Corey

iTrader: (1)

I have the gloves, helmet, and some old Zoic shorts that are a little tight
They are cotton on the outside, with spandex leg grippers on the inside, and of course a chamois.

For those of you who ride XC (trail riding, enjoying the scenery) what have you heard/found to be good?
Stick with a cotton outer shell, or go for a nylon one?

I want loose fit, not into the tight spandex on the outside.
I wore both spandex shorts and bibs back when I was in really good shape, but even then I did not like the tight fit, I prefer a loose fit.

I saw a cool pair of shorts and long sleeved shirt on a guy in a bike test in the new MBA magazine, here is a scan.
I can not make out the brand.



Here is a link to a ton of shorts I found with
http://www.blueskycycling.com/cat-shorts-pants/1/n

Check out this cool jersey too.
http://www.blueskycycling.com/produc...ing-Jersey.htm



And while we are on the subject, do custom socks actually make a difference too?
I know the Coolmax helps with sweat, I have other clothing made with it.
http://www.blueskycycling.com/produc...ACDC-Socks.htm



PS, more links
http://www.abc-of-mountainbiking.com...g-clothing.asp

Also found a review on my old shorts.
Zoic Vigor Deluxe
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/mtb-apparel-...03_145crx.aspx

eighty5yota

shoot for tld.. great customer service and sponsorship backing too great guys over there.. also royal clothing is quite nice and air(y)

eighty5yota

its TLD Troy Lee Designs

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Thanks, will that later.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Just read about this company in Mountain Bike Action (ordered a one year sub today too) a guy started up in his parents home twelve years ago.
http://www.sombriocartel.com/

eighty5yota

im also a big fan of sombrio.. great clothes at a good price, served with a smile

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Their site is entirely Flash driven, so I can not post pics from there.
But if you look under bike clothing, I like the Watson Pinner short in black.

They are longer than normal shorts though, seems like they would be a little restrictive?

eighty5yota

usually the reason they are cut below the knee is so incase you fall and are not wearing pads, youll get a little protection.. i have great experience with longer than average shorts..

Corey

iTrader: (1)

I see Fox makes some good clothing.
http://www.foxhead.com
I like that Flow jersey, there is an ad for it in the August issue of Bike.



Speaking of Fox, they have an extensive library of cool videos.
Videos play full screen great too.
Here is one on how to ride berms.
http://www.foxhead.com/us/mtb/videos/id/18091

Here is one on that jersey.
http://www.foxhead.com/us/mtb/videos/id/17800

Oakley has some good clothing too.
http://oakley.com/apparel
Here is a cool jersey, the RETRO GRIP 3/4 SLEEVE JERSEY.
http://oakley.com/catalog/products/r...-sleeve-jersey

So many choices out there.
I am looking more at shorts at the moment though.

Also Mountain Bike Action said these $30 gloves from Oakley are very well made, and a deal at the price.
AUTOMATIC GLOVE 2.0
http://oakley.com/catalog/products/automatic-glove-2-0

The Ruckus

I dig those gloves, might look into them. Right now I've got some Axo gloves that aren't quite right.

I also really like the Descente DNA mtb shirts. I'm not sure what the specific style name is, but it's orange, black, and white. very breathable, not roady-looking

Corey

iTrader: (1)

I think I am going to order them this week.
Also read in Bike magazine an ad for this outfit.
http://www.hossmtb.com/news-news-dirtrag.php

Looks like they make good shorts.
I know Bob needs a pair.
http://www.hossmtb.com/shop/index.ph...=index&cPath=1

These look nice for $50, and come in different colors.
http://www.hossmtb.com/shop/index.ph...&products_id=1



I like the fact they have a belt on them and also you order by sizes instead of your waist size.
Whenever I order pants/shorts by the inch size, they never fit correctly.
I like to order by the name for the size.

PS, they make the above in a knicker too, and it gets a great review, a five star rating that MBA rarely gives out unless something is top notch.
I may order these.
http://www.hossmtb.com/pdf/MBA-pg43.pdf
http://www.hossmtb.com/shop/index.ph...products_id=16

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Took the Ponderosa plunge.
http://www.hossmtb.com/shop/index.ph...&products_id=1
I got the shorts, I will see how they fit, and then I may go for the knickers for colder weather.

Got 'em in grey.
The price is a lot cheaper than some of the big name brands out there.
The fact that these have pockets in the correct places that do not interfere with riding and a built in belt are a plus in my book.





Reviews on the shorts.
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/mtb-apparel-...41_145crx.aspx

PS...
I have to give high kudos to this company.
I just read some of the reviews after placing my order about the sizes maybe running a tad smaller.

I called the shop and told him it might be a good idea to up me one size, and he said no problem, he had my order there.

After we hung up my phone rang and he is shipping me two sizes to try, and a return address label to send back the pair that does not fit as good as the others.

This kind of customer services blows me away!

Corey

iTrader: (1)

In my continuing search for a good jersey, I ran across tow sites this morning.
Most jerseys I find online they do not have my size, and even Performance Bikes says their inventory of short sleeves is nil until next spring.

Here are two sites with something I like.
http://www.veloclothes.com/
Primal Wear Chained Up Jersey



http://www.bikejerseys.com
Re-Invented / 09

Corey

iTrader: (1)

I saw an ad yesterday in an email from mtbr.com for some bike shirts for $19.95, a great price.
Outlaw MTB
Outlaw Rowdy Mountain Bike Jersey

No zippers or back pockets, just a plain jane synthetic shirt to keep you cool and dry when riding.

I ended up getting two of them in charcoal and sage green.
Should be here Wednesday or Thursday.



My LBS also ordered in a Specialized Trail Top in fatigue.
Should be at the shop tomorrow.
Two pockets, one front zipper on the chest.
Less $$$ than what the site is showing.



PS, also ordered a jacket, forgot all about it until the tracking number came in.
Specialized Deflect Trail jacket



Some may wonder why all the synthetic clothing.
Reason is cotton gets soaked when you sweat or ride in the rain.
I cross country skied for years as well as down hill skied, and synthetic fibers rules in active sports like this to keep you dry.
The moisture goes to the surface where it evaporates instead of staying wet and clammy against your skin.

fattirerider

Sombrio has some of the highest prices. They make some great gear, all I use is Sombrio but its pricey compared to Tld, Fox etc.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

I am stoked.
That Specialized jacket I ordered was suppose to show up Thursday according to the Fed Ex tracking info, it came two days early as it came yesterday.
Very nice jacket, and it is light weight, and I may be able to stuff it into that new Lobo hydration pack I got last week.

I stopped off at my LBS on the way from one job to my lunch break to get a new helmet, as I am giving my new Airforce 3 I got awhile back to my youngest son.
I went in to get the new 2010 Specialized Tactic model in black and it now has the one dial button much like the new Giros have to adjust the fit, very nice.



While I was there, a Fed Ex truck pulled up, and that Specialized Trail Top shirt I had the shop order was on the truck.

Tomorrow my other two shirts show up, and I placed an order this morning for those Oakley gloves.
http://www.oakley.com/catalog/produc...atic-glove-2-0
They should be here Friday.

Accessorizing can be as expensive as the bike itself

I looked at and read a lot of reviews on full fingered gloves, and there is a lot of junk out there.
These have a thirty day return policy on them, so I hope they work out.
Mountain Bike Action said they are very nice, we shall see.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

The gloves (large) came last Friday, a little small compared to the Mechanix brand gloves I wear at work in a large.
I am giving these to my youngest son, and a pair of extra large showed up today for me that fit better, so they do run small if you intend to buy a pair.
http://www.hucknroll.com/mountainbik...love-Mens.html

If you need bike gloves, try these out.
I can read a magazine with these on, you have good dexterity to grab stuff, even pages in a magazine, or your TV remote
Very high quality, I see why Mountain Bike Action gave them a high rating.

The Specialized Trail shirt I picked up last week at my LBS, also high quality.
The Specialized jacket showed up last week too, very thin for packing.
Yet they say it is wind/water resistant.
It is very nice, and should pack down small to take in even my small Lobo hydration pack I just got awhile back.

The other two shirts came last week too from eCycling.com, and they are pretty nice too, although their 2X runs smaller than the 2X Trail Top shirt from Specialized.

Also got some Specialized Comp socks from my LBS last week.
All set on clothing now, and it looks like great weather this coming weekend for a few rides.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Stocking up on the stockings too


Awhile back I picked up two pair of Specialized Comp socks.
http://centercycle.com/product/speci...ks-52040-1.htm



Then I found out about the Sock Guy at www.sockguy.com
Saw the ads in the magazines.

A week or so back I picked up a pair of each.
Green Flames
http://www.sockguy.com/product1630.html



Crew WTF?
http://www.sockguy.com/WhattheF.html



Today I ordered one pair of each.
Silverback
http://www.sockguy.com/product1339.html



Chains
http://www.sockguy.com/chains.html



Sock Guy's socks are top notch.
I wore the WTF ones to work Wednesday, and it was like I had no socks on at all.
I would say they are probably the most comfortable socks I have ever worn, hence why I placed an order for a few more today.

These are synthetic too, as cotton pretty much sucks for active sports since it holds in sweat/moisture.

The Specialized ones are nice, but Sock Guy's are far better.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

I ended up ordering three more pair of socks from sockguy.com again
I am wearing them at work too, they are very comfortable.

eighty5yota mentioned to me in this thread earlier to check out Troy Lee Designs, and I thank you!
Here is the 2010 bike collection.
http://catalog.troyleedesigns.com/ca...al9uffanp0tfk2

I ordered yesterday a long sleeved jersey called the 2010 GP Jersey Beta Black/Green

I got two day shipping, but it came today!



They make matching pants for some of their jerseys too, but not sure if I would wear them.
I would look like an old 4X racer

2010 GP Pants Beta Black/Green



The quality of the jersey is very nice, and it will be for when the weather is not warm.
Also comes in red, and I am thinking of ordering it today.



I bought a pair of Zoic shorts long ago, and I ended up ordering a 3/4 sleeve jersey from them too, and it came today also.
http://zoic.com/catalog/7/mensmountainbike

Guru 3/4 sleeve

I got it in olivine color.
Can not link their Flash driven pics here, but it is good quality too.