Cycling Gear
Cycling Gear: Tour de France Books, Pas Normal Trousers & More
In The Drops: Tour de France book, Pas Normal cycling trousers, smart Sunski shades, trendy Chrome sling and Nomadland
By Kristina, Lead Editor, CyclingTrend.com
There’s a particular kind of springtime cycling restlessness that arrives before the first proper sunburn. The roads dry out, the group chats revive, and even the most sensible among us start making emotionally-led purchases: not quite “new bike day”, but the quieter, more dangerous category of “new stuff that makes me feel like I ride more than I do.”
This week’s In The Drops is exactly that: a small, curated stack of things I’ve been thinking about while trying to balance real-life logistics with the fantasy version of myself who always has clean bottles, a charged rear light, and time to read. We’re talking a Tour de France novel that makes modern racing look like a spa break, trousers that pretend they’re not cycling kit (the best kind), sunglasses that don’t shout “race day” at your lunchtime meeting, a sling bag that’s equal parts practical and quietly stylish, and a book that reminds you travel can be both freedom and a symptom of something broken.
1) A Tour de France story that’s more survival tale than sporting memoir
Every few years, I fall for the same promise: “This cycling book is different.” And honestly, sometimes it is. The best ones don’t just retell results; they rebuild atmosphere. They put you in the gutter with the riders, under the weight of weather, distance, bad food, and worse decisions.
If you’re in the mood for the Tour de France as myth—where the road is long, the rules feel personal, and the organisers are half ringmaster, half villain—then fiction (or fiction-adjacent) can hit harder than straight history. It’s also an antidote to the ultra-polished modern broadcast, where suffering is rendered as a neat graphic and riders appear to heal from crashes via sponsor activation.
If you want a classic, accessible entry point into Tour lore that still feels human, I always recommend starting with a well-loved narrative history like Slaying the Badger. It’s a reminder that “team dynamics” has always been code for emotional chaos.
Slaying the Badger (Amazon)
And if you’re building a bedside pile for the long evenings when you should be foam rolling, pair it with something broader like The Tour de France: A Cultural History. It’s the kind of book that makes you watch the race differently—less “who’s on form?” and more “why does this matter to people?”
The Tour de France: A Cultural History (Amazon)
2) Off-bike trousers that don’t feel like a compromise
I have a rule: if a brand calls something “commuter trousers,” they’d better be comfortable in the saddle and not look like I’ve arrived at dinner dressed for a cyclocross warm-up. The sweet spot is a pant that moves, breathes, dries quickly, and has pockets you can actually trust with keys or a card.
Pas Normal Studios has built an empire on the clean, modern version of cycling—minimal branding, thoughtful cuts, and the occasional price tag that makes you check if you’ve accidentally clicked “two pairs.” But the appeal is real: their off-bike pieces tend to sit in that rare overlap where function doesn’t scream for attention.
If you’re looking for an alternative that does similar work for less money, I’ve had good experiences with lightweight travel/commuter pants designed for hiking or city use. The point isn’t to “dress like a cyclist”; it’s to dress like a person who happens to ride.
prAna Brion Pants (Amazon)
- SIGNATURE STRETCH ZION FABRIC: The blend of 95% recycled nylon and 5% elastane offers flexibility and durability, allowing for a full range of motion.
- SECURE AND ADJUSTABLE FIT: Featuring a zip-fly and buttoned closure, these skinny pants for men provide a secure fit. The adjustable hook-and-loop strap around the waist allows for a customized fit, ensuring comfort and preventing slippage
- STAY SUN SAFE: For outdoor adventures, stay protected from the sun with UPF 50+ protection
- ABRASION-RESISTANCE: If you brush up against a rock or tree your legs will stay protected with durable, abrasion-resistant fabric
Bonus tip: prioritize a tapered ankle or some kind of cinch/adjustment if you ride with a chain that loves fabric. The drivetrain always wins.
3) Sunglasses that can do a ride and a normal day
Full wrap cycling eyewear is brilliant—until it isn’t. There are days when you just want something that blocks glare, keeps wind out of your eyes, and doesn’t make you look like you’re about to lead out a sprint when you’re actually buying oat milk.
I’m increasingly into “hybrid” shades: polarized lenses, solid UV protection, and a shape that works with a helmet but doesn’t look costume-y off the bike. That’s why models with subtle side coverage (a nod to glacier glasses) are having a moment. They’re practical in bright conditions and surprisingly good at cutting side glare on open roads.
If you want an affordable standby that performs well for the money, it’s hard to beat a polarized classic like the Ray-Ban Wayfarer (especially if you’re prone to losing sunglasses, as I am).
Ray-Ban RB2140 Original Wayfarer Polarized (Amazon)
For riding-specific performance, I still keep a pair of Oakleys around because they simply work: clarity, coverage, and durability. Are they subtle? Not especially. Do they deliver? Yes.
Oakley Radar EV Path (Amazon)
- SIZING INFORMATION: This frame size is XX-Small with a hinge to hinge measurement of 116 mm. Ideal for narrow faces.
- FRAME FEATURES: Original Wayfarer Classics are the most recognizable style in sunglass history. Worn by celebrities, musicians and icons since 1952. Black frame features crystal green polarized lenses for superior optical clarity and reduced glare
- 100% UV PROTECTION: To protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, these Ray-Ban sunglasses include lenses that are coated with 100% UV protection
- CASE & CLEANING CLOTH INCLUDED: Each pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses come with a cleaning cloth and case to clean and protect your sunglasses from scratches and damage
- VISIT THE RAY-BAN BRAND SHOP: Click on the Ray-Ban link above the product title to shop the entire Ray-Ban sunglass and eyeglass assortment
- Lens: Plutonite Prizm (polycarbonate)
- Polarized: yes
- Interchangeable Lens: yes
- Frame: O Matter
- Nose/Temple Pads: Unobtainium
4) The sling bag is back, and cyclists should be thrilled
The sling bag’s resurgence isn’t just fashion doing its cyclical thing. It’s a practical response to how many of us move now: part-bike, part-walk, part-transit, part-“I didn’t plan to stay out this long.” A good sling carries the essentials, sits stable, and doesn’t swing into your ribs when you stand up out of the saddle.
Chrome Industries has long been the darling of courier-adjacent gear for a reason: durable materials, smart closures, and a design language that doesn’t date overnight. A sling like the Kadet makes sense if you want a compact carry option that still handles awkward items—mini pump, packable layer, snack arsenal, lock, maybe a small camera if you’re pretending you’ll document your adventures.
If you want an Amazon-available equivalent with a strong track record, the Patagonia Atom Sling is a tidy, comfortable option that works on and off the bike (just don’t overload it if you’re riding hard).
Patagonia Atom Sling 8L (Amazon)
- All fabrics, spacer mesh and static mesh are 100% recycled (stretch mesh is 72% recycled), and the body fabric has a DWR (durable water repellent) finish that's made without intentionally added PFAS
- Asymmetrical harness carries weight close to the body for all-day comfort, with a zippered stash pocket on the strap
5) What we’re into this week: Nomadland
Some books (and films) land differently when your life is full. When your time is chopped into smaller pieces, you start noticing what stories choose to skip. Nomadland—both the film and the book—sits in that uncomfortable space where freedom and precarity share a border so thin you can step over it by accident.
The film is beautiful, and its quietness can feel like kindness. But the book is sharper. It’s not just about wide skies and the romance of the open road; it’s about labour, aging, and the systems that turn “choice” into a necessity. As cyclists, we romanticize movement for good reason. But it’s worth remembering that not all movement is leisure, and not every van on the horizon is there by design.
If you’ve only seen the film, the book is the deeper cut.
Nomadland by Jessica Bruder (Amazon)
FAQ
Are lifestyle sunglasses safe for cycling?
They can be, provided they offer 100% UVA/UVB protection and fit securely. For fast group rides or rough gravel, purpose-built cycling glasses tend to be safer thanks to better coverage and stability.
What should I look for in commuter-friendly trousers?
Stretch fabric, a comfortable waistband for riding posture, a taper (or cuff adjustment) to avoid chain contact, and at least one secure zip pocket. Water resistance is a bonus, but breathability matters more for daily use.
Is a sling bag comfortable on longer rides?
For short-to-medium commutes, yes—if it has a stabilizer strap and you keep the load light. For long rides, a small backpack or on-bike storage (bar bag/saddle bag) is usually more comfortable.
What’s a good entry-level Tour de France book if I’m new to cycling reading?
Slaying the Badger is a great start because it reads like a story, not a reference manual. If you want more context about why the Tour is culturally significant, The Tour de France: A Cultural History is excellent.
Is Nomadland worth reading if I’ve already watched the movie?
Yes. The book adds reporting depth and a tougher critique of the economic conditions behind modern nomadism, which the film treats more gently.
One last thing
This is the season for small upgrades that make riding feel smoother—not necessarily faster. A book that makes you want to watch racing with fresh eyes. Trousers that remove one daily annoyance. Sunglasses that work beyond the bike. A bag that keeps your pockets from bulging like you’re smuggling energy gels into a museum. And a story that reminds you that “the open road” can mean many things, depending on who you are and why you’re there.
If you pick up one thing from this list, let it be the thing that makes you ride a little more often—or think a little deeper when you do.
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