Some bike riders wouldn't buy the Aldi cycling kit but others swear by it. The range is a big one, there's no doubting that.
Discount German supermarket Aldi might be the last place some would ever consider shopping for cycling kit.
But after trialling it, we’ve discovered it’s better than the price would suggest.
The cost of cycling kit generally varies wildly and it’s not uncommon for cyclists to shell out €200 for sunglasses or €300 for shoes.
You remember the quality long after you've forgetten the price, eh?
But for price-conscious shoppers we ask; is there anything to be said for the Aldi kit?
The short answer is ‘yes’. But with an asterisk.
The bib tights have their positive points but are definitely limited in a couple of key areas.
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We’ve trialled the following of late; the Garmin 500 Edge computer, the sleeveless base layers, fingerless gloves, full length bib shorts, winter gloves, overshoes, winter jacket, skull caps and the helmet covers.
The most expensive item in the Aldi range is the aforementioned Garmin 500 Edge computer.
It’s a quite remarkable piece of kit for an even more remarkable price of €109.99.
The same item costs €192 with some retailers. There is no difference between the two – just the price.
This in itself makes a visit to Aldi a no-brainer.
In general terms, whether you’re a racer, a commuter, a weekend warrior or a casual cyclist, there is cycling kit in Aldi for you – if you can get to the shop in time.
Two examples of other Aldi kit we've used that have stood the test of time are the gloves and the base layers.
I have both for over two years now and for comfort, price and quality the gloves are yet to be beaten.
The fingerless gloves are one of the items in Aldi's cycling kit range that you should try.
The fingerless summer gloves fit really well and unlike some other brands, they don’t ‘bunch’ when you grab the handlebars. I know of gloves costing €50 that bunch like that.
The winter gloves fit, well, like a glove. And they keep out the cold.
They are not waterproof; few are. But on very cold mornings, you won’t find better value for €6.99.
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The based layer cost €10 and was a really good buy for those cold spring days. Note that I said spring, not winter.
The overshoes are best avoided as they are not warm enough, not waterproof enough and are just too big and bulky.
They keep light rain off your shoes but provide no thermal insulation and for anyone who suffers from cold feet, don’t expect any help here. They don’t look good either.
Aldi's winter gloves perform much better than the retailer's overshoes.
The number one item every cyclist should have is bib tights, which are also in the Aldi range.
Sold under the Power Armour brand name, they are definitely limited in a couple of key areas.
However, they’re warm and on the coldest of mornings they are hard to beat.
They slip on very quickly - probably because they are so big and the fit is hard to get right - while the fabric has a fleece-line feel to it.
They are also lined on the front with a wind-stopping fabric but for me they are definitely not for endurance riding.
Aldi don’t stock them in size small. So if you’re sub-70 kilos – like me - or around 5ft 10inches, don’t waste your time.
They were baggy in too many areas and this led to all kinds of discomfort and pressure sores.
Alid's overshoes are a miss.
The padded section at the rear is satisfactory but it could be thicker or denser. Still, €34.99 isn’t bad value.
The helmet/backpack cover – costing €7.99 - is brilliant for commuters as it will keep your head bone dry, and your backpack too.
The lights are generally poor and these are definitely best avoided.
They’re simply not robust enough. But if you want one final tip, the winter jacket is worth a punt.
It doesn’t bunch like the bib tights, and though it’s not waterproof it is windproof.
And it does have reflective strips as well as rear pockets for essentials; one of which has a zip.
For €200 you could have all the above so that’s good value – even if the quality is patchy in some areas.
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