As a roadie, my favourite cycling kit of 2013 has to be lycra of course. I write a blog called Women Who Cycle which I established in 2011. In 2013 I decided to step up the promotion of the blog and have my own custom kit designed.

The company I chose to create the kit was Tineli, a New Zealand company that has an office in Australia who I discovered at a bike trade show.

Tineli kindly sent me a sample kit to try which meant it was easy to order the right size and choose the options I wanted. It was important to me that it be women’s kit, not just small men’s sizes. I find it never fits as well and the chamois needs to be women’s specific as well.

I had to buy a minimum of 10 items of each, so I offered it to some of my female friends who readily agreed to help promote the blog.

Before the kit was born I had a logo designed and of course for me there was no other option but to go with my favourite colour – red.

It’s all about colour coordination so the kit matches my lovely Specialized Amira Expert bike and my shoes (S-Works women’s), socks, gloves (Specialized), helmet (Bell Volt) all match too.

I’m lucky that I live in a temperate climate like Sydney so I can wear this all year round. I just add arm warmers, leg or knee warmers and a gilet in the colder months.

Nicola Rutzou is our Australian correspondent, who also created and writes at womenwhocycle.com, a blog and resource for women who love cycling.