We called in an ensemble from Mavic that we thought suited to the occasionally chilly but largely dry and still pleasant conditions of early autumn.
Check out our ‘first look’ article for prices, sizes, and detailed descriptions of the cut and fabrics. We’ll focus here on how the garments performed.
On the whole, we liked what we found: some pieces were better designed than others, and some better-suited to the season than others, but on the whole the clothing was closely cut from high-performing fabrics and nattily finished. Very French, you might say.
From the top…
Mavic Helium Jacket – £85
The Helium jacket, as might be expected, was extremely light, tipping the RCUK scale at 90 grams. A longer test is required to assess the durability of the DWR coating, but it shrugged off light showers, and when not in use, folded easily into its own rear pocket.
Its greatest strength was as a wind block; its primary purpose. Less successful we felt were the attempts at breathability: essentially, a small cluster of perforations under the arms and in the side panels, which obviously reduced its waterproofing credentials without doing much to release moisture from the inside.
We liked the asymmetrical and waterproof Ergo Zip, protected on either side by a fabric panel which, once united, spelt out a snazzy Mavic ‘M’ in alternating grey and white. A Mavic branded toggle made the zip easy to locate when our gaze was fixed on the road ahead. We were initially surprised by its gradual journey right en route from breast bone to collar, but ended up impressed by the simplicity of a design that placed the toggle unobtrusively beneath the jaw, rather than on the throat.
The Mavic Helium jacket comes in black or white, in seven sizes from S to 3XL, and costs £85.
Mavic Spring Race Glove – £28
The Spring Race Glove we’re happy to report is equally suited to autumn. When the temperature drops again, perhaps in as little as a few weeks, we’ll be seeking something warmer, but in current conditions, they’re just the ticket.
An example of such conditions? We began a morning ride at 8.30ish in mitts, but within half-a-mile decided a full glove was required. The Spring Race Glove, with its light, fleece lining, fitted the bill nicely.
A generous aperture made them easier to pull on and take off than some we could mention, but without penalty – the deep cuff made sure our wrists were well protected. We considered the Spring Race Glove rather stylish, too: finished with a black-on-black ‘M’ pattern that runs the length of the index finger from the wrist, itself badged with a small yellow square.
The Mavic Spring Race Glove is available in black, and in four sizes from S to XL. It costs £28.
Mavic Thermosock – £12
The Thermosock behaved much as advertised, insulating our feet from the sharp temperatures of an early autumn morning (and even an early morning in autumn) thanks largely to the thick-ish Terry panels.
Their generous length (about 3.5 inches above the ankle) shielded the lower shin, too. The cotton felt thick and comfortable without unduly isolating feedback from the shoe. A winner.
Mavic Knee Warmer – £30; Mavic Arm Warmer – £30
The arm and knee warmers rather let the Mavic side down, we felt. We can think of several others we’d wear in preference.
The knee warmers were just that, and shielded the knee and little else; most offer coverage to the shin and calf, too. The front panel is divided into three sections. With the centre section positioned as intended, ending just below the knee cap, just three inches was left to ‘cover’ the calf muscle. The result was that it rode up after just a few pedal strokes.
The hem is created by a fold at the end of the warmer, whose stitching suffered audible distress each time we pulled them on. At the opposite end (the thigh), the warmer is held in place with a 4cm band of perforated polyester, closely resembling netting, which didn’t hold it tightly enough for our liking.
We liked the light fleece lining, which was perfect for recent conditions, the natty yellow Mavic branding, and the subtle use of reflective crescent just above the hem, but the fabric used for the main ‘body’ of the warmer wasn’t sufficiently stretchy.
It was a similar story with the arm warmer, which didn’t grip tightly enough above the bicep and so slid down.
The Mavic knee warmer and warmer is available in black or red, in five sizes from S to XL, and cost £28.
