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Reviews
Mountain Biking Australia - Jul 10
Ground Effect has gone through a few incarnations of their 'Lightwave Merino' fabric over the past couple of years. To begin with, this summer weight fabric was quite cool indeed but very stretchy and saggy once you chucked a tube and a few gels in the back pockets.
The next generation was more supportive but a little too warm to be considered a warm weather garment. In its latest guise, Ground Effect has blended the merino with polyester; 50% New Zealand merino against your skin with the polyester on the outside (it was previously a merino/nylon blend). While you still can't overload the pockets in the same way as you can with a study full synthetic jersey, the new fabric is a lot more supportive and you can pack a reasonable amount of stuff into the rear pockets - a handy thing if you don't always ride with a pack. As with the earlier incarnations, the Merino fabric remains relatively odour free and remained comfortable in warmer conditions - say up to 25 degrees.
By John Hardwick, Editor of Mountain Bike Australia magazine.
UnderGround - Feb 08
The Speed of Light...
For outdoor clothing historians the 80's marked the arrival of technical fabric... polypropylene and polyester thermal underwear, fleece tops and waterproof-breathable rain jackets. These synthetic fibres were a giant advance on traditional solutions. The revolution appeared to fly straight by the mainstream cycling establishment. And so Ground Effect was conceived amidst the premise that technical fabrics deliver increased comfort and performance for cyclists in hot and cold weather. Apparently a novel idea in 1994. During the 90's a 'natural counter-trend' occurred with down jackets and then merino bodywear re-emerging as popular options.
We've always liked the idea of combining natural yarns and synthetics to release the best characteristics of each fibre. Our first revelation was the excellent hot weather performance of Intercool - a blend of polyester and cotton used for our summer tops. Then while playing with different merino thermal fabrics we struck on Heatwave Merino - merino against your skin wicks away sweat, while polyester provides a durable non-pill outer. And more importantly the polyester avoids total saturation - helping the fabric to dry faster than 100% merino.
Three or four years ago we wondered if merino could work as a summer fabric. A vocal minority had long advocated it in hot weather, but our testers couldn't replicate their enthusiasm. Merino next to skin is great for soaking up moisture, but we needed a lighter fabric (not too hot) that was still strong with a soft handle. We experimented with combinations of fibre, weight and textures. Last year the Median Strip, crafted from Lightwave Merino, joined our range of summer tops. 55% superfine merino sits against your skin. The outer is 45% microfibre nylon - soft yet tough. The finished weight is an ultralight 175 grams per square metre. This summer we added the long sleeved Berglar (an obscure reference to stealing mountain stages) and the women's Flying Nun. All classically styled in a range of sharp colours.
Lightwave Merino garments are slightly warmer than their Intercool siblings but cover a wider temperature range - delivering comfort in both hot and chillier climes. Not your first choice on a blistering day, but preferred by everybody at Ground Effect when summer is not fulfilling its promise.
Frase,
Ground Effect Product Designer.
Laurence plays the Mount Alpha male. Above Lake Wanaka.
Photo: Caleb Smith
A bi-component knit combining 51% merino wool and 49% polyester. The unrivalled properties of superfine 18.5 micron New Zealand merino wicks sweat away from your skin while the polyester provides a durable, non-pill outer. The polyester also repels moisture to avoid total saturation of the fabric – helping it to dry faster than 100% merino. As a single garment it regulates your temperature in both hot and cold climes, yet is versatile enough to layer under a WindFoil™ top or HydroFoil™ shell in winter. Lightweight at just 160gm/m2 and machine washable.
> Composition: 51% Merino; 49% polyester
Sizing
This chart is a guide only – if you fall in-between sizes, the right size for you will depend on your body shape and how loose or tight you like to wear your clothes. It's no hassle to swap it, if your first choice is not the best fit.
| Unisex | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XS |
S |
M |
L |
XL |
|
|
Height |
154 -
164 cm |
163 -
172 cm |
169 - 178 cm |
175 - 185 cm |
183 - 191 cm |
|
Chest |
84 - 90 cm |
91 -
97 cm |
98 - 104 cm |
105 - 111 cm |
112 - 118 cm |
|
Waist |
66 - 72 cm |
73 - 79 cm |
80 - 86 cm |
87 - 93 cm |
94 - 100 cm |
|
Hips |
78 - 86 cm |
87 - 95 cm |
96 - 103 cm |
104 - 111 cm |
112 - 120 cm |
Unisex vs Women's Sizes
Most Ground Effect designs are unisex. The jackets, tights
and baggy tops generally fit both men and women equally well.
Fitted garments like cycle shorts and some tops are more gender
specific so there is generally a women's version in the Outskirts
range.
Steal a break to the summit in this all-mountain, all-conditions merino top. Perfect year round when worn solo, and toasty when layered under another top or rain jacket as a thermal base layer in winter.
> Heatwave hi-performance bodywear combines a merino inner layer with a fast-drying polyester outer.
> Long sleeves protect your forearms from both the sun and the cold.
> Long front zip for venting.
> Raglan sleeves.
> Twin zipped rear pockets.
> WhaleTail covers your back.
> No-elastic hem.
> Sewn in emergency tube repair patch, because you can never be too well-prepared.
> Made by us in New Zealand.
> Lightwave combines the comfort, warmth and low-odour properties of merino wool with the durability of polyester. Merino wool absorbs more moisture than synthetic fibres like polyester or polypropylene. This makes it very effective in dealing with excess sweat - it is absorbed into the fabric rather than settling (and cooling) on your skin. The polyester component repels moisture which avoids total saturation of the fabric - helping it to dry faster. The strength of the polyester also maintains the shape of the garment and minimises wear 'n' tear and pilling.
> The Ristretto, Model T, Submerino and Hot Toddy are all intended to be used as a base layer - best worn directly against your skin.
> The Median Strip, Berglar and Flying Nun are riding jerseys, with additional features including three rear pockets and long front zips. For use in both hot and cold climes and versatile enough to wear as an insulation layer in winter.
Washing Instructions?
> Try to avoid cold-water detergents, those with bleach, fabric softener or 'oxygen whitener'. Bleach rots natural fibres like wool. Sodium Percarbonate (the main ingredient in oxygen whitener) can make colours run. Fabric softener can do both.
> Warm machine wash, 40°C.
> Wash colours separately.
> Most Ground Effect gear dries super-fast so drying on the line or hanging over the bedpost does the trick. Or use a dryer on a warm (not hot) cycle.