Useful winter accessory review
Check out my friend's review of the Comfort in Action Wind Tube.
Everyone should have something like this during winter. Schampa, TPro and others make similar products, but this is something different to check out as well.
Review: Olympia Pants
So far, I am loving these pants. They fit me perfectly and are better than the FirstGear Overpants I had before. Even though I'm a shortie with a 28" inseam, these aren't too long. I'm wearing a size 6 in this picture. I've found them to be as comfortable as my FG's, if not more comfy. I thought with the textile being thicker and more dense that it would be really uncomfortable riding, but I haven't found that to be the case. My favorite features of these pants are:
I really wish they would've added more reflective piping up the leg, instead of stopping at the knee. I also wish they had cargo pockets in the front like the men's pants do! Why do men get the cool features? Also, I do think that back pockets are useless when riding, and 2 big cargo pockets in the front would've been far more functional. Do you ever reach into the back pocket while riding?
You can see below that there's an 8" connecting zipper so you can wear these with many other brands of pants (including R'evit). It also comes with the 'top teeth' of the zipper so you can have it sewn into any jacket that doesn't have a matching zipper.
The hip and knee armor is fully changeable. You only get CE rated knee armor, but not hips. I've swapped out my knee armor for Dainese women's knee armor, since I'm using T-Pro in my leathers, I decided to use the Dainese armor in these instead. They're much more comfortable. The velcro armor pocket at the knees are adjustable up and down 2-3 inches in each direction as well. You can put in CE armor at the hips as well, although the pockets are a funny shape so you'd have to find armor that will fit the pockets.
When you're trying these on, be sure to sit on your bike (if you can) or another bike, or just assume a seated position. Keep in mind that these pants (like all gear) are designed to be most comfortable and fitted properly in riding position. So you want the armor to be in the right place and not move from over your knee. Your kneecap should be securely up against/in the deep 'pocket' of the armor while in riding position. You don't want the armor to shift should you crash, so that's why it needs to be snugly covering your knees. And, that's why gear is supposed to fit snug. You also want them to be a tad bit long so when you sit you have some room for the pants to rise up a bit at the thighs/waist. I'm not normally a fan of a high waisted pant, but in this case, they really work to keep the pants from riding too low in the back.
If you aren't used to so much velcro, the on and off will take some getting used to. It's definitely stronger velcro, which is good because we don't want it ripping apart if you're sliding. After a week or so of wearing them you'll get used to taking them on and off, and it should only take a few minutes to get fully dressed once you're used to the routine.
If you're tall and have trouble finding pants that fit you, these will fit. I've had women who are close to 5'10" try these on without any problems. They have added a couple inches at the bottom of their pants to make sure taller folks are covered.
Overall, I'd highly recommend these pants (which I already do!) to anyone looking for a pair of waterproof women's textile overpants, especially for commuters.
Too many jobs! And a review.
I am in the midst of switching jobs, but already started a new one 3 weeks ago. Sadly, between that and working a couple days as well at Scuderia West, it's been killing my spare time.
I need to update some things on my site and will attempt to do that by next weekend. I will be changing the reviews page to make it more useful. Hopefully I can get that done when we ride (Yeah!) down to SoCal next weekend.
In the meantime, I just wanted to share my latest purchase, a pair of Spidi Strada Womens' gloves. I needed a better pair of summer gloves with protection and perforation. As much as I'd love a pair of Racer High-End gloves, (see a review of the Racers from WebBikeWorld here), I just didn't want to spend that much. I purchased a pair of Lookwell unisex gloves last year, but the velcro on them is already falling apart! I also wanted a glove that was a little thicker, but not insulated like the Racer Multitops (see a review of these here) that I already wear mostly year round. I know, you're thinking, "how many pairs of gloves does she have??" Too many. Just ask my husband.
The Stradas retail for ~$99.00. They are perforated in between the fingers and I definitely love that feeling of wind between my fingers, especially when it's mildly hot and/or humid in San Francisco ( a rare occurrence, but it does happen!). I think I'll be taking them with me as we ride down to SoCal, as they will come in handy when we hit some hot spots. I've found them to be super comfortable, well ventilated and exactly what I need with San Francisco's and the Bay Area's microclimates.
