Vulpine Original Rain Jacket

Vulpine: 1. of or relating to a fox or foxes. 2. Crafty or cunning

Both are rad definitions and relative in the urban cycling world.  Daily riders need their mind clear when riding through the city, we weave and wind through cars and traffic, accelerate when needed, and have a constant desire to keep moving, in ALL weather..and every season.

 

In October, a good friend of The Spindleros John Woodruff (@twotoneams, follow him now!), modeled for Vulpine, a commuter brand out of London, and suggested we take a look at carrying their line.  We called them up for some testing materials and a few weeks later, our package arrived and the testing begun.  As we opened the box to reveal the contents, this jacket caught my eye.  It was purple and yellow..usually not my bag color-wise but I dug it.  What I didn't understand was why in the hell a company would make a cotton jacket for cycling, doesn't wick moisture and I'll get drenched on myrainy rides.

So, like any inquisitive person would do I hopped on Vulpine.cc search for the reasoning.  There it was, the answer that would blow my mind, Water-resistant Cotton!  The jackets are made with silicon treated Epic (TM) Cotton.  It is not completely waterproof, they couldn't use the samematerials and have the breathable jacket they desired to make.  But after riding in this jacket for the past 5 months I can say that they are being kind saying water-resistant.  The website claims to withstand 2+ hours of heavy rain and persistent torrential rain, and I have ridden from weather varying from a light sprinkle to an all out nasty flooded-streets monsoon, and have been COMPLETELY dry!  Once reaching the destination I have given the jacket a quick dry snap and it was fine.

 

The features here are very innovative, Vulpine has ditched the conventional approach and uses magnets for the front pockets, the neck snap, and the removable reflective splash guard.  With fully-taped zippers on the chest and side pockets, the flaps with magnetic snaps ensure extra protection against rain, and doesn't leave you with that annoying, dangling flap that you usually have to snap back in, nope, you just slap it forward and it stays put.

 

A brilliant feature is the removable reflective splash guard, also kept in place by, you guessed correct...magnets.  This can be used on those days when an unexpected shower comes through and you are without your trusty fender, when you don't need it, it will magnetize to the inside of the jacket, or simply unzip to remove it.  It is reflective, so if your back light goes out during a ride, you still have a safe way of making you visible to traffic on those evening trips around town.  Additionally, if you roll up the sleeve it reveals a reflective cuff, but your wrists are still protected against the cold with a fleece cover.  It's nice to see a company putting such though into their products, the little things is what regular riders love like a cool little sleeve pocket to store the necessities.

 

 

I have never been so amazed with a single piece of gear ad I have been with this jacket, it's breathable and beads rain like other, way more expensive jackets.  The Original Rain Jacket runs about $300 USD, a little steep, but for a water resistant cotton jacket that looks damn good anywhere and is durable as hell, don't hesitate to snag this piece.  If one is looking for less reflective components, go for the gorgeous Harrington for $290.  They sent us a small and I was surprised at how well it fit, I can still layer it with a merino hoodie and it won't constrict my form, so you can size down if you feel the need.  This is a solid Fall>Winter>Spring piece, if you have the proper layers it has a good wind resistance for cold climates and can be worn up to 75 degrees.  It would be nice if it was packable so I could just have it in there for those questionable days, but it is what it is, and what it is a damn fine jacket.

HAPPY RIDING!!

Ezz-Eldin Hassan
Mission Workshop Stahl Shorts

Finding a pair of shorts that can power through the rigors of long distance rides as well as daily commutes is something as cyclist we want to find and snatch up every color.  We need a durable, everyday short that can blast through the elements while not forfeiting style.  Stretch is essential when looking for an all-rounder pair of shorts, constant movement on regular shorts will tear them like tissue paper, but also finding a pair that can withstand all conditions can be a task unless they zip off from a pair of pants or cargo shorts which should be not be done ever.

 

 

The Stahl by Mission Workshop is the first pair of shorts I've tested that feel like they are up for any kind of biking, from gravel, dirt, to pavement and whatever else you can think of in that menacing head of yours.  The 4-way stretch flows well especially on long rides, as your thighs fill with lactic acid, the shorts don't feel like there's any sort of limitations as far as elasticity goes.

 

My Stahls have been through almost every terrain over the past year, gravel, some muddy times, light/heavy rains, and a trip to Egypt.  Let's start with the riding, I've put at least 1000 miles in these shorts and and they have yet to show any sort of wear.  They've also maintained their form, so don't think they'll give out after months of wear, get your standard size.

Since unsuspected downpours happen, these guys have seen the heaviest of southern rains, but they've never taken more than 15 minutes to be completely dry, dirt and stains are easily wiped clean.  However, I did get a couple of grease stains on them that have yet to come out since I got to them too late, but for the one I caught in time, I just rubbed some dish soap and baking soda and let that marinate for a few hours and was completely clean, that's a little homemaking Spindlero tip for ya, don't worry, it's free....this time.

 

For travel, these pack really well, roll em up and throw em in whatever bag you got; they take up no room and don't come out all wrinkled, so they're easy to pop on right out of the pack to go out adventurin'.  If you're accident prone and gotta carry extra gear, these shorts will definitely fit in your frame bag with room to spare.

 

Feature wise, the fifth pocket is clutch, it's deeper than your standard fifth, which at times can be troubling if you got some change in there, but it fits a pocket knife and pens securely, making you forget they're on you.  In Addition, a very well-built zip utility pocket can hold your tools, phone, or whatever without worrying about any fallout destruction happening, and when I say phone, I mean most phones will fit in there, now maybe you have one of those laptops people are passing for phones these days, those could be a stretch, also, throw that phone away, it's too damn big!

 

For me, the MW Stahl's the perfect everyday riding short, ready for the dirty, the streets, the tsunamis, the long rides, and whatever else you can thing of doing on a bike or off, I started off with the Foliage color, then after 6 months bought the Black and Crocodile Brown, as I said before, you find a pair you dig, and buy em all!  Some may be deterred by the $139 price tag, but you shouldn't, you won't be spending any money on shorts again..at least I won't be.

 

Ezz-Eldin Hassan
Spindle Jean Review

We here at the spindle have blown out many a pant. We find that the more stylish and expensive the jean, the sooner their demise. Until now, we've finally found jeans that are as durable and stylish as we are. They wont break your bank and will last you a good bit of your biking years.

After busting through all of our non-commuter compatible options, we've rigorously tested bike-friendly denim. These jeans in our review are the only pantaloons that can withstand the friction between our bun o' steel and our leather saddles.

CADENCE EXON DENIM

These are your bare bones, no frills jeans. The fit is slimmer than your regular fit jeans but they break in for a more loose fit (keirin fit need not apply). With 2% Lycra, these pants give just enough to be called riding pants. After time, the denim breaks in like the perfect pair of raw denim, yet much quicker.

In the heat of the Summer, the reinforced crotch would really restrict airflow creating, what we call, " a case of the swampy gooch." That said, it's great for cooler and cold weather rides. But without this reinforced seat, these would be a regular ol pair o' jeans. I have yet to see any wear on the butt of these jeans. I also have yet to see any color fading as well. Not being a fan of washing jeans, especially when instructed not to in the care instructions, these were run through the wash a few times. Through all the tumbling and washing the Exon's stay black and proud.

Unlike other jeans in this review, the raised back is not as pronounced. Still leaving you vulnerable to getting caught cracked out.

SWRVE CORDURA SKINNY FIT JEANS

These have become my favorite favorite pants to date. The skinny fit loosened up after a month or so of hard riding and fit snugly as leg muscles expand after a long ride. These jeans have several bells and whistles for the everyday rider.

The denim, woven with industrial strength Cordura nylon is bomb proof. This is the same fabric used for your favorite Chrome, Mission Workshop and even your old school JanSport bags. Ive laid my bike ... and my ass... down twice (once in rain and once taking a gravel covered turn) in these pantaloons and dragged well over 6 ft in both incidences and have come out with nothing more than a scratch on the jeans. What was underneath was a sight to be seen and took a few weeks to fully recover.

The reflective properties of Swrve's jeans are above and beyond. Utilizing 3M's Scotchlite...tm... material on the rear belt loops and cleverly place as a strip behind the right drive-train calf, your bound to been seen. After several months of use, wear on the strip is apparent in the fold but still reflects brilliantly.

These jeans have pockets for days. The 5th pocket is in the back made to fit your iPhone and quite snuggly for that matter, meaning no phone cases allowed. I don't use it much unless I'm putting a few business cards in it, otherwise its not the most practical of pockets. My phone tends to wander out when pressed against the saddle.

With a low waist in the front and raised in the back, these are my most comfortable pair of jeans to ride in thus far. I like the cut including the seamless, gusseted crotch and articulated knees make for a great jean even if you're putting 60 miles behind you (done it..) Unlike the Cadence Exons, These colors do fade... onto your seat, your wallet and even onto a damp paper towel but strangely still stay blue and beautiful.

Ezz-Eldin Hassan
Iva Jean Reveal Skirt

When we first spotted this skirt we were intrigued by its form and curious about its functionality. Lucky for us we've acquired a great group of ladies to help us in testing female specific commuter apparel. You've met Caroline in our Sombrio's Vagabond review and we are excited to introduce our second women's specific review. Rebecca Serna Woiderski, Executive Director at the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, has been an amazing resource for Atlanta Cyclists and is the newest Spindle contributor. Enjoy her poignant review of the Iva Jean Reveal skirt..

Whenever I show up somewhere in the Iva Jean Reveal skirt, I find myself demonstrating how the skirt converts from pencil for looks, to pleated for riding. I've never talked so much about an article of clothing before. This is a brilliant idea, and it's well-executed.

 

Constructed of stretchy black material that is very sturdy and not too technical, doesn't scream cycling falls just below my knees. Most importantly, there's a zipper on the back that allows the skirt to convert from office jockey to riding a bike in seconds flat.

 

The zipper is definitely the standout feature, but it's also the most comfortable pencil skirt I've owned due to the stretch fabric. Just this morning I discovered a very useful hidden interior pocket in the waistband. The skirt stays put even when it's windy, and the seams appear much stronger than I'm used to (I'm always resewing seams on other skirts I ride in).

 

What would I change? Not much! Consider adding side pockets (this skirt is crying out for pockets), maybe offer a shorter option. And I always love a reflective element in clothing I wear on my bike - ideally something unobtrusive that doesn't appear to be reflective except in dark conditions. Maybe a reflective feature that only shows when unzipped?

 

Overall: 4.5/5

 

Thanks Rebecca! Keep up with Rebecca and The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to stay up-to-date on all bike related news in Atlanta.

http://www.atlantabike.org/

Ezz-Eldin Hassan
Sombrio Hog-tied S/S shirt

As cooler weather is welcomed with open arms in the city, casual rides with friends are aplenty. Hopping from parks to festivals, restaurants and bars, it's a day long recovery ride. Enter Sombrio's Hog-Tied s/s shirt. The predominantly synthetic shirt wicks away sweat, and dries away quickly shortly after dropping your bag. The well hidden shirt zip pocket located on the back right side is spacious enough for a pared down tool kit,  snacks, a wallet, sunglasses or a cell phone; It is well placed and out-of-the-way but with weight it will swing around while riding but is convenient while on foot. On the opposite side is a small belt loop-like strap designated to hold a bike light. Perfect for those sporting messenger bags such as the Chrome or Mission workshop lines but maybe unnecessary when paired with a backpack. Which then you should be able to attach the light to the bag itself.

This shirt's style gets compliments all the time. The stripe and cool circular buttons that look very similar to grommets, a basic striped pattern with a western flair. The only thing that bothers us about this shirt are the sleeves. OK when off the bike, but while in the saddle and stretched out, the shirt tightens up and cuts into the arm right above the bicep. If only the back shoulder panel were made of a stretch material or there were pleats in the shoulder to allow more fabric for mobility, this would be a top pick.

 

We really like this shirt but the sleeves are a dealbreaker. We let them know at Interbike so I hope the 2014 version will become my new favorite button up.

Guest User