High-performance gear for trail and tarmac.
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Wild Rye Kiah Shirt ($69)
This is the only bike jersey we’ve ever worn to the office without feeling underdressed. Slightly flared hips, a curved neckline, and the muted pink color make cute and functional. The design kept us covered as we steered through technical Sedona trails. It has performance chops, too, with an odor-killing merino-nylon fabric.
Evoc FR Enduro Women 16L Pack ($180)
Evoc is known for its do-it-all hydration packs. Take the , which combines 16 liters of storage, a water bladder, and a rigid back protector into a slim package that hugs your torso through drops.
Giro Cartelle MIPS Helmet ($100)
Lots of protection in a good-looking, affordable lid: that sums up . The foam shell wraps down and around your neck, while the MIPS technology reduces rotational forces on your head in a crash. Fourteen big vents keep the whole thing light and airy.
Specialized 2FO Cliplite Lace Shoes ($120)
are meant for walking. Read: they’re perfect for sporty backcountry rides. The sole is stiff enough for efficient pedaling, but the deeply recessed cleat and reinforced upper will make you forget you’re not wearing hikers come portage time. Laces allow for a totally dialed fit (no hot spots here) while keeping the dork factor low.
Club Ride Traverse Shorts ($90)
Lots of mountain-bike shorts sacrifice suppleness and breathability for toughness. Not the Traverse, which is cut from a heavyweight polyester-spandex blend that put up with hundreds of branch snags yet still felt plenty breezy on days topping 80 degrees.
ROAD
POC Octal X Helmet ($260)
We wore all season, and for good reason. It weighs less than half a pound, vents like a sieve, and fits like a headband, thanks to a simple strap-dial system.
Velocio ES Jersey and Bibs ($169 and $199)
The feels like the cashmere sweater of the roadie world, with articulated sleeves and mesh panels ideal for 100-mile days. This East Coast apparel maker also knows a thing or two about premium bibs, building with a midweight chamois that hugs without stifling and wide straps that don’t bite.
Jersey:
Bib:
Rapha Classic II Sunglasses ($295)
Do not buy if you’re prone to losing or scratching sunglasses. Do buy them if you’re obsessed with the British cycling company’s cool lines and pink flare. They fit and work well, but hey, if you’re coughing up almost $300 for a pair of shades, it’ll be the sweet looks that convinced you in the first place.
Tenspeed Hero Mountains Socks ($15)
Roadies wear high socks just because. Wisconsin-based Tenspeed Hero makes probably , in dozens of fun prints.
Giro Factress Techlace Shoes ($350)
Combine old-school laces with a Boa dial and you have cycling’s most advanced closure system. It ratchets down the fit with such nuance that we felt like we were wearing a second pair of socks. Plus, have all the niceties you expect from Giro, including stiff carbon soles and lightweight uppers.