Wetzikon jacket £125

Lanarvily leg warmers £30

British brand Schlamm focuses on cyclo-cross specific clothing for the growing ‘cross racing community, and they sent us a few items recently to test, which we did around the increasingly popular London league, as well as a few on- and off-road training jaunts.

We can’t think of any other company that deals specifically and solely in ‘cross clothing, so this must be first. The clothing has been developed and tested in the Peak District, ideal conditions for finding out the limits of such clothing, and also hand built in Britain too.

The range consists of garments for those serious about their ‘cross racing. The first thing you’ll notice about all the garments is their names, they’re all locations steeped in ‘cross racing history. We’ll start with the jacket. The Wetzikon jacket is named after the Swiss racing course that has hosted some 43 international ‘cross races.

Fortunately, the jacket more than lives up to this impressive heritage. This is a jacket for extreme cold days, which is handy as we’ve been experience just such weather recently and the Wetzikon has fended off the cold like a Belgian ‘cross fan knocking back the beer: with ample ease.

It keeps the cold out and is water resistance too, but the material is fairly breathable so it doesn’t get too hot and sweaty five minutes into your ride. There’s nicely considered details such as the zipped cuff, a weather proof pocket for your gadgets or house keys, and a super high soft neck that ensures good neck coverage. Its fit is good, on the racey side, and is available in women’s cut and eight sizes in total.

Covering the legs we tested the Lanarvily leg warmers. With ‘cross racing taking place in the depths of the winter, it’s not unusual that it’ll be freezing cold or raining, or both, before the start of the race. This presents a problem with getting warmed up, but this is something these novel leg warmers fix. You see, they have a full-length zip along the back which means you can pop them over your bare legs, do you warming up, perhaps a quick recce, then just before you lineup you can whip them off and go race.

Men and women specific cut and sizing is available. The name? Lanarvily is a village situated in North West Brittany and is a regular cyclo-cross venue, and was the used for the 1982 World Championships.