Four cool gadgets to make your cycle touring trip smoother: don’t leave home without them. LEXAN FOLDING WINE GLASS: La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Somontano and the Basque Country – is it a coincidence that the areas that produce some of Spain’s most outstanding wine are also great biking destinations? Forget about swigging from the bottle or nicking glasses from bars: this wine glass gives biking wine experts a durable, lightweight alternative. The base unscrews from, and fits into, the bowl of the glass for easy transport. And since it’s made from Lexan – the same stuff bullet-proof windows are made of – they’re difficult to crush or crack. Available in Canada from Mountain Equipment Co-Op (www.mec.ca) and from Cotswold Outdoor (www.cotswoldoutdoor.com) in the U.K
SUUNTO t3 WATCH AND HEART RATE MONITOR: Many people don’t stay with workout programs because it’s hard measure progress (especially when clothes fit the same). Suunto’s t3 watch and heart rate monitor tracks workouts for a six-month period, and its Training Effect program allows you track how hard you push yourself, to get guaranteed results. Team the watch up with the GPS pod unit (sold separately) and you’ve got an extra-useful tool that helps monitor velocity, distance and heart rate, all at the same time. (www.suunto.com)
