GamJams Tech: Premes, Picks, Promos — 8-19-10

As a cyclist, the search for newer and better gear is constant — there's always something else out there. Premes, Picks, Promos will highlight both the next big thing and the sleeper deal.

You can learn a lot by hanging out with a buyer for bike shops. If there's something to be known about a product, chances are he or she found out about it long before you did. After all, they're the ones who decided to bring the product in to begin with.

And it was from one of our buyers, during last week's trip to Trek World, that I learned about lockable zippers. Check that — I knew about lockable zippers, just not the best part. Honestly, I was just happy that most lockable zippers work really well. Easy up, easy down, with a nice big tab to grab.

That's not even the best part, though. When you flip that tab up, it puts the zipper in the unlocked position. From there, you need only to grab one side of the jersey to open it up.

So if your zipper is open an inch or two under the collar, just grab one side of your collar and give it a quick pull — instant airflow. I was, of course, floored. With a well-functioning zipper, I was perfectly happy just pulling on the tab. Now, though, I'm just begging for a hot day and a long climb so I can yank that jersey open.

Little things like that are what I'm psyched about right now. Most of the summer 2010 stuff has long since been poked, prodded and put through its paces. And with fall/winter stuff still a couple of weeks off, this is what's left.

Next on the list: Wide bands on shorts in place of leg grippers. Or, basically, anything that isn't a gel gripper or thin elastic band. You can blame Capo for this one, but every time I put on a pair of shorts with a thin, harsh gripper, I'm bummed.

The wider band provides a supportive, compressive feel, rather than an abrupt line. I have three pairs of Capo shorts that have been in heavy, heavy rotation because of that band. One of those pairs has a heavy leg cuff that's very firm and fairly tight upon first impression. But the other two feature a piece of power Lycra — the thicker, stronger stuff — simply folded upon itself and sewn to the body of the short. 

That's not a revolutionary, proprietary thing by any means. More companies need to do that. Abandon the gel-leg-gripper! Remove the rubberized elastic band! It'd be worth another $10 on a pair of shorts, trust me.

Or maybe ...
On second thought, bring back the gel gripper — just move it to the bottom hem of jerseys. This again started with Capo, but I've worn other jerseys with similar touches. In races especially, when there's not much in your pockets, a jersey will tend to creep up a bit. I'd rather it didn't.

A little silicone gripper strip on the bottom of a jersey tends to keep things in place. Again, it's another little touch that might go unnoticed by many. But for me and my desire to not have things flapping around, creeping up or otherwise annoying me,

Of course, I could just wear a skinsuit all of the time and not have to worry about such matters. Ultimately, though, there are no winners in that scenario.

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In addition to being GamJams Tech Editor, Bryan Redemske manages the Trek Bicycle Store of Omaha, is a professional writer and a Cat 3 racer. He drinks a lot of coffee.

Comments

[Jim]

Other than certain Members of Congress and various Hollywood types, I can't think of anybody who really needs to be going around with lockable zippers. It strikes me as a solution in search of a problem, kind of like looking for ways to tie & solder the spokes on a HED wheel.

[Bryan Redemske]

Can I keep the "rip the jersey open part," at least?