Us Brits tend to prefer our bike shorts long, while our US counterparts seem to like them, well, short. So when we make the comment that these shorts from Colorado-based Pearl Izumi are a bit American you’ll hopefully understand.
THIS IS ANOTHER jacket that feels a touch short when standing but is the perfect length on the bike. Gripper on the back hem ensures that stays in place too.
Pearl Izumi MTB shoes have got a whole new look and structure for 2015. The heart and sole (no pun intended) of the X-Project range is the sole. It is fl exible in the right places for walking and running, but stiff enough for power transfer.
THE IMPACT IS well made, with good details such as a smoothly taped inside neck, a zip garage and a lens cleaner, but the overall cut and style just didn’t work for us.
PEARL’S EVOLVED X-ALP sole is flexible enough in the right places for rock scrambling and even gets a trainer style EVA cushioning layer for extended walking/running comfort. The Enduro IVs are still stiff enough that you’ll think you’re wearing a mid-range race shoe when you power kick on climbs though.