British brand Shutt Velo Rapide have revamped their winter clothing collection.
We shot up the M40 to Shutt HQ in Oxfordshire to check out the new wardrobe during Shutt’s winter photo shoot – and the weather was typically British, with single figure temperatures and heavy rain.
The winter range is entering the final stages of production and will be available soon. Shutt will be sending us a bundle of kit to test but, in the mean time, here’s a sneak peak at the highlights.
Classic Long Sleeve Jersey
The Classic Long Sleeve Jersey (£99) is Shutt’s signature piece and, for winter 2012/13, will also be available in red alongside black.
Shutt are proud of their British heritage and, where possible, their products are handmade in Great Britain. The Classic Jersey is cut and clothed in Leicestershire.
The Classic Jersey, made from a Merino Perform fabric, has been in Shutt’s range for some time but it’s been tweaked along the way and this latest version has a silicon gripper which runs around the entire hem – front and back – which Shutt say makes for a better fit, while there’s 360 degrees of reflective trim, the company’s signature coloured band on the left-hand cuff and, as ever, three rear pockets with an additional zipped, waterproof pocket for valuables.
Shutt VR Race Jersey
In 2010 Shutt VR registered its very own team with British Cycling, which allows riders to race under the Shutt VR name, and benefit from a range of perks (including 15 per cent off all Shutt purchases for a year and British Cycling bronze membership).
You can join the club by buying a membership pack for £25, or by buying a team product – and the Shutt VR Race Jersey is the latest addition to the range. Like the Classic Jersey, it’s made from a Merino Perform fabric, although the white panel is made from a polyester. Branding on team products is more obvious than the regular range – you are riding for them, after all – and Team Shutt is also embroidered on the arm.
Performance Jacket
The all-new Performance Jacket (£179, although it currently comes with a £20 discount if you pre-order) gets its inspiration from Shutt’s popular Winter Jacket, a staple of the cold weather range in years gone by, and has plenty of reflective piping, reflective panels, elasticated cuffs to get the rain out and a storm flap.
It’s made from a high-tech fabric from Swiss firm Eschler, who provide cloth for a well known Swiss cycle clothing company. Dubbed the Eschler Comfort System, it’s a three-layer fabric which is said to meet the four requirements – waterproof, windproof, breathable and insulating – of a winter jacket.
Active Jacket
Casual cycle clothing is becoming more and more popular and, for the updated Active Jacket (£99), Shutt set out with a brief to develop a jacket which can be worn pre or post-ride, or at the cafe and pub, without screaming cyclist. As a result it has a more relaxed cut than the Performance Jacket. It still has long arms so it can be worn on the bike, but the dropped tail is much less pronounced.
Shutt’s Active Jacket is made from a softshell fabric which, like the Performance Jacket, is said to be waterproof, windproof, breathable, while a micro-fleece lining provides extra warmth.
Tweed Winter Cap
The Tweed Winter Cap (£39) is Shutt’s take on the traditional cycling cap. The cap comes in two designs – khaki/red and green/purple – and is made from 100 per cent wool Yorkshire tweed.
Only 37 were handmade in Shutt’s Leicestershire factory, each is unique, and at the time of writing less than ten are left. We’ve seen them and they look the business.
Roubaix Bib Tights and 3/4 Knicks
The Roubaix Bib Tights (£79) have been designed and tested in conjunction with the Shutt-sponsored Twenty3c-Orbea and Squadra Donne teams and are lined with a brushed Thermoroubaix fabric, with a water repellent outer.
The tights have a reinforced seat panel, rather than a chamois, with the idea that you wear your favourite pair of shorts underneath, both for comfort and a little more warmth in the depths of winter.
Meanwhile, the Roubaix 3/4 Bib Knicks (£99) are for cooler spring and autumn days, and warmer winter rides. They do have a pad, using a Pro-Gel anti-bacterial chamois from TMF.
Watch out for a full review of the new range when it arrives at RoadCyclingUK.
