On Thursday, I went a little further than usual for a 100km / 1800m elevation gain ride. Although the weather had been a concern, the rain cleared up by morning; despite it being cloudy with occasional bursts of sunshine, it was the perfect day—a bit muggy, but with a pleasant breeze while riding.
Coincidentally, three out of the four of us had brought our Search And State S1-V Riding Vest. In the mountains with many ups and downs, your body temperature fluctuates wildly; you sweat on the climbs, but cool down instantly on the descents. To make matters worse, on the gravel sections, the rain from the previous day splashed up relentlessly, but thanks to the Schoeller C-Change membrane, it provided reliable protection against the elements.
This material, rarely even used in outdoor apparel, is one of the lightest among waterproof fabrics. It’s an ultra-premium material typically reserved for high-end fashion collections, yet it’s exactly like SAS to throw it into a piece of functional gear without hesitation, which is exactly why I love it.
Oh, and as with anything good, you want to take proper care of it so it lasts. It got dirty from the muddy spray on the gravel, but the golden rule for care is to hand wash only. Oils from your skin and sweat can compromise the performance of these kinds of waterproof fabrics, so we recommend hand washing in lukewarm water (around 30°C) and rinsing gently to avoid damaging the fabric. Skip the dryer and let it air dry.
The long weekend is coming to an end, but I’m sure you all enjoyed some smiles-filled rides wherever you were!
Cheers to a weekend like that!