PEZ capo, Richard Pestes, beforehand led us on a tour of the ALÉ Bikewear manufacturing facility in Italy to see first hand how they make a customized jersey and bibshorts. He defined your complete ALÉ Customized Package course of from design and ordering to following every manufacturing step from design to reducing cloth, to printing and sublimation, by means of every intricate stage of stitching to create Professional Tour stage biking equipment – all in a customized design only for PEZ. Right here’s the video in case you missed it the primary time round:
Whereas the video reveals us all the method, I assumed a assessment of this particular equipment could be helpful for any readers contemplating customized equipment for his or her membership or staff.
A little bit bit about ALÉ
As Richard beforehand mentioned, “We’ve been reviewing and carrying ALÉ equipment right here for years now, and have visited their Italian headquarters and manufacturing facility a few occasions.” For PEZ readers not aware of ALÉ (pronounced just like the French allez), it’s an Italian firm whose equipment you may acknowledge within the professional peloton — presently worn on the World Tour stage by Bahrain Victorious, Groupama FDJ, and Jayco AlUla — in addition to the ladies’s Liv AlUla Jayco staff. It’s additionally worn by the French nationwide staff, Les Bleus. In different phrases, their equipment has pedigree.
ALÉ presents a number of totally different customizable traces:
- PRS 2.0 – Our most high-performance equipment that now we have created by means of collaboration with skilled groups.
- PRR – Our hottest all-around race lower equipment that makes use of revolutionary applied sciences and materials, consideration to element, lightness and breathability.
- Prime – A extra conventional lower utilizing breathable and lightweight materials above commonplace. With an ergonomic match however not tight, this line is a favourite for each kind of novice.
- Skinsuit – Obtainable for time-trial, highway racing and cyclocross, these skinsuits have what it takes to earn the highest step of the rostrum.
- Triathlon – Designed and examined by skilled triathletes to maximise race day efficiency and effectivity. These clothes are appropriate for the three disciplines: swim, bike, run.
- Off-Street – From gravel adventures to excessive enduro rides, these clothes are sturdy, light-weight and breathable.
The PEZ customized equipment is ALÉ’s PRS 2.0 jersey and bib shorts.
ALÉ PEZ Jersey
Building-wise, the PRS 2.0 jersey consists of a large number of panels:
- The entrance is 2 panels related by a full-length YKK zipper (the gold commonplace) which might be a “micro mesh” cloth
- Every of these panels has a separate uncooked lower part on the backside that has a lightweight silicone sample on the within for grip to maintain the jersey in place
- There are two facet panels which might be a extra open mesh cloth for venting/wicking
- The again panel is identical micro mesh cloth because the entrance with a silicone gripper strip on the hem
- The sleeves are set-in and have three sections: (1) the highest is a extra “stable” cloth that ALÉ calls “multiball” — a sample supposed to create vanguard turbulence and cut back drag #aero #marginalgains , (2) the underside is identical open mesh because the facet panels, and (3) the sleeve ends are uncooked lower with the identical silicone sample on the within as on the backside of the entrance panels
- A really low collar that’s basically collar-less
1 – Micro mesh cloth, 2 – open mesh cloth, 3 – stable cloth, 4 – silicone panels, 5 – silicone gripper strip
Compulsory three rear jersey pockets plus a safe zipper pocket (the ALÉ-branded zipper pull makes it simpler to seek out/zip/un-zip). Plus it wouldn’t be ALÉ with out some fluo.
The uncooked lower sleeve ends use silicone dots to maintain ’em from sliding up
All my different ALÉ equipment is measurement small and that’s what I selected for the PEZ equipment. On me (5’8″, 130 pound, ectomorph), the match is what I’d name a snug race match. Which is to say it clings and is definitely kind becoming, however not spray-on, second pores and skin tight. Nonetheless, there gained’t be hiding any additional kilos/kilos. One factor I actually like is that the uncooked lower silicone backside panels of the jersey create grip with out digging in.
Low/no collar is each comfy and #aero
Not spray on, pores and skin go well with tight however nonetheless race match
In fact it’s full zip!
ALÉ’s doesn’t spec weight, however undoubtedly race weight gentle
ALÉ PEZ Bib Shorts
The shorts a part of the PRS 2.0 bib shorts has:
- 5 fundamental panels — the leg facet panels are ALÉ’s multiball sample cloth #aero
- Dart panels in every leg for #marginalgains match
- Broad leg gripper sections with a silicone sample on the within to stop leg creep
The multiball sample cloth is clear
As a substitute of the extra widespread Y-back, the bib straps (uncooked lower) are in an X sample within the again. So extra like precise suspenders.
X marks the spot
ALÉ makes use of their very own pads of their bib shorts – made in home as you’ll see within the video. Within the PRS 2.0 customized, you possibly can select between their 8H or 4H shammy (in both males’s or ladies’s fashions). PEZ obtained the 4H shammy, which — because the title implies — is meant to be good for as much as 4 hours within the saddle. I can attest to it being as much as snuff for rides a bit longer than that however YMMV.
The 4H shammy is dimpled for air movement/circulation and totally different density/thickness padding in several components to maintain the “necessary bits” comfortable
Dimension small match me they means I anticipate a pair of bib shorts to suit. That’s, agency sufficient compression round my thighs and waist for the shorts part to remain in place with bib straps that don’t dig in. The X-back design is delicate (even perhaps chic) in that the bib straps don’t really feel like they’re “pulling up” to maintain the pad/chamois in place.
It’s price noting what I mentioned concerning the first pair of ALÉ bib shorts I reviewed: Truthfully, these could be the most comfy bib shorts I’ve ever worn. The PRS 2.0 bib shorts are extra of the identical.
As a result of inquiring minds need to know
By no means gonna do it with out the PEZ on
Though the ALÉ PRS 2.0 equipment leans extra heat climate, I’ve ridden in my ALÉ PEZ equipment in all the pieces from cool spring/fall days with a extra substantial base layer beneath and arm heaters and knee heaters to the sweltering warmth and humidity of Babylon on the Potomac and Lowcountry summer season. In different phrases, the PRS 2.0 equipment equipment is as much as snuff throughout a spread of climate/temp situations.
And I used to be greater than comfy on all kinds of rides: shorter/simpler weekday rides aka espresso rides, my Wednesday Night time Hill Trip that’s basically a mixture of weight lifting and intervals, and longer/more durable weekend rides attempting to maintain tempo with using friends who’re principally youthful than me (maintaining in thoughts that age and treachery will overcome youth and talent). The PRS 2.0 equipment has sufficient compression to let you understand it isn’t “leisure” equipment with out it feeling overly tight. As such, I don’t discover the equipment in any respect restrictive and it permits comfy freedom of motion on the bike. It’s additionally comfy lounging round sipping espresso at espresso stops.
And the ALÉ 4H shammy has stored my butt (and different necessary components) joyful within the saddle irrespective of the gap (my longest rides as of late are metric century size).
In a nutshell: should you’re in search of actual made in Italy customized equipment to outfit your membership or staff and need professional match, operate, tech, and elegance, ALÉ can ship the products — as they do for Bahrain-Victorious, Groupama FDJ, and Jayco AlUla. Right here’s their customized catalog.
And see the total ALÉ Customized equipment program at their web site right here.
Word: If in case you have different experiences with gear or one thing so as to add, drop us a line. We don’t declare to know all the pieces (we simply indicate it at occasions). Give us a pat on the again should you just like the evaluations or a slap within the head should you really feel the necessity!
PezCycling Information and the writer ask that you just contact the producers earlier than utilizing any merchandise you see right here. Solely the producer can present correct and full data on correct/protected use, dealing with, upkeep, and or set up of merchandise in addition to any conditional data or product limitations.
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