Quick Spins – August 9, 2007 Edited by James Huang Got Tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech-heads. Welcome to Quick Spins, an all new section within Cyclingnews' tech coverage were we put some of the smaller items that land on the tech desk to the test. Descente MTB clothing - almost a shame to get it dirty The Descente Newton MTB Photo ©: James Huang The mesh liner included with the Newton MTB Photo ©: James Huang The Theorem jersey Photo ©: James Huang The Genetic Tee offers the styling of a t-shirt Photo ©: James Huang For warmer days Photo ©: James Huang Descente sparked a veritable revolution when it first introduced its Newton MTB short, and now that we've sampled it ourselves we can see why. The Newton MTB is simply a superb example of the breed with an exceptionally lightweight and easy-to-clean matte nylon shell, irritation-free welded seams, and a perfect cut that successfully blends function with sharp styling. On the trail, the inseam just barely covers the knee (as it should) yet a reasonably close-fitting crotch area resists saddle snags. Much of the credit for that quality fit goes to stretch panels in the crotch and lower back, along with a comfortable zipper-plus-snap closure system that works with a pair of adjustable nylon straps to provide a bunch-free fit at the waist. Storage is provided by a single zippered pocket out back, along with another one at the hip piggybacked with a handy mesh stash pocket on top. Baggy short inserts often leave much to desire, but the Newton MTB's removable liner delivers the goods. The six-panel open mesh construction provides heaps of breathability, and the wide elastic waistband and leg grippers provide a stable fit without being overly restrictive. The stretch D-Vente chamois even proved comfortable enough that we left the liner in during testing instead of reaching for a trusty pair of bibs like we normally do. About our only complaint with the Newton MTB was its tendency to feel uncomfortably clammy when wet, but that's sort of the nature of the baggy short beast. Yup, that's the worst we could do, and it almost isn't even worth mentioning. The matching Theorem jersey similarly offers a suitably casual cut without being too baggy, and the open mesh fabric offered plenty of ventilation, especially when we opened the 35cm-long (14") front zipper. Descente provides just a single rear pocket here, which would otherwise be insufficient were it not for the extra pockets on the shorts plus the fact that most users would likely be wearing a hydration pack, anyway. The pocket is, however, zippered for security so you won't have to worry about your car keys falling out as you tumble ass over teakettle after missing that turn… The decidedly more laidback Genetic Tee makes do without any zippers or pockets at all, but we still found its lightweight H2Zero mesh fabric to breath well in summer heat. The loose cut works well off the bike, too, although the material snags far too easily for our liking. Our testing high continued with Descente's Free Ride and DNA XC gloves. Both offered a pleasantly tight yet unrestrictive fit and the minimally-padded palms provided a good feel for what was going on up front, augmented by the silicone 'fishbone' finger grippers. The moderately padded back on the Free Ride also provided welcome protection in more overgrown areas but was a bit warm when the mercury climbed skywards. In those conditions, we preferred the more airy mesh back of the DNA XC gloves, but had to do without the reassuring knuckle padding. Overall, Descente provides a fantastic MTB package that will likely prove difficult to beat. Price: US$120 (Newton MTB short); US$75 (Theorem Jersey); US$40 (Genetic Tee); US$45 (Free Ride Glove); US$45 (DNA XC Glove) Pros: Newton MTB short: quite possibly the best shell currently on the market with superb materials, cut, and finish, excellent liner and chamois; Theorem jersey: perfect cut, light and meshy fabric is very breathable yet surprisingly durable; Genetic tee: multipurpose casual styling, airy H2Zero fabric; Free Ride and DNA XC gloves: perfect fit, minimally padded palm offer good feel, grippy silicone fingertips. Cons: Newton MTB short: clammy when wet; Theorem jersey: single rear pocket doesn't offer enough storage if running pack-free; Genetic tee: meshy material snags far too easily; Free Ride and DNA XC gloves: padded back on the Free Ride glove is a tad on the warm side. Cyclingnews rating: Newton MTB short: ; Theorem jersey: ; Genetic tee: ; Free Ride and DNA XC gloves: Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com The Descente Newton MTB is easily one of the finest (if not the finest) baggy XC shorts on the market. Stretch panels in the lower back and crotch allow for extra maneuverability. A perfect fit at the waist is provided by a pair of snaps, a front zipper, an elasticized rear section, and a pair of adjustable nylon pulls. A piggyback pocket on the left thigh offers just the right amount of storage. The mesh liner included with the Newton MTB isn't just for show; it actually works surprisingly well. Wide leg grippers work well and are supremely comfortable. The D-Vente chamois is a surprisingly capable performer as compared to what is usually included with baggy shorts. The Descente Theorem jersey is a perfect match to the Newton MTB short. The Theorem jersey is cut with just the right amount of room. The look is casual , but the materials, fit, and function are cutting-edge. A single rear pocket provides a little extra storage to complement the Newton MTB short and the requisite hydration pack. A long zipper provides extra ventilation. The Genetic Tee offers the styling of a t-shirt but the functionality of Descente's H2Zero fabric. Subtle detailing marks the rear. The Descente Free Ride gloves provide a quality fit, good bar feel, and just the right amount of rear padding for most situations. Reinforced palms held up well during testing. For warmer days , the DNA XC's mesh back was a better fit. The DNA XC glove offers a similarly thin palm for good bar feel. Camelbak Elixir - plop, plop, fizz, fizz Camelbak enters the drink market Photo ©: James Huang Just drop the appropriate number of Elixir tablets Photo ©: James Huang …and the self-mixing effervescent formula Photo ©: James Huang Camelbak's entry into the highly competitive sports drink market may seem a little unusual, but when you think about the fact that the company absolutely dominates the hydration pack market, it only makes sense that it should develop something to go in them as well. Elixir isn't an energy drink per se as there are no carbohydrates in its formulation; instead, it provides only electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals in a flavored base. In Camelbak's view, there are plenty of other products already on the market such as the army of gels and bar to provide energy and it would prefer to separate the two roles. Each conveniently packaged tube contains twelve effervescent tablets, and using Elixir is as simple as can be: just drop as many tablets as you need into water (each tablet makes 24oz of drink and is deliberately sized to correlate to Camelbak's bladder volumes), then watch as they bubble away and thoroughly self-mix. The refreshingly light lemon-lime flavor is easy to gulp in quantity and easy on the stomach, particularly for those who typically can't handle a lot of carbs during a ride. Unlike many other electrolyte-only drinks, Elixir doesn't taste anything like the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and surprisingly, even manages to taste pretty good when it's lukewarm, too. We can't scientifically vouch for the electrolyte content's effectiveness at maintaining performance, but one particularly brutal (and inadvertent) nine-hour midsummer death march in Pritchett Canyon just outside Moab, UT yielded not a single cramp (but lots of good stories). Call us superstitious, but we've been hooked ever since and it's not likely that you'll find us with plain water in our packs anytime soon. A major side benefit to the carb-free Elixir is that it won't breed microbes in hard-to-clean hydration pack bladders. Simply rinse it out after a ride and you're good to go. Yum. Price: US$10 (single tube); US$28 (pack of three) Pros: Pleasant taste, self-mixing formula, seemingly effective blend of electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals Cons: A bit expensive, and only one flavor for now (although more are supposedly on the way) Cyclingnews rating: Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com Camelbak enters the drink market with Elixir. Just drop the appropriate number of Elixir tablets in water… …wait a few seconds… …and the self-mixing effervescent formula takes care of the rest.