If you intend on riding a mountain bike in a serious manner you will eventually need a decent range of technical apparel and gear.  One pair of shorts turns into 3 or 4, then leg warmers and tights get added in to the gear bag.  T-Shirts are replaced by short sleeve jerseys and windbreakers, arm warmers, then long sleeve jerseys, etc.  If you ride in cold weather it gets even more serious and if rain is often the climate that comes with the territory, then staying dry is a challenge.

I do not need to ride in the rain.  So Cal is a pretty dry climate so if it does rain, typically it is not raining in a day or so and I can wait. Clay soils can add to the reasons for avoiding rain rides as the bike will be an expensive adobe brick in no time at all.  But every so often I rain ride and I get by with various pieces of clothing that are not water proof per se, but keep me OK for a while.

But some parts of the country or globe are different.  If you don’t ride in the rain, you don’t ride; maybe for weeks on end.  Or maybe you commute and rain is part of the deal.  I have nothing for technical apparel that would be good for that.  Drowned rat here, pedaling along.

So when I visited Specialized HQ in Northern Cal in the middle of one of the wettest weeks in 5 years for California, I was expecting to layer up a bit and cover with a windbreaker over wool and hope for the best.  However Specialized was gracious enough to pass on to me some foul weather gear that I hoped would keep me warm and dry in the monsoons to come and I think it deserves a look here. 



My set-up for the day, with rain falling, wet trails, puddles and temps in the low 50s included:

BG Defroster shoes:  Reviewed here on The Cyclist, they have been water proof for me on several rides now and are plenty warm for temps into the 40s.

Swiftwick:   Merino Wool #2 socks under Olefin #4 socks.  Previously reviewed here in The Cyclist.  Swiftwick rocks.

Some old and well worn Boure’ knickers under some really old and tattered Patagonia tights.  Over that was a set of Sombrio Pinner baggies that shed mud and water pretty well.  I don’t care too much about my legs getting wet as long as my knees stay warm.

A sleeveless version of the Tech Layer base layer clothing from Specialized.  This is an interesting piece of clothing.  Not really very stretchy in material, it is cut and fitted to a tight body shape that sits very well under a jersey.  It feels tailored.  This can make it a bit of a wiggle to get into it, but then it sits very well on the body and feels like nothing at all next to the skin.

Tech layer sleeveless. $45.00

Now made with moisture-transfer Fieldsensor™ fabric, our low-bulk base layers enhance the performance of any cycling jersey.

FIELDSENSOR™ fabric construction provides superior moisture transfer

100% lightweight and hydrophobic polyester keeps you dry and comfortable

Construction seams moved to back of garment for enhanced comfort

Low volume seam construction for improved layering performance

Woven label with embroidery on front neckline

Over that I had a long sleeve, midweight Cannondale branded jersey with a deep zipper, synthetic material.

On top was the Aqua Veto jacket:  Designed as a full on rain jacket, it makes no claims to be breathable etc.  I have more thoughts on that later.

Aqua Veto Jacket $140.00

Stay dry on your bike without adding extra bulk. The Aqua Veto's lightweight, waterproof fabric and sure-sealing pockets and cuffs deliver comprehensive rain protection to withstand even monsoon-like weather. Let it rain.

Lightweight polyester/polyurethane bonded fabric is rated for waterproof performance

Material is a stretch woven construction for form fit comfort

Jacket provides high level water resistance for foul weather cycling

Back pockets have waterproof construction to protect your essentials

Zippered chest pocket for easy access to energy rations or electronics

Two-way front zipper can be opened from the bottom for access to jersey

Velcro cuff closure seals out the elements

Custom Specialized logo silicone gripper holds the jacket in position

Over the hands were the Body Geometry Deflect gloves:  Intended to walk the fence between a normal glove and a winter glove the Deflect is insulated and water resistant on top but has a typical underside to it.

BG Deflect Gloves: $40.00

Deflect mates a wind and rain resistant upper with a standard Clarino palm for moderate breathability.

That extra layer of protection when the conditions are a moderately cool 50°F/10°C.

Upper uses a wind and water resistant membrane with a warm fleece inner

Brushed microfiber thumb wipe

High visibility reflective piping

Water/wind resistant palm with fingertip grip

BG pad for ulnar nerve protection

Slip on cuff has extra length for coverage

Topping off the top was a Pearl Izumi head cap under the Specialized Vice helmet and clear glasses from Serfas.  Taa daah! 

We rode out into some pretty rainy weather, although it tapered a bit throughout most of the ride.  Then the last 15 minutes were heavy rain.  My feet were happy and dry, my hands were very comfy and my upper body never felt a drop of rain.  I was pretty sweaty from being so covered up and riding pretty hard so although I was quite satisfied with the waterfast-ness of the jacket and gloves, I wanted to see how the jacket did for venting and such outside of a rain ride.  I have stayed dry from the rain in cheap ponchos or rain coats but climbing in them is another thing as you turn into a giant humidifier and get wet from the inside out.  That sucks too.  The Aqua Veto jacket makes no claims as being particularly breathable so I wanted to see how bad or good it might be.

I headed out from my house on a different day wearing the BG Deflect gloves and Aqua Veto jacket over the long sleeve version of the Tech Layer base layer and a short sleeve regular jersey.  It was fifty degrees when I left my house on a 5 mile climb with temps falling into the mid forties.  Riding the SS ensured I would be burning some calories.  What I found was about what I expected and a little better.  It is definitely not uber breathable.  However, I managed to avoid feeling like a terrarium by doing a couple of things:  The cuffs can be loosened and allow for some airflow at the sleeves.  I wore the jacket over the Camelbak to create some space between the jacket and my back (plus it kept my stuff dry).  I found that if I unzipped the jacket and rode with the wind flap closed by the three Velcro tabs across my chest that air was able to move through the jacket pretty well.  Driving rain would likely have gotten in, but it would have taken a bit to do it.  The long sleeve base layer kept the jacket off of my skin.  I wonder if pit zips would not be a welcome addition and add some air flow through the jacket?

The Aqua Veto has two back pockets that are pretty sizeable and covered with flaps.  There is a tiny slant pocket over the left side of the chest that can be used for smaller items like a cell phone, but I have not tested it for water resistance.  I also find that the pocket is deeper and larger than the zipped opening.  I do wonder if you could run into an issue fishing something out of there once it is inside? 

There are Velcro closures at the wrists, there is a bit of rubbery-tacky material sewn into the rear hem at the tail section that I assume is designed to help keep the long tail of the jacket from creeping up, and there is a nice wind barrier flap behind the main zipper and a flap over the front of the zipper as well.  There are reflective accents on the front and back of the jacket.  I might suggest that the collar could be made tighter if desired for heavy rain but I only had a rain drop get in there when I was standing around, not when riding.  It has a nice fit as well, not floppy/flappy at all and the sleeves on the XL size I have are cut so that they do not bind at the shoulders and do not ride up above the wrists.

Flipping around at the top I faced a 5 mile, 15 to 30 mph descent.  I closed it all up and headed down. The jacket really seals up well and no wind felt like it was sneaking in anywhere.  The Tech Layer shirt seemed to do a very good job of keeping my skin feeling dry and wicking moisture away.  I have used some other base layer shirts from REI that did a good job too and were less money, but they do not have the same fit as the Tech Layer stuff and for cycling, fit can be pretty important when the day gets long in the saddle. The gloves have been killer.  I may not use the jacket all that much because of where I live, but the gloves will get used a lot as they are some of the nicest fitting gloves I have worn and are good enough for most for the winter thru spring rides in my neck of the woods.  I have also used the Radiant gloves before but it needs to be in the low 40s or into the 30s before I want those. 

The Aqua Veto jacket is fairly packable but it is not a wisp of a coverup that can be stuffed in a jersey pocket for bad weather.  Strapping onto or stuffing into a Camelbak…yeah.  For a more gossamer rain jacket, the Deflect jacket might be more suitable.  Some competing products claim to breathe as well as shed water, even to the point of being water proof.  If they indeed can do both effectively, then the Aqua Veto is off the back in that way.  But the Aqua Veto seems to prioritize being water proof rated over being breathable and, as I found, the jacket seems to vent reasonably well. 

Even though I do not get into the rain a lot, I did appreciate the wind resistance and nice fit enough to bring it along on rides with cold and windy forecasts or where a windbreaker might be too little protection. In fact, often as not, I will climb with just a long sleeve jersey on, even if it is a foggy or misting kind of day and then put on a shell for the descent.  The Aqua Veto would be very good for that use.   I will keep the Aqua Veto in the winter gear bag to see how it works long term and the BG Deflect gloves will be right next to it.

You don't want to mess with your eyes.  Action sports demand the right gear to be safe and sane and cycling places us in a position where our eyeballs are right in the thick of it.  Fast downhills, flying debris, sunshine to shadow and back again; all that combined on any typical ride requires some serious technical eyewear.

Recently I have been riding with some Gargoyles on my face.  To be specific, the new Cardinal model, part of the Instinct Collection.

Selections from the Gargoyles website:

Gargoyles Eyewear Technology

In 1979, Dennis Burns, founder of Gargoyles, revolutionized an entire industry with the invention of the Toric lens. Dennis noticed that flat sunglass lenses left the eyes more exposed to the elements and contemporary curved lenses were causing visual distortion and stress on the eyes.  This innovation became the basis of a brand and an industry.

His solution was the Toric Curve Lens.  A shape that allowed light to transmit directly to the eye.  No refraction, no distortion. By the early 80’s, the Toric lens became the technology foundation for the Gargoyles Performance Eyewear collection. Precision-molded and hand-finished, the design provided 210° of wraparound protection

The Toric Curve Lens offered the ultimate solution. With precise geometry, the Toric Lens allows light to transmit directly to the eye. No refraction, no distortion. Light rays converge precisely on each retina, giving each eye its own center of focus and providing the viewer with clearer, sharper sight.

Gargoyles Ballistic Defense lenses offer extreme impact resistance that is 5 to 6 times greater than that of regular polycarbonate lenses. Developed from a superior blend of polymers by Carl Zeiss Vision®, our Ballistic Defense Lenses are designed for military, safety and sport applications and exceed all ISO and ANSI test standards. Our Ballistic Defense lenses also exceed the MIL-STD 622 ballistic test, which consists of stopping a .22 caliber bullet at 20 feet.

The Gargoyles trademark Green Lens provides the wearer with a unique balance of target and background brightness. Designed for the Field of Play, the Gargoyles Green Lens helps you locate and track objects in motion against a variety of outdoor backgrounds including Earth, sky and water.

Our green field of play lens has a transmission which is tailored to accommodate playing field sports and outdoor activities where tracking objects in motion is critical. The Green Lens controls low-level blue light while the middle range of light is selectively manipulated to provide optimum visual stimulation and distinctive object illumination.

 

I have been wearing the green lenses and I have found the clarity and ability to see in rapidly changing light conditions, like diving into a partially shaded singletrack to be quite good.  So what do you want from technical eyewear? 

• Looks/Style - Well, that is very individual.  Out of the box, I did not think the Cardinals were all that great looking because of the quite large lenses. If I were to choose based on styling alone, I would go more for Rico Suave' and less towards the Terminator.  BUT....read on.
• Clarity - I find that the Cardinals are exceptional to look through.  I do not know a Toric from a Taurus but I know I see better out of these then the last eyewear I used.  In fact, that big wrap-around lens is a blessing here as I cannot see the edge of the lens when I roll my eyes all the way to the side.  There is nothing in my field of vision to break the view.  That is nice.
• Protection - Other than UV protection, which the Cardinals have, you want the eyewear to fend off flying debris and just plain old wind.  Here that big lens comes into play again.  I get very little feel of wind coming around the lens and one time on trail I took a shot to the face from a branch that would have been a hospital trip with unprotected eyes. 
• Toughness - The Gargoyles look very well made. They are pretty stout feeling and so far have not shown a tendency to scratch easily.  I also have had little issue with fogging.  The case they come in is significant and if tossed into a gear bag, would keep the Cardinals intact.
• Interchangable lenses - Nope, not on this model.

I also asked Jeff J aka The Circus Bear to try a pair for a while and give me some feedback.  He typically does not wear anything when riding as he hates how the perspiration runs off of his brow onto the lenses.  As a clydesdale, he tends to sweat a lot on climbs.  Here are his thoughts.

I recently got a chance to try out a pair of Gargoyle sunglasses. The model I sampled was the Cardinal (with the black frame and smoke lens), which is a recent addition to the Instinct Collection.

The first thing I noticed was that the shape of the frame agreed with the shape of my head. In this way, sunglasses are like saddles and what works for some, may not work for all and you may have to look around to find what fits the best.

One feature I haven’t noticed on other sunglasses I have owned in the past are the adjustable nose pads. They are rubber coated, but malleable so you can shape them to best fit your facial features or address other issues. In my case, this is dealing with perspiration running down my forehead. In most cases, this leads to frustration as the droplets run down my forehead and in no time, my shades are streaked and rendered all but useless for piloting my mountain bike in challenging terrain. Between the shape of these frames and the adjustable nose pad, I was able to greatly reduce the incidence of the annoying streaks compared to most sunglasses I have owned in the past.

The smoke lenses on this model were toward the darker end of the spectrum and, IMO, best suited for bright midday conditions. I noticed no visible distortion when scanning peripherally and they fit comfortably enough for me to wear them for as long as I wanted. I also didn’t notice any odd airflow at speed.

If I were to wish for anything to be different, I would like to see a lighter tinted lens available for late afternoon or other low light riding conditions. With all of the plusses I found on this pair of Gargoyles, this is a brand I’ll be keeping an eye on in the future.

 

Gargoyles is not a newcomer to the world of technical eyewear and the pedigree they bring to the table makes for a product well worth a looksee the next time you are shopping for that next set of peeper keepers.

Gargoyles website.

As part of a package of goodies sent to The Cyclist from Camelbak, Grannygear received a M.U.L.E. NV pack to review. First we hear from Grannygear and then we get some trail time input from JeffJ aka Circus Bear on a Bike with his thoughts and impressions.

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Editor's Note: Our European contributor, "c_g" has come across a unique product that we thought might be of interest to many of you. Take a look.....

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