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BikeMagic.com - Nov 07
Word association time: "Leg warmers".
Go on, admit it, you're thinking of Fame and 80s gym chic. Or you have no idea what we're on about, if you're more blessed with youth than us. But in bicycleland, leg warmers are essentially full-length extensions for your shorts - lightweight Lycra legs that live in your pocket until it gets a bit nippy around the knees.
Ground Effect's offerings are the Half Pipes. They're made from lovely fleecy-backed Lycra and have a couple of very useful features. For a start, they're distinctly on the long side, reaching well beyond mid-thigh and therefore guaranteed a healthy amount of overlap with your shorts unless you're an enthusiast of the shorter short. They're best worn with either Lycra shorts or baggies with a close-fitting liner - the Half Pipes have grippy elastic at the top to keep them up, but tucking them under a snug shorts leg removes any possibility of slippage.
At the other end is a 10in zipper, which means that you can haul them on over your shoes for minimum faff. There's also a small reflective logo on each calf. Once in place they're very comfy and toasty warm. And if it warms up, it's the work of a moment to slip them off again.
As all Ground Effect gear is shipped direct from New Zealand, pricing is something of an inexact science, subject as it is the the whims of the international money markets. At the time of writing, the Half Pipes' price of NZ$69 comes to about £25 including VAT and import duty. There's shipping to go on top of that, though - you'd be best off buying a few items at a time.
The good - Warm, comfy, compact
The bad - Cheaper leg warmers are available
Verdict:
These are really rather handy. They're long enough to ensure good coverage and the zips make them super-easy to get on and off. We've become converts to the Way of the Leg-Warmer in the uncertain weather conditions that we tend to experience, um, pretty much every ride...
Ratings
Performance 5/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5
http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/5913/v/2
Hot Shot™ Lycra
Italian stretch fleece used for winter shorts and tights. 4-way stretch nylon with a tightly woven, hardwearing outer and a brushed inner delivers winter warmth. It dries quickly and is blended with 13% lycra to stretch and move with your body.
> Composition: 87% nylon; 13% lycra
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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
S |
M |
L |
XL |
|
|
Height |
163 -
172 cm |
169 - 178 cm |
175 - 185 cm |
183 - 191 cm |
|
Chest |
91 -
97 cm |
98 - 104 cm |
105 - 111 cm |
112 - 118 cm |
|
Waist |
73 - 79 cm |
80 - 86 cm |
87 - 93 cm |
94 - 100 cm |
|
Hips |
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.
Winterise your baggies or stretch cycle shorts with these toasty lycra-fleece leg warmers. Slip them on in the cold. Peel 'em off and shove in your back pocket when no longer required. Add lace, suspenders and jazz for late night entertainment.
> Fast-drying, 4-way stretch Hot Shot Lycra.
> Gripper elastic at hem keeps them hitched up.
> Hazard! reflective logos on each calf for night time visibility.
> Calf zips to ease on and off over your cycling shoes.
> Made by us in New Zealand.
> These are designed to wear long and tall for maximum overlap with your shorts. They work just as well under baggy shorts (with liners) or lycra shorts, although you can choose to wear them over the baggys liner for a firmer fit. The Half Pipes don't work so well with the Supertankers as they have no lycra liner.
Washing Instructions?
> All Ground Effect clothing enjoys a warm machine wash. Try to avoid cold-water detergents and those with bleach. The cold-water varieties have little enzymes that are super-charged to brave the cold but can damage technical fabrics and cause skin irritation. And bleach rots natural fibres like cotton, strips the dye and can also cause irritation. As a rule of thumb, product that is easy on the planet is also easy on your body. Plant based soaps like 'Ecover' or specific sport wash formula are recommended.
> Hand washing is sometimes the only option on tour, but a washing machine rinses more thoroughly and is preferable if you have the choice.
> Drying on the line or hanging on the bedpost is generally preferable to using a dryer. Most Ground Effect gear dries super-fast anyway. High heat can damage some fabrics so if you must take your threads for a spin set the device on 'medium' or 'warm' rather than hot.