Altura_Altitude_Trousers
Altura_Nevis_Jacket
Altura_Gravity_Shorts
Decathlon_Bladder
Decathlon_lycra_shorts
Decathlon_Shades
De_Marchi_Cycling_shorts
Fox_Black_Box_Shirt
Helly_Hansen_Base_Layer
Reebok
Skate Shoes
Roach/Raceface arm armour
Roach
/ Race Face Rally FR leg armour
Sealskinz_mid
Specialized_BG_Ridge_Gloves
Specialized_Comp_Helmet
Specialized_Comp_Shoes
 
Looking for more mtb_clothing?
Altura_Altitude_Trousers 
Price Paid: £49-99 (Cycle Surgery)
Length of use: Since February 2004
Overall Score: 
Comments - What they say:
- Based on the design of the Altitude shorts.
- Hard wearing trousers that use a tough windproof outer fabric with
a water repellent coating.
- Reinforced stretch panels (non windproof) on the seat and knees combine
strength and comfort.
- The long calf zips permit easy access with velcro adjustable ankles
for a perfect fit.
- Includes side cargo pockets with velcro closures and 2 front pockets.
What
we say: I normally wear the Altura_Gravity_Shorts all through
the winter but bought these as I have been getting into the free
ride
scene recently where you feel a bit of a jerk wearing shorts plus the full length
trousers protect your legs when you fall. So
to get full use of the trousers I have also been wearing them out on the muddy
English Winter and Spring trails. They
have proved to be really great trousers. Rain repellant although not waterproof,
they keep you warm in the winter and are still cool enough to wear for lengthy
(20 miles plus) rides in spring and autumn. The bottom of the right leg is reinforced
to protect from the chainrings but can tend to get caught and tear unless you
use the velcro to stop it flapping around your ankle. Baggy
enough to comfortably wear Roach pads underneath.
Looking
for more Long Trousers?
Altura Gravity
Shorts Price Paid: £29-99
Length of use: continuous (since May 2002)
Overall Score:
Comments: These shorts feature: - zipped side pockets
- an elasticated drawstring waist
- velcro side and rear pockets
- lightweight mesh liner with seat pad
A reasonably priced short that looks good, has plenty of pockets and
does the job. I usually wear a pair of tighter lycra shorts underneath. 
Looking for more baggy_shorts?
Specialized Comp Shoes Price Paid: £69-99 (Cycleopedia, Surbiton)
Length of use: Continuously since April 2001
Overall Score:
What
they say: Incorporating Body Geometry TM Technology and durable material.
- Uses unique design to increase comfort and efficiency.
- Varus edge, metatarsal button, medial arch support.
- Made
from micro fibre synthetic leather and tight weave for a lightweight breathable
upper.
- Moulded
outsole.
What
we say: Extremely comfortable, light, reliable shoe. The firm base transfers all
the power into the pedal. The mesh means that it can be cold in the winter but
a pair of sealskinz underneath sorts that out. These
shoes have been through it all and have only started showing wear during the Autumn
of 2003 - the mesh on the sides has worn through and one of the velcro straps
has lost its 'stick' (that's after two and a half years of continuous use). I
will be looking to buy another pair of these when the chance arises.
Looking for more shoes?
Decathlon Bladder Price Paid £15 (Decathlon, Canada Water)
Length of use: Continuously since July 2001
Overall Score
Comments:
A very good price for a bladder that holds in excess of 2 litres. Plenty of zip
pockets and mesh for it’s size. Buy it! This bladder held enough kit and
spares (water, powerbars, spare tubes, pump, simple toolkit, extra layer of clothing)
to see me through the 80km's of the Marin_Rough_Ride
- unbelievable.
Looking for more bladders?
Altura Nevis Jacket Price Paid £60 (Action Bikes, Epsom)
Length of use: Since February 2001
Overall Score
Comments:
A very good jacket that is windproof and waterproof whilst being light enough
to roll up and stick in the mesh pocket of the backpack. A combination of sturdy
zip plus velcro’d flap keeps you windproof at the front. Toggles
around the neck and waist allow you to batten down the hatches when required.
Large zip vents under the arms allow you to create a throughflow of air on those
changeable days. A large zip pocket in the back for Powerbars, inner tube etc.
plus a bum flap / storm flap that can be buttoned up out of the way when not wanted.
This
has taken a lot of abuse and has only lost it's waterproof coating in Autumn 2003
- that more than two and a half years.
Looking for more altura_jackets?
Decathlon Shades Price Paid: £12 (Decathlon, France)
Length of use: Continuously since July 2001
Overall Score
Comments:
Unbelievable value. The frame isn’t particularly attractive but comes with four
interchangeable shades ranging from clear to dark. A retaining strap is also included.
The only downside is the nose grip/rest that came away too easily but these shades
can be worn without so it’s not a problem.
Fox Black Box Shirt Price Paid £40-00 (bought from Fox direct)
Length of use: Since October 2001
Overall Score
Comments:
I love this shirt but this is probably cos I’m a Fox fanatic. It looks great but
as for performance, if I’m honest, it performs pretty much the same as any other
wicking top.
Looking for more mtb_clothing?
Decathlon cycling shorts Price Paid £5-00 (Decathlon, France)
Length of use: Intermittently since July 2001
Overall Score
Comments:
Great value simple short that I use as a backup pair for when the others are in
the wash! These are fine for up to about 3 hours but the foam insert gets a little
uncomfortable after this.
Looking for more cycling_shorts?
De Marchi Cycling shorts Price Paid £25-00 (Action Bikes, Epsom)
Length of use: Since January 2001
Overall Score
Comments:
Really comfortable shorts that can and frequently do get worn all day. The insert
is comfortable and soaks up the sweat. Too thin for winter use unless combined
with another layer.
Looking for more cycling_shorts?
Sealskinz mid length Price Paid £19-00
Length of use: Since January 2002
Overall Score:
Comments:
Reasonable socks that keep my feet mainly dry although are not always 100% waterproof
and not particularly warm. The socks feel strange when you put them on so I normally
wear them over a pair of thin ankle socks or decathlon MTB socks to keep me warm
even in the February snow.
Looking for more waterproof_socks?
Specialized Comp Helmet Price
Paid: £35-00 (Cycleopedia, Surbiton)
Length of use: Continuously since April 2001
Overall Score: Comments:
Comfortable, mid-weight helmet with the brain trust system for ease of adjustment.
Not the lightest or prettiest of helmets and the large exhaust system at the rear
is a bit bulky but the helmet does the job and that’s all you can ask.
Looking for more lids?
Helly
Hansen top
Price Paid: £24-99 (Evans, Waterloo)
Length
of use: (since March 2003)
Overall
Score:
Comments:
Long sleeved lightweight base layer that acts as a 'second skin'
(buy them
tight) and wicks away all the moisture from your body to prevent
you feeling
chill.
This
can be used 3 seasons of the year either on it's own during those warm October
days or as a base layer during colder weather.
Looking for more mtb_clothing?
Specialized BG Ridge Gloves Price
Paid: £19-99 (Cycleopedia,
Surbiton) Length of use: April 2001 - May 2003
Overall Score: What
they say: Simple clean styling including Body Geometry TM padding.
Featuring:
q Stretchable
spandex back with lycra forchette fingers.
q Synthetic
clarion leather palm.
q Silicon
ink palm for grip and silicon print on fingers.
q Airprene
cuff with Velcro closure.
q BG
padded palm.
What
we say: Comfortable, light glove ideal for summer. Feels like you aren’t even
wearing gloves. The BG padding really makes a difference, supporting and relieving
pressure from the ulnar area. These gloves are suitable for all year round except
the coldest of January and February mornings. Only wore out when I started
riding to work (30 miles a day, 5 days a week soon wears out your kit).
Looking for more gloves?
Reebok
Skate Shoes Price Paid £9-99 (World Sport)
Length of use: Since November 2004
Overall Score
Comments:
These
are lightweight shoes that have an aggressive sole pattern in soft rubber that
looks like it will grip my platform pedals well. I used them solidly for 3 months
over a really muddy winter and they performed well. As well as being more water
resistant than my SPD's they gripped the DMR
V8's well. The only fault was the soft sole that tended to lose some of the
power you are putting in to the pedal stroke. But for £9-99 I'm not complaining.
I think I will replace these with some more shoes I have my eye on which have
a firmer sole. (Updated
31st July 2005): I took these to the Alps this
year and they performed excellently. Super grippy on my DMR_V8's
I never felt worried that my foot would slip on the pedal during 6 days of hard
riding over some of the gnarliest terrain I have ever ridden which was full of
braking bumps. I found that if i wore cycling socks with my Sealskinz
over the top, the extra padding gave a better feel on the pedal. 
brand
new out of the box ....................and after a good pasting in the Alps
Looking for more shoes?
Roach
/ Race Face Rally FR arm armour
after
a weeks wear in the Alps Price Paid: £40
Length of use: Sporadically since September 2004
Overall Score
Comments: Previously
marketed by Roach but now bought out and badged as Race Face (end 2004). These
are uber comfortable to wear. These pads have solid armour on the front held on
to your leg by 4 sets of elasticated tapes stretching from your ankle to behind
your knee. There are lycra sections too which grip your calf and give a really
comfortable feel. Expect
more stars to be awarded when I really start to test these by going large and
falling off more! (Updated
31st July 2005): I took these to the Alps this
year and they did everything you could ask of them. Comfortable even whilst undertaking
the 70k Porte de Soleil, they didn't slip at all. Protection from the inevitable
slips and slides and save your shins from being gouged by your flatties. Top marks
5/5
Looking
for more Roach armour?
Roach
/ Race Face Rally FR leg armour  
after
a weeks wear in the Alps Price Paid: £40
Length of use: Sporadically since September 2004
Overall Score
Comments: Previously
marketed by Roach but now bought out and badged as Race Face (end 2004). These
are uber comfortable to wear. These pads have solid armour on the front held on
to your leg by 4 sets of elasticated tapes stretching from your ankle to behind
your knee. There are lycra sections too which grip your calf and give a really
comfortable feel. Expect
more stars to be awarded when I really start to test these by going large and
falling off more! (Updated
31st July 2005): I took these to the Alps this
year and they did everything you could ask of them. Comfortable even whilst undertaking
the 70k Porte de Soleil, they didn't slip at all. Protection from the inevitable
slips and slides and save your shins from being gouged by your flatties. Top marks
5/5
Looking
for more armour?
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