Turbine
Supersize
Details
Foreplay™ arm vents - zip 'em down for additional cooling.
Reviews
YouTube - Aug 12
2012 Tour Divide Champion, Ollie Whalley, talks cyclo-cross, the true nature of suffering, wookie impersonations, Gates Carbon Drive, and all about his Turbine cycling jacket.
Bicycles.net.au - Jul 12
It's one thing to be known as The Red Baron, and quite another to be called Little Red Riding Hood, but as I sliced through the chill air in my red Ground Effect Turbine jacket, I was too comfortable to care. The Turbine Jacket is the new "shell ware" from Ground Effect. It is a red windproof and water resistant cycling jacket. Given that Ground Effect is based in Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand, it was fitting that I tested the Turbine jacket during the Tour of New Zealand in April 2012.
There is probably no better way to test the abilities of a cycling jacket for Australian conditions than to do some serious cycling in New Zealand's South Island. From day one of my tour until the finish I fought chilly temperatures and wildly varying conditions through valleys, up switchbacks, over mountain passes, down long descents and across wind blown plains. During all of this I wore a base layer, a jersey, and the Turbine over the top of it all. The jacket's stretchy Vortex fabric, while light, provided enough wind protection that my arm warmers never needed to make an appearance.
The Turbine has three pockets in the back that are large enough to hold spare tubes, energy bars, a phone and ID. Accessing the pocket's contents is easy, though in long fingered winter gloves it was sometimes a bit of a challenge as the pockets don't have stretch of lycra. The middle pocket zips up, which is good for peace of mind. There is also a small zip-up pocket on the right breast that comfortably fits a smart phone. Zips on the forearms allowed a bit more air inside and, though I didn't make use of them, there are thumb-loops to keep the sleeves down on your wrists.
In case other road users miss the Turbine's bright red colour, the jacket has reflective piping on the font and back and some funky reflective graphics on the sides. These score points in my book; they are nicely integrated in the design, so they don't scream 'Safety Vest', yet still add an important safety feature.
With changing conditions and micro-climates while ascending and descending, the Turbine was light enough and breathable enough to remain comfortable. It still holds in some moisture, but good layering with a quality base layer and jersey mean the sweat transfer can be regulated. Even on long ascents or when finishing a ride I never got the feeling that I had to tear the jacket from my body.
Wind protection is the main advantage that the Turbine offers. On fast descents pushing 60km/h plus, it provided an effective wind block for my chest, minimising wind chill. As a water resistant jacket, it held off light rain though it is definitely not a rain jacket. Facing heavier rainfall during one stage of the Tour of New Zealand, I had to slip a light rain jacket over the top and battle another 45km along the wet undulating road. The narrow fit of the jacket and its stretch fabric meant I was both able to wear the rain jacket over the top as well as a thick and warm Gore-Tex jacket underneath.
As I faced long days in the saddle with uncertain weather conditions ahead, the Turbine became a standard part of my cycling uniform and temperature regulation was quite good as I rarely needed to unzip the jacket. This jacket really shines on longer rides when a cycling jersey alone is not enough. During warm riding conditions, the Turbine is still comfortable and only when it starts to get hot would it become overkill.
The jacket's collar is high and comfortable and, as I like the extra protection around my neck, this was a welcome feature. Another feature that made me smile was a hidden puncture repair patch, a fun touch to a such a versatile jacket. While the jacket can be folded and fit in the back pocket of a jersey, it is quite bulky in that form, so I would make a decision before riding whether to wear it or not, rather than lugging it along as a backup.
One criticism I have of the Turbine is the stitching on the back pockets. The Vortex fabric is not as forgiving as lycra and after plenty of time on the road, slight tearing was visible. To be fair, the pockets were usually full during riding and at times I had full fingered gloves on when looking for an energy bar. Given that the Turbine is one of the most popular cycling tops from Ground Effect, more reinforcement in this area would really be the icing on the cake of this otherwise excellent top.
The Ground Effect Turbine jacket jacket is functional, stylish and fits well. It is the perfect jacket for the cyclist who prefers comfort to 'Euro Cool' logo emblazoned jerseys. It is available online for A$159 and is a worthwhile addition to your cycling wardrobe for when it is too cold for just a jersey, too warm for a fleece and when you may face changing weather conditions.
By Christopher Jones www.bicycles.net.au
Fabric
Vortex™
Lightweight Vortex™ softshell combines a highly water resistant, windproof, breathable membrane with a smooth stretch exterior and durable water repellant finish. Not quite the same 'industrial-strength' waterproofness as HydroFoil™ but Vortex™ provides highly effective protection from light rain and cold winds. With their body hugging stretch fit and external rear pockets, Vortex™ softshell tops let you travel light 'n' fast through a broad range of conditions.
- Composition: 100% polyester with PU membrane.
- 10,000mm hydrostatic head with durable water-repellent finish on face fabric.
- Breathability: 10,000gm per sq.m per 24h.
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.
Blast to the front of the peloton with this half jacket-half riding top. Vortex™ stretch fabric blocks drizzle and chilling winds without any flap. The full-length front zip and Foreplay™ arm vents let you fine tune your temperature on the fly. And the Turbine's Hazard! reflective trim helps you stand out like a dog's proverbials when scything through the traffic.
> Zipped chest pocket for storing shades and tunes.
> 360° Hazard! reflectivity.
> Foreplay™ arm vents - zip 'em down for additional cooling.
> Rear security pocket and twin elasticised angle-pockets.
> WhaleTail™ cut keeps your back covered.
> Secret tube repair patch.
> Made by us in New Zealand.
Tell me about the fit of this garment.
> Performance cycle tops made from our Vortex fabric feature a body-hugging stretch fit. Deliberately cut high at the front and low at the back - to reduce excess fabric when leaning forward on the bike, and keep the overlap between your shorts and cycle top well covered.
Washing instructions?
> 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 the Vortex fabric. Bleach may attack the laminate. Also avoid products containing fabric softeners, ie. wool wash. These destroy the water repellent finish.
> Select a mild plant-based soap like Ecover, Ecostore, Earthwise or Aware. A specific sport wash like Grangers Extreme Cleaner or Nikwax Tech Wash (around NZ$30 from most outdoor shops). Any stubborn stains should be dabbed not rubbed clean. For grease spots you can use a degreaser like Swarfega. It's aggressive stuff though so take care - it might be best left alone as added character.
> Try not to wash too often. General wear along with washing progressively removes the water repellent treatment from the outside the fabric. This treatment helps rain to bead and run off - and enhances the overall performance of the fabric. You can help restore it after a wash by chucking your jacket in the dryer using a warm (not hot) cycle. This 'recharges' the water repellent treatment so it lasts a bit longer. When this trick no longer does its magic you can beef up the original treatment to some extent with a product like Grangers Extreme Synthetics or Nikwax TX Direct (around NZ$30-40 from most outdoor shops). A bottle is good for two or three rounds with your jacket.
What's the difference between the Turbine and the Flash Gordon
> The Turbine is a windproof stretch riding top, with pockets on the rear for easy access, and a softshell interior that can be worn over a short sleeved jersey. The Flash Gordon is a 'hard' shell - its HydroFoil ripstop nylon outer providing a waterproof barrier, but not as much rain protection as the seam-sealed and hooded Storm Trooper. The Turbine's Vortex fabric is waterproof, but without sealed seams and zip flaps it'll only keep you fully dry for up to an hour in light rain.
> The Flash Gordon's ability to morph into a vest makes it a handy jacket for commuting or cycle touring, whereas the Turbine is wear-all-day to keep the chills at bay.
