Albion, nice and a reasonable amount of pocket locations

@Juliancc Just gone live this morning, and @HousecatHST (but no rain jackets)
https://www.albioncycling.com/landing/sale

@cookiemonster I've been keeping my eyes open for one - including looking in Condor when I was in - but can't turn anything up I'm afraid :(

@will101 I'll get back to you/pm as soon as I can.

Thanks! I assume you’ll have a new run at some point (even if it’s months away)

Ah. Thanks for this, but someone has already messaged me as there was one for sale on Vinted. Crisis averted!

Can anyone tell me their experience with the lightweight zoa insulated.. what sort of temperatures are you riding this in?

https://www.albioncycling.com/products/mens-zoa-lightweight-insulated-jacket-black?Size=S

edit: out of stock.. but still would like to hear about operating temps.

I can't wear it on a proper ride, jacket is just far too good/warm. I'll wear it to ride to work if its less than 5 degrees but that's a 10k ride at a super chill pace. Could be an ideal audax layer for when the arse completely falls out of the temperature overnight/early morning, that's what I got mine for given how packable it is but haven't had the opportunity to try it just yet.

And @ElGonzo generally runs cold FWIW

Yeah I’m in the market for a rain jacket, happy to spend for something quality that’ll last, but £350 is simply too beaucoup.

I agree £315 (with forum code) is a solid wedge of money, and not to be spent lightly. I mentioned up thread it's tough times with costs escalating across the board. Energy, raw materials, transport, etc everything has jumped. As riders and part of the cycle community, it's frustrating to be in this situation (and fuck Brexit in particular) but we're doing our best to keep an honest price on a pinnacle product/fabric.

Their is a burner for sale on the bay this morning.

I was good last year so Santa brought me one of the trail hunter caps. I've not been on the bike yet this year but have been cutting about with it on. So nice and toasty!

Zoa insulated light jacket, how does this compare in terms of warmth off the bike compared to say a Decathlon basic down jacket?

This might be a house deposit worth of Albion but it's a pretty good example of layering for the cold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCZkkguZPBU

I'm still looking at getting myself an insulated synth jacket for things like AMR and winter touring and saving my PHD down jacket just for sleeping (it's too warm for riding in and AMR was down to either -6 or -11, depending on who you ask so it's unlikely I'll be experiencing much colder unless I start mountaneering or something)

Interesting.

I'm reading this https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pfc-bans-are-going-to-change-the-face-of-all-waterproof-garments/ at the moment. I remember their announcement and thought nothing of it at the time. I have a Castelli Shakedry that I bought second hand off here. It's not had much use as I tend to go from no jacket to full winter jacket with little in between but I love that it fits in a jersey pocket for those "I dunno if it's gonna rain" days. I doesn't have a hood though so it's not that much use for the longer stuff I tend to do where I can't look at the forecast for a week ahead and be certain there's no rain.

On the shift away from PFCs, what do you make of HH new stuff, LIFA INFINITY™ ?
https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/odin-1-world-infinity-jacket-63099

https://www.tetongravity.com/story/gear-tech/tgr-tested-helly-hansens-odin-mountain-infinity-shell-jacket

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJev5Qa7JoM

What’s the recommended tech wash/DWR treatment? I have an insulated Zoa from I think 2020 that I won on an Instagram competition and it’s looking a bit grimy.

Nikwax techwash or downwash direct. Then In a tumble drier afterwards.

^ seconded. I've also used Grangers down wash and reproofer recently and that was fine as well.

Great article, really positive to see this stuff being discussed honestly and pragmatically. Not sure what you are replying to, apologies, but just incase, this article is really good too;

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/the-future-of-waterproof-clothing-one-year-closer-to-the-pfas-ban/

Polyproplyene membranes have been on my radar for a while, and although I've not actually trialled any yet, I do have some stuff in work. On paper it makes a lot of sense; it's the least absorbent fibre by a long way, so creating a micro-porous/nanofibre mesh/membrane seems perfect. I've seen it described as 'hydrophobic' which I think is a bit of a misnomer, because it relies on being impervious to H2O absorption, rather than actively repelling like previous tech - in the same way glass won't 'absorb' rain (and does allow it to settle on the surface) but if you treat the glass with a silicone/PFOA DWR the water droplets are repelled and bead off.

Polypro has a very low melt-point (~171ºC) so is tricky to laminate, bond, heat-seal etc. so it comes with additional problems in manufacture ....and polyprop has a reputation for odour retention. As I say, I haven't trialled one yet, but this could add another layer of complexity to the product ....the most effective anti-bac/anti-odour treatments (silver ion) are biocides, and perceived as toxic in Scandinavia...

Bringing things back up, from an environmental perspective, it opens the way for mono-material technical garments, which theoretically could be recycled in the same way drinks bottles or tin cans are. It's a long way off, but is an option for circular systems, but could be another interesting dimension to the way you experience a piece of apparel/brand etc.

And yes agree with the reproofing advice; Go with Grangers or Nikwax, and follow the instructions.

If doing in a machine, it's recommended to run a service wash first. This thoroughly cleans out detergent residue, which contain water softners & surfactants, designed to improve water/soap ingress into the fabric/fibres, and optimise cleaning effect. If your garment ends up with detergent residue in the fibres, this could help water soak in quicker/deeper, so hopefully the service wash will reduce this.

Second, follow the finishing/curing instructions closely. Years back a colleague evaluated different treatments, and said the final heat stage (radiator, cool iron, tumbledry etc) was the critical point to 'activate' the DWR.

Realise it's a bit of a faff, cleaning the machine, reproofing, heating/finishing etc so do a joblot if possible - or your friends kit too.

Let us know how you get on!

has a reputation for odour retention

As soon as you typed Polypro I was thinking "damn, not the undershirts of death!" :D
I'm still wearing what I think is a polypro undershirt from Oz, which must make it easily 20 years old. It's actually really comfortable on the skin, more like merino and doesn't seem to retain pong as much as some of my other, polypro bits. (maybe it's not polypro at all but that's all I remember buying for years and years until merino was more of a hit).

on this how would you rate the rab eco downpour?

it opens the way for mono-material technical garments, which theoretically could be recycled in the same way drinks bottles or tin cans are

This is what we'd just started trying to develop when I left Morvelo, it seemed pretty within reach but then other types of shit hit the fan sadface

@spinnnout

I have one. I wear it in sub 10° weather with a base layer and a ls jersey down to about freezing.

I’ve tried it in spring/summer early mornings, but it’s boil in the bag if you are moving about.

I have used it successfully as an easily packable jacket in warmer weather if camping or stopping to eat and suddenly it gets a bit chilly or mooching about before races/rides

It’s not something I would trust to keep me dry. However I’m really happy with it

Getting back into winter riding has me thinking about kit again, and am always on the lookout for stuff that bridges roadie clothing performance with an element of, OK to wear down the pub.

Think a Zoa ultra hoodie could be ace (but have no textile experience).

Take the material from the Ultra (thin, windproof, good for 4-12 degrees), a similar cut but can be worn over trousers or lycra with room for a LS base. Then the same pockets as the Zoa (maybe drop the chest) along with a discrete under helmet hood and two way zip.

It could just be me though.

Cheers! Sounds similar to stuff I already have, will hold out for now.

Do you have a feeling for how good/bad for the environment the nikwax analogy stuff is, a la paramo. It is quite warm and heavy (so you sort of need to wear only if not going to be taking it off) but when commuting I found it great (also for breathability) and also for winter walking/mountaineering. But not clear if anyone has ever tried making technical cycling clothing with it. Suspect lack of stretch a problem?