i-ris.cc LS Jersey and Signature Bibtight
2020 photos: Stan Koolen text: Minke Slingerland
Introduction
We go back in time; Iris and I, of course, we know each other from cycling. Back in the days, we were racing together and we've always been passionate cyclists from an early age. Years later, we've both retained the passion for cycling, even if it is now on a recreational level. Enjoying nature on the bike remains our commitment.
Himmel - Long sleeve jersey
The jersey is designed with early winter and spring in mind. It's very comfortable and you can still move freely while cycling. There is plenty of attention to detail in the design of this jersey, too. The jersey has a tailored race fit intended to be worn close to the body. It has a full-length YKK zipper with a Camlock puller, internal zipper flap, and chin guard to prevent any chafing. Three generous rear pockets with an added water-resistant zippered pocket are easy to reach and offer plenty of room to store food and riding essentials. The bottom hem is made of an elastic waistband with a silicone gripper on the inside and reflective stripes on the outside. There are also integrated reflective tabs on the arm sleeves for added visibility in the dark. The cuffs are simple but effective, and the collar is tall and close-fitting to stop the cold air from getting in around your neck.
2020 photos: Stan Koolen text: Minke Slingerland
Introduction
We go back in time; Iris and I, of course, we know each other from cycling. Back in the days, we were racing together and we've always been passionate cyclists from an early age. Years later, we've both retained the passion for cycling, even if it is now on a recreational level. Enjoying nature on the bike remains our commitment.
The great thing about Iris is that she has developed herself immensely, on a creative level, to broaden her passion for cycling clothing. She has enormous talent both on the bike and off the bike. We both know how vital cycling clothing is—the fit, practicality, and appearance. Iris's clothing can indeed be called unique; the design is expressive, beautiful, and very feminine.
Himmel - Long sleeve jersey
The jersey is designed with early winter and spring in mind. It's very comfortable and you can still move freely while cycling. There is plenty of attention to detail in the design of this jersey, too. The jersey has a tailored race fit intended to be worn close to the body. It has a full-length YKK zipper with a Camlock puller, internal zipper flap, and chin guard to prevent any chafing. Three generous rear pockets with an added water-resistant zippered pocket are easy to reach and offer plenty of room to store food and riding essentials. The bottom hem is made of an elastic waistband with a silicone gripper on the inside and reflective stripes on the outside. There are also integrated reflective tabs on the arm sleeves for added visibility in the dark. The cuffs are simple but effective, and the collar is tall and close-fitting to stop the cold air from getting in around your neck.
It breathes and wicks moisture really well. The downside is that it's not windproof, so you'll need the support of other layers at times, especially during those colder days.
The snug fit and the silicone gripper at the bottom hem did mean that the jersey stayed in place well, even when I was out of the saddle moving around.
The Himmel design is inspired by the days you're constantly searching the skies to avoid showers and dodging the rain puddles, taking its name from the German word for 'heaven and sky.' Heaven and sky are reflected in different shades of blue on this jersey. One downside of this color is the classic splattering. I've tried to give it a good rub before throwing it in the washing machine, and it has come up pretty clean, but after a while, this might get trickier.
The Long Sleeve Jersey holds quite a premium price tag of €129,-EUR, placing this somewhere around the mid/upper price spectrum of long sleeve jerseys.
Signature Winter Bib Tight Light – Not Black
The Bib Tights are also designed with early winter and spring in mind rather than the coldest days. Preferably around 10 degrees Celcius, but that is, of course, a personal opinion. It is a mid-weight tight manufactured from the softest materials on the market. The Thermoroubaix® fabric is manufactured by MITI, one of Europe's leading stretch performance fabric specialists. The brushed inner fleece insulates against the cold to ensure riding comfort and warmth. They don't have any wind-resistant panels or waterproofing. If you're looking for a bib tight with those features, Iris's deep winter tight might be a better option for you. However, the Thermoroubaix® fabric does offer a small level of wind and water resistants.
The 'Not black" bib tights are, as the name suggests, not black but dark brown. Brown colored bib short is something that we are not used to in the cycling world, except for Team AG2R. Black is most common in cycling shorts and, for some, even a rule. The brown tights are, therefore, unique in color and beautiful in combination with the jersey.
The bib tights have a great fit; I had to get used to the new strap system because I had never used something like this before, especially not back in the days from when I was still racing.
The new buckle system is super-easy to use, easy to grasp for reattachment, and very useful—an innovative answer to the pee-break problem. Fortunately, the buckle with the magnet stays in place nicely, I had my doubts about it, but they are gone. On the front, the straps are not rubbing or irritating on the bust area, securing the bottoms well enough.
The CyTech Endurance 2.5 HD pad feels soft and supportive, with just the right amount of thickness. It uses the stitched technology and offers an anatomic fit, with excellent protection throughout the pelvic area. Very high-density (HD) foams are applied under the top layer to deliver maximum performance on long-distance rides. The overall fit is great and offers exceptional levels of comfort. The only (small) complaint I have: there's a label sewn in the seam of the pants on the outside, a creative way to show the brand's logo, but it looks a bit weird sometimes.
Conclusion