Tech Roundup: Summer clothing special

Le Coq Sportif Tour de France Grand Départ Jersey released

Celebrate the start of the Tour de France in Yorkshire in style with Le Coq Sportif’s specially designed Tour de France Grand Départ Jersey costing £65.

As the official sponsor of the Tour de France yellow jersey, the French company has produced this limited edition jersey which is available to buy online now, or at the race if you’re attending. The blue colour pays homage to the Yorkshire flag with a big Y on the front.

It’s made from polyester with a racey fit but not quite as tight as the yellow jersey Mark Cavendish might be pulling on at the end of stage 1, so ideal for recreational cyclists. It’s got a full-length zip and three rear pockets and the same faux-collar detail as Le Coq Sportif’s range of Performance cycling jerseys

"Having the Tour de France Grand Départ come to the UK once again highlights the growing number of elite cyclists coming from the UK which is something that we really wanted to celebrate," explains le coq sportif's Ben Grant, "The Yorkshire Grand Départ promises to be dramatic and so it felt right to create an exclusive jersey to celebrate the start of what will be a fantastic race."

http://www.lecoqsportif.com/uk-en/

Rapha Tempest clothing range launched

Coinciding with the Tour de France, Rapha’s Tempest is a festival of cycling at Broughton Hall, which is close to the first two stages of the race. There’ll be all the usual Rapha treats, such as guided rides, a pop-up Rapha Cycle Club, live music, artisan food and drink and workshops from bike builders and talks from cycling writers.

And now they have launched a range of clothing and accessories to commemorate the event. Jerseys, t-shirts, caps and musettes will be finished in special edition colour and graphics inspired by the Tempests of Broughton Hall crest. You can see the full range right here. Prices start from £15 for a musette rising to £75 for the men’s jersey.

http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/tempest/category/tempest

ODLO launch women’s cycling range

With more women getting into cycling, there are an ever increasing range of clothing, the latest is a new line from ODLO. They pitch the range as “stylish, colourful, premium quality and highly functional ideal for recreational cyclists, cycle commuters and those training for cycle events.”

ODLO have been producing sports clothing since 1946 so they’ve got plenty of experience to call on. They’ve sent us some picks of the new women’s range, including the Nino Bike Jersey, Tornado Jacket and Flash X Bike Shorts.

The Nino jersey uses a breathable fabric intersected with mesh inserts on the side and back to aid cooling, and the cut is described as ‘sporty’. The fabric is stretchy to provide good freedom of movement on the bike.

The Tornado jacket, as the name suggests, is designed to be windproof and it’s also water resistant, an ideal item of clothing to have on days when the weather is looking very changeable. It’s finished with a DWR coating so it should cope with a decent amount of rain.

Lastly, the Flash X Shorts have a non-slip waistband and leg grippers to keep them in place, and the fabric is stretchy to ensure a comfortable unrestricted fit. They have a ‘high protection’ padded insert, with ‘enhanced moisture management’ which basically sounds like it’s comfortable and breathable.

http://www.odlo.com/

Endura launch FS260 Pro Jetstream short sleeve jersey with windproof protection

With the summer seemingly arrived, it seems a good time to talk about summer jerseys. And well timed is the release by Endura of their new FS260 Pro Jetstream, designed for the hottest weather and most demanding riding.

Costing £62.99 and available in sizes S-XXL and in three colour options, the jersey is well suited to British weather conditions with a windproof front panel with all the usual benefits of a short sleeve jersey. The thinking, reckons Endura, is that this jersey saves you having to carry a lightweight windproof gilet for early morning rides or those days when the weather looks a bit iffy. If it works, it could be the ideal UK summer jersey.

The jersey is made from a very lightweight fabric with a slightly brushed inner surface on the back panel for light insulation. The front and arm panels are made from sublimation printed windproof fabric, with a full-length zipper and mesh panels under the arms for ventilation. The jersey is cut with an athletic fit and an elasticated rear hem keeps it from riding up. Endura’s GripRip does a similar task at the sleeves. You get three rear pockets and one zipped pocket around the back.

Madison Genesis team kit now available to purchase

You can now get your hands on the 2014 Madison Genesis team kit. The clothing isn’t just a replica, it’s claimed to be identical to the clothing raced in by the team, and as well as jersey and shorts there are also socks and caps and a range of casual clothing.

The Madison Genesis Pro Team short sleeve jersey costs £69.99, the roubaix long sleeve jersey is £99.99, bib shorts are £89.99, team edition socks are £9.99, the cotton cap is £12.99 and a casual hoody is £44.99.

View the entire range at http://www.madisongenesis.co.uk/shop

howies launch new Lahynch Hoody

howies continue to pump out some really desirable clothing, the latest is this Lahynch Hoody which, while not strictly a cycling-specific product, looks ideal for riding through town, shorter commutes and heading down to the local coffee establishment.

It’s made the same Sorona and Merino wool mix as they use in their Cadence cycling jerseys (which we’ve reviewed) so it should offer good breathability and the fit looks to be a nice balance between fitted and relaxed, or a ‘sporty little number’ as howies describe it.

If you do wear it on the bike, you'll be glad to know there’s a some reflective zip tape to help you stand out at dusk, and there are plenty of pockets for stashing your phone and house keys. It’s all constructed using flatlock seams.

Available for men and women at http://www.howies.co.uk/mens/clothing/sweatshirts/lahynch-phantom.html

Embers Merino launch new Quarter summer socks

Embers Merino have added the new Quarter socks to their summer clothing range. Available in two lengths, they’re made in Italy from merino wool so they’re highly breathable and offer all of the anti-odour properties of the fabric.

They’ve added a cushioned footbed for more comfort and the toe and heel areas are reinforced. They cost £9 a pair, £15 for two pairs or £22 for three pairs.

www.embersmerino.com

Sportful hot to dress for a gran fondo video

Italian clothing company Sportful have come to the rescue if you're unsure how best to dress if you're tackling a gran fondo this summer, with this video packed with useful advice.