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UnderGround - Dec 06
Earlier in the year I had the opportunity to pedal 500km from Vietnam to Cambodia as part of the Oxfam Cycle Challenge. Wahoo. With the outlook for temperatures upwards of 40 degrees, I wanted a top that would offer sun protection but not cause me to boil over. I bought a Starfish long sleeved top, but was sceptical - surely I would cook. On day one I opted for a top with short sleeves. I fried my arms and nearly died from heat exhaustion. Hardly good form, so I elected to try my Starfish the following day. What can I say - the top was bloody brilliant. While my buddies were moaning about the heat, I was cycling with a smile, felt cool and had heaps of energy. I had to stop raving to them for fear of my life. But here's the catch - I now had just a single top to get me through the trip. Not a problem in the tropics though. At the end of each day my Starfish and I headed for the shower, got clean and hung ourselves out to dry for the morning.
'Don't bust the crust'. Valerie rides the rim in Utah.
Photo: Grant Stirling
A bi-component fabric coupling an inner layer of polyester with a honeycomb knit outer layer of cotton. The polyester wicks sweat away from your body and the cotton draws it through to the outside, ensuring super-efficient evaporation to keep you cooler and drier. Magic.
> Composition: 51% Polyester; 49% Cotton
Sizing
Check out the chart to suss out where you fit. This 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.
| Women | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS (8-10) |
WM (12) |
WL (14) |
WXL (16-18) |
|
|
Bust |
88 - 92 cm |
93 - 97 cm |
98 - 102 cm |
103 - 107 cm |
|
Waist |
63 - 69 cm |
70 - 76 cm |
77 - 83 cm |
84 - 90 cm |
|
Hips |
89 - 95 cm |
96 - 102 cm |
103 - 109 cm |
110 - 116 cm |
Solar protection for when the heat haze rolls off the tarmac and Rolf scares you with his wobble-board and stories of blistering heat. Long sleeves shade your forearms and a stand-up collar shelters your neck from excess rays. Intercool fabric wicks sweat away from your body to keep you oh so cool.
> Stand up collar for UV protection.
> UPF 50+
> Long front zip for maximum venting.
> Raglan sleeves for a performance fit.
> Long sleeves protect your forearms from both the sun and the cold (how does it know?).
> Limelight option for maximum visibility on the open road.
> No-elastic hem.
> Rear security pocket coupled with twin elasticised angle-pockets for on-the-go access.
> Secret tube repair patch.
> WXL size option.
> Made by us in New Zealand.
> Both share similar design features and use our Intercool fabric.
> The Starfish is a more fitted garment - tighter at the waist and flared at the hips.
> The women's sizing fits down to a smaller size than the unisex range.
What's the SPF Rating for this top?
> Depending on the colour, the SPF for Intercool varies between 25 and 30 (lighter colours have a better/higher SPF). The rating changes with dampness and use (it actually increases slightly the first time the garment is washed).
> In practical terms, Intercool provides all day protection from the sun. 15 minutes burn-time is extended to between 6 and 7 hours using Intercool. Of course the burn-time tapers off before and after the mid-afternoon peak so you are easily covered from dawn to dusk.
Washing Instructions?
> InterCool tops enjoy 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 may 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.
> This Intercool top will be almost dry out after the spin cycle of your washing machine so using a dryer is unnecessary - if you must then choose a warm (not hot) cycle.