Spokewrench Cycles

Earth Wind and Rider Wool Jerseys

When we were at the 2007 Interbike show, we came across Earth Wind and Rider and were very excited to see a company making wool jerseys that looked and felt great.  They had custom designs and lines for both men and women.  We've been a big fan of wool jerseys for many years now.  They are more loose fitting unlike standard bike jerseys so perfect if you prefer a more relaxed fit when you're riding.  Merino wool is naturally odor resistant and has a natural wicking ability absorbing the moisture from the skin to be evaporated into the air, keeping you more comfortable during the ride.  This helps to regulate your body temperature during your long rides.  Merino has a tremendous capacity to absorb vapour - up to 35% of its own weight. So, it's able to absorb sweat away from the skin, move it through the middle layers, and then release it to the atmosphere. Synthetic fabrics can't match Merino's breathability because they don't have the same capacity to move vapour.  Merino fibres are much finer than other types of wool and synthetic fibres. This means that for a given weight Merino contains more air spaces. More air spaces = more insulation. That's why Merino is better at keeping the cold out, and the warmth in. In addition, the natural crimp (waviness) of Merino fibres creates millions of tiny air spaces. More insulation = better thermal comfort. Other fibres, lacking Merino's crimp, aren't able to generate further insulation in this way.  This is why wool is able to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

Wool is soft against the skin giving it a nice comfortable feel.  Merino wool is truly an ideal material for cycling as cyclists are prone to varying conditions on the road or trails from slow hot slow uphill stretches to fast, brisk windy downhills.  Temperatures can vary tremendously from the start of a ride to the end or from the base of a mountain to the top.

Merino wool unlike wool of the past is machine washable and does not shrink like before.  It's durable and retains it's shape over time.

Wool is not the first material people think of when they think cycling but we're confident that once you try it, you'll be very happy you did. So what we did was bought a bunch of samples back from the show so that people can try them on to see how they fit.

We would like to get our own Polo Spokewrench.com wool jersey made so if you're interested, email us at info@spokwrench.com.  Once we get enough interest, we'll give everyone a special discount.  You can see a sample of the Polo jersey here.

Team Spokewrench

Craft

We're about to receive a shipment from Craft for the upcoming Spring/Summer season.  Whether it be for running, cycling or Tri, Craft's got the right performance clothing to suit your discipline and training.  We have base layers, shorts, jerseys and bib shorts all coming just in time for the start of the season.

You can view their collection of high performance wear at Craft USA.  Email us at info@spokewrench.com for more information.

Team Spokewrench

Shebeest and Terry Precision Bicycles

The weather is warming up and riding season is just around the corner.  We're bringing in clothing lines from both Shebeest and Terry Precision Bicycles this year.  Both companies cater and design specifically for women rather than designing men's clothes that fit women.  We have a large assortement of clothing from both companies so email us if you see anything you like on their online catalogues. 

The SHEBEEST vision and commitment is to design the ultimate in high performance sport apparel and accessories for women. Superb fit, technical function, innovation and quality are what move SHEBEEST unique.  Their high-performance yet low maintenance Yoga Lifestyle collection has been very popular and will be expanded in their 2006 collection.

Terry has been making saddles and bikes for women before anyone thought to and changed the industry.  Now women specific saddles, clothing and bikes are the norm from all the different companies.  They've since branched off and created a line of men saddles, women specific high performance cycling and sports wear. 

The Spring/Summer collection from both companies look great and we're very excited to be carrying products for the upcoming season.

Team Spokewrench

Woolistic Clothing

We've been receiving a lot of emails asking us about Woolistic.  What we know is that Woolistic is expecting a large shipment due to arrive later this month or early December.   So email us later this month for more information.  We'll be placing an order for a number of things and we'll keep everyone up to date.

Spokewrench Team

Craft Clothing In Stock

We've got our initial shipment of Craft clothing in and we have some base lays and socks to get you ready for the upcoming winter season whether it be for skiing, snowboarding or cycling.  We have more things coming in the weeks following so email us if you'd like more information.

Race Bib Shorts

Racing Shorts made with micro polyester Pro Intensive fabric for maximum stretch and recovery. An Elastic Interface anti-microbial Chamois is designed with a wider frame and a multi-layered structure to relieve pressure in key spots. Raised arch construction provides a pull-free fit. - $150 Cdn

Craft Pronto - Unisex gloves

Get on the trail and starting putting the miles behind you with the Craft Pronto Glove. Craft lines the gloves with low-bulk Thinsulate insulation—they'll be plenty warm for aerobic workouts in freezing temps, and they'll still fit comfortably in your grips. The fingerprint construction puts the seams inside the gloves for a sleek look that won't catch or cause undue friction against your grips. - $40 Cdn

Active Wool Crew Neck: Below 40F

Dual layer thermal baselayer for aerobic and anaerobic use. An inner layer of polyester filament yarns assist in wicking moisture away from the skin while an outer layer that is 70% worsted merino wool creates a thermal, itch-free surface. Internal air channels help keep warm air trapped close to the skin. - $70 Cdn

Active Wool Underpant: Below 40F

Dual layer thermal baselayer for aerobic and anaerobic use. An inner layer of polyester filament yarns assist in wicking moisture away from the skin while a wool outer layer creates a thermal, itch-free surface. Internal air channels help keep warm air trapped close to the skin. - $70 Cdn

Quarter Felt Sock

Mid-weight felt offers a layer of compressed wool under the foot bed, from the heel through the toe box area. Compressed (felted) wool offers more cushioning and better durability than regular wool. Ideal for Running and Riding or Hiking in all weather types. - $20 Cdn

Ultra Light Felt Sock - Women

Ultra thin felt, offers a layer of compressed wool under the foot bed from the heel through the toe box area. Compressed (felted) wool offers more cushioning and better durability than regular wool. Ideal for Running and Riding in warmer weather. - $20 Cdn

Craft Clothing

Since 1977 Craft has focused on developing innovative gear built to withstand the extreme requirements of elite competition, ensuring its success and functionality for hard core competitors and devoted athletes alike.

Performance is at the core of the Craft philosophy; their layering system is designed to keep athletes cooler and drier in all conditions, enhancing performance, maximizing results. Craft give athletes freedom to focus on their sporting goals without having to worry about the performance, comfort, or fit of their clothing.

Crast listen to their athletes, they test Craft products, they evolve their designs. They immerse themselves in the culture and live the lifestyles. They understand the needs of the aerobic endurance athlete and strive to meet those needs with their products.

Now we're proud to be carrying Craft's line of high performance athletic wear for the skier, runner, cyclist or tri-competitor.  Winter is just around the corner and there's no better time to start getting your winter wear in place.  Email us at info@spokewrench.com for more information.

Spokewrench Team

Woolistic Wool Jerseys

Compared to traditional wool, the merino fibre is a fraction of the diameter, which is one of the reasons why your merino wool jersey doesn't itch. The large scales on traditional wool act like barbs against sensitive skin. Merino feels like silk.

Synthetic fibres such as polypropylene or polyester have a much simpler structure. They are made from melting, extruding and setting a petrochemical-based product, similar to plastic. The fibre can't breathe, absorb or release moisture. When knitted into fabric, they are limited to one-way moisture movement, with limited breathability, which can create a chill zone when moisture sits on the outside of the fabric. Woolistic merino has the ability to absorb and release moisture, to cool or warm the body, thus regulating temperature.   You‘ll warm up quickly but not overheat due to the exceptional breathability of the fabric.

Tiny overlapping scales case the fibre. They're hydrophobic (water resistant), like tiles on a roof. Inside it's a different story - the fibre is highly absorbent.

Merino is the most hydrophillic of all fibres and can absorb and release 10x more moisture than synthetics. Each fibre can absorb up to one third of its own weight in moisture without feeling clammy or wet to touch. Your Woolistic jersey can then release this moisture into the atmosphere to keep you feeling warm and dry.

Veloce style shown in pic.