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Smooth Road Ahead
The roadie's motto? "Think Sleek." Pick time-trial-worthy duds and accessories.
Protection and Apparel
[1] Bell designed its Ghisallo ($125) (REI.com: Ghisallo) lid around 17 huge slots that practically blast air over your scalp, and included a thumbwheel for dialing in the perfect snugness. Keep your eyes on the road with [2] Oakley's Half Jacket shades ($100--$145) (REI.com: Half Jacket), which have the stay-put fit of wrap-style sport glasses—key for 50-mph descents—but also the dapper style that avoids the mini-ski-goggle motif. How could something as sheer as [3] Castelli's Lessi jacket ($150) keep roadies so cozy? The secret is the Italian company's proprietary ultrathin, stretchy, and windproof StratoLight fabric. Road riders need clothing that works at 5 mph or 45 mph, and the [4] Focus jersey from Pearl Izumi ($55) (REI.com: Pearl Izumi) does just that. The form-fitting cut leaves no loose fabric to flap around at speed, but the airy Ultrasensor fabric and long 50-centimeter zipper keep you from cooking on steamy climbs. [5] Assos FI.13 bib shorts ($200) set the standard, with the first padded insert that stretches. The sculpted padding conforms perfectly to the derriere, eliminating friction and hot spots. In chillier weather, slip on a Craft Pro Microclimate Crew Long Sleeve undershirt ($38)—it's the most comfortable base layer we've tested, thanks to seamless construction and a snug, fitted cut that prevented it from bunching up under my jersey. Weight obsession doesn't stop with bike parts: Nike Poggio II shoes ($220) have stiff carbon-fiber soles to pare weight down to a scant 265 grams (per shoe) of pure pedaling efficiency.
Tools and Treads
When it comes to flats, speed freaks and Tour hopefuls favor the quick-fill capabilities of CO2 cartridges like the Genuine Innovations Air Chuck ($16, including one cartridge). Its spring-loaded push valve controls inflation so you don't accidentally waste a cartridge by mounting it improperly or, conversely, blowing your tire off the rim. Meanwhile, the most striking feature aboard Cat Eye's OS 1.1 ($65) (REI.com: Cat Eye's OS 1.1) cyclometer isn't the onscreen instructions that guide you through initial setup. No, it's the way it greets you by name each time you start a ride. Freaky. Lance Armstrong personally spec'd Shimano's new SPD-SL pedals ($215) (REI.com: Shimano's SPD-SL pedals), which offer the wide platform and foot support he loves at a scant 270 grams. Thanks to wind-tunnel-tested design, Hed Wheels Alps aero wheels ($980 a pair) slice through air with less resistance than ordinary wheels and without any loss of control from crosswinds—previously an aero's Achilles' heel.
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Singletrack Mind
Mountain biker must-haves include tools for mechanical jams, parts that won't blow apart, and duds that are rugged to the core.
Protection and Apparel
The most important accessory is the one that could save your noggin: The [6] Giro Animas helmet ($100) (REI.com: Animas helmet) ratchets tight, while its removable visor deflects flying pebbles. Another essential line of defense against projectiles: [7] Briko's Endure sunglasses ($120)—they employ a lens that snaps into place at the nosepiece, leaving a gap that lets out moisture, thus reducing fogging on steamy slow-speed climbs. For sweaty ascents up blustery mountains, [8] Concurve's Function Windstopper jacket/vest ($139) is a versatile layering piece: Keep your core cozy until the temperature drops, then zip on the sleeves. [9] Sugoi's TechniFino jersey ($70) (REI.com: TechniFino jersey) accepts distinctive sublimated graphics like the "21 windows" quite nicely, assuring you won't look like the next chump on the trail. When the singletrack deals you an unpleasant surprise, be grateful for an ultrathin base layer like DeFeet's Un-D-Shurt ($28)—during tumbles, it gives your jersey a layer to slide against instead of your flesh. [10] Nema's Searcher shorts ($120) have an integral padded liner and an outer layer with stretch panels that flex with your body as you pedal in your [11] Shimano M221 shoes ($170) (REI.com: Shimano M221 shoes). With a fiberglass-reinforced midsole, they're stiff enough for efficient pedaling but still offer a little flex for hoofing it. Protect your hands with [12] Cannondale's Velocity gloves ($30): Soft Pittards leather saves your palms, while a honeycomb mesh on the back and fingers airs 'em out. [13] Camelbak's new Rocket ($75) (REI.com: Rocket) uses a polyethylene Exo-Air panel to increase ventilation. Nice touches include hook-and-loop tie-downs and a removable waist strap.
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Tools and Treads
Crank Brothers loaded almost every trailside tool you'll ever need into the [14] Multi-17 ($22), including screwdrivers, hex wrenches, a stainless-steel chain breaker, a Torx T-25 bit (for disc brakes), and spoke wrenches. Got flat? With a foldout base, retractable hose, T-handle, and pressure gauge, [15] Sigma's Lambda Jet frame pump ($25) morphs into a miniature floor pump. And slop hounds, take note: The shallow diamondback tread pattern on Ritchey's WCS InnoVador Pro tires ($30 each) (REI.com: InnoVador Pro tires) doesn't pack with mud but still provides plenty of bite. For night riding, the handlebar-mounted [16] ViewPoint Pro Dual light ($180) from Performance floods the trail with two 20-watt halogen bulbs.
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