Crivvens

Most recent activity

• Merino Clothing (base layers, etc)

  in Bikes & Bits • 13 years, 5 months

  

  rapha is made in china, very flimsy (put my thumb through a long sleeve when pulling it off)

  And you'll have paid an arm and a leg for the brand name. just as bad value. Decent merino is comfortable, not flimsy, and wears well. I've got some stuff Ive been wearing for 3 years and its still good even tho I wear it regularly and no pilling, bobbling - whatever you call it. I didn't pay Rapha prices for it either. I wont buy the cheap stuff, but I wont pay daft prices for a "name" - especially if its been made dirt cheap in China.

  And by the way, I always machine wash and hang on line to dry. But don't wash socks after only 3 rides - get at least a week's worth before washing. Never had a problem with shrinkage.

• Merino Clothing (base layers, etc)

  in Bikes & Bits • 13 years, 5 months

  

  Just had a look at their site - no way is this real superfine merino. It's not "superfine" merino - it's "superfine knit"- in other words so flimsy it'll fall apart in no time - sounds like the one my partner bought a while back & I got her to send it back.

  If you want the real thing it doesn't come cheap. If it's made in China it could even be ordinary wool just labelled merino. Problem is if you've nothing to compare it with, you try it, find it's itchy and not very good, and you end up thinking all merino is like that. It isn't. But to get the real thing you have to pay the price. Also, if something is "regularly on sale" - ask yourself why? Either it's over-priced to start with, or people realise it's rubbish and it's not selling.

• Merino Clothing (base layers, etc)

  in Bikes & Bits • 15 years, 3 months

  

  I just read the info companies put on their sites - Howies, Smartwool, IB, CF, Ullefrotte cos I like to know what Im buying. And if you say stufff itches when its the same stuff from both companies - Mapp merino/Zque - then thats weird. Of course could be psychological. If people think something is going itch, it usually does. Someone at Leiceter Uni years ago did an experiment on people who were convinced they were "allergic" to something. When they were given the placebo, they still claimed they had a reaction. Who knows the workings of the human mind :-)

• Merino Clothing (base layers, etc)

  in Bikes & Bits • 15 years, 3 months

  

  That said it's is better cut than howies stuff, and seems to be the more ethical choice.
  ...(in a globalized world of today, who knows what's ethical and not ... I certainly don't, unless it's a business local to me and I can question every step by talking to the merchant).

  I used to buy Howies when they were still independent and made in NZ. Then I found ChocFish - found it was better. Also their stuff is totally traceable - the only company I know who admit they commission not "make" and actually tell you who makes their stuff for them - they even give you a link to the company! That's a lot more transparency than any other company I know. And NZ has really tough environmental laws and european-style labour regulations so I have the feeling that the people making the gear I wear aren't being ripped off, working in sweatshops etc.

  Coffee break over - back to work :-(

• Questionaire - Customization and Personalization

  in General • 15 years, 3 months

  

  [QUOTE=Sammy;997319].

  1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?

  2. If OTP, how have you made the bike your own?
     If custom, what makes the bike special to you?

  3. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?

  4. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?

  5. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?

  6. Any other thoughts?

  QUOTE]

  1. Off the peg
     
  2. No - I want a bike not a "statement"
     
  3. As long as it works well I couldn't care less
     
  4. No.
     
  5. Nothing - everything works fine so why change anything.
     
  6. I cycle because I enjoy it, but it's also my means of transport. I wouldn't customise a car so why should I customise my bike if it gets me from a to b efficiently?
     
• Merino Clothing (base layers, etc)

  in Bikes & Bits • 15 years, 3 months

  

  Find it strange you think Howies less itchy than ChocFish - they use exactly the same fabric - MAPP/Zque (or used to until Howies got taken over by Timberland/Smartwool so may be different now). I prefer ChocFish - better looking, better cut, longer in the sleeve and body and good colour choice. Can wear it anywhere not just for cycling. Also ChocFish stil made in New Zealand, not China or Fiji or somewhere else weird.