SUMMER 2020 GEAR GUIDE - CLOTHING

GORE C5 Trail Hooded Jacket

The Pacific Northwest has had a nice, cool and somewhat rainy season so far this year. This jacket has been my ticket to comfort on the bike and on the trail. I love the relaxed fit as it gives me room to move without being too baggy. The combo of Packlite material to save weight and Active material for breathability is just right so I stay dry without sweating the jacket out, and I can easily slip it into my pack or commuter bag and not worry about it taking up too much room. The choice of cut and color on the combo of materials hits a perfect balance of both sporty and slick, while the Hibiscus Pink helps make me more visible when I’m on the road which I love. I also really appreciate a jacket with front pockets. I own some of their Shake-dry, which is great if I’m going ultra-light, but usually skimps on the practicality of pockets-- which as a dog owner who’s always grabbing a few extra treats and poop bags on my hikes makes a huge difference.

7mesh Desperado Merino Henley

Oh, how I love thee, let me count the ways. Breathable, beautiful, casual but classic, odor resistant, as easy to wear on the trail as off, and so much more. The beautiful Merino wool is super soft and comfortable. I can easily wear this to a casual business meeting to on the trail or commuting around town. Its versatility and ¾ sleeves make it as lovely on a 65 degree day as it is on a 40 degree one. I actually have to stop myself from wearing it too much. Maybe it’s time to invest in a second (or third)?

7mesh Sight Shirt

Damn, Seven Mesh. You just keep the hits coming. This is the one shirt you need for summer riding. The cut is a bit generous without being super baggie, and wide enough in the shoulders that there was no pulling across the back or chest when riding. The scoop neck is flattering on most, but not such a large opening that I was collecting bugs in my cleavage on descents. Most importantly, the material is pure magic. Wizardry, I say! Light and thin, but not meshy or see-though. It wicks like nothing else I’ve worn, so much so that I’d recommend this as a staple for multi-day bike packing trips because you can wash it every night and it will be dry within hours. Despite the 100% polyester material, the anti-microbal treatment they use is holding up great and keeping it smelling fresh despite many, many uses this summer.

7mesh Farside Shorts

Simple joys. That’s what Seven Mesh excels at. These Farside shorts are just that. I’ve been looking for a summer riding short that isn’t a typical baggie that goes past my knees. I sweat far too much in the summer (and like to climb) too much for those to be comfortable. The Farside shorts hit all the marks. Tough but wicking material: check. Slimmer fit with stretch and room to move: check. Lovely color that gives me a bit of flash but camouflages the inevitable dirt: check. Small upper pockets for keys or a lip balm AND an essential full-sized, zippered, side pocket to easily whip out my phone when a good vista or sea of wildflowers pops into view: check. I love them so much, I’ve even considered wearing them commuting-- and I can definitely not say that about most of my mountain bike specific gear. Well played, Seven Mesh, well played.

Pearl Izumi Women’s Elite Full Fingered Gel Glove

I’m rough on my riding gloves, but especially when I’m mountain biking. Sweat is a constant issue-- especially for gripping-- and depending on the ride I like a little padding. Stress a little. Too much and it just gets in the way of reaching the controls or moves around as I shift positions on the bike. Pearl Izumi has hit a nice balance with these gloves. The tops are light and breathable, but the reinforced finger tips make a huge gain in the longevity of the number of seasons I’ll squeeze out of them. The touch-screen compatible index finger and thumb actually work, so I can easily whip out my phone for photos or to check a map without the off-again, on-again struggle of sweaty gloves. I love that Pearl decided to go straight stealth black without any flair. These gloves look deceptively simple, but deliver in spades.

GORE C7 Women’s Pro Jersey

Gore got it right with this simple, straightforward design, including everything I could really ask for. This includes sleeves that are long enough to provide good sun coverage, breathable material that wicks well, and so much more. The pockets actually fit all the essentials and aren’t smaller “for girls” (as if our pumps or bars are any smaller than mens, ahem). A slight collar at the neck that’s a lovely touch and creates a little extra sun screen. The fit is slim without being skin tight, so it’s flattering no matter which sports bra you grabbed for your ride. And the color! Finally a bright, attention-grabbing color that isn’t annoyingly high-viz. It’s my go-to pick for days with lower light, less visibility or just when I’m feeling the need to be seen. Well done, Gore.

Pearl Izumi Women’s Attack Bib Short

One thing I’ve always appreciated about Pearl Izumi’s bib shorts is that they are simple but deliver. The chamois can handle longer or shorter rides, the materials are lightweight and have fantastic wicking ability, and the material colors and prints are usually understated but interesting. Pearl Izumi stepped it up a notch with the “drop tail” design on this one. It’s easy to take a quick nature break without having to try and shimmy out of your jersey while simultaneously not dropping everything from your pockets. What I thought would be gimmicky turned out to be a real advantage, especially when I needed to go quickly. My one small complaint is that I found the front buckle to be hard to release when I was ready to take them off. Honestly, for the very affordable $100 price tag, these are worth investing in a few pairs this summer.

Pearl Izumi Women’s Interval Jersey

Like the Attack Bib Shorts, the Interval Jersey is lightweight and wicks well. While I’m usually not a fan of white jerseys, it’s great to have this in the mix for hot, sunny days when I’m trying to keep my cool, and the In-R-Cool technology does seem to work. I like the form fit for road rides, so if you’re looking for something on the roomy side this is not it. Pearl Izumi got the sleeve length just right-- I love a mid-upper arm cut for sun protection and lack of gaps when you’re wearing arm screens. For my very wide-shouldered body, I found the fabric on the back collar to pull a bit, but that often happens with my body and Euro-style jerseys, so if you’re more average or narrow shouldered, this should fit perfectly.

Pearl Izumi Unisex Sun Sleeves

I’ve always been a fan of these sleeves. I’ve known too many friends to struggle with skin cancer, and with as much time as I spend outdoors, I don’t need extra sun, I need protection. This year’s version of these are a bit sturdier material (providing better protection), but at the same time seem cooler and more wicking due to the
In–R–Cool technology. Pearl Izumi decided to use a wider band at the top that’s slightly slimmer than the rest of the fit of the sleeve, which I unfortunately found would fold or roll on itself because of where it landed on my arm. Not a dealbreaker, but something I hope they improve upon for next season.

7mesh Apres Hoody

If there’s one word for this hoody, it’s crazy cozy. Surprisingly comfortable, it’s exactly what you want to wrap yourself up in after cooling down from your ride or sharing a beer around the campfire. I actually have found that this has been my go-to hoody the entire spring and summer-- despite COVID-19 stress and all the worlds traumas, this is my shoulder-relaxing, safety blanket. The fit is a bit slouchy-- mostly because it’s cut long. For my short-torsoed body, this means it covers my hips and butt which I love. If you’re a longer waisted person that finds women’s tops too often don’t actually come down far enough, this will be a perfect fit as well since the extra length will accommodate you. So snuggle up to this one. You won’t be sorry.

Montbell Peak Dry Jacket

We love Montbell for several reasons. Number one is that they are dedicated to fast and light products. They’re not afraid to innovate and they are proud to release cutting edge product that works for backpackers and thru hikers regardless of the appeal for average city folks. If you’re looking for the lightest puffy jacket, there’s no question it’s going to be a Montbell. So when we learned that Montbell released their Peak Dry shakedry jacket we had to try it. We’ve tested 7mesh’s Oro jacket and Gore’s Stretch shakedry jacket, both excellent pieces for road riding in the rain. But shakedry is so light and so impervious to rain, we thought, wouldn’t it make a great lightweight emergency shell for bikepacking and just hikes in the rain, when you want room to layer a thermal piece below? Indeed it does. The reason this is one of our favorite shakedry jackets, is simply the cut. It’s as breathable and water shedding as any shakedry piece, and it’s cut for layering. It still has all the features you’d want in a minimalist jacket, like velcro closures at the cuff, a chest pocket, a 3-way (and rollable) adjustable hood, as well as a draw cord hem. I also appreciate their honesty regarding durability. If you’re looking for a jacket that you can wear with a heavy pack, this is not it. But if you want a very packable, very water resistant, and breathable jacket to keep in your pack at all times in case of sudden downpours, you’d be hard pressed to find a better jacket. And at $249, I’d say Montbell has created one of the more affordable shakedry jackets on the market.

POC Resistance Ultra Shorts

It’s rare to find a brand like POC where we appreciate their helmets, their pads, and their clothing. But POC’s design vision is evident across their line. Designs are simple and modern, and most importantly they work extremely well for what we love to do. The Resistance shorts are no exeption. The first thing I noticed when trying on the shorts was the fit - not snug, not loose, just right. The waist closures are effective and stay out of the way. Second, I noticed the weight of the fabric - lightweight, but by no means thin or insignificant, and with a good deal of stretch. POC has added extra durable patches in the rear for durability. The cool thing about those, is that they’re not obtrusive, they’re black on black and blend well with the short, and don’t seem to add weight to shorts. As you can see in the above photo, they play well with knee pads and are a good length. The pockets are large and zippered, so contents are secure. I don’t love a phone in my pocket, but inevitably I’ll take a photo, or look at the route, and stash the phone quickly in my shorts pocket. The contents sit well without getting in the way. The Resistance Ultra shorts quickly became one of my favorite shorts this year. Whether you wear a POC helmet or not, their clothing is very considered and well worth checking out. They definitely bring their thoughtfulness to the game and that’s welcome. Highly recommended!

7mesh Ashlu Merino Jersey

It’s been a pleasure to witness 7mesh’s evolution as a brand. The fun part is seeing how a single product, like the Ashlu merino jersey evolves. This season, 7mesh has released their “Anything panel” concept which is designed to allow you to stuff your pockets to capacity, without pulling or distorting the jersey itself - the pockets effectively “float” separately from the jersey. Style-wise, the Ashlu is an all-road jersey, so the fit is a bit looser fit than something like their Horizon jersey. The fabric itself is a 89% merino, 11% nylon blend that regulates temperature and has anti-bacterial properties, making the Ashlu a great choice for all-day or multi-day adventures. For anyone wanting a versatile, tech jersey that packs a ton of function with a low-key attitude and thirst for adventure, give the Ashlu a shot. One thing I noticed, while riding this jersey with their new Cargo pocket bibshorts, is that running both lower back pockets on the bibshorts with the Ashlu’s anything panel felt a bit bulky, so I’ll more likely run just their MK3 bibshorts with this jersey. Problem solved.

7mesh Cargo bibshorts

We’ve gotten to witness 7mesh refine their bibshorts over the years and we’re really excited about this product. First, it’s worth mentioning that the Cargo bibshorts have the same fit and feel of their excellent MK3 bibishort, complete with floating chamois. The MK3 is one of my favorite bibshorts ever. The Cargo bibshorts take the same materials and fit of the MK3 and add a stretch pocket to each leg and three jersey-style pockets that sit on your low back, so in theory, if you wanted to run a merino t-shirt with your bib shorts, you could still have the same carrying capacity as a traditional jersey. Personally, I don’t love having big loads in my stretch leg pockets, I’d eat a portion of a bar and stash the rest in there, but I’d never carry my phone or anything heavy there. Of course pockets on the back of your shorts raises the question of what to do with two layers of pockets, if you run a jersey over these. I can imagine stuffing emergency items, like a tubolito tube or emergency rations in the bibshorts pockets, and then more food and easy-to-grab items in the outer pockets. I imagine these being a great option for those that like trim fitting clothes for all-day adventures or bikepacking. Either way, as cycling evolves it’s great to have options. The cargo bibshorts are a highly recommended bit of kit. The awesome MK3’s just went into adventure mode.

7mesh Freeflow Jacket

I slept on this jacket at first. I thought, what do I want with an insulated windbreaker? But don’t overlook this jacket, it’s super functional and innovative. The genius of this jacket is that they’ve paired a double weave outer nylon to keep winds at bay and a strategically placed Polartec Alpha insulation only where needed, so the jacket breathes and lets you dump excess heat. The idea is a jacket that you can keep on while climbing and descending, rather than one that you have to remove for climbs. If your ride is wet, the Freeflow’s cut is trim enough, that you can easily add a rain jacket. I bring this jacket as a lightweight peace-of-mind layer in case temps drop, or on cool days where you still need to do work and are facing both climbing and descending and you want a layer that you can keep on for your whole adventure. Love the “Supreme blue” too. Great minimal jacket to keep the chills away!

GORE C5 Infinium Hybrid Hooded Jacket

GORE is working hard to make outerwear that moves as you move. What I mean is that outerwear can be a bummer. I mean, when it’s wet you just assume you're going to lose some mobility for the sake of staying warm and dry. Infinium is a breathable softshell type material, so the darker plum colored panels are more breathable 4-way strech Windstopper fabric and the lighter dusty pink panels are more water-shedding. At first, I didn’t love the aesthetic, it’s a bit chaotic and patchy for me, but damn, if this jacket is comfortable! The fit is fantastic too. Like most GORE pieces, it’s Euro trim. They explain that the fit isn’t just for looks. The goal with a streamlined fit is to eliminate unwanted bulk and air spaces inside and to maximize the material properties, whether that’s waterproofness or breathability. That explains why you might need a cycling-specific jacket for mountain biking, rather than just grabbing your ski or snowboard jacket when you hit the trail. Gore keeps pushing the technology applications, so we can enjoy our adventures with even more comfort and freedom of motion.

Velocio Delta Long Sleeve

I’ve been bugging every brand to make more lightweight long sleeve tops. Finally Velocio comes to my rescue with the Delta Long Sleeve. Why you ask, do I want to wear long sleeves in summer? Number one reason is sun protection. In the past I’d wear sun sleeves with a short sleeve jersey, which works great, but maybe not always the best looking option. Number two reason is protection from overgrown trails. Anyone that’s drawn to backcountry trails or anything beyond the standard flow trails will appreciate arm protection from brushy green growth that often crowds the trails in summer months. OK, so protection from the elements. We got it. Next, let’s talk about Polartec Delta. Does it work? Does it keep me dry? Yes and yes. The weight seems to be one notch heavier than something like their Micromodal Jersey (below) I might shy away from this shirt on the hottest of days, but most every day up to temps in the low 90s, This top kept me cool and allowed to ride out with confidence without having to slather sunscreen all over my arms. Finally, a word about fit. That word is perfect. Slightly longish sleeves and a drop tail ensure that the top fits well when you’re in a riding position. As always we appreicate Velocio’s dedication to simplicity and pure function. An instant favorite top!

Velocio Micromodal Jersey

Velocio has a couple warm weather jerseys that we’d consider essential. The Recon Micromodal is one of them. The jersey fabric is called modal, (derived from birch trees!) which is extremely soft and comfortable, as well as breathable and wicking. They also wove carbon fibers into the modal fabric, for it’s anti-microbial properties. The fit is form-fitting and they cite soccer jerseys as the inspiration for the look. That is a sharp looking collar, I must say. I like that little red detail on the inside of the collar as well. No zip gives it a t-shirt look, but they kept three functional pockets on the back. Great summer gravel jersey, if you ask me. I wouldn’t be afraid to mountain bike in it either.

7mesh Slab Shorts

Supposedly these are 7mesh’s enduro short. I’d just call them a minimal, comfortable trail short. So comfortable, in fact, that I forgot I was wearing shorts. Not like you feel naked, just that they’re so trim and stretchy, they just never bind or get in the way. That’s a high compliment. Don’t let the minimalism fool you that the shorts aren’t considered. The fabric is a 4-way stretch and the seams are ultrasonic stretch. There is no front zipper, and the waist cinches us with a with just one web pull. One zip pocket on the leg is all you get, but it’s cool because you don’t like to jam a bunch of stuff in your shorts anyway, right? Fast and light and extremely comfortable. The Slab shorts get out of your way, so you can jam out the dirt miles.

Velocio Signature Jersey

Another great lightweight summer jersey from Velocio! Their jerseys are deceptively simple looking, but this jersey is made from recycled high gauge, ultralight Italian milled fabric that not only looks good, but provides excellent wicking and breathability. The cut feels very modern to me, with its slightly long short sleeves. They say the material is UPF30. The pockets are anti-sag and provide plenty of cargo space. The Velocio Signature jersey is a refined jersey suitable for long summer days in the saddle. The subtle white accents look good with a white helmet and shoes too, I think.

Velocio Luxe Bibshorts

You need purple bibshorts! Velocio designed its Luxe bibshort to be both refined and comfortable. The goal was that the Luxe would be your go-to all-day bibshort. Since we get to try multiple brands’ bibshorts, we start to realize how much the fit and fabric can change the feel of a bibshort. These definitely feel more compressive than some. Maybe best to save these for when you’re feeling summer fit. The fabric is an ultra high grade compression lycra that they claim provides muscle support. They also went and develped a signature chamois with Cytech. We like what Velocio is doing - focus on great materials, performance and comfort and keeping it all clean. Looking for an all day bibshort, or just those fly new purple bibshorts? You might need Lux bibshorts in your life.

7mesh Horizon Jersey

I want to say that 7mesh’s Horizon jersey is an evolution of their G2 jersey, which was one of my favorites and its story was fit and breathability. You’ll instantly notice the lovely matte finish and detail of the wicking, hydrophobic material. Just the material itself is beautiful in its woven complexity Ever-present is 7mesh’s obsessive tailoring that keeps the jersey looking like it should in the riding position. We talked about their new “Anything panel” floating pocket system on the Ashlu Merino jersey. That floating functionality is present here too on the Horizon. Stuff them full and don’t worry about your cargo pulling you or your jersey back towards home. I’m really impressed by the fit and feel of this jersey. I want to say it’s a medium weight jersey with excellent wicking properties. I don’t feel like it’s a light summer weight, but I also think it will be extremely versatile and work well in a lot of different conditions. Love the look of the fade of the pockets. It’s crazy how much thought and innovation they can pack into a single garment. Go 7mesh. What’s next?

Pearl Izumi Vortex Jacket

I’m not sure why I’m so drawn to this jacket. Sure the forest green color with lime green zipper is striking. The cut is trim and bike-specific. The hood fits well over a helmet. I guess what feels significant with the Vortex is the combination of a bomber 3-layer recycled fabric that you know will shed the rain, with a bit of stretch for comfort. I’ve tried enough Pearl gear to know that they do their research and do their testing and that they’re awfully proud of their new outerwear that seems to take two steps forward and looks the business on the bike. I think the Vortex is that piece and I’m glad that Pearl is pushing their high end outerwear. I like too that they designed this jacket to be versatile enough to suggest it for mountain, commuting, and even high level protection for road cycling.

Pearl Izumi Longsleeve Attack Jersey

I’ve been begging companies to make a long sleeve summer weight jersey. I doubt Pearl was reacting to my specific request, but you never know. In Portland we have enough cool days that don’t warm up all that much, or just sunny days that aren’t blisteringly hot, that long sleeves make sense. Also, I’m a fan of sun sleeves for both protection from overgrown trails and as an option to slathering on sunscreen. They just make sense. So, I was excited to test Pearl’s new summer weight long sleeve Attack jersey. You know what? It’s comfortable. I don’t know if it’s light enough for warm summer rides, but for cool starts and sun protection, the Attack jersey is awesome. I’m not a huge fan of the color options. The forest green is unique in cycling, but perhaps a bit conservative. If Pearl wants to hire me to provide color consultation, I’m available. I’m always asking for a light to medium grey to hit that fine balance between not showing every bit of dirt, and not so dark as to absorb sunlight. Still, for a good basic jersey with good fit, the Attack is a worthy jersey. I’m sure they’ll read this and offer some better colors next season. Still, I’m grateful for a lightweight longsleeve jersey at all. Thank you Pearl!

Pearl Izumi Pro Air Bibshorts

Every once in a while you run across a product that is next level comfortable. The first thing you’ll notice with these bibs is the special lightweight material. It’s an “ultra-lightweight French-made stretch woven PRO Transfer fabric with In-R-Cool® powered by coldblack®” Translation, it’s really soft and fits your body really well, without being too compressive or restrictive. Pearl claims these are the bibs you’ll grab for your all-day summer rides. I’ve been on a reduced diet of riding due to COVID, but as summer heats up, I’m doing some longer weekend days to test my mettle and you can bet I’ll be grabbing these Pro Air shorts for some long days. I like that the the leg is cut a bit longer than some. I have to admit, one of my early testing sessions for these shorts was a sweaty trainer ride and the seams chafed me pretty bad. That’s odd, because Pearl boasts about it's fully bonded construction, which does look great and provides good comfort on otherwise non-soaked conditions. It could have just been a bad saddle/short combo. Who knows. For anyone looking for barely-there minimalist shorts should give these a look. i’m excited to test them further on some all-day epics.

Houdini Enfold Jacket

I’ve become a quick fan of Houdini Sportswear. I love their clean aesthetic and use of recycled and recyclable materals. The Enfold is no exception to that ethos. It’s a light and warm mid layer with good looks that you can wear in the city or in the woods. The fit is on the loose/casual side of things, so best perhaps to layer with a traditional outerwear fit, though I have yet to wear it with a rain jacket on top. The Enfold has a high warmth to weight ratio, thanks to 70% Eco Circle® recycled polyester, 30% poly outer fabric and Primaloft Gold + insulation. The snaps make it a breeze to put on and just as easy to vent. We’re going to keep our on Houdini, because we think their future is bright.