Chrome Warm Work Shirt is a surprisingly versatile piece of outerwear. Bright orange for when on the bike, black for when visibility isn’t paramount, this is the first truly reversible piece of clothing I’ve had. Worn orange side out the jacket has reflective details and a zippered rear pocket, turn it around for a black quilted look more fit for casual wear with a zippered chest phone pouch and hand pockets. For those on the move, the jacket packs into its own rear pocket to form a decent camp pillow. The jacket fends off light precipitation just fine, but I’d want a true rain jacket for extended time in steady rain. And the poly fill insulation is remarkably warm—I’ve paired this jacket with a hooded sweatshirt down into the 20ºs F. The snap closure is reversible without compromise, but I’d prefer a zipper. So far so good on the ripstop nylon construction, not a snap or tear after six weeks of use, but I’d think twice before mountain biking or jamming it into a seatbag full of tools. It has otherwise quickly become an oft turned to jacket as the weather has turned cold. Slim/atheltic fit, made in China. www.chromeindustries.com