We love seeing local bike companies expand their product lines. It demonstrates that our bike economy is strong and that the spirit of innovation from our local bikey brain trust is alive and well.
Today we’ve got words and pictures of two new products now available from two Portland companies: Showers Pass and Islabikes USA.
The Atlas Jacket from Showers Pass
Showers Pass introduces a new addition to their line of technical waterproof breathable outerwear called the Atlas Jacket. The Atlas stands up to the elements with 3-layer waterproof breathable fabric, a PFC-free durable water repellent treatment and fully sealed seams for all weather protection. The unique MapReflect fabric design consists of 11 international cities known for cycling (Portland, New York, Washington DC, Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, Newcastle, Berlin, Sydney and Taipei). “The Atlas Jacket is equally at home on a bike commute or a world tour,” says Kyle Ranson, Showers Pass president. “We wanted a jacket that supports an active outdoor lifestyle, stands up to bad weather, and offers a stylish way to stay visible to traffic at night.”
For the world traveler, year-round commuter, and outdoor enthusiast; the Atlas Jacket is optimized for those who demand visibility without compromising comfort or style. The screen printed reflective map pattern is visible from 200 meters with car headlights. Fully waterproof and breathable, the technical fabric provides stretch to move comfortably with a body in motion.
The jacket also features a soft, brushed lining and front hand warmer pockets to lock in extra warmth when needed. Meanwhile, adjustable airflow cuffs as well as large core vents prevent overheating during high energy activities. Because of the unique map design and the way the patterns are cut during production, no two jackets are exactly alike. Look around the world and try to find a feature loaded shell that stands out from the crowd like this.
Features:
– Extra-long core vents prevent overheating
– Exclusive airflow–regulating cuffs
– Ergonomic easy-grip zipper pulls
– Removable hood fits over a helmet and stows in inside pocket
– Drawcord at hood and double toggle cinch at hem
– Soft, moisture wicking lining at collar
– Front hand warmer pockets and chest pocket with audio ports
– Light loops on back
– Regular fit
– Men’s Sizes SM-XXL
– Women’s Sizes SM-XXL
– Color: available in blackMSRP: $275
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Gréim Cyclocross Tires from Islabikes
Islabikes, known as a children’s bike specialist, now offers two models of cyclocross tires for adults. Their Gréim model is available in a standard ($29.99) and “Pro” ($54.99) version.
Gréim Pro
The tread pattern includes a closely-spaced center line section to reduce rolling resistance on hard pack, with scaled and spaced aggressive side knobs for effective mud shedding and excellent grip in corners. The 185 TPI casing on a folding Kevlar bead incorporates skin will technology giving a smooth and supple ride at lower pressures. The Gréim Pro tires will retail at $54.99 per tire and are available in three sizes:
24 x 1.18 (30-507) – 260g
26 x 1.22 (31-559) – 300g
700 x 32c (32-622) – 340g
Gréim
The same tread pattern as the Gréim Pro can be found on the Gréim. Retailing at $29.99 per tire,
these feature a lower thread count at 72 TPI, a wire bead and a Kevlar belt for added puncture
protection and will also be available in:
24 x 1.18 (30-507) – 360g
26 x 1.22 (31-559) – 390g
700 x 32c (32-622) – 440g
We’ve got a pair of the Gréim Pro tires and will be giving them a go on local dirt roads and trails. Stay tuned here and on social media to learn our impressions. If you want more local industry news, check out our Industry Ticker column and our Business story archives.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Jacket looks like city camo. Are they wanting cyclists to be invisible to drivers?
See the image of the retro-reflectivity when a lamp is shown on it.
[Though with all the distracted drivers out there…not sure how much reactive orange/ yellow hi-viz can counter it anyway…]
looks like dirty windshield glare…
🙂
It’s not anyone’s responsibility to help people be irresponsible drivers – Nobody is “invisible” no matter what they wear.
You obviously don’t drive.
I drive a lot, and he is correct. I have encountered ninja cyclists and homeless people riding the wrong way at 5am. I always see them, because I am paying attention and driving safely. Are you not?
i’ve never been frightened by a ninja cyclist or pedestrian; however, people driving at day light speeds when it’s dark out scare me often.
I disagree and that is the kind of thinking that will get you killed.
being lit up like a christmas tree (literally) has not stopped drivers from running into me or violating my right-of-way…
It may be OK for night riding. Not so good for daylight unfortunately; which is when I do most of my biking.
“Jacket looks like city camo. Are they wanting cyclists to be invisible to drivers?” in trump, etc
No kidding. Using a map for fabric design appearance is kind of clever, but its color and visual pattern would could have the person wearing a jacket made of it, blend in too easily with many backgrounds. During daylight hours that is. I think the retroreflective material is a great idea…at night when motor vehicle headlight illumination is reflected back off of it.
During the day, when motor vehicle headlights tend not to be on, and when the ambient light level is relatively high, the reflective capability of the material isn’t to going to be able to do much to make the person wearing it, be more visible to people driving, than would someone else wearing any other kind of busy pattern camo jacket.
I understand that some people greatly dislike wearing standard hi-vis colors like the green and the orange. Many don’t mind wearing those colors. Personally, I’m not keen on the green, but am more or less comfortable with shades close to standard orange or yellow, muted somewhat. I wear white too, also considered a fairly hi-vis color. Using the retro-reflective material with a generally solid pattern orange, or white..maybe a red, a silver, would appeal to me.
The “…large core vents…” look interesting. I wonder how effective they are at venting heat from a rider’s back and neck area. I’ve never heard of core vents. Do know about underarm vents, but never have used a jacket with them. The way jackets I use tend to work, is that I size them so the collar is loose enough at the back of my neck to allow outside air to sweep down my back, pushing heated air from my back, out of the jacket through the partially open front zipper. It’s a loose fit that may people probably wouldn’t care for. Except for the cost, I might be interested in giving the jacket a try for its core vent zips.
Too many zips isn’t a good thing, I suppose, but lengthwise on the arms has occurred to me in past.
You get that they make a high-viz version of this right?
Besides the fact it happens to be an amazing rain jacket that works well for stuff other than cycling, some people don’t always want to covered in neon green.
Thank you for not using the word “awesome.”
That is an “awesome” jacket!
“One of my favorite clothing patterns is camouflage. Because when … Have you noticed in the television film from (fighting in) Beirut they have on camouflage suits. … They should have store fronts and car grilles on there -George Carlin.
This can’t be very visible in cloudy, gray daylight. While wearing neon is not a sure protection against drivers, it is better than black.
there is relatively little evidence one way or another, but one recent case-controlled study found that hi viz clothing and tail lights *may* increase risk of being hit at night.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457513005113
Well, its not a high-viz jacket. There are plenty of high-viz jackets and there are plenty of people who won’t wear high-viz. This seems like the next best thing – a jacket that high-viz haters might wear, that is very reflective at night.
People voicing this perspective normalizes traffic violence and is part of the problem. Clothing is not part of the problem.