Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Cycling Apparel Jargon and Vocabulary

February 8, 2010 by taStahly

Cycling apparel has it’s own set of vocabulary.  Within the industry we throw around phrases like, ‘zipper garage’ or ‘raglan sleeve’ like it’s going out of style.  The problem is that we use these words and phrases with customers — and they think we’re speaking a different language.  To bring meaning and clarification to what we’re trying to say, here’s a list of cycling apparel buzz words that you might hear:

Leg gripper: band of elastic or compressive fabric at the hem of shorts to keep them in one place when cycling

Moisture wicking: fabric made to pull sweat away from your skin and push to the surface of the fabric

Moisture transfer: another name for ‘moisture wicking’ (see above)

Hidden zipper: type of zipper that is set back from the surface of the fabric and cannot be seen when zipped

Raglan sleeves: sleeves made with a single panel of fabric that starts at the collar; not at the shoulder

Cam-lock zipper: zipper head that locks in place (and cannot be pulled down) when flipped down and can be pulled open, or unzipped, when flipped up

Comfort waist: waist band made with non-binding compressive Lycra and without the usage of elastic

Pro fit: a fit designed to be tight with no bulk or loose material (aka euro fit)

Panels: refers to the number of pieces of material used in a pair of shorts to give a more exact fit (examples: 8-panel, 6-panel, 10-panel, 12-panel)

Silicone injected gripper: any hem that has silicone laid on top of it; silicone ‘grabs’ better than elastic

1/4 length zipper: zipper that spans 1/4 the length of the cycling jersey

3/4 length zipper: zipper that spans 3/4 the length of the cycling jersey

Zipper garage: piece of fabric attached to the top of the zipper that can be pulled over the zipper head to cover it up when zipped

Continue Reading »

Posted in Cycling Apparel Info., Cycling Information | Tagged , | 1 Comment »

2010 Castelli Body Paint Bib Shorts — Review

January 28, 2010 by Roadie

2010 Castelli Bib Shorts

2010 Castelli Body Paint Bib Shorts

I’d say I’ve worn the Castelli Body Paint Bib Shorts between 8 and 10 times. My first thoughts were, “Man, these are lightweight” and “Man, I’m showing a lot of thigh.” That said, I am 6’2″ and have an inseam that would put giraffes to shame. As I got used to the feeling of wearing the lightest bib shorts on the market, and it did take time to get used to, I noticed how much I wasn’t moving around in the saddle.  Comfortable chamois; check.  And a quick side note about the lightweight fabric: The first time I wore these I had a serious moment of panic as I walked outside with my bike. I thought that I forgot to put on my shorts; completely naked. As my heart rate spiked, I was quick to look down and see that I was indeed wearing shorts — sigh of relief. Jokes aside, the next time I wore the Body Paints I did the exact same thing.

The lightweight characteristics of the bibs are basically two-fold: 1)Giro++ material is made of a single fiber, not multiple blended fibers 2)one single panel makes up the shorts. The Giro++ is technically

Continue Reading »

Posted in Cycling Apparel Info., Product Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

How Cycling Apparel is Supposed to Fit

January 20, 2010 by taStahly

Cycling Apparel that Doesn't Fit

Wrong size? Not sure, haven't seen him in the drops.

Cycling apparel is designed to fit correctly when you’re riding your bike. There aren’t many sports, or even activities for that matter, that have specialized clothing designed to fit properly when you’re participating in that sport. Think about baseball — the uniform consists of a pair of pants, a button up jersey, and a hat; all need to be a accommodating for a few different positions that a player may be in while playing baseball. Positions you may see baseball players in while playing baseball: standing in the field, sitting in the dugout, swinging a bat, running on occasions, and spitting sunflower seeds. The apparel for playing baseball, based on probable positions you could find yourself in when playing the sport, aren’t that much different from a person working in coffee shop — minus swinging a bat.   My point is that there isn’t anything specialized about baseball a uniform, or the way it fits, that makes it something you would only wear

Continue Reading »

Posted in Cycling Apparel Info., Cycling Information | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Off-season Cycling Training.

January 12, 2010 by Roadie

Winter has arrived to Indianapolis. Sure, according to the calendar, it’s been winter for a couple of months now, but until recently the temperatures have been fairly mild and we’ve still been able to ride outside. Unfortunately, the onslaught of snow and ice means that I’ve had to retreat to the basement and the dreaded trainers. Training sessions are now filled with the the drone of rollers and the same stages of Le Tour I’ve watched a hundred times. Throughout the summer, when 5pm rolls around, the excitement of a good training ride is palpable. Texts and emails start to circulate, all filled with the cruel intentions of a hard ride to come, and by the time people roll up for the ride the adrenaline is flowing. Not so now. 5pm hits and my mind starts wondering how I’m going to survive another session on the rollers. Maybe I need a haircut instead. Do I need to go to the Post Office for anything? Is it time to renew my drivers license yet?

Marian's cycling facility

Marian's cycling facility

At the end of the outdoor season I decided that I needed to do something to supplement my dreaded winter training schedule. What better place to train than at the local University that’s won 12 Collegiate Track National Championships. Marian University offers a series of indoor classes on Computrainers focusing on training with power and these twice-weekly class times are a lifesaver. Not only are they a chance to get out of my basement, they are a chance to once again train with others.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Cycling Information, Great Areas of Greatness | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Giordana Forma Red Carbon Windfront Bib Tights Review

January 4, 2010 by NancyBoy

I have found my single favorite piece of winter cycling clothing: Giordana’s Forma Red Carbon Windfront Bib Tights. Make no mistake: These are full-on winter tights. They are too warm for temperatures above 40 degrees – shorts and legwarmers are more than sufficient – but these tights shine as the mercury approaches and then drops below freezing. In cold ride after cold ride I find myself returning to these superb tights, washing them nearly every night so they are fresh for riding the next day.

Giordana Forma Red Carbon Windfront Bib Tights (front)

Giordana Forma Red Carbon Windfront Bib Tights (front)

Two things were immediately noticeable the first time I saw the tights. First were the bib straps with red backing material. These are the same straps that Giordana uses on their top-end summer shorts and they are incredibly comfortable. There is no binding, pinching, or migrating of the straps and they do an excellent job of keeping the tights in place.

The second thing I noticed was the intricate layup of panels on the tights with flat-stitch seams traversing the thighs and hips. Giordana uses a combination of Super Roubaix fabric on the sides and backs of the tights (for warmth and flexibility) and fleece-lined windstopper fabric on the front for weather and wind protection. The meandering seams create a clothing item that puts the flexible fabric exactly where it is most comfortable and the protective fabric where it is most effective. An additional advantage of this non-traditional stitching is a three dimensional construction that nearly eliminates bunching

Continue Reading »

Posted in Product Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

Assos FI.13 S5 Bib Shorts Review

December 21, 2009 by Roadie

The Assos FI.13 S5 bib shorts are not just another pair of shorts you wear on your bike, they are the ultimate, uncompromising technological leader in cycling apparel.  Now you may be thinking, considering the price tag they better be.  And you may ask yourself, are they really worth it? I know I asked this same question. Well, the past few months I have finally had the privilege of riding a new pair of FI.13 S5 bib shorts, and I am a believer.  You know they are special from the moment you remove them from their conspicuously extravagant packaging.  Along with the bib shorts, Assos also provides you with the means to care for your investment.  Inside you will find a wash bag and trial size containers of Active Wear Cleanser and Assos Chamois Cream.

Assos FI.13 S5 in their package

In the world of bike clothing, often times there isn’t much more than style and design to differentiate one pair of bike shorts or jersey from another.  At first glance it is obvious that the Assos FI.13 S5 is different, and once you wear them those differences are undeniable.  You will notice that they are constructed of multiple different fabrics.  Each one is specially designed and selected by Assos, and used specifically for its unique properties. The main body of the bib is constructed of Assos A.430 spandex, a special blend that provides just the right amount of compression and support while maintaining a soft, sheer feel. The crotch and inner thigh are feature a variation on the A.430 fabric that is lightly textured and has less stretch.  Since this is the portion of the bib short…

Continue Reading »

Posted in Product Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

When is it too cold to ride bike outside?

December 10, 2009 by Roadie

I can handle the 30s, but anything much colder than that you’ll find me on the trainer in the  basement.  Maybe someday I’ll live in a part of the country where cold weather-riding doesn’t exist, but for now I’ll grab my winter cycling apparel and hit the road.  How cold is too cold for you to ride outside?

Posted in Great Areas of Greatness | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.