MOUNTAINBIKINGGEAR
In association with
Words: Ben Marchant
Bits for the Bike
Shimano XT
cebreakers short-sleeve Chase Zip top SL-M775
is custom designed to meet all your DualI
multi-sport activity needs, including Control0
mountain biking, and still leave you looking RRP:
cool and fresh down the pub afterwards as €276 per pair
you toast the sun going down.The jersey
has no strange rear cycling pockets that will
have your friends looking at you weirdly but
features a neat pocket at the hip for the boys
and the chest for the girls to hold a bank
card, phone and cash, making you ready for
anything.
Being Icebreaker, it’s made from Merino
wool. For those who have never heard of
Merino wool first a quick introduction.
Hailing from the New Zealand Alps,
Icebreaker’s merino sheep need to survive
in temperatures which vary dramatically
from summer to winter. So this wool has an
amazing ability to dissipate heat and breathe
as well as holding heat it in when things
get cold.. NoNot only does the fabric deal really
welll l with temperatures but it also does not
become ssmelly from body odours in the same couple of years ago Shimano
wayy as ssynthetic fabrics like polyester. In factr introduced a new form of shiftingkearebe
Iceebrbreeakera can be worn for days and daysIc A called‘Dual Control’. Ridersip
withoutwitho making your neighbours toes curl.Z reacted badly thinking that they were aseahC
This top is light enough for most weather replacement for Rapidfire and they werey
conditions. No excuses for not cycling to thatjerse tainted as a fad. However, recently we
barbb ecue now….95 were convinced to try them and boy is the€69RRP:
hype wrong. Dual Control not only works,
it is fantastic!
The brake lever pivots to change
gears, kind of like a road lever. Push
down to move down the cassette andhen it’s a little colder layer the
upwards to change up the cassette toRapid zip over the Chase zip
an easier gear. There is also a thumbW or wear it next to your skin
lever to change up the cassette andto keep things snug and warm. It’s made
all movements allow for multiple gearfrom a heavier grade of Merino wool than
changes. Shifting is immediate as thethe Chase zip (GT280 weight while the
cable is immediately released and it isChase Zip is GT180) and features a chest zip
slick and fast as you would expect frompocket. It also has thumb loops to keep the
Shimano. The real ace in the hole is whensleeves pulled down.
you pair the Dual Controls with a RapidThis is a truly versatile garment, as at
Rise rear mech (RRP: €83). As a result youhome off the bike as on. Panels under the
can change gear under load to a certainarms are mesh to aid in ventilation.
extent as the spring in the mech works in
reverse to a normal mech. Changing up
the block is therefore much easier as the
spring agrees with the direction of travel.Icebrea
This setup is fantastic for cross-kerRa
country riding.You can change gearpid Zip long
while breaking but we have neversleeve
unintentionally changed gear whilejersey
RRP: braking. Shifts are smoother and fast and€149
the system is easy to operate and light.
Highly recommended.
62| June-July|OUTSIDER
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