Born to be bold: Six fresh outfits
As summer creeps ever closer, we look at six new styles that promise to get noticed
Primal
Orson Welles once said, ‘Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.’ Well, you’ll certainly need to not give a damn when wearing this ’80s throwback. If you have a nostalgic penchant for the era that gave us power lunches, electro music and E.T. then this should be on the top of your summer wish list. ‘Our designers have been inspired by the outrageous shapes, colours and floppy disk-generated fun from the era of big hair, big style and even bigger cell phones,’ Primal said. Well, it’s certainly outrageous – just as well they went for reserved bibshorts. If you’ve never worn Primal before, we recommend going a size down from your usual fit.
Helmet
Bell Gage MIPS, £150, zyro.co.uk
Shades
Julbo Aero, £140, julbo.com
Jersey
Primal Wuz-zappenin, £50, primaleurope.com
Bibs
Primal Onyx Evo, £100, primaleurope.com
Socks
POC Raceday, £20, 2pure.co.uk
Shoes
Bontrager Classique, £200, trekbikes.com
Rapha
Rapha’s designers have obviously been doodling hard over the winter if their new Spring/Summer collection’s anything to go by. The fade has been a favourite among small clothing companies producing cycling tops, particularly in the US, and Rapha has now taken that look into the big leagues. Their super lightweight jersey is smooth and elegant, showcasing the iconic Rapha pink, it’s a nice mix of something new and something classic. The lightweight bibshorts keep things in line with the pink leg band, and round off the whole look nicely. With a whole host of other pretty kit styles out, Rapha again proves it knows what to do and how to do it when it comes to great gear.
Helmet
Bell Gage MIPS, £150, zyro.co.uk
Shades
Tifosi Pro Escalate Shield, £140, zyro.co.uk
Jersey
Rapha Super Lightweight, £90, rapha.cc
Bibs
Rapha Lightweight, £155, rapha.cc
Socks
POC Raceday, £20, 2pure.co.uk
Shoes
Giro Empire Road, £230, zyro.co.uk
Morvélo
Morvélo has carved out a reputation for producing some very stylish stuff over the last few years, and this latest offering doesn't disappoint. They've typically decided to go down a more elegant route than a lot of the other new looks we’ve seen, with this simple design that wouldn’t look out of place on a Paris catwalk. Even though the bibshorts use the same pattern as the jersey, the understated effect means it doesn’t feel overdone while retaining a uniformity. However, don’t think it’s only about style with Morvélo. The close cut coupled with fine-quality materials and design, including arm and leg grippers, ensures that not only do you look fast but you'll go fast, too.
Helmet
Bell Gage MIPS, £150, zyro.co.uk
Shades
Smith PivLock V2 Max, £149, smithoptics.com
Jersey
Morvélo Button Nth Series, £90, wiggle.co.uk
Bibs
Morvélo Button Nth Series, £120, wiggle.co.uk
Socks
POC Raceday socks, £20, 2pure.co.uk
Shoes
Giro Empire Road, £230, zyro.co.uk
DHB
Coming in under £100 (jersey, shorts and socks), the Wiggle-owned brand certainly provides bang for your buck with this outfit. Dhb may be the cheapest out of the lot, but it doesn’t lack in quality. With its UPF of 30+ and anti-bacterial fabric treatment, Dhb’s Blok jersey will protect you from the sun and the stink in even the hottest conditions. This kit is for those of you who don’t take cycling too seriously – as Dhb told us, ‘We're here to remind you that modern cycling isn’t all about KOMs and PBs!’
Helmet
Bell Gage MIPS, £150, zyro.co.uk
Shades
Spiuk Ventrix Lumiris, £70, silverfish-uk.com
Jersey
Dhb Prism Blok, £40, wiggle.co.uk
Bibs
Dhb Prism Blok, £50, wiggle.co.uk
Socks
Dhb Prism Blok, £7, wiggle.co.uk
Shoes
Giro Empire Road, £230, zyro.co.uk
Pedla
Designed by the firm from Down Under, this kit knows how to deal with serious heat. Using super-lightweight material, this will keep you cool and safe as the sun beats down on you. The bold camo design is definitely a choice for those of you who are still a child at heart but also like to put the hard hours in on the bike. We found the jersey's sleeves to be quite long, so if you like a more classic look, try a size down. The bibs are also a tad lengthy, but if you’re wearing that wild top, that’s probably the last thing folks will notice!
Helmet
Bell Gage MIPS, £150, zyro.co.uk
Shades
Endura Pacu Photochromic, £80, endurasport.com
Jersey
Pedla Ride/Camo, £100, alwaysriding.co.uk
Bibs
Pedla Long Haul G2 Knicks, £115, alwaysriding.co.uk
Socks
Pedla Spinners, £15, alwaysriding.co.uk
Shoes
Bontrager Classique Road, £200, trekbikes.com
Ornot
Having only recently made the leap across the Atlantic, Ornot gear hasn’t taken long to catch our eye. And we were very glad to get our hands on some. With a company slogan of ‘Minimally branded cycling apparel’, Ornot brings some subtle style to proceedings with this number. Designed and made in California, the US company’s clobber screams quality. The comfortable chamois, slinky race-fit and smooth styling certainly added a level of elegance to our Sunday outing!
Helmet
Bell Gage MIPS, £150, zyro.co.uk
Shades
Smith PivLock V2 Max, £149, smithoptics.com
Jersey
Ornot Blue Line, £100, alwaysriding.co.uk
Bibs
Ornot 2.0, £110, alwaysriding.co.uk
Socks
Ornot Blue Line, £15, alwaysriding.co.uk
Shoes
Giro Empire Road, £230, zyro.co.uk
