Chipps gives his top kit tips for those summer weeks (or foreign trips) where the temperatures hit ‘scorchio’ and beyond. I’ve had a long-running debate with American (mostly Californian and Coloradan) bike, clothing and shoe designers about designing mountain bike gear that only works in hot, dry lands, as they clearly have no idea about living in a country where it often rains. However, I’ve now had the reverse experience, having moved to a place with 300 days of sunshine a year, where the summer temperatures hit mid-30s°C for three…
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With 23 years as Editor of Singletrack World Magazine, Chipps is the longest-running mountain bike magazine editor in the world. He started in the bike trade in 1990 and became a full time mountain bike journalist at the start of 1994. Over the last 30 years as a bike writer and photographer, he has seen mountain bike culture flourish, strengthen and diversify and bike technology go from rigid steel frames to fully suspended carbon fibre (and sometimes back to rigid steel as well.)
Tops – not enough co’s making tops with reinforced (well, thorn resistant) sleeves. I think that 7mesh has upper body and shoulders but forearms are shredable mesh. I’ve got great 3/4 sleeve Rapha (but I’m tall so had modify the sleeves so it gets over my forearms). Also an old long sleeve Fox which has tough but vented sleeves but the body on that is over meshy and catches on anything.
Trail tools – +1 on the billhook and Silky. I had a lovely pair of felco anvil pruners I picked up cheap on eBay. But even the red handles were no help when I dropped them somewhere on a trail covered in wild garlic. Replaced with ‘fake felco’ Darlac (same seem to be sold as about 10 other brands) and they’re not a patch on the real ones. But they’re less than £20. there must be something that’s both good and cheapish
Put a loop of rope on the Silky saw – much less likely to lose it if you hang it it up on a branch rather than burying it on the ground… (pruners with a hole in the handle would be good for same reason).
Plus one for the 5:10 Trailcross shoes. I was pretty dubious about these when they were launched – but picked a pair up in a discount sale (the flats version). I have now had two summers of riding in hot countries on holidays and at home in warm weather. And I am really impressed with their comfort and durability. For holiday packing, where I previously had to pack both riding shoes and a pair of trainers, I have been able to cut it to one pair – and I just use the Trailcross for riding and everything else. They’ve even worked well for hiking/walking on hill and forest paths.
Wears a goping Hawaiian shirt for the summer riding clothes article, but doesn’t say where one can buy goping Hawaiian shirt.
*For reference I wear goping Hawaiian shirts at every opportunity, just to annoy other people. It’s quite astonishing how many people it upsets, especially the roadies.
Silkys and the like will take no prisoners if they slip onto your finger/hand. If you go out with a plan to use one I’d also take decent gloves (Ripeur 2 stand up well, but are a bit spendy for occasional use).
Charity shop long sleeved office shirt for really hot weather for this English rose. UV protection for arms and neck. Cool and don’t matter if it is damaged.
Home › Forums › Issue 150: Chipps’ Summer Ridewear
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