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TECH NEWS

Clothing roundup: Endura, Peter Sagan, OPQS and Alé

On and off the bike clothing, including jerseys designed especially for tall riders

Here's a roundup of the most interesting looking clothing that has come our way recently.


Alé clothing reaches UK

Alé (pronounced a-lay, or allez, not ale!) is an Italian brand that you’re likely to see a lot more of soon because it is now being distributed in the UK by Paligap, home to brands like Mekk, PowerTap and MCipollini (it’s not yet featured on www.paligap.cc).

We received a couple of Alé summer items a couple of weeks ago and the quality looks exceptional. They’re going through the review process right now. The clothing is from the same people who produce Giordana and it is all made in Italy – Verona, to be more precise.

We’ve had a quick look at some of the winter clothing that’s coming up from Alé (sorry to mention winter). This is from the PRR Carbon range which is made from high-end fabrics and is designed to be ergonomically fitted.

The Ponente jersey (£115) is lightly fleeced, designed for autumn/spring conditions, while the Ponente jacket (£160), which looks very similar, has lightweight windproof panels at the front and on the sleeves to keep cold winter air out.

The thermal fleece winter bib tights (£115) come with reflective zippers at the bottom of the legs and the piping is reflective too.

The Fleece gloves (£30) are made from a soft fabric and come with an anti-slip design on the palm.

Alé has an extensive range of women’s clothing too and they’ve certainly not just gone down the ‘shrink it and pink it’ route (okay, there is some pink in there!), giving equal weight to that side of the market.

We’ll try to get the summer clothing reviews online while it’s still actually summer, with winter kit reviews to follow later in the year. Our early impressions are that it's great stuff.

www.apgcycling.com/en/ale


Hawte jersey designed for taller riders

If you’re a tall rider who struggles with jersey length, Hawte could have the answer. This is a new British brand making cycle clothing just for taller riders.

“Standard cycle jerseys are often too short or baggy for riders who are over six foot,” says Hawte manager Dom Findon. “Buying cycle clothing can be a bit of lottery for taller riders. You don’t know whether the gear is going to fit you. Personally, finding jerseys and base layers of the right length was a real problem.”

Hawte’s first product is the 53/11 Jersey. This is cut about an inch longer than average. The idea is that as well as improving the fit this makes it easier for riders to access the rear pockets.

The 53/11 is a short-sleeved, aero fit top with stretch sleeves and side panels. It also has a full-length zip, full-width silicone gripper around the hem, reflective detailing and a stubble resistant collar. It has four rear pockets, including a zipped security pocket.

The 53/11 Jersey available in red, blue, black and fluorescent yellow, and in sizes S to XXL. It is European made and sold via www.hawte.eu at £49.95 including p&p.


Endura launch new Equipe clothing

Endura have launched their latest top-of-the-range Equipe clothing, the Equipe Infiniti CB bib shorts and the Equipe Helios Comp CB jersey.

The Equipe Infiniti CB Bibshorts (£139.99) are designed with the minimum number of seams necessary, using only three panels. Each of the legs is made from a single panel of Italian Power Lycra and the upper is just one panel of stretch mesh.

The shorts feature a 1000 Series Italian CVP (Continuously Variable Profile) stretch pad with antibacterial finish and the raw-edged legs come with silicone grippers. You get a laundry bag and a pot of Endura chamois cream as part of the package.

The Equipe Helios Comp CB Jersey (£79.99), available in black and white, is a rapid wicking jersey in an athletic race-cut. It features Coldblack technology to deflect sunrays and prevent heat build-up as well as providing a sun protection factor of UPF 40+. A low-stretch fabric is incorporated in the back of the jersey to stop the pockets sagging.

www.endurasport.com


Omega Pharma-QuickStep T-shirts

If you’re a fan of Omega Pharma-QuickStep, you can show your allegiance by buying the T-shirt.

They actually do several designs, including this Mark Cavendish one, at €28 a throw.

Treat yourself to a Cav keyring (€5) while you’re at it.

www.omegapharma-quickstep.com


Peter Sagan Collection

Speaking of pro riders (as we were), Cannondale’s Green Jersey winner Peter Sagan has launched a “Peter’s Flowers” women’s T-shirt in association with G4 (not that G4).

According to the blurb, “The passion-pink shirt with contrasting white collar, portrays Peter’s face in flocked flowers on the front with his signature & year of birth on the back, revealing his gentler, more romantic side.”

So that’s nice. It’s priced €39.90.

Not into the pink? You’re in luck. The same design is available on a blue polo shirt for €64.

www.g4dimension.com

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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15 comments

Avatar
Leviathan | 9 years ago
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Team Pie jersey with Ale bibshorts?

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KirinChris | 9 years ago
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Another vote for Ale here. Been using bibs and jersey in Dubai heat and it is top notch stuff, as good as anything from Castelli and other premium brands.

I've long been a Giordana fan so that might explain it. Haven't tried the PRR range yet but will be getting some soon.

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fancynancy | 9 years ago
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I have two Ale kits purchased from Wiggle in the last few months. One of the top price variety, & another slightly lower. The top price kit is fab! So cool & great for hot summer days. Looks really good too! The slightly lower price kit is still great for the money & very attractive. I would thoroughly recommend them to any serious female cyclists out there. Best kit I have come across yet  41

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Al__S | 9 years ago
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The Cav keyring is scaring me...

The Alé tights that look like shorts with leg warmers I'm not a fan of, very odd look...

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dreamlx10 | 9 years ago
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Well as Endura will be moving to the Czech republic if Scotland votes for independence they can shove their clothes where the sun doesn't shine.

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farrell replied to dreamlx10 | 9 years ago
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dreamlx10 wrote:

Well as Endura will be moving to the Czech republic if Scotland votes for independence they can shove their clothes where the sun doesn't shine.

Or, they will move to a base within the EU so they can keep trading if Scotland is excluded from the EU.

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geargrinderbeard | 9 years ago
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WTF is that Cav keyring about!?

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Him Up North replied to geargrinderbeard | 9 years ago
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geargrinderbeard wrote:

WTF is that Cav keyring about!?

You could ask him but he might fob you off...

 40

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pedalpowerDC | 9 years ago
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As someone with exceptionally long arms, I'd be interested to hear about whether Hawte will be doing any long sleeve kit. It's stilly that I have to order size small jerseys from some brands, and damn near impossible to get things out of the pockets.

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Dom Findon replied to pedalpowerDC | 9 years ago
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We are working on a base layer, naturally this will have longer arms and body. A lot of customers are asking us for a waterproof or showerproof jersey suitable for taller riders. What type of long sleeve top did you have in mind?
Dom Findon, Manager, Hawte Cycle Clothing

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cub | 9 years ago
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I've heard the The Peter Sagan women's bib shorts include have 'pinch here' written on the back.

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TheHound | 9 years ago
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Alé can expect a rather angry letter from Specialized I assume.

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Izaak30 replied to TheHound | 9 years ago
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Why?

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antonio | 9 years ago
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'Sagan Collection' is that for real?

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leqin | 9 years ago
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Bought the Ale! Jersey and Shorts shown from Wiggle a couple of months ago and have to agree that the quality is brilliant and I am very happy with it even on rides over 100 mile when I wasn't expecting that - anyway my summer is sorted out and I will keep my eyes open for the winter gear review because I could do with something new to replace other kit I have more or less worn out.

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