PH Cycling Shirts (I know, I know...)

[Slaav]

OK - here goes....

I am going to need some help here! How about also helping me with the wiki when we confirm what I need?

I would like a mid weight to lighter version. Upper end of the quality scale please. I have one of the yellow and one red of the previous jerseys so don't need an identical type one.

I think I quite like the Tempest as that is a weight jersey that is or at least appears heavier than the previous ones? Or should I go for the Quadri?

Anyway, I am a slightly 'chunky' 6'4" and currently weighing at a proper mess of 18+st Ex rugby player so not actually as fat as it sounds - although race fit really isn't for me or my current 'winter coat' which is annoyingly very evident

What should I buy? Help please?????

(Best quality one, looser fit and mid weight I guess?)

Thank you in advance to anyone who can fathom this - I have tried honestly and even clicked on the girls' models on their web site to find the solution (To be fair a little bit of me was hoping they would be modelled )

[Gruffy]

The bodyfit suits requirements. It's the cheapest of those we're looking at, but still a proper piece of kit. The bodyfit version is a wider cut for a more generously proportioned chap but still cut for performance.

[Slaav]

Gruffy said:

The bodyfit suits requirements. It's the cheapest of those we're looking at, but still a proper piece of kit. The bodyfit version is a wider cut for a more generously proportioned chap but still cut for performance.

Thanks Gruffy. Any chance you can add me for an XXL pls?

If I go near it I will banjax it!

And I promise to pay in a timely fashion and not forget.....

[Pot Odds]

Very tempted by the Freeride Jersey - design is awesome.

Is it just me that struggles with £50-55 pounds for a quickdry T-shirt though ? I was hoping this sort of style would come up as i've not yet progressed to full on road kit and tend to just wear a quickdry T-shirt on both mountain and road bike.

Might just have to chase the flies from my wallet.

Great job pulling this together again Gruffy.

[m444ttb]

Pot Odds said:

Is it just me that struggles with £50-55 pounds for a quickdry T-shirt though?

No, cycling kit is a massive rip off generally. Stick a Rapha logo on it and it's doubly so.

[Gruffy]

I'm in the process of launching a cycle clothing brand so I'm gaining some insight into this. The basic polyester jerseys (like our Owayo jerseys) are a bit of a moneymaker but anything with more technical fabrics isn't going to have the margins you might think. The materials are quite expensive. The Bioracer stuff is one of the few custom clothing suppliers that use a good mixture of technical materials and it ain't cheap.

Then add the value of it being customised for us in small quantities and it's not quite so bad.

[Celtic Dragon]

Thanks Gruffy for confirming something I'd not thought of. I did think my Velocio jersey was expensive, but reading that it makes sense.

[Pot Odds]

Thanks for the insight Gruffy.

I'd be all over some cheap customised polyester quickdry stuff like Trespass do as would I suspect any runners etc:

http://www.trespass.com/ballota-mens-tshirt
http://www.trespass.com/mens-ollie-01102

However, as thats not on offer, and the freeride top looks so damned good i'd love to pop my name down for one - assuming the design doesnt change too much. Any chance you could add me to the list - not quite sure how these wiki lists work.

Thanks and good luck with the clothing business - is it imminent ?

[Gruffy]

Launching in 2016. Optimistically aiming for spring but I suspect summer is more realistic. Urban and commuter stuff for now, but I'm itching to turn my attention to athletic as soon as possible.

The Trespass stuff is great for runners. It gets more complex for cyclists because a close aero fit is so important. Four-way stretch and good elasticity is important, but it also needs to be able to swallow pocketfuls of food, tools and rain jackets without sagging or breaking, but still being lightweight and breathable, and ideally with some wind resistance, reflectivity, silicone grippers etc. Then throw in the enormous diversity of shapes when it comes to cyclists (compared to runners) and it all starts to demand quite a lot of the materials and the designer.

[Don1]

Reflective cotton-based clothing would be a seller, I think. I can't find anything that I like - my favourite (now long gone), was a running/basketball vest with large rear reflective chevrons from 1992 or so, but it was American-made. Ho hum.

[Thorpy]

Hi Guys, I missed out on last years kit. Put my name down for the Quadri and Freeride jerseys. Really like the latest designs! Top effort Gruffy

[MrsMiggins]

I don't want to go near the wiki to try to modify it to include ladies bibs in case I sign everyone else up at the same time! If they're being ok about the women's jerseys I hope they'll be ok with bibshorts too.

[Gruffy]

Celtic Dragon said:

Thanks Gruffy for confirming something I'd not thought of. I did think my Velocio jersey was expensive, but reading that it makes sense.

The March issue of Bikes Etc just popped through my letterbox and it has a good article on what goes into producing technical clothing.

[SixPotBelly]

I've been on the lookout for a decent winter top layer. Something very much like the Tempest, possibly a little thicker, but with full length sleeves. I see Bioracer has a "Race Proven Winter Jack" which looks absolutely ideal, being made in windproof and water repellent Tempest Protect. It even has some kind of magic pixel dust woven into the sleeves so they're reflective yet appear normal in daylight.



In a Gruffy PH design I'd prefer that to anything I've seen online or in the shops.

Could it be something others might be interested in too? Would you be willing to apply your design to it if so? Or would adding it to the shortlist at this stage be too late? If not, what might the cost be assumming we met minimum quantities? Around £100-120?

Edited by SixPotBelly on Saturday 14th February 10:16

[Gruffy]

Around £120 + delivery. But that's without any setup costs and assuming they're cool with minimums. I will certainly ask the question when I speak to them next week.

[Gruffy]

Design-wise, I would probably keep the red arm bands where they are (from the S/S) and go black with the rest of the sleeve. It'll look good but may look a little Raphaesque. Happy at that?

[SixPotBelly]

Gruffy said:

Design-wise, I would probably keep the red arm bands where they are (from the S/S) and go black with the rest of the sleeve. It'll look good but may look a little Raphaesque. Happy at that?

You're the design guru, so if that's what you propose then I've no doubt that's what will work best!

Personally, I'm not anti-Raphaesque per se. I think their stuff is undeniably stylish. I'm just too much of a cowardly custard to wear all black on the bike. I confess though I don't really like their trade mark one-arm banding that much. As a simple, clean way to establish a brand identity I think it's pure genius, but the asymmetry just doesn't look right to me.

But I digress. It sounds like you're proposing the Winter Jack would look like the short sleeve Tempest worn with black arm warmers? There's light colour and symmetry a-plenty there so, yes, happy at that - as long as the arms and rear pocket have the magic "Pxl 100" fabric in their pictures.

[Don1]

I don't care - as long as the seams are strong enough to hold my gut in, then I'd be up for a proper jacket as well. Currently using jogging ones which aren't really up to the task.

[Gruffy]

SixPotBelly said:

It sounds like you're proposing the Winter Jack would look like the short sleeve Tempest worn with black arm warmers?

Exactly that. The Pixel material is a cracking thing too.

Don1 said:

I don't care - as long as the seams are strong enough to hold my gut in, then I'd be up for a proper jacket as well.

Having man-handled some of their kit I was impressed with the manufacturing quality. It's made in Belgium, by Belgian hardmen, I think. I'd be confident it was durable enough to contain your powerfully-builtness.

[SixPotBelly]

The fact it'll match the other kit will give a smart, coherent Team PH look on events and forum rides.

OK if I add a Winter Jack column to the wiki? Or shall we wait and see what they say when you speak to them re costs and minimums?