The ‘Big Wet’ of recent days has offered a reminder of the value of good cycling clothing. Dressing for the conditions makes a big difference… and it’s not only in the quest to stay dry, but also to be safe when it’s dark or dull.
– A blog and video by Rob Arnold
I have a couple of favourite rain jackets for when I’m on the bike, both are ‘built by Cuore’ – as the company likes to say – and they are my go-to items when its wet. They both have an excellent fit with neat touches that highlight how far cycling clothing has come in recent years.
The sleeves are a perfect length and, on one, there’s a thin neoprene-like strip of fabric that’s cut to meet my wrist in a way that suits my stance on a road bike. On the other, there’s even the luxury of a little stretch in the water-resistant material and again the sleeves are cleverly designed to suit my riding position.
Both rain jackets are a snug fit, but they aren’t tight – which, we can assume, is a deliberate design feature because you never know what you might be wearing underneath capes such as this.
I’ve used them both in summer and winter; sometimes with minimal kit underneath (ie. recently, when it’s been scorching hot in Sydney), other times when I’m rugged up to ward off the cold on a sodden ride in winter.
Released a few years apart, they are both excellent cycling garments which exploit innovations in fabric, with a cut that may seem awkward when worn casually. But on the bike they are both brilliant! Form follows function, right?
There is, however, a massive difference from my rain jacket from 2016 and the newer one released by Cuore in recent years: one is black, the other is an almost fluorescent orange.
So, what am I going to wear when it’s wet out on the roads? Yep, orange. Beautiful, bright orange!
The ‘GI’ Jacket by Cuore
The AUD$220 orange raincape doesn’t get used too often (as, ordinarily, Sydney doesn’t get as much rain as it has so far in 2022) and there have been plenty of days when it comes along for the ride but never sees the outside of my jersey pocket. If there’s a threat of rain, however, I fold it up and bring it along… just in case.
The video associated with this #RideDiary illustrates what’s great about the ‘Gold Intermediate’ (or ‘GI’) by Cuore. At the end, I explain some of the highlights as I disrobe after a ride in torrential rain but – in the immediate aftermath of such a wet morning – I didn’t mention what is one of the jacket’s biggest assets. The stretch in the fabric is brilliant!
For years, cycling rain jackets were oversized, bright and although they kept the rain away, you’d often get home from a ride soaking wet because it was like sweating inside a plastic bag.
If that’s your memory of old-school rain jackets and it has scarred you to the point that you simply don’t bother packing one in your pocket – preferring instead to get wet (or, worse still, just not ride) – it’s time to have a look at contemporary products.
The GI is one example of how cycling kit has improved in recent years but it’s not as glamorous (or as ‘shareable’ on Insta) as other outfits, so it doesn’t get the attention on social media as other garments. Still, it’s a favourite item of mine and there’s a reason why I wanted to talk about it when I got home from a recent wet ride. It is comfortable and functional! But wait, there’s more: it also offers the bonus of making you more visible.
‘Be safe, be seen’ is a message that’s long been pushed by Bike SA, an “independent, non-government, not-for-profit association supporting all recreational cyclists and members” in South Australia. It’s a simple slogan that reiterates one of the simple things that cyclists can do to highlight their presence on the road. The obvious point is: be bright when you ride!
The GI achieves this quest.
My riding experiences while wearing the bright orange GI jacket have been good or better. Although I prefer dry rides, I’m able to bring it with me if there’s a chance of rain. If it does rain, I’m able to get it on quickly, stay dry… and stay safe – or at least safer than I would be if I’d opted for the black jacket that I got a few years ago.
These days, the black still gets used, but on trails rather than roads. If I’m on my MTB or a gravel bike, and it’s likely to be wet, it comes in handy. And although it does, like so many jackets on the market in 2022, have reflective piping – said to make the rider more visible – it’s positively camouflage on the roads compared to the stretchy orange fabric of my go-to wet ride garment, the Cuore GI jacket.
This #StoryOfMyRide began with discussion about whatever came to mind and concludes with a quick summary of some of my favourite pieces of cycling kit. I’m all for looking as stylish as possible when on the bike but these days, when I’m in the market for new riding clothing, it’s the bright colours that catch my attention.
The ‘Pantone of the Year’ for 2022 might be ‘Very Peri’ (ie. 17-3938), a purple hue which “blends the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red to introduce an empowering mix of newness”. And although that is bright and – according to Pantone at least, in style – it doesn’t stand out in traffic quite as much as the orange of the GI.
Sometimes, I’m starting to understand, it’s better to forsake style for the benefit of safety. I’ll keep my black jacket because it fits well and it’s good for hiking or mountain biking, but on the roads I’m happy being orange… and being seen.
– By Rob Arnold
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