Jumpingjalapeno
Regular
- Location
- Edinburgh
In October last year I decided my bike and cycling gear were all a bit worse for wear. This was a once in five years occurrence for me, so I wanted to get it right. Below I hope to compare and contrast my old vs. new stuff (with a rating out of 5 beside). The gear was bought predominately for commuting in the soggy Edinburgh winter, but needed to be dual purpose enough to cope with longer cycles down to the Scottish Borders. Hope you enjoy. Apologies for photo quality and sequence, Oh and length.
Waterproof top Layer
Old: dhb EQ2.5 Waterproof Cycling Jacket *****
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-eq25-waterproof-cycling-jacket/
This is an amazing commuting Jacket giving me 6 years sold service. The fit is slim, without being constrictive. Waterproofing is top notch and side vents help with breathability. There are two internal pockets in addition to the rear one. After 5 years the Velcro cuffs began to fail. Can absolutely recommend. Amazing value, as expected from DHB.
New: Madison Flux Soft-shell ****
http://www.madison.co.uk/products/c...ight-men-s-softshell-jacket-chilli-red-small/
After a long search I was recommended this. Once I tried it on I was hooked. The jacket is very light and packable but boasts huge breathability and waterproofing. It fits slim also, but the four way stretch means movement is free. The ninja hood is a very handy addition in downpours, but a little redundant when not. This could be a 3 season jacket, would be a bit chilly in winter; windproofing is also good. Three front pockets allows easy access. I would have preferred a silicone band rather than micro-adjustable hem and cuffs are elasticated only.
Mid Layer
Old: Gore Contest II SO Windstopper ****
As expected from Gore, a top quality product, does exactly what it says, stops wind! Super comfortable, great fit, 6+ years’ great service and still going. Recommend without reservation!
New: Endura Stealth II *****
https://www.endurasport.com/products/?ProductID=25
OK, not really a mid layer, but what a jacket. Slim fit, but not constrictive, feels great on bike. The two rear pocket complement the chest one up front. Nice details include zipped cuffs, rear light loop and reflection. Fully waterproof, feels waterproof perfect for winter. A 3 season jacket easy, good for temps of 5-15 degrees. Recommend without reservation!
New Additions
DHB Flashlight Thermal Long sleeve Jersey *****
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-flashlight-thermal-long-sleeve-jersey/
Bought this on a whim, and couldn’t be happier. My go to piece of gear in freezing conditions. This with a merino base layer has me toasty in -2°C. Windproofing is good, reflectivity is excellent. The fit is so comfortable I find myself wearing this jersey in all sorts of situations, it looks equally as good off the bike. You need one of these!
Proviz REFLECT360 Cycling Gilet ****
http://www.provizsports.com/en_gb/c...1/id/964/s/reflect360-gilet-reflective-gilet/
The wife insisted upon this. Amazing reflectivity, not that you are aware of it on the bike. Colleagues have been so impressed with this that they bought one themselves. The fit is commuter inspired so size down. There is some element of water resistance. Why only 4 stars? It’s very short and could do with having a longer tail. However, an essential safety buy!
Shorts
Old: Adidas Y3 ****
Not made for cycling, but super practical and sturdy, good for keeping the elements at bay.
New: Gore Element Shorts ****
http://www.goreapparel.co.uk/gore-bike-wear/men/shorts-tights-pants/element-shorts/TELESP.html?cm_mmc=Google
Gore%20Bike%20Wear%20UK%20GS%20DSAWebsitewebsite&gclid=Cj0KEQiAsP-2BRCFl4Lb2NTJttEBEiQAmj2tbU-9PytK3TYVzxyrXoLn_XcVaRYnUCmyvWN1xoj5aAAaAlPl8P8HAQ
The difference is obvious, clearly made for cycling. Fit is excellent the Velcro/double button closure gives good security, as do zipped side pockets. The fit is comfortable, neither tight nor baggy. They are not waterproof, but dry quickly. A lock hook would have made these perfect.
Shoes
Old: Lake MX 135 ****
Trusty, sturdy, heavy, moderately stiff. 7 years good service and the leather is still perfect. Good amount of tread but the clips still touched the ground. Would definitely buy Lake again esp. the Cx180
New: Gaerne Cosmo *****
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/gaerne-g-cosmo-mtb-shoes-2015/rp-prod129779
Comfy, light, stiff, Lovely! Ok I was sold with the story of Italian made by the family company, but these are lovely straight out of the box. They feel secure on the foot, with very little vertical movement. There is no nipping of the toes, even with the non-wide version. I bought 2 sizes up (normally a size 10 and bought a 46). Not waterproof, but wind doesn’t particularly get through. Clips don’t crunch against the ground, which is a big bonus.
Helmets
Old: Limar 747 ***
Light but bulky. Has lasted me 7 years. Did develop a crack in the head harness making it unstable. The sun visor did become flappy over time.
New: Giro Savant *****
http://www.giro.com/eu_en/savant.html/
Light, low profile, comfortable. I echo all the numerous reviews out there stating how good this helmet is. The only one I’ve ever owned that I forget is on my head. It’s an excellent helmet for the price. The chinstrap does become loose easily though.
Finally, Backpack!
I prefer a backpack over panniers, although that might change over time. Both these packs are bike specific including light loops, pump handles and come with rainproof covers.
Old: Jack Wolfskin Moab 22L ***
A pretty simple and robust pack that did show reasonable wear after 4 years (not bad at all), mostly with ripping of the shoulder straps. There wasn’t much in the way bike specific stuff on it; the light loop worked well and there was a token pump loop. I also question the 22L capacity, as it looked smaller. I had looked at the new version, but the side pockets and front pouch were not separate, therefore decreasing usability. Having said all that, it was a faithful companion.
New: Tatonka Lima 25L ****
http://www.tatonka.com/Product/Everyday--Business-Life/Daypacks/Lima-25/en/1/1510
This was probably my longest and most difficult search. There were very few bags, which I felt were the total package. I finally decided to give the Lima a try, the reasons being, 1, nice design 2, a specific lock compartment 3, an inbuilt reflective strip 4, easy access front compartments. Overall, I’m happy with this bag. It is a little big for my needs (in hindsight I would have gone with the smaller Audux), but better that than too small. The front zipped compartment is very handy, with plenty of pockets for pretty much anything you would need, leaving the centre free for bigger items. The padded laptop pouch is a nice touch. It is very comfortable on the back and is reasonably good at reducing overheating. The light loop is too wide and the lock compartment is pretty useless, as it’s not easily accessible when the backpack is on. Overall I would recommend. An alternative would be the osprey momentum, with it’s very nice key pouch on the shoulder strap.
Apologies for that being so long. I did get a few other bits n piece (the best of them being craft shield gloves), but I feel it’s time for me to put a lid on it. Hope some of it was enjoyable. Happy for any questions.
Thanks
JJ
Waterproof top Layer
Old: dhb EQ2.5 Waterproof Cycling Jacket *****
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-eq25-waterproof-cycling-jacket/
This is an amazing commuting Jacket giving me 6 years sold service. The fit is slim, without being constrictive. Waterproofing is top notch and side vents help with breathability. There are two internal pockets in addition to the rear one. After 5 years the Velcro cuffs began to fail. Can absolutely recommend. Amazing value, as expected from DHB.
New: Madison Flux Soft-shell ****
http://www.madison.co.uk/products/c...ight-men-s-softshell-jacket-chilli-red-small/
After a long search I was recommended this. Once I tried it on I was hooked. The jacket is very light and packable but boasts huge breathability and waterproofing. It fits slim also, but the four way stretch means movement is free. The ninja hood is a very handy addition in downpours, but a little redundant when not. This could be a 3 season jacket, would be a bit chilly in winter; windproofing is also good. Three front pockets allows easy access. I would have preferred a silicone band rather than micro-adjustable hem and cuffs are elasticated only.
Mid Layer
Old: Gore Contest II SO Windstopper ****
As expected from Gore, a top quality product, does exactly what it says, stops wind! Super comfortable, great fit, 6+ years’ great service and still going. Recommend without reservation!
New: Endura Stealth II *****
https://www.endurasport.com/products/?ProductID=25
OK, not really a mid layer, but what a jacket. Slim fit, but not constrictive, feels great on bike. The two rear pocket complement the chest one up front. Nice details include zipped cuffs, rear light loop and reflection. Fully waterproof, feels waterproof perfect for winter. A 3 season jacket easy, good for temps of 5-15 degrees. Recommend without reservation!
New Additions
DHB Flashlight Thermal Long sleeve Jersey *****
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-flashlight-thermal-long-sleeve-jersey/
Bought this on a whim, and couldn’t be happier. My go to piece of gear in freezing conditions. This with a merino base layer has me toasty in -2°C. Windproofing is good, reflectivity is excellent. The fit is so comfortable I find myself wearing this jersey in all sorts of situations, it looks equally as good off the bike. You need one of these!
Proviz REFLECT360 Cycling Gilet ****
http://www.provizsports.com/en_gb/c...1/id/964/s/reflect360-gilet-reflective-gilet/
The wife insisted upon this. Amazing reflectivity, not that you are aware of it on the bike. Colleagues have been so impressed with this that they bought one themselves. The fit is commuter inspired so size down. There is some element of water resistance. Why only 4 stars? It’s very short and could do with having a longer tail. However, an essential safety buy!
Shorts
Old: Adidas Y3 ****
Not made for cycling, but super practical and sturdy, good for keeping the elements at bay.
New: Gore Element Shorts ****
http://www.goreapparel.co.uk/gore-bike-wear/men/shorts-tights-pants/element-shorts/TELESP.html?cm_mmc=Google
Gore%20Bike%20Wear%20UK%20GS%20DSAWebsitewebsite&gclid=Cj0KEQiAsP-2BRCFl4Lb2NTJttEBEiQAmj2tbU-9PytK3TYVzxyrXoLn_XcVaRYnUCmyvWN1xoj5aAAaAlPl8P8HAQThe difference is obvious, clearly made for cycling. Fit is excellent the Velcro/double button closure gives good security, as do zipped side pockets. The fit is comfortable, neither tight nor baggy. They are not waterproof, but dry quickly. A lock hook would have made these perfect.
Shoes
Old: Lake MX 135 ****
Trusty, sturdy, heavy, moderately stiff. 7 years good service and the leather is still perfect. Good amount of tread but the clips still touched the ground. Would definitely buy Lake again esp. the Cx180
New: Gaerne Cosmo *****
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/gaerne-g-cosmo-mtb-shoes-2015/rp-prod129779
Comfy, light, stiff, Lovely! Ok I was sold with the story of Italian made by the family company, but these are lovely straight out of the box. They feel secure on the foot, with very little vertical movement. There is no nipping of the toes, even with the non-wide version. I bought 2 sizes up (normally a size 10 and bought a 46). Not waterproof, but wind doesn’t particularly get through. Clips don’t crunch against the ground, which is a big bonus.
Helmets
Old: Limar 747 ***
Light but bulky. Has lasted me 7 years. Did develop a crack in the head harness making it unstable. The sun visor did become flappy over time.
New: Giro Savant *****
http://www.giro.com/eu_en/savant.html/
Light, low profile, comfortable. I echo all the numerous reviews out there stating how good this helmet is. The only one I’ve ever owned that I forget is on my head. It’s an excellent helmet for the price. The chinstrap does become loose easily though.
Finally, Backpack!
I prefer a backpack over panniers, although that might change over time. Both these packs are bike specific including light loops, pump handles and come with rainproof covers.
Old: Jack Wolfskin Moab 22L ***
A pretty simple and robust pack that did show reasonable wear after 4 years (not bad at all), mostly with ripping of the shoulder straps. There wasn’t much in the way bike specific stuff on it; the light loop worked well and there was a token pump loop. I also question the 22L capacity, as it looked smaller. I had looked at the new version, but the side pockets and front pouch were not separate, therefore decreasing usability. Having said all that, it was a faithful companion.
New: Tatonka Lima 25L ****
http://www.tatonka.com/Product/Everyday--Business-Life/Daypacks/Lima-25/en/1/1510
This was probably my longest and most difficult search. There were very few bags, which I felt were the total package. I finally decided to give the Lima a try, the reasons being, 1, nice design 2, a specific lock compartment 3, an inbuilt reflective strip 4, easy access front compartments. Overall, I’m happy with this bag. It is a little big for my needs (in hindsight I would have gone with the smaller Audux), but better that than too small. The front zipped compartment is very handy, with plenty of pockets for pretty much anything you would need, leaving the centre free for bigger items. The padded laptop pouch is a nice touch. It is very comfortable on the back and is reasonably good at reducing overheating. The light loop is too wide and the lock compartment is pretty useless, as it’s not easily accessible when the backpack is on. Overall I would recommend. An alternative would be the osprey momentum, with it’s very nice key pouch on the shoulder strap.
Apologies for that being so long. I did get a few other bits n piece (the best of them being craft shield gloves), but I feel it’s time for me to put a lid on it. Hope some of it was enjoyable. Happy for any questions.
Thanks
JJ
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