This time of year, I put away the lycra and carbon-sole race shoes and forgo training for skills sessions or just plain fun riding. Here鈥檚 what I鈥檝e been wearing to keep it laid-back and beat the autumn chill.
Kitsbow Icon ($195)
The grouches will rant about the exorbitant cost of , Kitsbow鈥檚 new flannel jersey collaboration with the wool company. Complain all you want, but I haven鈥檛 worn anything but this piece since it arrived鈥攊t’s that cozy. You can wear it fitted and still move freely thanks to the gussets at the shoulders. Plus, the 3X Dry Schoeller panels on the elbows and shoulders have already proven their durability on a ground impact. (Like I said, skills sessions.) Mostly, I like that it just looks and feels like fall.
Twin Six Three Quarters ($120)
They aren鈥檛 new, but every time fall rolls around I find myself reaching for . Cut from a polyester-spandex blend made from post-consumer recycled plastic, they feel as comfy as a good soft shell. And they鈥檙e DWR coated to shed the inevitable mud of this time of year. I鈥檝e been wearing them with Specialized鈥檚 SWAT bibs so I don鈥檛 have to carry a pack.
Shimano SH-M200 ($180)
Though Shimano has focused on the cross-country set recently, the company pushed hard into the trail category this fall with three new enduro models. These offer premium features at a mid-range price. They’re cut high on the inside for extra heel protection and have nicely sculpted lugs made from three different densities of rubber for a good combination of durability and grip. And though I鈥檓 not a fan of laces, they work here because of the speed closure, the Velcro cover flap, and the addition of the buckle up top.
Giro Blaze Glove ($35)
If I could own only one pair of gloves, it would be . With just a light layer of insulation in the soft-shell backing and a plain leather palm, it’s useful in an incredibly broad range of conditions, from toasty fall afternoons all the way down to around freezing. It would probably be a bit lightweight for road riding in frigid temps, but the lower speeds on the trails make it ideal.聽
Spy Optics Cutter ($160-$220)
Thank goodness for companies like Spy who manage to pull off high-performance shades in a package that isn鈥檛 teched-out and geeky. look right at home on the beach, but they鈥檙e packed with innovation, including excellent ventilation and a range of interchangeable lens choices. I鈥檝e been wearing the black and white model with Spy鈥檚 Happy Lens, a polarized bronze tint that鈥檚 said to improve your mood by allowing in long-wave blue light. I鈥檓 not sure about that, but I鈥檝e been pretty happy with the huge coverage (I have chronically dry eyes) and the engineering to keep sweat of the glass. Note: while it鈥檚 true that the lenses are interchangeable (I also received a rose lens with my Cutters), the swivel mechanism for making the change isn鈥檛 the simplest to use.聽
Bontrager Ion 700 USB Headlight ($100)
Just a few years ago, some high-powered lights with external batteries were lucky to produce 700 lumens. Now, I have that much鈥攅nough for singletrack riding鈥攊n 聽that鈥檚 about half the size of a cigar. I鈥檝e run it on full power for just a little under two hours before it died, so it鈥檚 definitely built for commutes or after-work rides only, not all-night endeavors. But given its diminutive size and weight (only 5 ounces including handlebar mount), I鈥檝e been packing it along on every ride I take as a backup.