Reverse Gear Citrus Market jersey review

Two years ago, recumbent clothier Reverse Gear debuted their product line at the RBR Rally in central Pennsylvania. What was special about Reverse Gear was that all of their products were intended for recumbent cyclists, meaning that all the pockets were on the front and there were no pads in the pants.

Since that launch, there have been two factors that have kept me from buying Reverse Gear clothing: color and price.

The color selection was straight out of a bag of Skittles. One could practically taste the rainbow (and I can practically hear the trademark lawyers as I write this). This in itself was not a bad design decision as women, who might favor brighter colors, face far fewer cycling fashion choices than do men. For me, personally, they were too bright, too colorful. This is due in no small part to my predilection for dark, slimming colors. I am what one might call a fatty and try to de-emphasize my shapely figure through shadows. Not easy to do in a form fitting jersey, even harder if that jersey is bright.

Price was the other sticking point, and when you discuss price with Reverse Gear owners Judi Bachmann and Len Ashby, you can instantly see the look that says, “Here we go again.” Both Judi and Len are quick to discuss the small size of the niche market and the high quality of their goods, arguments that resonate with us as recumbent riders since we hear the same reasons behind the, on average, higher costs of our bikes and trikes. But the fact remained that many of their jerseys were in the $80 to $90 range and, for casual riders like myself, that’s a lot of money to put into a commodity item that can be had for $20 to $40 dollars.

Some Enchanted Evening

Fast forward to, coincidentally, the 2010 RBR Rally with Reverse Gear once again in attendance. This time, they got me, and they did it in a really sneaky way.

The Friday night before the rally serves as a get together to socialize and distribute ride info. In walked Len wearing a tan polo shirt. Nothing out of the ordinary. There were pockets on the front, but at first, I thought little of it. It wasn’t until I got closer that I saw the wicking fabric and noticed the Reverse Gear logo. They now had a product I actively desired: a jersey that didn’t instantly draw attention once you got off the bike.

This new jersey also addressed my color aversion. The Cafe Ole (not to be confused with au lait?) line of polo jerseys comes in shades of brown, or, in keeping with the mixed theme, in Cafe Latte and Espresso.

That was it. I had to have it. I asked Judi at the end of the evening if they’d be selling their polo jerseys the next morning. She said yes, told me for how much, and I secured some cash on the way home that night.

The next morning, the unexpected happened.

I went to buy myself a new, brown, nothing-to-see-here-folks jersey that would help me blend in with the crowd. I gave my size (XL in a club cut) and watched with shock as Judi pulled out a polo jersey from their Citrus Market line. The color: Tangerine. It was to be my jersey for this review. As it was being offered gratis, I didn’t feel like being a schmuck and asking to please have a nice brown one.

No, instead, I was to spend the day dressed as a traffic cone.

Just Wear It

So how does one test a jersey? It seemed the only way was simply to wear it. A lot. Let’s say for twelve hours in one day. I instantly put on the jersey and noted the time. I would not be removing the jersey until 9PM.

Initial impressions of the jersey were fantastic. It was light, airy, and felt natural. A typical jersey on me is very form fitting (unfortunately) and the necks are often too tight or get too much up into my beard, leading me to keep the front zipper pulled down an inch or two from the top of the collar. No such issue with the buttoned collar of the Citrus Market jersey. I was initially afraid that an XL would be too tight, but I found it to be roomier than even most club cut XL jerseys.

There’s a price to be paid with all that room, though. While I feel the openness worked to keep air flowing inside the jersey, it did reduce the efficiency of the wicking. Any areas where skin was directly in contact with the jersey wicked without issue, but areas that weren’t in contact left sweat sticking to me. This is the trade-off of the polo style jersey. It looks like a polo shirt, but it also acts like a polo shirt when it comes to pulling moisture off the body. Any part that isn’t in contact won’t wick. Having said that, those portions of the jersey that do connect work as well as expected. Moisture is wicked through to the surface of the jersey and evaporated away.

On the day of my test, the temperatures were in the 90s and muggy. Weather reports had forecast thunderstorms in the area, so humidity was high. It would be a severe understatement to say that I had plenty of opportunity to sweat in the Reverse Gear jersey. It performed admirably throughout the day, never leaving me feeling swamped for too long. It also did a decent job of odor control until late in the day. It wasn’t until hour eight that I noticed the faintest hint of that not so fresh smell. By hour twelve, I knew better than to stand too close to others.

Observations

During that twelve hours, I took note of a few design elements of the Citrus Market aside from its collar.

First are the front pockets. They have some subtle elements that are really smart. Key among those are the top edge zippers. Judi stressed to me that the zippers must be closed if anything is kept in the pockets because the recumbent position can still result in items being pushed out the top, but my experience is that it depends on how loaded the pockets are. With a single item in each pocket, the loads slide to the far side of each pocket once you lie back into a recumbent seat, and the zippers do not open the full width of each pocket. That means that a portion (nearly 30%) of the pocket has an inherent “top” to them by nature of not being fully zippered. If laid back all the way, items slip into that 30% on the outside edges and stay there.

Second is the stitching on the inside of the jersey. There were no points within that caused any rubbing during my rides. Even the zippers are designed in a way to keep them from irritating you while cycling. The zippers are on their own front layer of fabric, attached then to the lower torso of the jersey.

Third, and this is true of all Reverse Gear jerseys, there was no jersey tail to manage during rides. I didn’t need to tug the back of the jersey down when I sat up. In fact, I didn’t need to tug the front of the jersey down while I was riding, either. I tend to suffer jersey creep on recumbent rides in which the fabric starts slowly inching up my fat rolls. Not so with the polo jersey.

Following the morning ride, I continued wearing the polo jersey during a podcast recording, through dinner, and on into dusk. Throughout those common uses, it never felt uncomfortable or too tight. That’s just what I wanted: a jersey I could wear without feeling like I was wearing a jersey.

At the end of my 12 hours, I pulled it off and, well, put on a real polo shirt. I’m daring like that. I like to mix it up.

One Last Test

Feeling as though I didn’t get enough sweat on the jersey, I washed my Reverse Gear Citrus Market Tangerine polo jersey, let it line dry, and then took it to the gym for one of my workouts. Hey, fatties can work out too. My trainer, used to my dark wardrobe selection, was a little surprised by my sudden splash of color, but we got past that quickly and into perspiring for the sake of knowledge.

Thirty minutes later, we finished the session, I left the building, and walked into a nearby store still wearing the jersey. I would have never tried this with my “Empire Strikes Back” jersey. It also helped that I felt drier than usual after my workout, providing me with enough confidence to immediately seek a consumer haven when I wouldn’t normally desire to do so while attired in swamped cotton.

Conclusion

Such is the beauty of the Citrus Market and Cafe Ole polo jerseys. They are a great combination of comfort, ventilation, and usability. They are also a unique item. There are other polo cycling jerseys out there, but none that provide recumbent friendly front pockets along with a cut and styling that blend so naturally in mixed company.

Regardless of the color, I do love this jersey. For a weekend rider such as myself, the versatility is top notch. Chances are good that I’m going to add a nice brown one to my wardrobe and save the Tangerine for times when I’m triking at beach resorts. No, that’s not often.

Additional Info

Specs:

• Polo collar
• Buttoned neck
• Two pockets
• It’s a shirtPros:

Pros:  

• Wearable wherever
• Loose fit encourages air circulation
• Comfortable for a range of activities

Cons: 

• Price – it’s a good value, but it’s hard to get over that hurdle

MSRP: $89.95
Link: Reverse Gear Inc
Disclosure: Reverse Gear provided Recumbent Journal a jersey for the purpose of this review

Reverse Gear Comments:

Travis, thanks for reviewing our newest jersey – even though it wasn’t your preferred color.
Actually the idea for Cafe Ole came from the fact that many people told us they didn’t ride in cycle jerseys – but we still wanted them to have the same functionality of handy pockets on the front and the same great wicking capabilities of the Quick-Dry fabric that are in our other RG jerseys. And you described the benefits of both very well.

The idea for Citrus market then came from our “commitmment to visibility” – hence the bright citrus colors: tangerine, lemon, pink grapefruit and lime. So yes unfortunately the intention is that “they will see you coming for miles”. You got it – we wanted them to see that you were wearing an RG jersey – even if you think you looked like a traffic cone ;0)

As for your comment that the fit was looser and therefore not always as efficient at wicking – right again. If you want the full wicking capability, you will find the RG Boab club-cut jersey more effective. But again, many people told us the standard slim-fit was too figure-revealing – so the Cafe Ole / Citrus Market styles were designed to be straighter and looser and more casual looking.

As a recumbent-specific cycle clothing manufacturer, we are trying to satisfy MANY different preferences, but all with the unique zippered pockets placed where recumbent cyclists will find them both comfortable and very practical. And as you mentioned, the costs are on the high end of sports clothing because we are producing small quantities of a high quality North American – made jersey with unique featues for a niche market. Every zipper sewn-in costs $5.

Thanx again for testing the RG jersey and we do think you look good in “tangerine” ;o)

Morning commuters

Negotiating traffic

Judi just returned from 3 weeks in London, UK visiting her son. She didn’t have the chance to cycle there but her son does about 1-2 times a week. She was surprised to see so many commuters take to the road in such a busy city. They do have the advantage of being able to use the bus lanes which are prohibited to cars. However the number of buses means there is regular traffic behind or in front of every group of cyclists in the mornings and evenings. And some roads don’t have the specially marked bus lanes.

Folding bikes everywhere

 Everywhere she went there was evidence of cycling: on the roads in the city; along the canals on designated shared paths (walking and cycling); on some of the highways; and on cycle paths directly alongside many of the highways.  Throughout London there was also plenty of evidence that it was a bike-friendly city by the number of bicycle racks everywhere, especially at major sites. Rumor has it that the new Mayor cycles – so there may be even more improvements in the cycling infrastructure.

She saw lots of people with folding bikes for convenience, but she did not see even one recumbent in the 19 days that she travelled.

Waiting for the new hire bikes

If you are planning to travel in London, you may want to check out the new cycle-hire system which was just being installed. It’s a great way to see the city and is intended for short trips between subway stations. While it has been designed for locals, it can also be used by tourists. And it’s easy to use with a credit card. This site gives you information about cyling in London, including the new bike hire system.

Parking everywhere

If planning a trip to UK and you do take your bike over and/or have access to a cycle while there, you should pick up a copy of the book: Britain’s Favourite Pub Walks and Cycle Rides.
Judi bought it for her son because it had the word “pubs” in the title. It was very informative with a four-page description of each route and pub including photos and maps, of which there were sixty in total. It provided start and end points, routes, minimum time to do it, length, level of difficulty or danger, why you would want to do it. About the pub they told you directions, parking facilities, food, and they even told if it was a free-house and what kind of beer was sold. Each town / pub had a charming historical story as well.

If you go, let us know if you see any recumbents while you are there…

I was impressed and motivated by Lucinda Chandler even though I only met her once – briefly at the Midwest Recumbent Rally in 2008 when we launched Reverse Gear. I found her to be enthusiastic and informative about recumbent touring. She offered to give our recumbent clothing a try and I said I would be in touch.

In February 2009, we arranged for her to test some of our gear on a trip she was taking to Costa Rica. When she returned, she said that she “was very happy with the fit, feel and look of the garments”. Even though she was suffering from Dengue Fever from the trip, she took the time to write a full review of the jersey and shorts for us and posted it on her Pink Trike Adventures site also.  

When I had first met Lucinda, I also found the fact that she rode a trike across the USA to be very motivating personally. I thought of her accomplishment many times when I was planning to cycle solo across Canada during our sponsorship of the Blind Guy Biking Tour, in which Len was riding as co-captain on the tandem. When I had told her of my plans by email, I received this response:

Have you started your cycling Canada trip? Good wishes to you both. Just hang in there when the times get tough (they will pass) and you will get through it! Just remember that any difficulties, life stuff that comes up, etc… are all part of the adventure! And, really embrace the feeling of accomplishment from what you have done at the end of each day! On your “break days” try to get something in from your “normal, every day life” that makes you feel good….for me it was visits to the spa/salon and going to see movies…
Miles of smiles,
Lucinda

So it was a bit of a shock to see the news on the recumbent blogs and forums this past week that she had passed away.

It was even more of a shock for me when I read this article entitled Lucinda Chandler Finds Her Legs, written only two months ago that tells us all of the personal challenges that she had overcome in her 43 years.

I cannot imagine how her family and friends feel to have lost such an incredible role model at such a young age. How could one woman have done so much? I hope that her spirit continues to inspire many.

I know when I get on my trike and I am out riding solo again in some part of the countryside, I will think of the lady with spunk on the pink trike and be motivated to continue the “adventure” as she had advised in her last email to me…

We have compiled seven good reasons why REVERSE GEAR ^TM is different from other “active wear” and specifically suited for your recumbent-riding experience … 

1.       If your bike is more comfortable, your clothing should be too!

You ride a ‘bent because the seat is more comfortable. However, the angle of your body changes in this position.  This is why your jersey should be different too. REVERSE GEAR ^TM jerseys have no tails to sit on (eliminating that strangled feeling). We have also cut the neck and shoulders differently so they sit better on your body while ‘sitting back’ and enjoying the ride. 

2.       You don’t ride on a saddle, so you don’t need a thick chamois to protect you

You do however need some special padding in your recumbent shorts.  Our unique ‘bent-liner ^TM covers the seams and extends down the legs too. It not only keeps the shorts from riding up the back but also prevents chafing. The special thin, soft, absorbent fabric used in the ‘bent-liner ^TM keeps you drier in sensitive areas. Comfort is everything on a long – or a short – ride!

3.       Don’t lose things while riding

When you ride, you need to keep your valuables (e.g. keys, money, cell phones, food) close and accessible. If you go to a shop or café, you need to take them with you. Secure – in REVERSE GEAR ^TM zippered pockets, they are right where you need them and can reach them easily. When you leave your cycle, they go with you. And if the pockets are zipped, they cannot fall out. More than 50% of surveyed recumbent riders have lost something from a pocket. Don’t let it happen to you!

4.       Be cool and look good!

All of our recumbent clothing is made from technical sports fabrics.  Some designs use body-mapping with mesh or special non-absorbent technical fabrics. When you work up a sweat these fabrics will either wick it away or allow it to evaporate more easily.  This leaves you more comfortable for hours. Both our standard cycling jerseys and our more relaxed casual line will look better – while you are riding and when you stop for coffee or tea!

5.       Zippers don’t scratch

If you turn a garment inside out you will see that the zippers on the pockets are not visible. This means that you won’t be irritated by them while you are riding. We personally like to go on long rides and want REVERSE GEAR ^TM to be comfortable for the whole day. We don’t ask you to surrender comfort for function.

6.       A variety of styles and sizes for everyone

When we attended cycle rallies and races, we discovered that recumbent riders come in all sizes and shapes.  So we have created a variety of styles, cuts and fits from classic body-hugging jerseys to loose fitting casual tops. We even designed fashionable tops that you can wear to the market or café or just for a walk (see Café Olé and Citrus Market). And some styles come in sleeveless, short-sleeve and long-sleeve. But we did not sacrifice function in any of them. Zippered pockets are featured on all of our tops. Some are on the front (easy to reach) and others are on the side (less visible).  So pick your style / size from XS to XXXL.

7.       Weather resistant features

The recumbent position exposes your legs to the elements differently. Our longs are designed with that in mind. The fronts have panels of special weather-resistant fabrics to keep your legs drier and also warmer in rain and/or wind. But because the recumbent position takes you closer to the road, the back has similar technical qualities to keep your bottom warmer when there is cooler weather or road splash.

 Tell us your reasons for buying REVERSE GEAR ^TM …

No this is not our opinions of how you should “parent” your children. It is however a notification that recumbent riding and the wearing of REVERSE Gear is about to make it into mainstream TV programming – on a new show called PARENTHOOD.

While we were travelling in Florida in March we received a call from a young woman asking for help on how to enter a credit card transaction into our shopping cart. When we explained the use of PayPal she informed us that the purchase was not for herself but for the wardrobe department of NBC. She explained that she was trying to purchase a  jersey for a recumbent rider in an upcoming episode that was being filmed the following Friday. Not wanting to delay shipment while we sorted the payment options out, we shipped her a Mulga-3 jersey and a pair of the unique Ironbark shorts immeditaely. A few days later we signed the release forms.

We are no doubt thrilled that someone can/will ride a recumbent on a popular genre show. The exposure will be good for the industry overall. We are even more excited that the rider will be properly attired in a spiffy tri-color recumbent-specific jersey with front zipped pockets and classic lycra shorts for the shoot. We know that shoots can take a long time and we are confident that Phil Abrams who plays Phil Lessing in the show will be comfortable for however long it takes for his ride across our small screens.

The character Phil Lessing has already made his first appearance in Episode Two of the 2010 premiere of Parenthood.

We consider ourselves very fortunate that we had just bought a new TV in early March so that we can now receive the free-to-air post-conversion HDTV signals in our RV. So when Phil graces the screen in bright blue and orange on May 4. 2010 we will actually get to see him. We hope you will too.

Let us know what you think of recumbent riding in mainstream television by posting your comments below.

The following is from the summary of the show provided by NBC:
“Parenthood” is a one‐hour drama inspired by the box‐office comedy hit of the same name about the Braverman family.  The dynamic star‐studded cast includes Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Bonnie Bedelia, Monica Potter and Erika Christensen. Executive producers are Oscar winners Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (“A Beautiful Mind,” “Frost/Nixon”), and Jason Katims (“Friday Night Lights”), who wrote the pilot episode. Emmy winner Thomas Schlamme (“The West Wing”) is the director and executive producer of the pilot. “Parenthood” is from Imagine Television and Universal Media Studios.

After leaving Florida at the beginning of March 2010, we headed back to Canada in a rather winding fashion. We researched where the recumbent shops were. Then we planned a route that would allow us to visit as many as possible and if time and weather permitted also cycle some of the cities and trails along the way.
The first of these destinations was New Orleans LA. We understand that you can special order a recumbent from Michael’s Bicycle Shop in the French Quarter. However we didn`t see any recumbents the whole time we were in New Orleans. It`s a shame that they have not yet caught on as New Orleans has a great bike path along the levee which is a safe and easy route to get into the city. We cycled a portion of it in the west of the city.
Our next stop was Jackson MS, home to Ride South, a large recumbent and kayak shop in nearby Brandon. Jim was a great host suggesting an excellent RV park close by, as well as trails to ride along the lake and reservoir. Ride Southcarries a wide range of recumbents including: Greenspeed, Catrike, Hase, Sun, Bacchetta, Cycle Genius, ICE, Lightning, RANS, Terratrike (Whiz Wheels). He now carries REVERSE Gear recumbent clothing also. On Saturday morning, he invited us to ride with the locals on their weekly Rise and Shine ride. We returned to the shop for Jim`s freshly baked bread, fig preserves and coffee. How much better can you start a weekend?
Jim can be reached at: Ride South Recumbents    105 Avalon Ct    Brandon, MS  39047   P: 1-888-822-3647 or by email at info @ ridesouth.com
In Burlington AL we visited Tandems Ltd but did not do any cycling as it was raining while we were there. Jack and Susan sell from their home location and have a very impressive knowledge and range of recumbent and tandem cycles. 
When we arrived in Atlanta GA we had intended to ride the Silver Comet trail located right next to the Silver Comet Depot which we visited. After discussing tricycles and the benefits of riding in REVERSE Gearrecumbent clothing with owner Arno, we abandoned the idea of riding because of the thunderstorm that had moved in, while we were chatting.
We found only one recumbent shop in TN called Easy Chair Recumbents in Signal Mountain. We did not stop however and drove to Nashville TN where we did cycle around Opryland and Opry Mills and also from two Rivers Park to downtown, for a total distance of 58 km.
We moved on to Kentucky, where we visited two locations of Scheller’s Fitness and Cycling (Middletown KY and Clarkesville IN) with a ride in the city in between. We rode through downtown and the museum district before going along the Ohio River from Riverside Park to Portland Wharf and return.

While visiting Florida we visited as many shops that sell recumbents as possible. We were impressed by the large number of shops and the variety of recumbent products they sold. We were also pleasantly surprised at the number of recumbent riders on the many trails we visited – many of them snowbirds  trying to find the magic answer to riding all year round. 

Shops we visited (in alphabetical order): 

Bicycle Outfitters – now carries REVERSE Gear
11198 70th Avenue N     Seminole, FL  33772    P: 727-319-2453

Hamptons Edge Trailside Bikes – now carries REVERSE Gear and KangaTek
8294 E. Orange Ave    Floral City, FL   34436     P: 352-419-4809

__________________________________________________

A J Barnes Bicycle Emporium - Fort Myers, FL

Atlantic Bicycle - Margate, FL

Billy’s Bike Shop - Sanibel Island, FL

Bob’s Beach Bicycles - Indialantic, FL

Champion Cycle - Jacksonville Beach, FL

LakeShore Bicycle & Fitness -  Jacksonville, FL

Paradise Bicycles -  Fort Myers, FL

Power-On Cycling - Riverview, FL

Riverside Recumbents - Cocoa, FL

Ryder Bikes - Bradenton, FL

Trike Shoppe - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Village Cycles - The Villages (Lady Lake), FL

Winter Garden Wheel Works - Winter Garden, FL

We wrote about our first experience cycling in Florida on February 1st. By then we were in the Tampa Bay area and planning to do the Pinellas Trail. Weather and flat tires conspired against us – so we only caught glimpses of that trail as we drove by sections close to the highways or bike shops in the area. Then we moved on and stayed near the  Withlacoochee State Park, at the recommendation of Pete whom we met through one of the Florida recumbent forums. We liked the area so much that we stayed a month to ride the Withlacoochee Trail and attend the Catrike Rally on March 6 and 7.  The weather remained cool with most mornings just above freezing. But we had finally decided that we would not allow weather to keep us cabin-bound, that is hibernating in the RV.
We rode the section of the Withlacoochee Trail from the Sandy Oaks RV Resort  in Beverly Hills to the town of Istachatta. We did several variations of this trip or sections of it. We rode it:  with Pete as a guide, by ourselves, with fellow RVers from Sandy Oaks and also with the Catrike Rally ride sponsored by Regis and Cindy of Hampton’s Edge. The ride we most looked forward to was the Moonlight Ride organized by Hampton’s Edge on the Saturday closest to the full moon each month. Since the trail is normally closed after dark, this was going to be unique. So we donned our thermal long-johns, our Moonah and  Woolybutt bottoms and lots of layers, including down vests on top. We found our ski gloves and winter toques. And off we went to the shop at 6:30 pm. But alas no-one else showed. So instead, we joined Regis and Cindy and some locals at the pizza restaurant that would have been the destination for the ride.  We left before their next Moonlight Ride but we hope the weather improved for them. If planning to be in the area, check out Hampton’s Edge Trailside Bicycles for information on rides and trails or drop by their trailside location and  say hello. They now carry REVERSE Gear and KangaTek bags too.
Another trail we rode with the RVers from Sandy Oaks was the canal ride near Crystal River to Gulf of Mexico. It was a short flat ride that was perfect for the cool and windy day we had.
On the weekend of March 6 and 7, we attended the Catrike Rally. On Saturday morning about a hundred Catrikes, and a few hanger-ons like us, gathered at the park on Lake Apopka in Winter Garden. The group self-divided into 3 sub-groups to cover varying distances of the West Orange Trail. Then we all returned to Winter Garden for a bite to eat before descending on the Catrike factory for a tour. Before the tour started everyone enjoyed sunshine, refreshments and exhibits in the parking lot and Paulo Camasmie explained the technology, research and testing behind Musashi, the new Catbike. The next day, Hampton’s Edge organized a ride of the Withlacoochee Trail for any riders staying in the area. About sixty people attended and went for lunch at Frankie’s Grill where REVERSE Gear had a draw for a free jersey. It was an impressive sight on both days to see dozens of trikes wending their way down the trails. We would like to thank Regis and Cindy for their hospitality and for dinner where we met Larry Varney from Bentrider Online (see Larry`s review of the Greenspeed jersey). This ride concluded our stay and our cycling in Florida – for this year.
We had so much fun and we look forward to visiting this area again.

The following is a review done in November 2009 in ‘BentRider Online…

Reverse Gear Recumbent Jerseys

by Larry Varney
Co-Editor, ‘BentRider Online

It’s that season when many of us begin to ride less. Let’s face it, it’s getting cold out there! So, do we forget about biking? No, this is when we shift our focus to how to make our riding better next season. We upgrade our bikes and trikes, we consider tours to go on, and we evaluate our wardrobe. New shorts and tights? Yes, put them on the list. Jerseys? Oh, possibly – they don’t wear out as fast as shorts. But we sure could use some that are recumbent-specific, with pockets on the front if possible, and definitely not on the rear. And if they can be steed-specific, all the better. And here we have just the thing, to subtly hint to your relatives, partners, co-workers, etc., for that gift you’ve always wanted: a jersey from Reverse Gear.

If you are like me, you’ve been on enough organized rides that you have more than enough bicycling-related t-shirts. Too many, in fact. I hate getting rid of them, because they remind me of events, of people that I met, of bikes and trikes that I rode. But each year I resolve to stop: no more new bicycling-related t-shirts. But: jerseys are a different matter altogether. For practical reasons, a jersey is in some ways better than a t-shirt. Such as: they wick better, they dry quicker, and they tend to have more pockets than a t-shirt. Usually those pockets are in the “wrong” place for many of us – on recumbents, we feel immediately when something is carried in those pockets on our back.  Move them to the sides or the front – make the jersey recumbent-friendly – and we’ll be happy. And that’s what the folks at Reverse Gear have done.

I have to admit, when I visited their website, I expected to see nothing but jerseys for sale – but they have shorts as well, along with unexpected items such as illuminated reflective strips, as well as socks and shorts.  For those of us lucky enough to be in range of dealers that carry their products, great. Otherwise, a shopper-friendly website is a great find.

And that’s how I felt about the jersey I have been reviewing over the past few weeks.  While I am not one of those who wear replica team jerseys, I do like to occasionally “accessorize” with clothing that let others know what I’m riding. So, when I saw that Reverse Gear had a Greenspeed jersey, I decided I wanted to review it.

I really think that other manufacturers are missing a great chance to make their products more “visible” by having clothing with their logos produced.  I suspect that people who see someone having a good time on a bike or trike will notice the brand-specific clothing the rider is wearing, and that makes it likely they will look more closely at that bike or trike.  I can’t say for sure if this is why Greenspeed opted to have Reverse Gear produce this jersey, but I would not be surprised.

Reviewing clothing is difficult in one respect: what can you say about them? Are they comfortable? Do they fit as you expected? Do the colors face in the wash? How about shrinkage?  I am happy to say that the Reverse Gear jersey has performed well in all these tests.  I had been warned that the sizing is more “fitted” than some (they do have a line that is more “casual”), so for those of us who aren’t quite as tapered as we would like to be, go for a size larger. I did, and this jersey fits great.

I have been wearing the jersey in both warm and chilly conditions, as the only top garment and as a part of a layer, and the wicking as been as I want in a quality jersey. Laundering it (as you would expect of polyester, in cool water, and air dry) has shown it to be color-fast and non-shrinking.  The orange is as bright and the fit is as good as the day I unpacked it.

What more can be said about this jersey? It works, it looks nice, and now you can keep those keys in your pocket without jabbing yourself in the back when you ride.  Visit their website, see if a dealer you visit is on the list (if not, suggest to your LBS that they consider it), and see what this Canadian company has that will make your cycling even better.

Reverse Gear Recumbent Jersey

Pros: Pockets in the front, wicks and dries better than a t-shirt
Cons: More expensive than a t-shirt
Price: $99.95 (other jerseys they carry differ in price)
For More Information: http://www.ReversegearInc.com

PS. About the cap: Men Out Riding On Nice Seats.  I am an honorary member. My wife took one look at it, and said it was redundant.

We plan to feature stories about ‘bents and riders, and tips to make the ‘bent experience better. If you want to share a story or tip with us, send it along to Judi.

Here’s a useful tip for bicycle grease!

To remove grease, from skin or from your clothing, rub in a dab of toothpaste. Rinse immediately to prevent bleaching. Works wonders!

If you get grease on multiple clothes and need a product for the laundry cycle, we can recommend Caeran stain remover. Judi has been using their products on tough stains for three generations now.

C.A.E.R.A.N Caring And Environmentally Responsible And Nurturing is 100% Canadian. To see their full line of products, please visit www.caeran.com Please reference “Consultant ID# 10-0100-1076″ under special instructions at the Check-out.

If you have any questions about the products, or to place an order directly, e-mail Judi’s daughter