B E N D E R's non sweary review site, roubaixcycling.cc (and general kit discussion)

daniel_b

You'll need to get their website working first!

Also appears postage is £15 :shock:
As opposed to the outlet store that has free delivery worldwide :?

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Assos site has the best black Friday deals I've seen. Incredible

Is there anything that is super warm for less than silly money?

Only the Bonka Jacket, not in Large, and only in black or white. Red only in silly sizes.
Half price at £150. No thanks...

daniel_b

PBlakeney wrote:

Pinno wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Assos site has the best black Friday deals I've seen. Incredible

Is there anything that is super warm for less than silly money?

Only the Bonka Jacket, not in Large, and only in black or white. Red only in silly sizes.
Half price at £150. No thanks...

Yep was just looking at those, now the website has ground back into action - appreciate it's a stunning jacket, but agreed, none of those colours do anything for me, huge percentage reduction or not.

pinno

Which website? I came up with one at 400.

https://www.assos.com/en_m/ij-bonka-6

daniel_b

Pinno wrote:

Which website? I came up with one at 400.

https://www.assos.com/en_m/ij-bonka-6

Here you go:
https://www.assos.com/en_m/assos-road-cycling-collection/ij-bonka-6-mille

Your link showed as £330 to me - so I guess I just saved you £179.

pinno

Daniel B wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Which website? I came up with one at 400.

https://www.assos.com/en_m/ij-bonka-6

Here you go:
https://www.assos.com/en_m/assos-road-cycling-collection/ij-bonka-6-mille

Your link showed as £330 to me - so I guess I just saved you £179.

Cheers but M is gone and i'll stick with my Espresso. Spent a bit too much money today on another old German banger.

robbo2011

bendertherobot wrote:

Assos site has the best black Friday deals I've seen. Incredible

There's something up with the Assos site, I just picked up a Blitzfeder shell, which was discounted from CHF169 to CHF85 and then discounted another CHF50 during the checkout process.

So yes a Blitzfeder for CHF35 (£27)!

Lets see if it turns up.

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

..Spent a bit too much money today on another old German banger.

That is not a nice way to refer to her.

pinno

Ordered an inexpensive Merino buff from Sportpursuit and an Isobaa 200 base layer.
Well, I actually ordered 2, 1 in my size and one for a friend who has bowel cancer - he's always feeling the cold since chemo. That'll be his Christmas present.

So, i'll report back on the base layer.

Hanners

Anyone wearing the DHB full protection soft shell ?
I need something for winter rides and i can't see anything else for better value/ performance? I've a Rapha hard shell for full on wet winter rides but I find this gets a bit too hot if dry and above 5 degrees, and I end up with sweaty arms form over heating, I'm thinking the soft shell will cover 90 % of the winter rides.

pinno

Hanners wrote:

Anyone wearing the DHB full protection soft shell ?
I need something for winter rides and i can't see anything else for better value/ performance? I've a Rapha hard shell for full on wet winter rides but I find this gets a bit too hot if dry and above 5 degrees, and I end up with sweaty arms form over heating, I'm thinking the soft shell will cover 90 % of the winter rides.

Send a PM to Lincolndave . He's just bought one. I have the DHB aeron softshell but not the full protection version.

lincolndave

Pinno wrote:

Hanners wrote:

Anyone wearing the DHB full protection soft shell ?
I need something for winter rides and i can't see anything else for better value/ performance? I've a Rapha hard shell for full on wet winter rides but I find this gets a bit too hot if dry and above 5 degrees, and I end up with sweaty arms form over heating, I'm thinking the soft shell will cover 90 % of the winter rides.

Send a PM to Lincolndave . He's just bought one. I have the DHB aeron softshell but not the full protection version.

Hi Hanners, I wore the DHB on Saturday, 4 degs C with a cold wind, I had a medium thickness base layer on and was warm enough, I am very pleased with the DHB, although I have not worn it in the rain, I can say it’s well worth the money forwind and cold

bendertherobot

The full protection softshell is the one originally reviewed way back. The hybrid is the new lighter one.

So, here's my review of the full protection one:

https://roubaixcycling.cc/2015/11/28/dhb-coming-of-age/

Hanners

Cheers guys, I'll Give it a try.

ayjaycee

Hanners - FWIW, I've also got the Full Protection jacket and think it's great. I set out on a ride in freaky weather a couple of weeks ago when it was around 2° (ice still by the side of the road) and thought it lovely with a Craft 'string vest' and lightweight merino underneath. By the time the mercury crept up to double figures, I started to feel a bit warm and unzipped the top for a while. It also seems to be quite breathable in as much as I had a plastic Velopac Ridepac in a back pocket with phone, cash etc. and the side against my back was damp where the sweat had worked it's way through the jacket to the pocket (at least, I think that indicates 'breathability').

As I mentioned in another post, it's gets even better because I pressed the button to buy at £85 but when I went to pay, I was only being charged £55 - bargain time.

the_rover

Pinno wrote:

Hanners wrote:

Anyone wearing the DHB full protection soft shell ?
I need something for winter rides and i can't see anything else for better value/ performance? I've a Rapha hard shell for full on wet winter rides but I find this gets a bit too hot if dry and above 5 degrees, and I end up with sweaty arms form over heating, I'm thinking the soft shell will cover 90 % of the winter rides.

Send a PM to Lincolndave . He's just bought one. I have the DHB aeron softshell but not the full protection version.

Are you referring to the jacket I sold you? If so then it’s the aeron full protection.

the_rover

This arrived this morning.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-aeron-hybrid-softshell/

It’s really nice, a great race fit with deep pockets but the windtex material is quite different to other products I’ve got making the same wind proof claims. It’s almost “ crinkly “!

Hope I don’t sound like a bag of crisps whilst wearing it!

It was £64 quid before I used a code that knocked a tenner off, its now gone up.

Hanners

DHB full protection soft shell arrived today, first impressions are very good, good tight fit and doesn't feel bulky at all, I'll wear it tomorrow to see how warm it is.
Thanks for the replies

pinno

The Rover wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Hanners wrote:

Anyone wearing the DHB full protection soft shell ?
I need something for winter rides and i can't see anything else for better value/ performance? I've a Rapha hard shell for full on wet winter rides but I find this gets a bit too hot if dry and above 5 degrees, and I end up with sweaty arms form over heating, I'm thinking the soft shell will cover 90 % of the winter rides.

Send a PM to Lincolndave . He's just bought one. I have the DHB aeron softshell but not the full protection version.

Are you referring to the jacket I sold you? If so then it’s the aeron full protection.

:shock: Well blow me down with a feather.

I guess I can comment on it then. Anyone?

pinno

Here we go.

Squeezed a night ride in and tested some new apparel.

I bought the Isobaa 200gsm base layer (£37 from Sportspursuit) and took it for a spin for the first time seen as the weather has gone lightly milder and the HH Freeze stayed in the wardrobe. I also bought a Merino buff.

Conditions: Misty, damp, negligible wind, roughly 7 degrees.
Other clothing:

Vest
SS jersey
Espresso Jacket
DHB Roubaix windslam bib tights
Ankle Merino socks
Overshoes

First of all, the half zip Isobaa BL is a slightly looser fit than all of the medium sizes I have (HH, DHB Merino, DHB Extreme merino, Craft and some other random one's I own). I think this gives better insulation than a base layer that is stretched over the skin. It's a lovely blue colour (I don't think it's available in green or yellow DB).
It is not too loose, it's just right. If you like a bit of stretch, I think the M would suit someone who ordinarily take an L.
It also has a nice touch, in that where the zip comes to the top; it sits under a cloth flap which means you don't have the annoying sensation of a cold metal zip near your throat or a toggle that bounces around. It's also comfortable in a way that half zips sometimes aren't and it has an extra layer around the very high neck line; another couple of bonuses. The Isobaa is a very good length.
I think it was perfect for the conditions. It breathed very well and I wasn't in the slightest bit damp - especially around the lower back.
If it was a couple of degrees colder this evening, I think I would have chosen the HH freeze. It is by far the best base layer I have.
If I was to put the Isobaa on a scale in terms of comfort, breatheability, fit and performance, I would put it on a par with the HH.
In terms of insulation, it sits below the HH as a base layer for between 5 deg and upwards. I dare say, I could loose a layer or two and still wear it in warmer conditions - the half zip allowing for adjustment.
One thing more (and it's only a little thing; a first world problem), the Isobaa has a long, slightly thick cuff and this helped me put my Espresso on whilst holding the cuff of the base Isobaa with my middle fingers and when I slid the arms of the Espresso over it, it stayed in place where almost always, I have to go 'fishing'.

I do like this base layer. It's definitely going to be amongst the primary 'goto' cycle clothing I have. For me it outstrips the Craft base layer by streets.

Whilst not as comprehensive, well compiled or as articulate a review as Chris's, I hope this helps.

£37 (on offer) - well worth every penny. Arrived in an 'egg box' type material. No plastic bar the parcel it was wrapped in, very environmentally friendly but this bore no relation to my opinion on it.

https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/pr ... /id/870852

Oh and the merino buff (Giraffe Merino Neck Tube): a bit on the light side. Will prefer something a bit more substantial in colder weather.

bendertherobot

Sounds like a good buy. As I recall, Isobaa is a Sport Pursuit brand.

the_rover

A base layer never mentioned these days is the endura baa baa merino top, I’m sure you can still buy it but what a great cold weather top. I wore mine last week in 0 degrees with a icy wind under a alpha jacket and it was perfect.
In fact I think it soaks up the condensation better than the HH freeze which I’ve also got along with some craft winter b/layers.

pinno

I bought a pair of Endura Roubaix winter tights eons ago and they have been my staple deep winter tights until I bought the DHB windslam tights. Only thing lacking was a pad but this allowed me to wear the shorts fitted with the pad of my choice alongside them.

Given you think that the Endura baa baa base layer is better than the HH, i'll check it out.

apreading

The thing I like about the Helly Hansen is that its not just merino. I think some call it 'sport wool', with a layer of merino on one side and polyester on the other. This helps it hold its shape better both when it gets soggy when you are wearing (doesnt sag) it and after repeated washes (doesnt twist) and it just doesnt seem to age despite frequent use. I think it may also make it wick better so that when it gets damp it doesnt feel so clammy on your skin.

I dont have the endura but have a load if icebreaker stuff which is fantastic and some DHB merino and some Planet-X stuff. I prefer the HH over all of them for the bike but the other stuff is good and the icebreaker is sooo soft next to the skin.

bendertherobot

https://roubaixcycling.cc/2017/12/08/re ... he-jersey/

Been a bit busy recently, need to get back onto stuff!

daniel_b

bendertherobot wrote:

https://roubaixcycling.cc/2017/12/08/redwhite-the-jersey/

Been a bit busy recently, need to get back onto stuff!

I'm hoping for a GreenYellow or BlackYellow brand to spring up as an offshoot from this one.

mrfpb

The Rover wrote:

A base layer never mentioned these days is the endura baa baa merino top, I’m sure you can still buy it but what a great cold weather top. I wore mine last week in 0 degrees with a icy wind under a alpha jacket and it was perfect.
In fact I think it soaks up the condensation better than the HH freeze which I’ve also got along with some craft winter b/layers.

I went for a10km run in my SS BaaBaa top this week. I wore arm warmers for the first 5km. Really warm and no nasty smell at the end. Lovely.

pinno

mrfpb wrote:

The Rover wrote:

A base layer never mentioned these days is the endura baa baa merino top, I’m sure you can still buy it but what a great cold weather top. I wore mine last week in 0 degrees with a icy wind under a alpha jacket and it was perfect.
In fact I think it soaks up the condensation better than the HH freeze which I’ve also got along with some craft winter b/layers.

I went for a10km run in my SS BaaBaa top this week. I wore arm warmers for the first 5km. Really warm and no nasty smell at the end. Lovely.

Nasty smell of what exactly?!

daniel_b

Good news, the Gore shakedry kit is finally available in other colours. Just have to wait for a sale of some description, could be some time.




Cheapest plus cashback is currently £220.
There are two other colours too, but clearly the best one is above.

roubaixmb

@DanielB I hope you have entered this year's Dragon Ride - you'll lurv the jersey