If you happen to reside in additional northern climes, you’re not snowed in, and also you’re an HTFU-rider prepared to courageous the chilly and parts, good winter equipment is completely important. If it’s trendy (I do know style is within the eye of the beholder) too, that’s a bonus. PEZ bought some prime shelf winter equipment from RUBBER N’ ROAD that IMHO is each purposeful and trendy.
RUBBER N’ ROAD equipment comes slickly packaged
The title RUBBER N’ ROAD evokes two completely different ideas for me:
- RUBBER – The phrase acceptable to each biking and motorcycling: Hold the rubber facet down
- ROAD – Nicely, the open highway that all of us like to journey
I’m guessing RUBBER N’ ROAD is a model most PEZ readers haven’t heard of. It’s a boutique luxurious efficiency model based mostly out of The Large Apple aka New York Metropolis. Their retail retailer is positioned in Midtown Manhattan (however they’re additionally worldwide with world retail companions in Dubai (UAE), Osaka (Japan), Quebec Metropolis (Canada), and Seoul (Korea). On the second ground above the shop is their design studio and atelier the place they design, develop, prototype, and produce idea items for his or her product testing crew. Inspiration for his or her equipment is drawn from literature, movie, pictures, style, and philosophy and expresses their relationship with New York Metropolis’s style, artwork, and avenue tradition. Loads of their equipment is manufactured inside a two mile radius of their retailer in NYC’s Garment District (additionally known as the Trend District).
Insurgent Hybrid Jacket – $320
In accordance with RUBBER N’ ROAD:
- The Insurgent Hybrid Jacket blurs the traces between jersey and jacket for cold-weather driving. Fusing a mixture of efficiency materials in progressive weights to advertise adaptive thermoregulation. The piece offers wind, water, chill safety, and breathability the place you want it most.
- Densely woven water resistant and windproof material on the entrance and outer arm areas, mixed with a extra open construction and moisture-wicking fleece material on the again, protects in opposition to the chilly whereas stopping overheating and build-up of extra moisture.
- Appropriate for temperatures between 32ºF – 50ºF (0ºC – 10ºC), the Insurgent Hybrid Jacket presents a flexible possibility based mostly in your chosen base layer.
- Designed in NYC and made in Italy.
Chuck Peña PEZ sez: For winter driving, I’m an enormous fan of what I name “jersey jackets.” Primarily a jacket (so “beefier” than a jersey however not so cumbersome) that gives sufficient thermal insulation and wind resistance such that it may be worn by itself as a jersey with an acceptable baselayer beneath — fewer layers and fewer bulk to keep away from the Michelin Man look. That’s precisely what the RUBBER N’ ROAD Insurgent Hybrid Jacket is.
If there’s something that makes the jacket a jersey, it’s the three rear pockets plus the safe zipper pocket
Building-wise, the Insurgent Hybrid Jacket is principally a entrance panel that has two halves joined collectively by the full-length zipper, a again panel (with three rear pockets and safe zipper pocket), and raglan sleeves which might be two-piece development. The sleeve ends are a double-cuffed stretch materials. A excessive collar. And the hem is a semi-wide stretch silicone gripper.
Full-zip with a full-length wind flap behind the (gold normal) YKK zipper
NOTE: We most likely don’t consider sleeves a lot with regards to equipment. I imply … sleeves are sleeves, proper? However raglan fashion sleeves are notably well-suited for biking. Raglan sleeves match the pure contours of your shoulders higher. This prevents bunching up or chafing and leads to a extra snug match. In addition they enable for elevated vary of movement, making it simpler to maneuver your arms and shoulders with out feeling restricted.
Excessive collar with a zipper storage to forestall the zipper from flipping up (and one other zipper storage on the backside)
The Insurgent Hybrid Jacket makes use of two completely different supplies. The entrance panel and the highest of the sleeves are a water resistant/windproof materials. The within has a brushed really feel that’s tender and easy. The again panel and the beneath a part of the sleeves are a moisture wicking material. And the within feels even softer and smoother — very flannel-like.
Designed in 🇺🇸 however made in 🇮🇹
RUBBER N’ ROAD doesn’t spec weight, however I’m certain there are those that will wish to know
Max at RUBBER N’ ROAD steered measurement XS for me. On me (5’8″, 130 kilos, skinny ectomorph), it’s very a lot a second pores and skin race match (my spouse nonetheless can’t consider I can squeeze into an XS). But as tight as it’s on me, it doesn’t really feel restrictive. Nonetheless, for those who’re not shopping for from the RUBBER N’ ROAD retailer in NYC (or certainly one of their different stores) the place you possibly can attempt before you purchase, I’d strongly counsel discussing with them about sizing.
Type becoming might be an understatement
No mistaking that this can be a winter jacket/jersey with the excessive collar
I really like the chrome brand on the jacket … undoubtedly bling
Winter Thermal Base Layer – $160
In accordance with RUBBER N’ ROAD:
- The Winter Thermal Base Layer employs a US-milled recycled material to supply mild insulation and distinctive moisture wicking properties within the type of a chilly climate base layer. When worn in opposition to the pores and skin, this superior thermal waffle-knit material pulls moisture from the pores and skin whereas trapping warmth to control physique temperature.
- Designed and made in NYC.
Chuck Peña PEZ sez: Like all winter base layers, the RUBBER N’ ROAD Winter Thermal Base Layer is basically a long-sleeve jersey that’s thermal insulating. Just like the Insurgent Hybid Jacket, the sleeves are raglan for higher match and luxury. #marginalgains What’s completely different from most different winter base layers is the fabric. On the surface the feel is easy. However on the within it’s what I’d name “waffle-like.” The texture of it in opposition to my naked pores and skin is paying homage to old skool thermal underwear. All of the seams are flat stitched.
If weight issues
RUBBER N’ ROAD didn’t have XS in inventory so I ended up getting measurement S within the Winter Thermal Base Layer. Not a second pores and skin, however measurement S match me simply advantageous. Which is to say comfortably cosy.
Type becoming … sure. Uber race second pores and skin … not fairly.
PREVAIL Professional Bib Tights – $390
In accordance with RUBBER N’ ROAD:
- Designed for all-day adventures in gentle to chilly temperatures if you require superior local weather safety, space for storing, consolation and sturdiness, to get probably the most out of your journey.
- Lengthy lasting consolation and sturdiness using the newest technical achievements in design, material composition and manufacturing capabilities. A complicated thermal microclimate is constructed utilizing 5 unique woven and knit materials. Most consolation is achieved by means of patented ultra-sonic stitching know-how for final ergonomic shaping of the chamois, engineered utilizing Hybrid Cells inserts with 4 densities.
- Excessive-stretch woven Dyneema® yarn offers excessive safety from saddle abrasion and potential pilling, a typical concern with brushed fleece materials in winter, when static electrical energy can create undesirable clings. Patented silicone-free gripping material and our proprietary cuff shaping guarantee stability and diminished quantity across the ankle cuff.
- Designed and made in NYC.
Chuck Peña PEZ sez: If I counted appropriately, the PREVAIL Professional Bib Tights have a minimum of 13 stretch panels (plus the ankle gripper sections, the bib strap again part, and the bib straps). Clearly, RUBBER N’ ROAD is from the college of “extra is best.” The thought behind having so many panels is that the bib tights will conform/map to your physique higher. And for bib tights, higher articulation on the knee for the pedal stroke. In fact, extra panels means extra seams. In all however a number of, RUBBER N’ ROAD makes use of flat stitching (serge stitching within the others) to minimizing rubbing/chafing. And all of the panels (which use completely different stretch supplies) have a brushed lining for heat and luxury. Type of like flannel pajamas. So snug in opposition to my naked pores and skin.
The bib a part of the PREVAIL Professional Bib Tights is a tried-and-true Y-back the place the again panel is a ribbed/mesh vented materials for wicking and the large bib straps are lay flat, uncooked reduce.
For the load weenies
One factor that’s completely different in regards to the PREVAIL Professional Bib Tights is that they’ve pockets.
Two facet pockets like these discovered on cargo bib shorts which might be the craze with gravel riders
Two pockets within the again are clearly meant for stuff you don’t want easy accessibility to
A few different issues which might be completely different in regards to the PREVAIL Professional Bib Tights:
The ankle gripper part grips extra than simply across the ankle; it goes up alongside the fibula (NOTE: It’s not a silcone gripper)
The skin of the chamois part is Dyneema for abrasion resistance within the saddle
Talking of the chamois aka pad, RUBBER N’ ROAD makes use of a chamois made for them by Elastic Interface — a model with a confirmed observe document. A very good variety of my bib shorts (and bib tights) have Elastic Interface pads and all of them are nothing lower than snug for lengthy hours within the saddle.
In any pair of bib shorts or bib tights, the chamois/pad is the cash
As with the Insurgent Hybrid Jacket, Max at RUBBER N’ ROAD really helpful measurement XS for me for the PREVAIL Professional Bib Tights. It undoubtedly takes some tugging and pulling to squeeze into them, however they match me (once more, my spouse can’t consider I can put on XS). Just like the jacket … second pores and skin tight. But snug … for me (race match is my most well-liked match — I actually just like the agency compression). However the match wasn’t boa constrictor tight and didn’t limit my freedom of motion. That stated, take note of RUBBER N’ ROAD’s sizing and, if wanted, give them a name to speak about sizing. If something, you’re most likely extra more likely to want/wish to measurement up moderately than down.
Spray-on bib tights
One of many causes I choose race match is as a result of with the firmness of the compression and the bib straps being “tight” (however not so tight as to be binding/digging in on my shoulders) the chamois is held firmly in place (to forestall friction, which is the primary reason behind any discomfort down beneath moderately than lack of padding).
Vast bib straps that sit comfortably on my shoulders (NOTE the 2 again pockets simply above the waist)
The facet cargo pockets are large enough for many bigger measurement sensible telephones (my daughter’s outdated iPhone 6S Plus for reference)
Stylish equipment
I stated originally that IMHO the RUBBER N’ ROAD winter equipment is each purposeful and trendy.
Right here’s the purposeful half:
Up to now this winter, I’ve managed a number of shorter (20-something miles) rides within the RUBBER N’ ROAD equipment (each within the Lowcountry after I was down there for Christmas and up in Babylon on the Potomac afterwards) with temps right down to the low 40s (F). So far as chilly climate equipment goes, the RUBBER N’ ROAD equipment is the true deal. As somebody of tropical (Filipino) ethnic heritage, I are inclined to get chilly simply. I received’t say the RUBBER N’ ROAD equipment saved me heat (within the sense of heated), however it saved me heat sufficient (as in protecting me from getting too chilly) — with simply the Insurgent Hybrid Jacket, Winter Thermal Base Layer beneath (no jersey), and PREVAIL Professional Bib Tights.
Not that I do a complete lot of outside winter driving lately (one of many perks of being a senior citizen is that you simply get to be a wimp), however I’ll be reaching for the RUBBER N’ ROAD equipment on these days after I’m courageous sufficient to enterprise out into the chilly (40F is about my restrict and the solar must be out with little or no wind). And who is aware of? With the RUBBER N’ ROAD equipment I’d even be prepared to embrace the coolness.
And right here’s the trendy half:
I really like the white Insurgent Hybrid Jacket paired with the PREVAIL Professional Bib Tights. It’s a cultured, traditional look. With simply that bit of glitz with the chrome logos on the back and front of the jacket. Flash with out being too flashy.
Furthermore, the second pores and skin race match is the equal of a match to perfection tailor-made swimsuit.
Chrome bling
For me, the look evokes James Bond sporting a white dinner jacket (Sean Connery in Goldfinger and Diamonds are Eternally; Roger Moore in The Man With the Golden Gun, Octopussy, and A View to a Kill; and Daniel Craig in Spectre). So not simply stylish and traditional … cool, if not the epitome of cool.
If James Bond rode a motorbike, that is the sort of equipment he would put on
Be aware: When you’ve got different experiences with gear or one thing so as to add, drop us a line. We don’t declare to know every little thing (we simply suggest it at occasions). Give us a pat on the again for those who just like the critiques or a slap within the head for those who really feel the necessity!
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