Pinkbike Product Picks
TSG Staten Carbon helmet
Carbon fiber is permeating nearly every section of the bike market, and full face helmets are no exception. TSG's Staten Carbon full face helmet uses a carbon fiber outer shell attached to an EPS liner to keep the weight down, and features removable cheek pads that can easily be snapped out for washing and de-funkifying. Instead of the more common D-ring chin strap, TSG went with a plastic buckle, similar to what is found on an XC helmet. There are three points of attachment for the visor, which can be adjusted up or down by loosening the screw in the center and setting it to the desired position. In the ventilation department, the Staten has a total of 11 vents, (counting the three closely spaced ones in the mouth guard), with a wire mesh covering to keep errant bits of loam from finding their way into the interior of the helmet. CE EN 1078 Certified. Weigh: 980 grams (actual). Available in S, M, L, XL. MSRP: $249.99 USD. www.ridetsg.com
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Pinkbike's take:
Club Ride Go Long jersey
Based out of Sun Valley, Idaho, Club Ride has a full line of apparel with a different take on what cycling clothing should look like. The Go Long is styled after a cowboy shirt, with a collar, pearl snaps, and a swath of plaid fabric running over the shoulders. Despite its casual appearance, the jersey has plenty of subtle technical features. The shirt uses Club Ride's RideDryWear fabric, a lightweight, polyester/spandex blend designed to be moisture wicking and quick drying. Mesh venting runs the whole length of the underarm and side of the shirt, and a ¾ length zipper, part of what Club Ride calls their Air2Flow system, is hidden behind the snaps. There is a front pocket with a snap closure, and two separate zippered pockets are located on the back left and right sides of the shirt. Colors: Ale, Indigo, Raven. Sizes: S, M, L, XL. MSRP: $99.99 USD. www.clubrideapparel.com
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Pinkbike's take:
iXS Dagger knee guard
The Dagger knee guard uses a hard plastic shell to protect the knees, and features an extension that covers the upper portion of the shin. Foam padding extends around the sides of the pads, and is also in place above the plastic knee cap, a design intended to protect as much of the knee as possible during a crash. A stretchy mesh backing works in conjunction with two hook-and-loop straps to secure the pads, and a silicone band at the top keeps them from slipping down. iXS uses AeroMesh, an anti-bacterial, moisture wicking fabric to keep the pads odor free. Sizes: S, M, L, XL. MSRP: $85.00 USD. www.ixs-sportsdivision.com
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Pinkbike's take:
Carbon fiber is permeating nearly every section of the bike market, and full face helmets are no exception. TSG's Staten Carbon full face helmet uses a carbon fiber outer shell attached to an EPS liner to keep the weight down, and features removable cheek pads that can easily be snapped out for washing and de-funkifying. Instead of the more common D-ring chin strap, TSG went with a plastic buckle, similar to what is found on an XC helmet. There are three points of attachment for the visor, which can be adjusted up or down by loosening the screw in the center and setting it to the desired position. In the ventilation department, the Staten has a total of 11 vents, (counting the three closely spaced ones in the mouth guard), with a wire mesh covering to keep errant bits of loam from finding their way into the interior of the helmet. CE EN 1078 Certified. Weigh: 980 grams (actual). Available in S, M, L, XL. MSRP: $249.99 USD. www.ridetsg.com
TSG's Staten Carbon helmet is one of the lighter full face helmets available, a potential selling point for enduro racers looking for a helmet that won't weigh them down.
Pinkbike's take:
 | The Staten Carbon's weight, or lack of it, is the helmet's most immediately apparent feature. Anyone who has ever spent time grinding up a logging road with a full face helmet strapped to their pack knows how heavy it can feel after after an hour or two of sustained climbing. Hauling less weight up the hill helps conserve energy for when it really matters - the descent. Given its light weight, we could see this helmet being popular with enduro racers at events that require full face helmets to be worn. When it was time to go down, the Staten felt balanced, with good peripheral vision and enough visor adjustment to get it out of the line of sight. We didn't spend any time testing the Staten with a neck brace on, but there was plenty of room between the back of the helmet and a fully loaded pack, even when looking straight up. The helmet's fit around the top and back of the head was snug and secure, but there was more room on each side of the jaw than we would have liked - the thickness of the cheek padding could stand to be increased. It would be best to try the helmet on before buying it, as some riders may find there to be too much room around the cheek area to achieve the proper fit. As far as ventilation goes, the Staten has four vent holes at the top of the helmet, and four smaller vents towards the rear, but it lacks any vents directly above the brow, or any type of inner channeling to direct airflow to the rear of the helmet, features that are becoming the norm on high-end full face helmets. The majority of our rides with the Staten Carbon took place in relatively mild temperatures, so we weren't able to see how it handles a sweltering summer day, but the venting was adequate for the conditions it was tested in. It would have been nice to see a D-ring closure instead of a plastic buckle - it's a little easier to fine tune a chin strap's tightness with a D-ring, and they are much less prone to breakage. As far as pricing goes, the Staten falls into a sort of middle ground - it's nearly $100 more than many non-carbon shelled helmets, but at the same time is $200 less than the latest batch of more full-featured, high-end helmets. It may also be difficult for riders in North America to get their hands on TSG's Staten Carbon, as it has only been tested to the European EN 1078 standard, and is not currently ASTM or CPSC certified. - Mike Kazimer |
Club Ride Go Long jersey
Based out of Sun Valley, Idaho, Club Ride has a full line of apparel with a different take on what cycling clothing should look like. The Go Long is styled after a cowboy shirt, with a collar, pearl snaps, and a swath of plaid fabric running over the shoulders. Despite its casual appearance, the jersey has plenty of subtle technical features. The shirt uses Club Ride's RideDryWear fabric, a lightweight, polyester/spandex blend designed to be moisture wicking and quick drying. Mesh venting runs the whole length of the underarm and side of the shirt, and a ¾ length zipper, part of what Club Ride calls their Air2Flow system, is hidden behind the snaps. There is a front pocket with a snap closure, and two separate zippered pockets are located on the back left and right sides of the shirt. Colors: Ale, Indigo, Raven. Sizes: S, M, L, XL. MSRP: $99.99 USD. www.clubrideapparel.com
Technical performance with a stylish look, the Go Long jersey has extensive venting as well as a hidden zipper behind the classy pearl snaps.
Pinkbike's take:
| Cycling fashion is a funny thing. There aren't too many sports where there's such a wide take on what 'proper' riding attire is. Some riders forgo any type of technical apparel, going out for rides clad in cotton t-shirts and cut off jean shorts, while others have no trouble parading around dressed head to toe in shiny spandex. Luckily, there's a middle ground, which is where Club Ride comes in. Photos of the Go Long don't do it justice - the fabric is lighter than it looks, and we found the shirt to be very compressible, perfect for tossing it into a hydration pack as an extra layer. Even though it is a long sleeve shirt, the side panel venting helps prevent overheating, and makes the shirt usable in a wider range of temperatures. The fit was relaxed without being overly baggy, and there was enough room to layer underneath for cooler temperatures. The slight amount of stretch in the fabric meant that when we rolled up the sleeves they stayed put without digging into our arms. Club Ride's Air2Flow system, the zipper behind the snaps, is supposed to allow for more or less ventilation depending on if the zipper is used, but the difference in air flow was minimal. Granted, our rides all took place with a hydration pack on - the difference might have been more noticeable if there weren't sternum and waist straps blocking the front of the shirt. While the styling of the Go Long might not be for everyone, riders searching for a technical riding shirt that doesn't take itself too seriously are in luck. Plus, if a ride happens to end up close to a honky tonk bar, you'll be able to two-step right on in without getting odd looks from the patrons. - Mike Kazimer |
iXS Dagger knee guard
The Dagger knee guard uses a hard plastic shell to protect the knees, and features an extension that covers the upper portion of the shin. Foam padding extends around the sides of the pads, and is also in place above the plastic knee cap, a design intended to protect as much of the knee as possible during a crash. A stretchy mesh backing works in conjunction with two hook-and-loop straps to secure the pads, and a silicone band at the top keeps them from slipping down. iXS uses AeroMesh, an anti-bacterial, moisture wicking fabric to keep the pads odor free. Sizes: S, M, L, XL. MSRP: $85.00 USD. www.ixs-sportsdivision.com
The Dagger knee guards extend part way down the shin, providing a little extra protection from pedal strikes.
Pinkbike's take:
| The overall fit of the Dagger knee guards is excellent - there is a cutout inside for the top of the knee that helps lock the pads into place and prevents them from sliding around when pedaling (or crashing). We took a couple of spills while wearing the Dagger, and they stayed securely in place without sliding down at all, an important trait for any knee protection. There's nothing worse than having pads that only work for the first part of a crash before sliding down and revealing your skin to the sharp rocks and sticks that eagerly await. However, we did run into one issue - at the spot where the front padding is sewn to the back panel, located on the bottom portion of the pad on the outside of the leg, there is a thick seam. This seam wasn't initially noticeable, but on extended pedaling sections it soon made its presence known, digging in and chafing with each pedal stroke. If the seam was flatter, or perhaps sewn in a slightly different manner, it wouldn't be a problem at all. Of course, pad fit will vary depending on a rider's leg / calf shape, but we'd recommend trying on the Dagger knee guard and pedaling around if possible to determine whether the seam will be bothersome. - Mike Kazimer |
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Inside ?
But seriously -- who doesn't love an adorably ugly plaid shirt or the character that can actually pull it off? Personally, I like my ugly plaid cut off and paired with lots of denim, an equally ugly moustache and some sort of cheap beer. Yum. Shit.... Double yum.
Maybe they add a bolo tie to each shirt?