Skip to main content

Helly Hansen Paramount Accelerator S jacket


THE CUT OF this jacket impresses from the off. It’s neat but not tight, with a hood that pops straight over a helmet and stays in place, maintaining perfect peripheral vision.

On the bike it proved itself an ideal weight for spring riding. The fabric is lighter than on some of the other softshells here, with a double-weave construction that gives the inside a ribbed texture. This makes it warmer to the touch when you put it on but has superb sweat-wicking qualities once you start to warm up.

There are pockets aplenty (two on the chest plus two hand warmers) and construction quality is good. Because the Accelerator isn’t bike-specific it’s not as long as we’d like at the back. But if versatility matters more than protection, it’s one to seriously consider.

Price 195$

Popular posts from this blog

ENVE M50 29" Wheels

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

iXS Asper BC shorts

THEY AREN’T CHEAP, but these well made and feature packed shorts are the epitome of classic mountainbike-specific functionality, and on the bike they don’t disappoint.

Gusset Magnum stem

SO GOOD Gusset’s 50mm stem is nicely CNC machined from 7075 alloy and the faceplate and internal steerer clamp are available in a range of five anodised colours to complement the black body. The hidden steerer clamp keeps sharp edges to a minimum and removes stress from the body of the stem. Out on the bike, the stem proved flex free and bombproof.

Fizik Thar Manganese Rail Saddle

The Fizik Thar is claimed to be the world's first 29er-specific saddle. Yep, you read that correctly, 29er specific. So what makes it so 29er specific?

CANYON SPECTRAL AL 9.0 EX

CANYON’S COLOUR-COORDINATED Spectral AL 9.0 looks like a bike that means business. With a wishlist of components, it’s hard not to question the fantastic price of this stunning new bike from Germany.