Life In The Saddle

Some kit is exceptional. Clothing that goes straight back on as soon as it is out of the wash. Apparel that feels comfortable, looks great, and lasts for years. The London-based Vulpine brand makes kit like this… Vulpine makes a range of technically advanced, intricately detailed, everyday cycling clothing; clothing that makes every bike ride a stylish and enjoyable experience—whether you are tripping across town or heading up into the hills on an adventure. I have been testing out two of the pieces from their latest summer range: the Merino Henley T-shirt and the Vulpine Gravel Shorts. Review — Vulpine Merino Henley T-shirt The Henley tee is a classic British design and has become one of my favourite smart-casual summer tops. It is a little smarter than a standard tee but offers greater freedom of movement than a shirt or polo. The Vulpine Merino Henley uses 100% pure merino wool, with a superfine weave—the result is a soft, stretchy, breathable, moisture-wicking, and naturally odour ...

Spring is here. Summer is soon on the horizon. Shorts are the way forward, and the new Folsom Short 2.0 from Chrome Industries has become one of my go-to options for casual wear and casual riding. On a recent trip to Berlin—the city that oozes urban cool—I spotted a definite trend… Chrome. Chrome Industries messenger bags adorned more shoulders that I could count, and if a guy or girl riding a flat bar fixie pulled up alongside the tram, then it could be almost guaranteed that they were rocking some piece of apparel or luggage from the distinctive American brand. One of the brand's straplines is 'Building Indestructible Gear Since 1995', and damn is that right. This is the brand that first invented the swing-over messenger bag; using seatbelt buckles and straps, five bar webbing, and double-lined bombproof interiors. From the outset, the brand was built for the urban jungle. More than 20 years on, with the days of garage floor sewing machine production well in the...

The Aussie Grit range of off-road bike shorts, jerseys, gilets and jackets is the brainchild of Australian F1 driver Mark Webber, who has always held a passion for mountain biking and high-level design. It is premium quality apparel, created to excel at providing both comfort and performance out on the trails. I have been testing out three clothing pieces from the Aussie Grit range: the Flint Thermal Bike Gilet, the Flint Bike Shell Jacket, and the Flint Men's Bike Shorts. Despite the time of year, and that two of these garments are foul/cold weather kit, I have managed to get a decent bit of time in the saddle wearing them, and I have been impressed by the quality and design. Aussie Grit Flint 2018 Men's Bike Shorts Review 'Baggy' cycling shorts are tricky to get right. Some brands go for tough and durable fabrics, but at the expense of the clothing feeling cumbersome and overly warm in the summer months. Others go for super lightweight materials, but with t...

If I only had one pair of casual shorts it would be these. The Swrve Durable Cotton Regular Cut shorts are smart, comfortable, uniquely styled, and durable… I have become a huge fan of the casual wear from Swrve. The American brand produces kit that excels in everyday use, and is made subtly bike-specific without looking like you have just rolled off the pump track. Last year I reviewed the Swrve Durable Cotton Cigarette Cut Shorts, and they fast became my go-to choice; with their stretch fabric, seamless gusseted crotch, and clever pocketing all providing practicality and comfort. This year I decided to smarten things up a little, opting for the new Swrve Durable Cotton Regular Cut Shorts in the sophisticated black colour tone. Much like the Cigarette Cut shorts, these use the same super durable DWR coated water-resistant stretch fabric. They also have many of the neat and useful features like the front pen pockets, reinforced rear lock pocket and a no-stretch waistband. T...

Cycling kit doesn't have to mean Lycra, tight fitting jerseys, and marginal aerodynamic gains. For many, riding a bike is simply a way of getting around town; or even just getting out in the great outdoors. For this more utilitarian and casual kind of riding, the Vaude Men's Cyclist Shorts and Vaude Sentiero Shirt are ideal clothing choices; especially when partnered with the Vaude Yara TR Bike Shoes that I have reviewed recently here on the blog. This is everyday wear, with design considerations that make it ideal for riding a bike. The Vaude Sentiero III Cycling Jersey - Casual styling with clever details The Vaude Sentiero Shirt is designed to look as at home off the bike, as it is to be practical and comfortable whilst riding. The merino mix fabric provides a soft-touch feel, as well as a more natural appearance than polyester riding apparel. Merino wool also has the well-touted characteristic of being more resistant to bacteria build-up than synthetic fabrics; s...

UK based Intrepid Apparel make some superb kit. In previous reviews , I've tested gilets, jackets and shorts from the brand, and they've all impressed me with their quality, useful design features and their value for money. The FreeMotion shorts are the brand's latest release, and are designed to be your go-to baggies for all kinds of riding and casual wear. With all of the features of the Campaign Shorts , as well as some great additions and improvements, I was looking forward to testing them out... The FreeMotion shorts are made of the same wear-resistant, super-stretchy material as the Campaign shorts. Having tested those extensively in hot, cold and wet conditions, I can vouch that it continues to last really well, whilst feeling soft against the skin and proving highly breathable. To aid the breathability demands, the FreeMotion shorts also feature the same long thigh zipper-vents that the Campaign shorts did; allowing you to open up the airflow on the climbs, a...

The end of the road season means one thing... mountain biking! Over the last month I've been enjoying hitting the trails and getting muddy again on the mountain bike, and in the process I've been testing out some cool new kit from a great British company Intrepid Apparel . The Freedom Gilet (RRP £69) and the Campaign Shorts (RRP £85) are perfect for Autumn mountain biking; robust, warm and designed to cope with the English weather. They've been a great bit of kit to pull out of the cupboard and throw on when it's time to rip up the trails. The Freedom Gilet The Freedom Gilet is quite easily one of the most robust and well designed gilets that I have tested. It is made for hours of use and abuse on the trails, with some very cool and well thought out design details. The gilet is made of a breathable softshell fabric, with a warm microfleece lining. Thicker than other gilets I have used, it is perfect for wearing with a long sleeved jersey on a cool morn...