‘There’s no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothing’.
Wise words indeed, but with the ‘will it warm up or won’t it’ fickle nature of British weather the reality is that it’s all too easy to set off on a ride over dressed – or end up shivering your way round because you’re not wearing enough.
Step forward in this ingenious breathable and water resistant jacket from Sugoi, which has zipper-free removable sleeves – instead relying on magnet technology for easy on/off action.
The sleeve section of the garment is a bolero shape mini-jacket that sits over a gilet and attaches via magnets concealed in the shoulder seams and back hem. As a result you can whip the sleeves off in a second – a bit like a male stripper ripping off his trousers, though slightly less entertaining.
You can then roll up the sleeves and put them in the back pocket. Because the sleeves are joined you don’t have the risk of accidentally dropping one (always a risk with armwarmers!).
The magnets are featherlight so don’t weigh the jacket down, and the gilet itself is a good length and features three zip pockets, a mesh back panel and lined collar for comfort. I wore it on a 40 mile ride at a fast pace and found it so comfortable that I forgot I was wearing it – the greatest compliment you can pay to a cycling garment.
The only downside is getting the bolero back on, which involves a bit of faffing to make sure you’ve got the magnets lined up where they should be. Once you have however it all goes back together with a very smart ‘snap’ and stays put until you want to remove it again.
Price: From £79.99, available from Trinton Cycles.
Photos by Paul Mitchell.
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