Things of 2025

No particular classifications, just the things that have accompanied me this year, the things I missed and found again, the things I discovered.

I traveled through quite a few countries this year, with quite varied weather conditions, landscapes, and cultures.
From -15 to 40 degrees Celsius. From the ocean to snow-capped peaks over 6,000 meters high.
Here are a few of my favorite things from this year.

• Electric pump cycplus
  
  The Cycplus electric pump I had broke down in Costa Rica. I'm not the type to get really attached to objects, but this time, I immediately realized how much I had lost.

  This little gadget that I thought was just a novelty really changed my cycling life.

  For repairs, for adjusting the pressure between asphalt and trails, for helping out friends in trouble.

  It fits in your pocket, recharges super fast, and inflates super fast.

  After the problem, Cycplus sent me a new one, and I must admit that I'm very happy to have this little tool by my side. I hardly ever use my hand pump anymore, and yet I use this electric pump a lot.

  In fact, I'm no longer too lazy to change the tire pressure for a change of surface, even for 20 kilometers, because I know I won't have to pump for 20 minutes in the sun at the side of the road.

  Good customer service, good pump. I'm glad to have it with me again.
  

  Click here

  
  

• Nonormal coffee paste

Another great discovery this year: coffee in a tube!
It may seem surprising, especially if you love specialty coffee, but I think you have to look at it from a different perspective: the two are complementary.

First of all, specialty coffee is becoming more and more expensive, so having another coffee to prepare during the day is quite practical, and it's still cheaper.
Secondly, I found it very convenient. When I didn't feel like getting everything out, grinding and preparing, I would just add 5 grams of coffee and 100ml of water, and that was it.
What's more, I was often at high altitude, and the water didn't reach a high enough temperature to extract the coffee properly. So coffee in a tube was much more practical.

- Practical and efficient container. Lightweight and compact.
- 100% Colombian Arabica, made in Switzerland.
- A little sweet, which bothers me a bit in coffee, but since I drank it very often in the afternoon or evening, it gave me the little bit of sweetness I was looking for.
- Roadside coffee in most countries is really bad and definitely overpriced for what it is. So I would just ask for a cup of hot water and make my own coffee quickly and discreetly.
- It works perfectly as hot or cold coffee, as well as in oatmeal in the morning or on a slice of bread. In fact, you'd need kilos of it.

The only real downside is that you can't source it in Central or South America

Link here

• Mapout application

  
  

  I procrastinated for years before finally spending €6 and buying the Mapout app. I don't know why I waited so long, because it's become the app I use every day, 50 times a day.

  Once you've created a GPX file on Komoot, it's super easy to move the sliders and view the route from one point to another. It's really, really handy.

  You have to create the GPX track beforehand, but that's not really a problem. And honestly, it's the most efficient way in terms of elevation too. I find that for once, the track is really close to reality and the elevation matches.

• Powder sirup

The further south I went, the more expensive electrolytes became. And also, I felt like treating myself at the end of the day. Like wanting to drink a soda without really wanting to drink a soda.

After passing by the powdered syrup aisle many times, which is well-stocked everywhere in the area, I came across some cyclists who were using it, so I tried it!
It's much cheaper than any drink out of the fridge, it's light and convenient. There are lots of different flavors, with or without sugar.
So it's easy to have a small zip bag with 5-6 different types of powdered syrups, with or without sugar, depending on your mood.

• Izipizi sunglasses

  
  It was a bit like the pump, except that in this case I understood what it meant a little later.

  You might think that all pairs of glasses are the same, but the opposite is true. The comfort they provide, especially when you are lucky enough to use them every day, is significant.

  So I lost my precious pair of Izipizi glasses somewhere in Mexico before arriving in Cuba. Maybe someone helped me lose them, who knows.

  In any case, I found myself going through a series of more or less expensive pairs of glasses, which protected me more or less well, but above all, none of them suited me. Until someone brought me a brand new pair of Izipizi glasses and I realized how much I had missed having comfortable and effective glasses.

  
  

• Old Man Mountain Hemlock bags
  
  Another big favorite this year is the Hemflip panniers from Old Man Mountain, with flip cages.

  Perfect size, waterproof, sturdy. I also really like the attachment system. Easy and effective, it stays put.

  The flip cages are also versatile, with a bottom that can be added or removed depending on whether you're carrying a waterproof bag and a bottle and need the bottom support. Otherwise, with the panniers, you can just remove them and save a few grams.

  Made of plastic but very sturdy.

  The kind of setup that's good to have for both long-term and shorter trips. I like having a system where I don't have to play Tetris to fit everything in.

  Also, their entire product range is quite specific and really worth a look. I've really liked what I've had my hands on so far, and I can't wait to get a nice new full OMM setup.

  Link here

• Alfajor

  The little Argentine treat. A little pleasure in the morning, at lunchtime, and in the evening. Okay, so it's sweet, but it's good for morale, especially when the days start to get long. Perfect for coffee breaks, too.

  You can find them everywhere, all the time. Artisanal or industrial, depending on what you find and how much you're willing to pay.

  Some are delicious, and I really feel that, along with the wind, these are the two main topics of conversation among cyclists in the region.

• Mixing up pleasures and listening to myself
  
  This year, I was lucky enough to be able to mix things up a bit: kayaking, hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing.

  And I think it really did me good.

  It's common knowledge among cyclists that it's often difficult to get off your bike and do something else. But in fact, that's probably the key to lasting and continuing to enjoy cycling.

  It's a way to connect with people differently and see countries in a different light too.

  And finally, it's good to listen to yourself. And to realize that sometimes it's okay to put projects and ambitions aside if it turns out that it's not the right time.

  Learn to listen more. Don't be afraid to say so, or to leave a group because you want to go in a different direction.

  Take the time to do other things, to rest, to respect the distances and times you have in mind, because on your own, you're really tempted to push on and on, having nothing else to do.