Club Ride - We don’t always want to look like a cyclist.
https://twentynineinches.com/2015/11/03/so-cal-fallwinter-clothing-binge/
Club ride has a unique vibe going on and focuses less on highly technical riding clothing than they do on functional riding clothing that can also do double duty in a town setting, whether that is grabbing coffee post-ride, or for errands, commuting etc. It works for them and for a lot of folks, so check them out.
Cross Wind Jacket – Mixing casual with functional – $89.95
/ Wind2O™ | Lightweight polyester woven rip-stop fabric
/ DWR Finish | Water-resistant, wind-resistant
/ Fitted under-helmet hood
/ Pockets – 1 Zippered chest & 1 convertible side storage pocket
/ UV Protection | UPF 40
/ RideLight™ Reflective Accents
/ Fit | Sport
/ 80 g/m2
Being even more like a hoody/windbreaker than anything else here, it is a casual fit, sporty but not close, so it might flap a bit. There is no drawstring at the waist, etc, so although the hood is cut to allow use under a helmet and there are hood drawstrings, it does not scream technical garment. But, it looks very ‘normal’ in the right sense so if you wore it off the bike or around town, you would not look like captain lycra on vacation. Matched with a set of riding jeans or commuting pants and it would fit right in. The side mesh panels should keep it from getting swampy and it is DWR so at least for a while it should fend off light showers. Size LG is generous but correct.
Rialto Jersey – It’s not all just townie wear – $89.95
/ Dri-sulate™ Wool Blend Knit – midweight poly-wood double knit fabric
/ Zipper | Deep Chest
/ Pockets – 2 Rear Drop-in
/ Thumbhold cuffs
/ Venting | Mesh stripe insert on back
/ Media Port
/ UV Protection | UPF 40
/ RideLight™ Reflective Accents
/ Fit | Sport
/ 210 g/m2
Now just when I finished saying how Club Ride mixes casual with functional, here is the much more techy-garment Rialto Jersey. A Poly/Wool blend fabric (not sure of the mix specifics), the Rialto fits closely and wears well, with long cut arms and a snug neck/low collar. It looks to be a great mid-weight layer and could be worn with or with out a base and under a shell with ease. The two pocket back is functional and correct and there is a media port in one pocket. It feels nice against the skin, not at all scratchy or coarse. For days where the likes of the Rapha jersey is too much, this sits in the fat middle of usability and I love the cranberry color. Size LG works just fine.
Phantom Shorts - Right in the middle between town and tech – $79.95
/ DurX™ – 4-way woven poly-blend stretch fabric
/ Wicking, breathable
/ DWR finish, water-resistant
/ Abrasion-resistant
/ UV Protection – UPF 30
/ Seamless crotch gusset
/ Side waist adjustment system
/ Back hip-side storage pockets with media port
/ RideLight™ reflective accents
/ Sport fit
/ Inseam: 11″
These are a nice blend of things too, what with a minimal pocket set and a stretchy material, and you might say MTB short, but the rather conservative inseam of 11″ puts it out of full baggy-ness range. So yet it is another blended product that would look right at home in town but does not seem like it would annoy in the saddle. The two zipped side pockets (one with media port) slant backwards towards the butt cheeks and a phone in there feels nearly invisible when you are pedaling. However, things do fall out easily so watch your keys, etc. The side buckles are stout and help eliminate the need for Club Ride suspenders (not that they make such a thing….I think). Are these a winter item… no, but they would not look stupid with knee warmers and if I was looking to stay warmer than these, then I would go for these babies, the Half Rack Knickers.
So now all of these things enter the testing phase. Some I have already been sneaking in on early-O-dark-thirty rides so it will not be too long. I think it will be dropping into the 60s during the day at times now…Brrrrr! But that means 40s in the early AM so I will set the alarm clock and hit it on a selection of MTB, road, and gravel bike rides as it seems appropriate.
Note: The manufacturers of these products provided them at no charge to Twenty Nine Inches for test and review. We are not being paid, nor bribed for these reviews and we will strive to give our honest thoughts and opinions throughout.
