What I ride with: overview of equipment #StoryOfMyBike

Here is a video with an explanation of the bike I ride, what I wear, and the camera equipment I use. The aim is to make it a regular series: ‘what I ride with’. Click play on the link below and find out more…

Video by Rob Arnold

The #StoryOfMyRide begins with a confession to my bike: ‘I love you’. It was a day when everything was singing on my ride. No noises I didn’t want to hear. The right kit for the conditions. And, on the whole, there was a great combination of products in action. It added up to an appreciation of how much I liked what I was riding.

At my turnaround point of a mid-week ride on my usual terrain, I stopped and summarised a few ideas that have been lingering in the back of my mind.

Product overview // Story Of My Bike

The spreadsheet at the bottom of this article is a reference to the products that I use when I’m riding – not just my bike, but the components and sundry items that are part of the cycling package, ie. helmet, kit, shoes… and also cameras and various tech that may come along for the journey.

The aim is to make this a regular feature of future video uploads when I’m often riding with review products and/or items that have long been favourites for cycling activity.

For starters, the list is a basic overview with a few notes, plus the weight (when relevant) and links to the brand sites so that you can learn more about something that captures your attention.In the video, I stop while on a ride and explain the idea of this ‘Product List’ and then randomly select 10 items that capture my attention, from the saddle (Fi:zi’k Alianté, on review) to handlebars, pedals, clothing, helmet and sunnies, I offer a few comments on each.

Early in the commentary, however, I focus on one product which tends to attract plenty of queries: the camera I use while on the bike. It is a GoPro Hero11 and it has served me extremely well since this product was released. There is a new iteration of the same camera – yep, the Hero12 which launched about six months ago – and, all going well, I’ll soon be shooting footage with that action cam.

For this #StoryOfMyBike, however, I focus on the arrangement that has served me well for over a year: the Hero11, a GoPro selfie stick, and the GoPro Media Mod.

There will always be more to say but this is a conversation starter, an attempt to share some things I’ve learned while on the bike using equipment that has changed considerably in the time I’ve been writing (and talking) about cycling for a job.Offering a summary of some products that are in use on any random ride means that it’s not always going to be something new, or even something sent for review. Instead, it’s a chance to talk about the good (or bad), and what comes to mind while I’m riding.

The groupset you see featured on my bike (above), for example, is over five years old – as is the frame itself. The SRAM AXS and Focus Izalco Max that I use have both been superseded by updated iterations launched in 2023, but I’m still happy using the equipment from 2019. It works well. I’m familiar with it. And if something’s not broken, why try and fix it?

That said, I’m also lucky enough to have a long history with the cycling trade and still receive products for review, so if all goes to plan, even My Bike will evolve over time. Each new item will then get a listing and you can monitor what stands the test of time, what gets quickly replaced, what breaks, and what really floats my boat.

A good bike is a thing of beauty. A bike that works well and suits you and your style of riding is something to be proud of. And when it all comes together as it did on the day I recorded the video at the top of this page, it raises a smile and even makes you feel like you’ve fallen in love all over again.

Click play, watch the video and let me know if you have any questions or comments.

– Rob

The  Bike

The Kit

The Tech