Metal Bottle Cages
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Photo/Greg Kaplan
Pros use steel bottle cages when they expect to be riding on rough roads. Metal cages can be bent to safely secure bottles from bouncing out when rolling over rough surfaces. You too can secure your bottles with metal cages, so they won't be ejected when you roll over uneven roads.
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Your Next RideTubular Tires
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Photo courtesy of Park Tool
Most WorldTour pros ride tubular tires, glued to their wheels. Tubulars, or "sew-ups," can be run at a wider range of inflation pressures for rider-specific handling and comfort needs than standard or tubeless tires. Plus, tubular wheels and tires weigh less than clinchers. Most major wheel and bike tire manufacturers offer tubulars so you can roll like a pro.
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Your Next RideOval Chainrings
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Photo/Sam Sailor
The science behind non-round chainrings isn't yet settled, but the results are hard to miss. Ridden to multiple, consecutive grand tour victories, world championships and Olympic victories, oval-shaped chainrings are an easy way to crank some extra speed.
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Your Next RideBase Layer Shirt in Summer
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Photo/Greg Kaplan
Why do pros wear undershirts even during day-long races in the sweltering heat? A base layer helps wick perspiration so they are not wearing damp, heavy jerseys on Alpine descents. In the event of a crash, that extra layer of material also provides additional protection from severe road rash. Ride like a pro with Rapha's Brevet base layer, and stay comfortable, dry and stylish to boot.
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Your Next RidePower Meters
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Photo courtesy of Stages Power
Pros ride with power meters to measure their training and racing efforts more accurately than using a heart rate monitor for feedback or simply riding by feel. The updated Stages left-side-only power meter is a pro-grade tool you can use every time you ride to refine your on-the-bike efforts.
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Your Next RideChain Watcher
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Photo/Greg Kaplan
Have you ever seen a pro miss a shift or drop a chain? We haven't either. It doesn't happen frequently thanks to something called a chain watcher, which prevents your chain from getting sucked between your crank and your bottom bracket.
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Your Next RideDouble-Wrapped Bar Tape
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Photo/Greg Kaplan
When pros are riding on rough roads, not only do gloves keep them comfortable but many also ride with two layers of bar tape. You can enjoy this low-cost comfort upgrade, too—and you can even learn to wrap your own handlebars.
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Your Next RideTeardrop Helmets
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Photo/Greg Kaplan
Those elongated helmets the pros use when racing time trials are faster and a relatively economical way to gain speed without buying a new bike. Get a little extra advantage with an aero helmet.
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Your Next Ride
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