Many companies that produce winter riding kit resort to a lot of black that many riders feel lower your ability to be seen out on the road on the months with less light and generally decreased visibility. So while modern reflectivity has probably made riders safer, French clothing maker Ekoï is happy to give some bright high contrast options as well. Their new Competition9 line combines a winter weight longsleeve jersey, a water-resistant thermal jacket, and a pair of thermal tights that are all designed to keep you comfortable and riding as the mercury starts to drop, and at an affordable price…
The new winter Competition9 line from Ekoï builds off the company’s same semi-custom program that gives the choice of a small range of subtle or hi-vis colors and a couple of technical tweaks to generally keep riders comfortable down to freezing. That makes these cool weather pieces, but not really designed on their own for deep winter riding. All made in Italy, Ekoï says the kit is suitable for cold weather road, mountain, or cyclocross riding.
In addition to regular color options, the jacket and tights both offer a hydrophobic DRY treatment that makes them almost entirely waterproof, while the tights offer two chamois options, one with their standard multi-density Aerosotto pad, or the slightly thicker Gel Tech pad for longer distance riding.
Each the jersey, jacket, and tights are available in white/black, black/white, blue/hi-vis yellow, hi-vis yellow/red, hi-vis green/red and red/white, in addition to the more subtle all black of the DRY kit.
The long sleeve jersey on its own is rated for 10-18°, made of a 180g Polaire polyester with a full zip and three rear pockets. It gets tight fitting cuffs, collar and hem to keep cold air from sneaking in, and sells for 80€.
The jacket uses a more technical multi-panel cut for a closer fit, with its thermal DropTex, 270g softshell fabric (the English language site refers to it as a Vest in a bit of an overlooked translation.) Ekoï calls the 120€ thermal jacket waterproof and it does include a technical membrane to make it both water and wind-proof, but says that the 160€ version with the DRY treatment is what really does the best to keep it from absorbing water in heavier rain. Both versions get a taller, fleece-lined collar and long side to keep the wind out, plus long cuffs and three traditional rear pockets.
The bib tights use a 240g Lombardy Mititech lined fabric to keep your legs warm. The tights give the option for two chamois pads depending on rider preference and distance, for either 110€ or 130€, and both come with silicone grippers at the ankle as well as a short zip for a close but easy to use fit. The same DRY hydrophobic treatment is available for 160€ to really keep the water out, but only with the thicker gel chamois.
Everything you buy on their site right now can currently be discounted by using the code EK15ANS in celebration of their 15th anniversary, which
