Gear Guide: Road Cycling

FOR HER

1. SMITH | Ruckus Cycling Glasses Supplying an unobstructed field of view and amplified color thanks to the brand’s ChromaPop lens technology, these glasses are great for taking in the beauty of Colorado. The Ruckus model offers medium coverage with an open-brow design and softer lens curve. Weighing in at 27 grams they are lightweight and come with an extra interchangeable low-light lens. The adjustable nose piece and temples are designed to react with perspiration to help aid adhesion to the skin. $189

2. LIV | Flara Thermal Jacket Spring riding in Colorado usually translates to plenty of wind. On chillier days this thermal jacket will keep the cold out while the moisture-wicking fabric helps keep you nice and dry. The jacket is also waterrepellent and has reflective accents for low light riding. It is club fit but still pretty snug, however, the stretchy fabric moves with you. The rear has a zipper pocket and two open pockets. $158

3. CASTELLI | Nelmezzo ROS Jersey Not quite as warm as the Flara jacket, this is our go-to jersey when the weather isn’t too frigid but chilly enough to need more coverage. The race fit helps reduce drag while the double-layer fabric design offers supreme breathability, moisture transfer and good protection from the wind and light rain. Features include reflective detailing, three rear and one side zip pocket and a silicone gripper along the waist. $249.99

4. VOLER | Artico X Thermal Tights A great partner to the Flara jacket, these pants are perfect when the temperature hovers just above freezing. The fleecebacked thermal fabric still offers plenty of stretch while the yoga-style waistband is one of the most comfortable we’ve worn. Wind and water resistant, the pants feature a comfortable chamois which is great for longer days in the saddle. Other features include zippered leg openings and low-profile flat seams for more comfort. $139

5. SHIMANO | Transit Gloves Part of the brand’s explorer line, these transit gloves are designed for commuters, tourers or those just going for a spin. Light padding on the outer palms supply comfort for shorter rides while the brand’s Discrete Reflectivity technology gives visibility in low light. The thumb and forefinger on the long-finger gloves are smartphone compatible while short finger gloves offer a loop on the ring finger for easy removal. $24.99 - 29.99

6. LIV | Spectra Performance Jersey This jersey offers enhanced aerodynamic performance for the more serious cyclist thanks to its race fit. With a full-length front zipper, quick drying, moisture-wicking fabric and reflective accents, this is our go-to jersey on warm days when we’re huffing and puffing up a mountain pass (read about our favorite rides for spring on page 26). $158

7. SAVE OUR SOLES | Giro Arrivo 7” Made in Colorado, these socks are ideal for road cycling. They are the perfect thickness and are durable. We love the fun designs too. $11.95

8. SHIMANO | RP7 Road Shoe Synthetic leather molds to the foot perfectly while the Boa closure helps with microadjustments to get the perfect fit. The outsole is made of lightweight carbon composite to help maximize power transfer and reduce weight. We love these shoes for longdistance rides. $200

9. PEARL IZUMI | Elite Tall Sock These lightweight cycling-specific socks offer reinforced cushioning under the forefoot to reduce hotspot-prone areas on the pedal. A flat toe seam reduces rubbing while special yarns and a mesh ventilation over the top of the foot helps keep feet cool and dry. Anatomicallyshaped socks are contoured to fit the foot perfectly. $16

10. SMITH | Trace Helmet This brand new road helmet offers superior aerodynamics for more serious riders. The helmet also has the multi-directional impact protection system (MIPS) lining that delivers better protection against head injury. Great ventilation comes courtesy of the brand’s proprietary AirEvac system which helps relieve built up hot air and prevent fogging. There are also storage channels on the side of the helmet to hold glasses in place. $250

11. ENDURA | Pro SL Bib Short Dropseat With three different pad width options that work with the size of your seat, these are great for long days in the saddle. The drop seat allows for quick and easy pitstops, while tech innovations help prevent heat buildup on warmer spring days and an antibacterial finish helps fight odors. $194.99

FOR HIM

1. VOLER | Super Thermal Jersey The Denali LT fabric used for the front torso is DWR-coated and is therefore wind resistant and water repellent, while the Yukon fabric used for the back and sleeves is fleece-backed and stretches in four directions which makes for a snug fit without any restriction in movement. The fleece-lining works well, and the three standard rear pockets are joined by a fourth smaller zip pocket which is nice if you are concerned about losing cash, credit card and keys. Reflective binding across the top of the rear pockets and a double pull zipper complete the jacket. $139

2. CASTELLI | Nano Flex 2 Bib Knicker Designed to be as good in both dry and wet conditions thanks to a fleece lining and a waterrepellent surface. Because Castelli excluded a membrane to ensure breathability, water will eventually get through in harder rain. Although they also point out that it will never feel waterlogged and will keep you warm if not dry. The mesh straps help a little with breathability. It is also worth remembering that these are race fit bibs and so unless you are race fit yourself, you might want to size up. $129.99

3. PEARL IZUMI | Attack Glove Refusing to add bulk to add support, the Attack Glove has what Pearl Izumi calls its 1:1 Connect Palm that uses a specially-shaped, low-profile gel insert to maintain the natural arch across your palm to avoid numb fingers. This maintains handlebar contact at the knuckles and the heel of your palm and adds the slip free grip of synthetic leather for locked in control $30

4. CYCLIQ | Fly12 CE The Fly12 front-facing bike camera and 600 lumen light gives peace of mind on the road. With six-axis electronic image stabilization, footage is really stable and its black box technology means that if you do come off your bike, the Fly12 locks video and audio either side of the incident and prevents it from being erased. Smart video looping means you’ll never run out of space on your SD card. It is also waterproof to one meter. $279

5. CYCLIQ | Fly6 CE The Fly6 CE rear-facing camera has the same features as the Fly 12 but with a 100 lumen light and it is water resistant, not waterproof. $179

6. SHIMANO | RC7 Shoes The RC7s have two Boa dials for microadjustments. The shoes also have an ultra-rigid, lightweight carbon fiber composite sole and supple high-density synthetic leather with perforated venting. Style wise, the shoes are beautiful with very subtle lava lamp-esque swirls that are hard to see at first. $225

7. ENDURA | Leg and Arm Sleeves Perfect for Colorado as spring arrives at different times depending on the elevation, meaning these would be useful for different rides throughout spring and even possibly into summer at the highest elevations. The silicone gripper does its job and the zips on the leg warmers make for quick changes. Thick enough to keep you warm when temperatures are still hovering around 32F, they are a good piece of kit for ardent cyclists who don’t want to wait for the true onset of spring. $44.99 (leg) 29.99 (arm)

8. TREK | Bontrager Ballista MIPS In June last year, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab rated 50 bike helmets for the first time. The Bontrager Ballista MIPS came in first. In addition to MIPS, there are internal channels to move airflow and antimicrobial pads that wick moisture and eliminate odors, among other features. $199.99

9. ENDURA | Deluge II Glove Designed for those who want to get out before winter has fully departed, the deluge gloves from Endura are full finger gloves that have enough bulk to keep fingers warm while still being breathable. Waterproof for spring showers, the gloves also feature a fullfinger sweat wipe, lightly padded palm, touchscreen compatible finger and a cuff adjuster. $64.99

10. PEARL IZUMI | Pro Mesh Jersey This shirt is made for those who want to gain every advantage possible. Aerodynamic design meets breathability for a high-performance jersey. Sleeves run to the elbow to reduce drag around the bicep and shoulder (it’s that high performance). The three back pockets have Pearl Izumi’s bellow design which means the pockets open out a little at the bottom. $135

11. THERAGUN | G3PRO The TheraGun G3PRO is a handheld, percussive therapy device designed to relieve muscle tension, which is a major cause of aches and pains. After a long day in that saddle, climbing up cliff faces or pounding the trails, a handheld massager might make the difference in your post-workout routine. The G3PRO can withstand up to 60 lbs of force and is quieter by 50 percent over its predecessors. $599

12. PEARL IZUMI | Tour Road Shoe Pearl Izumi have brought back the classic lace up cycling shoe but with a few additions, namely a modern sole. The Men’s Tour Road has a supportive nylon composite sole with a stiff carbon plate at the ball of the foot. It very conveniently has both SPD and SPD-SL configuration. $130

13. GU ENERGY LABS | Hoppy Trails This brand new flavor was inspired by that cold beer waiting at the end of a long cycling day. The slightly bitter taste of hops is balanced out with citrus notes. Hoppy Trails joins an already interesting collection of GU energy gel flavors that include French toast and Chai latte (which also offers a hit of caffeine). $36 / box of 24