SUMMER GEAR GUIDE 23

TIFOSI RAIL RACE SUNGLASSES

I’m new to Tifosi glasses, but so far I’m impressed! If you’ve been watching the Tour, you’ll know everyone is rocking oversized glasses. These feel on trend, but how do they work? They work well. One notable feature is their remarkable lightweight construction, making them comfortable for extended wear. The frameless design, with arms seamlessly clipping onto the lens are quite easy to use. Although the arms may be too long for some users, their overall performance and unique design make the Tifosi Rail Race sunglasses a standout choice for those seeking a blend of functionality and style. I was also able to test the “Blackout Interchange” version of the Rail, which I like for their slightly more low-key look and neutral lens coloration. I did chop one of the arm lengths and appreciated the fit better. One suggestion to Tifosi, would be that since the arms are so easy to pop on and off, offer a second shorter pair of arms in cases where arms are hitting helmets. Otherwise, for $80, The Rail Race gets you the look of the year with solid performance…and I didn’t even mention that they come with three lenses! Clear,

TIFOSI SMIRK AND SVAGO SUNGLASSES

As I said previously I’m new to Tifosi glasses and I’m glad we’re getting acquainted. I’ve been wearing the Tifosi Smirk sunglasses since they arrived and I'm impressed. They offer great value for the price and have become my everyday go-to eyewear. I’ve worn them on the bike, around town as well as while doing trail work and they work equally well. The frames fit comfortably and look stylish. The snug fit doesn't feel tight or uncomfortable, even after wearing them for hours. They are a pleasure to wear. They’re not overly dark and the coloration seems fairly neutral. I highly recommend the Tifosi Smirk and Svago sunglasses. They are affordable, stylish, and comfortable, exceeding my expectations. A fantastic choice for those who want some stylish shades at a very affordable price. The Svago Polarized that I tried go for $55 and the Smirk Honeys go for $30. I totally recommend both of these styles, especially for the price. If you’re like me and have trouble holding on to expensive glasses, Tifosi is a great option. I wouldn’t call them disposable, but at this price, pick out your three favorite styles and just alternate them in your lineup. And if you lose one pair, you won’t be devastated. My only complaint is the brand name on the lens. We all hate armchair designers, but I’d skip that. Not a value add. Still…highly recommended.

7MESH RK2 CARGO BIB SHORTS

We’re glad 7mesh has stuck with it and kept the consistency. All the ways that they’ve innovated with cycling clothing remain intact. They’ve brought an attention to patterning: their clothes always appear simple, but fit really well. That’s the trick with good design - it works the way you need it to and doesn’t draw attention to itself. We’ve tested enough bib shorts to know what works well, and the RK2 Cargo bibs work really well. The potential danger with cargo bib shorts is a bunch of extra fabric on your thigh that either doesn’t move wit the short or adds a bunch of material that makes the shorts too hot to wear. But remarkably, that’s not the case with these. I’m still not going to ride with an iphone on my thight, but the pockets here are quite functional, for a quick stash of whatever you have in your hand while you’re in the middle of a tire repair or resupply. I love the way the shorts fit in my midsection as well, they add support without being restrictive in any way. The look with the cleancut edges seals the deal for me. Just enough support to be compressive, but no sausage legs. You’d be surprised how many brands get that part wrong. I want the shorts to be flattering, even when I’m not in race shape, and the RK2 Cargo bibshorts deliver comfort and good looks all day long. Highly recommended.

VELOCIO OMBRE ULTRALIGHT MESH JERSEY

There are a lot of reasons to love the Ombre Ultralight Jersey. Luckily the temps haven’t been stratospheric yet this year, but as soon as it heats up, the Ombre UL mesh is the first jersey I grab. It’s a great fit, though I seem to find myself between a medium and large. How is that possible. I realize I’m not in race shape, but that probably makes me like 90 percent of the population. I’m relatively fit. So anyway…I’m wearing a large and I want it slightly more snug. I love the longer short sleeves and I love the color and design of this jersey. If recycled content is important to you (it probably should be) then the 88 percent recycled content would be reason enough to check out this model. If not, you’ll also appreciate the abundance of pockets, and sub-pockets for keys and small things. The breathability is fantastic. If you’re looking for a single go-to jersey for warm to hot weather, the Ombre Ultralight Mesh should be at the top of your list. Recommended.

VELOCIO INDIGO DYE SE JERSEY

In case you haven’t spent time in Vermont, which is where Velocio is headquartered, there is a certain arty hippy vibe, which is a world away from the conservative, academic aspect of northeastern US. Phish is from Vermont. Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, Bernie. Bernie would have made a great president, by the way. OK…I’m giving too much away and none of this has anything to do with how great Velocio’s jerseys are. Aesthetically, I love good solid colors, but sometimes we need to let our freak flags fly a bit. Enter the Velocio Indigo Dye Jersey. If you aren’t familiar with Velocio’s signature jersey, you should be. This is essentially the same proven jersey, just with a tie dye graphic. It’s the perfect weight for summer and I love the longer short sleeves and overall fit. Again, like the Ombre Ultralight, I’m somewhere between a medium and a large. Another hit from Velocio. These are limited edition, so pick one up while supplies last.

VELOCIO SIGNATURE SHORTS

The Velocio Signature Shorts are the second style of bibshorts I’ve tried from Velocio. It hasn’t been a straightforward path for me with Velocio. First, I realized I needed to size up to a Large. Second, I needed to understand that Velocio shorts are designed to be snug and compressive. It’s just their position in regard to how road/gravel shorts are supposed to fit. Things I appreciate about Veolcio are their commitment to fit and finish. The Italian made shorts look and feel made to last. I may even prefer this model to their Luxe short. The chamois are all -day comfortable. Aesthetically, I don’t prefer the wide band at the bottom, but they feel great on the bike and that’s what matters most. These might be my favorite offering from Velocio for bibshorts. I almost forgot to mention that they’re 100 percent recycled. Velocio keeps doing it right.

MONTANE MINIMUS LITE JACKET

I know there is a hardcore group of enthusiasts that keep coming back to this page. You want to know how we’re doing with our quest for the ultimate do-it-all, sub-10 oz. jacket. This season we have two contenders from Montane and Outdoor Reseach. We’re new to Montane. They’re based in the UK and have a trimmed down and serious clothing line for enthusiasts. Since we went with a large, this jacket has a trim fit, but still enough room underneath for a synthetic mid layer or event a mid-weight puffy jacket. We mentioned sub-10 oz. This jacket is 7.6 oz. to be exact and it smashes down small enough to be a great option for bikepackers looking for that peace-of-mind emergency shell that they’re going to reach for cold mornings and days when the clouds threaten. So far this jacket has been flawless, shedding rain and keeping the wind and chill out. Time will tell on durability. The pertex shell is definitely on the minimal side of things, but we asked for sub-10 oz. and this is what you get. This is one for the weight weenies.

OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM ASCENT JACKET

This has been a great year to try out some new brands and Outdoor Research is another that we’re getting to know. I’d say we’ve done a good job of tracking down some of the trusted, no-BS brands. Brands that are more about making solid basic outerwear that gets the job done with a minimum of fuss. OR’s Helium Ascent boasts Pertex Diamond Fuse technology that is designed to be lightweight, durable, and truly breathable. Backcountry skiers have similar needs as bikepackers. We work hard on the climbs, get sweaty, and if we don’t have a way to dump the excess heat and moisture, we freeze on the descents. Truth be told, I haven’t found a jacket that isn’t a bit of a liability on climbs. If I don’t want to heat up, the best plan is still to take the jacket off. That said, the Helium Ascent is both light and packable, and like the Montane Minimus Lite, has enough room for layers underneath. The Helium Ascent is borderline too big, so if you’re looking for trim fit, maybe size down one size. The pockets are large and well placed. The Pertex fabric seems like it will be durable, and overall this jacket feels like a great option for bikepackers looking for a jacket to keep them safe in unpredictable storms. Keep an eye on OR, since they have a line of mountain bike specific gear coming out very soon.

FIVETEN TRAILCROSS CLIP IN SHOES

Tori got a pair of these recently and was raving about them, so I had to try them too. It’s weird…you look at shoes online and you think you know what they’ll be like and then you try them and they’re completely different than what you thought. I thought these would be really squishy like running shoes - lighter too. Don’t get me wrong, they seem like they’re built like they should be - properly stiff and bikeable. They’re about the same weight as Shimano MT7 and Fiveten Kestrel Boas that I tried in the past. They feel like they’ll be a great option for summer, with their breathable mesh uppers. My only complaint so far is that they seem a bit clunky, like bigger than they need to be, maybe just looking at them on the bike, I think they could be trimmed and slimmed down. But that said, the soles are the same tacky Stealth rubber that we’ve come to know and love on FiveTen shoes. I think I’ll like these for standard MTB as well as bikepacking. I’ll use them for commuting too, with a slight embarrassment that they don’t look cooler. They look cool enough for versatile bike shoes, but slightly corny with their big velcro strap. The olive color is on trend for all the muted earth tones of the moment. If Adidas was listening, I’d say go back and give me a version that’s just as durable, but slightly trimmed down profile and about two pounds less and you’d have a killer. I know I’ll get a solid summer of riding out of these, but soon I’ll be looking for the next perfect shoe.

HOUDINI COVER CREW SHIRT

We’re still looking for that perfect long sleeve sun shirt and the Houdini Cover Crew comes close to being perfect. I’ve mentioned in the past what I like about Houdini: their commitment to leading in environmentally friendly clothing production and a dedication to clean, modern design. I like wearing pieces that not every mountain biker is wearing and I love that I can use this shirt as a sun shirt as well as a simple, clean piece that I would wear out on the town if I were traveling. Because it’s simple and practical, it’s versatile as well. This year I took this piece to test in Tucson and I wore it every day. My friend warned me that this shirt has a reputation for being stinky - it’s one of the potential problems of synthetic shirts, but I didn’t experience that. Granted I was only riding for two or three hours per day. Maybe if I wore it all day long it would stink out, but that never happened for me. It did show some scuffs, but was easy to clean. I took this shirt on a bikepacking trip too and used it in place of a windbreaker on a mild day. It was perfect to take the chill off on cool morning starts over just a wicking short sleeve. The cut is a bit baggy, but I feel like it’s stylish. I liked this pieced more than I thought i would. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good looking windbreaker type shirt. I don’t think it will be practical for hot days, but for cooler days and shoulder season, the Cover crew is a versatile and good looking top.

OUTDOOR RESEARCH ARGON SHIRT

I think I said it before when describing Outdoor Research as a company that does good basics without the fuss or image. They make clothes for outdoor enthusiasts that want clothes that simply work. They’re not trendy, they just make good clothes at a fair price. For me, the Argon shirt is that great basic shirt that I’ll wear in many different settings. While testing, I’ve already worn it on a warm day cutting out deadfall on a trail stewardship event and a slightly cool day of mountain biking and the shirt performed equally well. It wicks well and is always comfortable. I had some issues with stains not coming out completely, but that may just be my laundry issue and the fact that we were cutting in a burn area, so chainsaw grease and soot are hard to remove. As with many other brands in this guide, this shirt incorporates 83 percent recycled material. The fit is loose without being baggy and as I said previously, I would wear the shirt confidently in town as well as the trail. If you’re looking for reliable basics, keep an eye on Outdoor Research. We saw some early prototypes of their dedicated mountain bike line and they look quite promising. Hopefully we’ll be testing those soon as well.

SPORTFUL SKY RIDER GIARA TEE

This is the first Sportful piece we’ve tried and I have to say it has me wanting to know more. Sportful has a long history and has been making cycling clothing since 1972. I have to confess to being bit of an Italo-phile. I love Italian design and their perspective on clothing and color. I think it shows here in the Sky Rider Giara tee. The colors are the muted jewel tones of the season. The different color sleeves and the 80’s inspired Memphis design on the back pocket feel somehow Italian to me. The shirt has the promise of being more than just another wicking tee that you could wear on the bike and to the gym or coffee shop. The trim details and cuts feel considered and look good on the body. My only complaint is the fabric, which I wish were slightly thinner and touch more elastic. Other than that the shirt performed admirably with its wicking. I never found myself sweating out or soaking the shirt even on a long days outing. Based on this shirt, I’d like to see more from Sportful and we’ll be keeping our eye on their gravel and MTB offerings.