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Tech review - February 16, 2005
White hot riding (without so much heat)
Giordana Tenax Laser bib shorts and jersey
The Tenax Laser bib shorts and jersey, Giordana's updated top-line offerings, are very Euro and very comfortable - as Les Clarke found out.
Giordana introduced the Tenax Laser shorts and jersey combo in 2004, and has made very few changes to them for 2005 after the orginals proved popular, with retailers such as US website Competitive Cyclist saying the Tenax set was one their most popular items in 2004. The 2005 versions still use the high-performance fabrics Giordana calls Flex Dry Power and Fast Dry Power, aimed to wick sweat faster while keeping muscles well-compressed for optimum performance. The reason for the lack of change seems to be 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it!'
Giordana sponsors the Liberty Seguros and CSC teams and the demands of professional riders show in the attention to detail lavished on the Tenax shorts and jersey.
Tenax Laser bib shorts
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The fabric used for the Tenax shorts - Giordana calls it Flex Dry Power Moovix - kept me dry while providing a comfortable level of compression. The Moovix fabric allows for enhanced stretching, providing sweaty (and even not so sweaty) riders with greater moisture wicking and compression from their shorts than others due to the combination lycra/nylon mix and the honeycomb pattern weave. Most fabrics use a grid pattern, allowing for movement in four directions, but the honeycomb pattern allows for a greater range of flexibility. Another benefit is that the hexagonal 'pores' in the weave have more sides than the square pores within a grid pattern - with more sides comes greater direction the pores can move in - the essence of added 'stretchiness'.
The combination of flex and compression is what first hits you when you pull on these shorts. Shorts makers have to achieve a fine balance here - too much compression and Father's Day may never come, too little and you may as well have worn normal shorts.
The tenax shorts were comfortable for long rides, even while doing flat-road, in-the-saddle spinning work. You've probably heard it all before - 'fabric that enhances performance, etc...' but as far as i'm concerned these shorts really did help make my riding time more enjoyable - that's got to lead to longer time in the saddle, and better performance.
Another reason for the comfort is Giordana's 3D-OF chamois - an elastic, seamless, one-piece insert which suited the anatomy much better than any other chamois I've tried. This is due to Giordana's OmniForm high frequency process, the feature of which is the when the polyester top layer is moulded and attached to the foam padding - Giordana claims their process eliminates hard edges and stiff areas, caused by heat in normal moulding processes. The claims ring true, because in the case of the 3D-OF chamois, there's a noticeably smooth surface to plant your bum on. I was really impressed at the way this chamois fitted my shape, even though it doesn't superficially appear to be anything special; it provided more than adequate protection without feeling bulky.
I'd recently tested Louis Garneau's Power bib shorts, but found the chamois in the Tenax Laser shorts fitted me much better. At about US$80.00 less, you get more comfort for less cost - a formula most people should enjoy; when you're looking at high-end shorts, comfort is factor number one! If you can save some money, and gain comfort, even better.
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Another contributing factor in making these shorts comfortable is the construction - the external seams and muscle-contour shape made sure that the fabric formed a comfortable, flexible shell around me. The cut of these shorts follows the direction Louis Garneau and other companies such as Sportful are heading - moving away from traditional straight panel construction into assymetric design that fit the body's natural shape much better. Combined with silicone leg grippers and the Flex Power Dry fabric, these shorts were a tight (but not too tight) package.
I smelled much less after riding if I used the Tenax Laser shorts, too, for two reasons. Firstly, the fabric took the sweat away from my body much quicker, meaning no build-up of sweat in the fabric, and secondly, the anti-bacterial treatment of the 3D-OF chamois meant no accumulation of nasty bacteria where they normally like to gather. This kept me and my riding buddies much happier during and after a ride!
Tenax Laser Jersey
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Wearing the white shorts/jersey combo is a bold statement, but there's a cool factor there, and it's not just that you resemble a World Champion (I bags being Cipo) - this jersey is extremely good at moving sweat away from the body. The Fast Dry Power Moovix fabric meant that the jersey breathed while fitting my upper torso really well. This fabric works under a similar principle to the Flex Dry Power Moovix used in the shorts - compression and sweat-wicking is the name of the game.
Ventilation mesh panels on the sides of the jersey were made for sweaty riders like myself. Getting the hot air out and the cool air in makes for a much more comfortable ride, and this design is similar to that used in soccer jerseys developed by various clothing companies before the last World Cup. The compressed-fitting qualities also resemble the skin-tight soccer jerseys made by clothing manufacturer Kappa a couple of years ago, but look much more at home on a cyclist, not the soccer pitch.
There are also two ventilation patches on the back of this jersey which work surprisingly well - combined with the ventilation under the arms, there is ample opportunity to allow air inside the jersey. Like the shorts, I was kept comfortably dry, which is almost a miracle for me. A very useful feature of the jersey was the zippered pocket on the back - two standard pockets plus this one more secure pocket kept me happy because I knew there was no chance my phone, money, licence, etc. would fall out.
I wasn't so keen on the cut around the neck and sleeves, however - the neck felt a little high and the sleeves were a little too long. But these fit details rely on individual shape and preference, and generally there wasn't much to complain about.
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It was great to be able to unzip the garment right down - I'm a big fan of this - as the zipper is almost full length, making climbing in particular more bearable. Many jerseys for regular consumers don't offer this simple feature, and getting the cooler air in and the hot air out from your chest is something everyone will appreciate. Something unusual were the silicone grippers along the bottom of the jersey - it felt strange when taking the jersey off, but didn't hinder the feel or fit at all.
Conclusion
The ultimate compliment you could pay a pair of shorts is that it didn't feel like I was wearing any. The Tenax Laser bib shorts shorts have proven to be extremely successful for Giordana, for the good reason that they're very comfortable and at US$140 they represent good value. The fabric is strong, too - I came off my bike with no damage to the shorts. The Tenax jersey is an excellent quality garment, with plenty of features to show for your hard-earned cash. Both these pieces of clothing are worthy of a place in your wardrobe.
Images by Paul Mirtschin/Cyclingnews
- Feel like a World Champion!
- The Tenax Laser jersey fits the upper body nicely
- Visible seams and reflective logos feature on the shorts
- Ventilation at the back and sides plus tight pockets
- Side ventilation works for me and for most people, I'm sure
- Nice pockets and reflective logos on the Tenax Laser jersey
Recommended retail price: US$140.00 (bib shorts); US$175 (jersey)
Pro: Gets the sweat away well; right amount of compression; 'bold' looks
Con: High neck cut and longish sleeves on the jersey; 'bold' looks
More information: Giordana
website
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