This page is linked from my website and YouTube videos so anyone can see the relationships I have with companies and the basis on which I have been given or loaned products and services.
My aim is to be transparent. Before I accept any product for review, I set ground-rules.
1. I respect embargoes
2. I show providers my video in advance to check I have not got anything factually wrong and, if I'm critical, to give them the right to comment.
I never seek approval or give them veto on my comments. I have turned down offers of stuff when this has been part of the requirement.
Paid Endorsements
None. Ever.
Brand Ambassador
None. Previously Pearl Izumi in exchange for kit and exposure and Science in Sport Academy
Paid Reviews
None. Ever.
Affiliate Links
Mainly Amazon. Also previously Baresocks (https://baresocks.com/?ref=Always ). Also DJI Neo and Kactoily water quality tester - all have lapsed and are defunct.
Discounts
Camping / bikepacking kit
Terra Nova - Jupiter Lite Bivi, retained for photo shoot then given to me in exchange for product photos
Laser Compact 1 tent - Loaned for Torino Nice Rally ride and returned. I've since bought one in their sale, full price..
Rab Equipment - Neutrino 200 sleeping bag. Loaned for Torino Nice and retained for own use
Aeon LT25 rucksack. Sent for review and retained for personal use. Discount on other hiking equipment.
Health Tech
RingConn - Gen2 and Gen3 ring wearable health tracker sent for testing & review. Tied to me as the user so unable to return.
Clothing - most sent for review and can't be re-used by another reviewer
Altura - Jacket, jersey, arm warmers, gloves, cargo shorts. Sent for review and retained for personal use
Giro UK - 1 MTB helmet. 1pr shoes
Rab Equipment - Jacket, jersey, light-weight waterproof, 2x shorts, t-shirt. Sent for review and retained for personal use.
Subsequently sent heavy-duty waterproof, waterproof shorts, waterproof trousers, insulated gillet
Torm.cc - 2 Jerseys, 1 neck warmer
Darn Tough - 5 pairs of socks
Extreme Eyewear - 1 set of Oakley frames with prescription glasses
Bike and/or Camera Tech
Garmin - Varia 515 reviewed and returned. Varia 715 attempted to return but no response
Bryton - Garda rear radar. Given to channel member.
Cycliq - Fly 12 Sport. Retained for long term testing
Tubolito - 6 tubes given for review during Torino Nice Rally
SeeSense - Ace rear light sent for review. Offer of return refused
Akaso - Brave 7 Camera sent for review. Raffaled.
Spoked - Uses of App for review - lapsed
Zero Zero Robotics - Hover Camera X1 & X1Pro. Sent for video review and retained for long term testing and use. Subsequently given to channel members.
Fumpa Pumps - Rechargeable electric bike pumps currently being tested. Raffaled.
Cycplus Cube - Raffaled.
Fara All Road bike - returned. Small discount on buying a new bike.
MyMonX - Health tracking watch. Returned
DJI Neo - Retained for long term testing
Redshift Sports
I've created a separate section for this company because I've been a long term supporter of their products and, in return, they send me items to try, to review and to keep. That said, I don't take or keep items I don't think I can use.
2 Shockstop stems, both retained and in use on bicycles
2 Shockstop seatposts, PRO and regular both retained and in use on bicycles
3 Kitchensink bars and accessories, one for a viewer giveaway, other two in use on bicycles
1 Set arclight clipless pedals, retained for long term review
1 Top Shelf Handlebar, retained for long-term review
Landrace Boxer Bike
I interviewed Phil Cavell as the author of The Midlife Cyclist and we became friends. He and his business partner asked me to help make them some videos, which subsequently ran on their channel and mine.
The content - Phil and Julian sharing their expertise - was appealing to my viewers. Rather than pay me for my time, they gave me the best bike-fit I've had and, to my genuine surprise, offered to build me a custom bike that suited my ideal position precisely.
I always thought my bikes fit me until I rode this one which truly does, and it's a revelation.
After ten months off the bike with a shoulder injury, my third of fourth ride on the Boxer saw me heading off to Spain for a week of gravel touring - both my shoulder rand the bike coped brilliantly.
It's the bike that now appears in almost all my videos.
This is benefit in kind, but not in the way YouTube or the UK Advertising Standard Agency sets out in their code for 'Influencers'?
It's payment in kind for shooting their videos. It's not payment to promote their brand or use it in my videos, that's just a consequence of it being the best all-round bike I own.
Indeed I've since sold my Camino and might consider selling the Vielo too.
This is a difficult area to navigate and I try my hardest to be transparent, I really do. How many other YouTubers have an easily accessible page setting out their relationships with brands? If you think I'm just another grifter, then that's fine, because there's probably very little I can do to convince you otherwise.