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36 comments
The Gore stuff is excellent and can be found cheap enough in the sales.
I'd recommend Mavic gear. I've got their shoes, bib shorts, bib longs, long sleeve and short jerseys and various jackets. Build quality is always top notch, always got them at heavy discounts and fit is great. I'm 5'8 with a 37.5" chest and their UK Small/International Medium size always does me well.
dhb gets my vote too
Torm jerseys are great,
DHB are a sure bet and excellent value. I've got stuff by castelli, rapha, pearl izumi, and whole load of other brands but if I had to start again it's torm and DHB that I'd buy.
Definitely check out Primal (www.primaleurope.com). Zips can be a bit of a nuisance (more than usable and seem to be getting better year-on-year, mind), but other than that the quality is awesome.
They usually have a load of stuff - some dodgy designs I hasten to add - in their outlet for ridiculously cheap, so might be worth having a look to test the waters for quality.
Their Evo Corsa bibs are incredible. Better than Assos, Rapha in my opinion, and half the price.
Castelli, Rapha and Assos mainly for me here, and a healthy amount of small brand kit done on champion systems.
They're expensive yes, but worth it, and a bit of hunting in sales can save you a healthy amount at time, and it's way better than the mid range kit.
Some things will never hit the sales, stuff like a Gabba etc
I've never really looked into pearl Izumi, thanks for pointing it out guys
I have Castelli and Shutt kit - good performance and quality and worth paying a bit more for durability, good fabrics and good cut.
For me I would say it's about finding a range or two that fits you and stick with it. I've found it to be quite a long process with a lot of mis-steps.
For instance the Shutt sportswool jerseys are lovely and fit like a glove but I couldn't get shorts and tights that work for me (straps too short).
Castelli cut is perfect for me (L up top, XL down below for the length) and the pads are very comfy. I've had a lot of expensive shorts with uncomfortable pads: used to think it was my saddle until I got the Castellis.
Shutt regularly have good offers and the same with Castelli (I've never paid full price), plus they have a very good loyalty scheme.
+1 for Torm
check out Torm jerseys.
+1 on Pearl Izumi and Castelli...both score well for me on fit and comfort. I prefer the Castelli chamois a little more though, especially on longer rides. Be careful on the sizing of Castelli though, they run small.
I think half the fun is getting kit. I started with DHB and Endura stuff. Great kit. I pretty much now wear the same stuff all the time - Assos Shorts, Gabba jersey, Helly Hanson base layers. I have just bought some Showers Pass water proof trousers for everyday commuting and they are really good. Good kit means you ride. Simple as that.
" I've also just got some Pearl Izumi stuff from SportPursuit which fits really nicely, can't vouch for longevity"
another vote here for Pearl Izumi - stuff I've got is very comfy and looks like new after repeated washes think some is a couple of years old used regular but you wouldn't know it so ticks longevity for me
You have all been extremely helpful thank you!
Hours of happy internet browsing await!
I bought a pearl izumi jersey new in 2006 and it's still going strong. I think the message is one of taking care of kit rather than brand.
Pearl Izumi is the dominant mid-range brand in the US.
DHB - Wiggle's home brand - is generally all you need.
Pearl Izumi, half owned by Shimano, is lovely quality too and looks a little more distinctive.
Also if you want the higher end of mid-range, don't overlook Craft, a Swedish brand that understands waterproofing a breathability.
Pearl Izumi I find make decent gear at a good price point, or at least good when in the sales. I use their bib shorts on the summer.
Hard to go wrong with 5 & 7 B'win from Decathlon, wear their bibknickers.
I'm a big fan of Adidas and their Response range is my choice in the colder months.
adidas 'Response' product is competitively priced as well.
I would say lots of features and learning must have come out of the work with Team Sky and Team GB.
They also do a couple of ranges above this as well. Eddie Merckx couldn't have been wrong, he used to wear adidas
another vote for Castelli, excellent stuff and if you're patient you can always pick up what you want at half RRP price. I bought their Poggio jacket recently for £80 (instead of RRP £160) and it has become my favourite bit of kit; perfect down to temps of about 4-5C. I would also highly recommend the Castelli Nanoflex bib (tights), again when you see a good offer. As mentioned above, Sportful (owned by the same company as Castelli) make some very good stuff.
I love Castelli and I have recently upgraded to there gear but it does burn your fingers a bit. I also have used Morvello for a few years, I would say mid range gear but the quality and style is very good. I also like that it's less popular so you won't see the same kit very often.
I don't remembered Howies being a mid range brand at least certainly not for outdoor clothes and over priced t-shirts but the bike kit bundles are indeed quite good for the money. Failing that I have always gone for Endura.
Morvelo.
Style, quality and well priced. Can't recommend it highly enough, their stuff is exceptional.
http://www.morvelo.com/
Great looking too!
dhb ??
Never had any problems with their stuff, I like Howies but mostly when it is on sale
Another vote for Howies, Sportful and Decathlon ('5' and '7' ranges only - '3' is basic). I've also just got some Pearl Izumi stuff from SportPursuit which fits really nicely, can't vouch for longevity.
Another vote for SVR. Great stuff and lovely people.
Sportful (the "cheaper" bit of Castelli) - fits well, looks good and has a large range.
I did exactly this last winter. Settled on Shutt Velo Rapide. Very happy. Have loved in the 3/4 knicks and Roubaix tights all winter, the Performance jacket too. The SS and LS smartwool tops are great, as are the Yorkshire tweed caps and the signature buffs. Now migrating into the gilet as it warms up.
Love the fact that a lot of it's made in the UK, Pete and Lauren are in a farm shed in Oxfordshire, and the kit is tastefully understated while not being Raphaesque.
Just be aware they size for the 'UK sportive gent' average, definitely not the euro whippet. Their returns policy is second to none and you can visit to try stuff on.
Have a gander : http://shuttvr.com
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