Are you feeling a bit gloomy with the rain that just won't stop?
My spirits have been feeling quite dampened too, but in times like these, let's try thinking about our favorite past rides or the breathtaking scenery etched into our memories. It makes things feel a little brighter, doesn't it?
And maybe start thinking about what to do for your next ride.
Once Typhoon No. 21 passes, which is due to hit us shortly, it looks like we’ll finally have some sustained clear skies. It seems we'll be able to head out for a pleasant ride next week. In the Aichi area, the highs will be just over 20°C, which is ideal weather for riding, but the lows will be around 10°C, so the temperature gap is quite drastic. Furthermore, for rides with significant changes in elevation in mountainous areas, you need to be mindful of even greater fluctuations.
For the upcoming riding season, you really want to make sure your gear is properly prepared.
So, what kind of items will you need? I’d like to introduce you to my recommendations.
First is the main piece: the cycling jersey. This season, I’ve picked up the new Search and State Merino Long Sleeve Jersey.
The moment I slipped my arms into it, I felt how soft the fabric was. It’s arguably the most comfortable long-sleeve jersey I’ve ever worn. Its simple look also makes it easy to combine with the gear I’ve loved and worn for years, so I expect it to get a lot of use.
Merino Long Sleeve Jersey
Color : Black, Surplus Green, Ice Grey
Size : S, M, L, XL
Material : Merino wool, Polyester
Price : ¥27,000 (excl. tax)
A long-sleeve cycling jersey that uses a Merino wool blend fabric like this can be worn for an exceptionally long season. It provides excellent warmth while maintaining high breathability, making it easy to regulate your body temperature in various situations. It also stays remarkably comfortable if it gets wet from sweat or other moisture.
When you think of long-sleeve cycling jerseys, most use thermal fabric with a brushed lining. While those are certainly very good at retaining heat, you can sometimes feel that warmth to an excessive degree when the temperature rises or when your body heats up. That difference in how it feels against the skin in such situations is one of the reasons I prefer Merino wool.
Taking advantage of its superior heat retention, I often use it as a mid-layer in the dead of winter. If you wear a shell like a vest or jacket to shut out the outside air, it performs beautifully. Plus, depending on your choice of base layer—short-sleeve, long-sleeve, thin, or thick—it can be used in a wide range of temperatures. I’ve personally been using the Cafe du Cycliste Yolande Jersey for years, and by layering it with a jacket, vest, and base layer, I’ve handled rides in the heart of winter just fine. (I plan to introduce the new items from Cafe du Cycliste around the end of this month.)
There are other benefits to wool you can feel while riding. Wool has a natural antibacterial effect that absorbs and breaks down odor-causing molecules. You’ll feel grateful for this when you step into a shop for lunch or a quick break. Also, wool generates heat through adsorption. This prevents your body temperature from dropping when you are resting and in situations where you might otherwise get chilled by sweat.
The reason Merino wool is so highly valued in outdoor and cycling wear is precisely because it possesses these functions. After all, they are indispensable for continuing to act and wearing the same gear for long periods of time, rather than just for a limited window of a few hours.
And the item I wear most throughout the year is the Search and State S1-V Riding Vest.
S1-V Riding Vest
Color : Black
Size : S, M, L, XL
Material : 100% Polyester
Price : ¥31,800 (excl. tax)
Made in New York
A vest is a piece of gear that plays an important role in protecting your core during the three seasons other than summer. Windbreakers are similarly essential, but the reason I rely on a vest so heavily is precisely because it lacks sleeves.
You can put up with cold arms, but when your body temperature rises, you can easily regulate it by unzipping and letting fresh air in. If you have sleeves, that area traps heat, making you want to take it off. With a vest, you can keep wearing it while you ride, saving you the trouble of taking it off and storing it.
Also, this riding vest uses a highly waterproof double zipper. By unzipping from bottom to top, the vest stays on like a cape. This allows you to let in air while minimizing any flapping. And if you need to zip it up quickly, you can pull it from top to bottom, making for a smooth closure.
Using it in this way also makes accessing the jersey's back pockets smooth. By the way, this riding vest also comes with its own back pockets for storing valuables or a camera.
And there is one more noteworthy point about this vest. The fabric and the inner membrane, Scholler’s C-Change, have the characteristic of changing their breathability depending on the vapor released by your body. This provides the ultimate performance for a cycling jacket: keeping you warm in the winter while allowing for high heat ventilation during early spring or autumn when your body temperature tends to spike.
It’s not just great for the coming season; I find it incredibly useful for rides in the rain during summer too.
By the way, when you don't need it, you can store it in the back pocket of your jersey.
I’ve introduced the items I personally wear, but Circles has a much wider lineup available. Please check out our web shop, and if you are nearby, please do stop by the store. I’d be happy to chat about gear, or even discuss some riding routes!
I’m planning to head to Ninose Pass for the first time in a while on my next day off.
I hope you all enjoy your own respective rides.