It was a little while ago, but I was invited by some friends to go for a ride in a new area. Searching for gravel, climbing steep slopes and enjoying pleasant descents, it became a fulfilling ride captivated by the scenery that appeared at unexpected moments.
On the way, there were collapsed roads and wrong turns that led to dead ends, but when riding in unfamiliar places, that can be part of the fun. Not worrying about the numbers like distance or elevation gain, just saying, "Let’s go this way," or "I wonder what’s up ahead," is truly fun.
Since the route planning was left to others, I didn't really know if that day's ride would be hard or soft. Because of that, I was worried about what kind of clothes to wear, but as I also wanted to test the performance of the SWRVE CORDURA® Combat Wool Work Jacket I had purchased, I decided to head out in a casual style rather than a cycling jersey.
【SWRVE】
CORDURA®︎ Combat Wool Work Jacket
PRICE：¥26,200 (tax included)
COLOR : Blue, Green
SIZE : XS, S, M, L, XL
Lightness that defies its appearance
As the name suggests, this jacket uses a wool-blend fabric. The composition is 49% wool, combined with 48% nylon and 3% spandex. The fabric created this way is surprisingly light and thin compared to its appearance. It's not quite shirt-thin, but since you can easily layer it over a short-sleeved T-shirt, there is no doubt it will be very useful as it gets warmer. Personally, I'm thinking of pairing it with some shorts.
Excellent moisture absorption and quick-drying properties
You can feel this lightness the moment you pick it up, but my biggest concern was how it would feel when worn in situations where I would sweat. This ride was a repetition of climbing steep hills while soaked in sweat and then enjoying a pleasant descent once I caught my breath, so it was the perfect situation to know the performance of the fabric. To conclude, I was able to confirm that it is an excellent piece that absorbs sweat well, dries quickly, and even feels smooth on the skin after drying without any worrying odors.
Stretchability that doesn't feel stressful
It also features stretchability, so I didn't feel any stress while in the riding position or even while dancing on the pedals.
A style that allows you to spend the day comfortably
I already liked the work jacket style as clothing, but confirming this functionality made me love it even more.
By the way, my tops for the day were an all-wool combination, pairing a sleeveless merino wool base layer with a merino wool cut-and-sew. For pants, I wore the RAL meets ALLYOURS High Kick Riding Jeans, which are simply excellent in stretchability.
【RAL meets ALLYOURS】
High Kick Riding Jeans
PRICE：¥16,500 (tax included)
COLOR : Onewash
SIZE : 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38
I spent from morning until night without changing, and I would like to say that I was able to spend the day comfortably.
Although I change the inner layer of the jacket depending on the temperature, those who have visited the shop recently have probably often seen me in this style. It is such a favorite style of mine that it is a combination that works both for everyday life and when I go out for a ride.
Of course, if you want to pursue performance for riding, you can't beat wearing a cycling jersey and bib shorts, but it’s also nice to go out for a ride with a light, casual feeling like this.
The SWRVE clothing items introduced here are all pieces that can be used both in daily life and for riding, so please take a look at the rest of the lineup.
