All Arround MTB

Sometimes what you want is a technical wicking jersey that doesn’t look like one once you’ve pedalled to your destination. Or maybe you just prefer the nononsense simplicity of T-shirt style designs. Enter the Madison Roam, which, with its small chest pocket and casual stripe design, looks like an everyday top. Just don’t put anything in that pocket – it’ll only take a folded fiver, and we can’t guarantee it’ll stay there until the beer needs paying for. The fabric is light and stretchy, and a more open knit is used under the arms for faster cooling. When you’re riding you barely know you’re wearing it, which is always a good sign. In short, it’s all that a technical riding T-shirt should be and you’ll probably find yourself wearing it for more than just biking. Price $57

Madison’s softshell has some well-designed details that usually come on more expensive styles, such as gripper print on the shoulders to keep pack straps in place and a fastening for the adjustable over/under peaked hood so that you can roll it up when not in use. We liked the fabric too – it’s so lightweight you don’t feel like you’re wearing it, but adds the right amount of warmth and windproofing, and is pretty breathable. Longer at the back, the jacket keeps you well covered and the fit is relaxed enough for layering but not overly baggy. There are underarm vent holes and two zipped chest pockets. The water-resistant main zip is heavy in relation to the fabric, though, and makes the front of the jacket sag down when you’re in the riding position. Weight 240g Price $195

Madison’s Flux Super Light stands out for feeling more like your favourite hoody than a full-on winter waterproof. This makes it a great spring/autumn transition jacket, because it allows you to kid yourself that you’re still only in a summer jersey. The key to its comfort is the combination of lightweight stretch fabric and a good cut. This goes long at the back and stays in place thanks to a drawcord hem, but isn’t oversized through the body. Handily, it scrunches up small enough that you can carry it as a back-up layer. The hood goes over a helmet easily and stays right in place, moving with you without impeding your field of vision. We tended to use this like a wet-weather jersey on damp but warmer rides, and for that you do need the extra ventilation that the pit perforations and vents provide. Weight 243g Price $195

The Flux is a cheap-and-cheerful classic that’s been a favourite of many riders for years. It’s a saddle we felt at home on straight away. The multi-density foam padding is comfy without being excessively spongy, and the shape is concave in profile but slightly arched across the top. As a result, we had no problems with pressure points or sore spots, and good comfort on mellower trails or in a fairly upright position. We did find the nose rather lumpy when leant forward climbing, though. There’s not much of a channel either, which doesn’t do your personal plumbing many favours on long or bumpy rides, though the good padding means this isn’t the end of the world. We tried tilting the nose down to improve comfort on steep climbs, but then the rear sticks up too much. Weight 271g Price $45

We’re big fans of Madison’s Alpine jersey here at MBUK. While the colours are bright, the bold stripes keep things looking clean and simple. Thanks to the short sleeves, breathable fabric and mesh underarm panels, it’s a go-to top for hot days. The fit is great and the sleeves are a good length too. At this price, our only complaint is that the back could be cut slightly longer to keep muddy spray out of your pants on wetter days. Price $52

Can we just say that we hate having to cut the loops that some manufacturers use to join their liners to the outer shell of their shorts? It just feels wrong taking a knife/scissors to new kit.

The Flo Softshells are made from a showerproof, breathable, three-layer fabric that keeps rain at bay for quite some time. They’re thicker than most bike shorts but we didn’t have any problems with overheating on our winter and spring test rides. Instead they kept us toasty, especially when riding in cold wind.

MADISON’S ADDICT SOFTSHELL ticks lots of boxes at a not-too-crazy price. It’s got a good fit, with well-shaped sleeves and a slight tail drop. It does shift up a tad with more extreme moves but not enough to give you the chills up the back.

SO GOOD The M-Part 13 Function is one of the most compact tools we’ve come across and weighs just 113g. Despite this it has a solid feel that meant we weren’t worried about giving it a bit of rough treatment.

THIS WINDPROOF SHELL is so thin that it feels a touch fragile but the fabric is surprisingly robust and the jacket has survived being screwed up and wrenched out of packs with no signs of wear.

THESE WOMEN’S SHORTS from Madison are a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. There’s a waterproof panel at the rear but a DWR (DurableWater Repellant) treated stretch fabric is used elsewhere for improved breathability and manoeuvrability. Ripstop fabric on the knees protects against crash damage and long, zipped leg vents can be opened to allow cooling air in.

MADISON DESIGNED THEIR Addict Storm jacket to take on anything the British weather can throw at it, and so far it’s done just that.

The Fluxes are Madison’s priciest mountain bike gloves and offer impressive overall comfort. The thin, perforated, multi-panel palm fits reasonably well, with a bit of bunching when holding the bar that, fortunately, goes almost unnoticed in use.

SO GOOD Madison have more or less nailed the ergonomics here. The comfortably curved one-piece arms hug the head without feeling tight and have rubber grippers on the inside of the tips to prevent slipping, and the nose piece is soft and flexible.

SO GOOD The Tempests feel more like regular trail baggies than most waterproof shorts thanks to Madison's M:Tec fabric, which doesn't rustle as much when pedalling.

THE FLUX HAS a light, airy feel and relaxed cut, but the balance feels wrong. The front is very roomy but the back less so, giving the impression that you’ve got the jersey on back to front. Once you’re on the bike, it’s very snug across the shoulders too.