With these many skulls adorning my body, I felt as hardcore as I looked!
One of Cipollini's biggest reasons for coming back was to make one more fashion statement
So what kind of experience does wearing a Rock team issue kit have on your average, every day bike rider? Well, I set out to find that out after receiving my very own team kit just a few days ago. The Rock Racing kit certainly holds its own aesthetically, but I couldn't wait to find out if it was made with equal quality. Arriving in several boxes over the course of a few days, by the end of last week I had it all: jersey, bib shorts, arm warmers, knee warmers, gloves, and socks. And what a combination together! Made in the USA at the Rock Racing Research Lab, each garment is made with precision, and with the elite cyclist in mind.
Michael Ball knows fashion, and he has invigorated cycling with his audacious style
Now, while I am by no means an elite cyclist, I ride best when I feel like one of the pros, at least in appearance. Plus, if a given technology is good enough for pros, it's usually good enough for me too! Any time I ride, I take pride in the gear I wear, and am always trying to find the best gear both from a visual and performance perspective. With the Rock Racing kit, I was pleasantly surprised that I had both. Not only is the Rock Racing gear the most fashion forward in cycling, it is also among the best from a performance perspective.
How we roll: Rock Racing makes a statement anywhere they show up
I chose a varied 40 mile loop for my performance test. I figured that if the kit felt good climbing, descending, and on flats, I had it all covered. And after only a few hundred meters, I had a good feeling that the Rock kit would be more than up to the task of delivering comfort and function for the duration of my ride, as well as for many seasons to come. The chamois is simply better than any other I have experienced in my 20+ years of riding. Contoured in the shape of a bike saddle, I found that my most sensitive areas were well-protected and comfortable throughout the ride. In fact, unlike with other shorts, I wasn't constantly shifting in the saddle to make myself comfortable. To me, the chamois alone makes the Rock kit a worthwhile purchase.
Rockin' chamois for your fanny: On long rides, it'll make you feel goooooooooood!
The shorts themselves are a bit longer than traditional shorts, due to an additional piece of fabric that covers up the elastic at the end of the shorts. I found no added benefit or drawback in the extra fabric. The one cool part about it though is that there is no other bib or jersey available with this kind of additional design. The additional fabric is one of the factors that makes the Rock kit a true one of a kind, so from a sheer creativity/style standpoint, it makes sense and garners my praise.
Rock bibs and jerseys have a bit of extra fabric to cover up the elastic. A nice fashion forward idea!
The jersey is lightweight and breathable, though not much different from other top of the line jerseys. The one difference is the pattern of the fiber, which takes on an octagonal pattern throughout the jersey. Also interesting is the sewn in liner, which allows for sweat to be wicked away from the body. When my ride was over, my jersey was virtually dry despite the hard effort. But back to the super cool octagonal pattern . . . these octagons, coupled with the high quality material that the uniform is made of, seem to stretch perfectly to one's individual contours, making the jersey truly feel like a second skin. Also, as in the case of my experience with the bib shorts, I didn't shift or move around at all during my ride. Some jerseys will bunch up during descents, but not this one. It stayed in tight and in place the whole time, giving me one less distraction as I hauled myself up each climb and flew down each descent.
It was a hot day as well, and when I climb in hot conditions I like to be able to unzip my jersey all the way, a la Frank Schleck. With some jerseys, this can be a tough task. First you have to find the tiny pull for the zipper, and often you must battle to make the thing unzip with only one hand. But once again, the Rock gear was up to the test. Designers have made the zipper pull a finger nail-sized Rock Racing insignia, made of plastic, that is significantly larger than the average cycling zipper pull but not big enough to be a distraction. Finding this convenient tab made it effortless for me to quickly unzip, which when beginning an ascent is always a good thing. The zipper was smooth as well on the way up, never catching as I quickly prepared for the descent ahead. Another ringing endorsement, this time for the jersey.
The material on the inside of the jersey allows sweat to wick away from the body, keeping you dry!
I didn't get to wear the arm or knee warmers on the actual ride for all that long as it was warm, but I can say that they adhere to the same characteristics as the bibs and jersey. They were snug but not constricting, and as I raised my arms above my head, and then crouched low in the drops, they did not move. The same happened with the knee warmers. No matter how tall I stood out of the pedals, they would not move. This is a huge factor in determining the quality of an arm or knee warmer. Far too often, one finds that these items are notorious for not staying put when you are riding. It can be a huge distraction to keep having to pull your arm or knee warmers up while on a ride. Thankfully, this is not an issue with Rock arm and leg warmers. Plus, they're fleece on the inside . . . warm!
The gloves that I wore were not as plush as I would have liked. They were padded, but the padding, in my opinion, fell a bit short for providing optimal comfort. I do know however that pro cyclists often ride without gloves, so understandably the padding on Rock gloves is less. This observation is only one of preference, as each rider has a different desire when it comes to padding in gloves. One great design detail about the gloves though is there were no velcro straps. They simply stretched over my hand, and form fit without issue. I don't own gloves with velcro because it sometimes catches on the delicate fiber of jerseys or shorts, fraying them. Luckily with Rock gloves, this is not an issue.
No velcro which is good, but a bit more padding would be nice
Rock racing socks broke two rules for me. First, they were a bit longer than I like. Second, they were black. These issues too are due only to my preference. I know many of today's young kids like the longer sock, but not old men like me. And in terms of color, I generally try not to wear black socks ever, especially when excercising. I will say though that these socks, made specifically for the left or right foot (they're labeled L or R), were form fitting and once again, didn't bunch. Performance-wise, they were good enough for me to forget their color or length. I'll wear them again on future rides for sure. And I'm sure the Rock store has plenty of different color socks than black.
Is there a cooler logo in any sport?
When I first received my Rock kit, I was very skeptical as to the quality of the gear in relation to other manufacturers. Rock charges more than any other cycling manufacturer for their gear, and on the surface it may appear that they are trying to take the customer for a ride. But after wearing each piece of equipment myself, I can tell you that you get what you pay for. Does it make more sense to pay less and have a kit that constantly bunches and leaves your body chaffed and sore? Or is it smarter to invest a few more dollars so you can be as comfortable (and badass) as possible while on your ride? For me, the choice is clear and the results are in. Rock Racing gear was good enough for Cipo', and it's good enough for me. Do yourself (or a loved one for the holidays) and your body a favor, and get your own kit while supplies last. In the long run, you'll be glad you did.
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