Depending on your comfort in lycra, you may not be stoked on drawing more attention to yourself. On the flipside, those who embrace it seem to be getting more and more bold with their color pallets and designs. You could argue the wave of bright, eye catching designs lend an additional level of visibility to cyclists. Designs like Sugoi’s new RS Training jersey. Yes, the pro-fit, full zip jersey is partially covered in sublimated roses, but you’ll have to get pretty close to make them out. At $80, the style is reasonably priced for a highly technical jersey. But to get the kit’s full effect, you’ll have to spring for the matching socks…
To go along with all of their wildest kits for 2017, Sugoi will be offering their own #sockdoping with matchy foot coverings. Pricing wasn’t given, but expect them to run along the lines of normal riding socks. Certain kits will even have matching arm warmers to take it to another level.
For this fall, Sugoi will have some more subdued styles, that still offer a punch of visibility with hi-viz green accents. The Evolution Pro L/S jersey is a thermal weight jersey with Mid Zero fabric for the colder months that is cut with a pro fit and will be offered in multiple styles, each with a full zipper and 3 rear pockets with the Zap reflective treatment at $120.
By combining Zap, massive storage, and a looser semi-fit, Sugoi created a new kit meant for self supported riders out for the long haul. In total, the jersey offers 6 pockets with one on each side of the hip with a zippered closure, and two on the shorts for massive storage potential. If you need more than this, you should probably invest in some bike bags. The kit sees heavy use of the Zap reflective treatment with a stripe across the chest, a full panel for the rear pockets, and on each leg gripper. There is also an impressive fabric story for the kit with the use of Icefil on the jersey to keep you cool, and Ultra Aero fabric on the thighs for improved efficiency. Finally, the Formula FX chamois should keep you comfortable for the long haul with a 3D molded design with their “cradle pouch” up front for the boys, and 4mm Poron foam inserts for better vibration absorption. Priced at $120 for the jersey and $180 for the shorts, sizing will be offered from S-2XL and will be available early 2017.
For those looking for an even more casual look and fit, Sugoi will be offering the updated Coast line up which has a lot of great offerings for those who ride every day – whether that’s for exercise or just to the office or pub. The line features understated colors and styles that won’t look out of place on or off the bike.
Taking Zap to the extreme, Sugoi is continuing their pursuit for breathable visibility with the new RS Zap jacket. One of the first companies to really push the use of microglass lenses attached to the surface of the garment for visibility, the new RS Zap offers Zap reflective and water resistant panels on the chest, shoulders, and back with Zap MidZero thermal side panels for improved stretch and breathability. The pro-fit jacket offers a zippered front and rear pocket, and will retail for $160 in S-2XL.
The jacket can be paired with a full complement of Zap outerwear with Evolution Mid Zero Bib tights ($150, Zap SubZero Gloves ($60), Zap Cycling Cap ($25), and Zap shoe covers ($55), for the ultimate in reflective visibility.
Moving forward into the Spring 2017 line up, you’ll start to see Zap make its way into jerseys and shorts for warmer weather with the Evolution Zap line for men and women which will include an $85 jersey and $110 short.
Finally, Sugoi is taking on gloves with an entirely new range. Created with better articulation, patterning, and design, the gloves should offer better fit and a better grip at the bars. Taking a page from their chamois design, the palms of many gloves will add Porom foam padding in key areas for drastically increased vibration damping. Whether full finger or fingerless, the gloves will be a part of a new 60 day comfort guarantee for 2017 with pricing from $30-65.
