Tech Tee: Versatile, Multi-Sport, All Round Feel-Good Top
Of all my Terry gear, the Tech Tee is my favorite.
I wear the sleeveless Tech Tank almost daily, and I love it for my functional training workouts. I never have to adjust once it’s on. I love the rear coverage as it’s cut longer in the back, which works great for dead rows, push-ups, stretching etc.
It handles sweat super well, washes easily, doesn’t retain odor even after many uses. Even left in my gym bag, wet all day, I’ve never had odor or washing problems. The material of the Tech Tees is super versatile. Wet, dry, wrinkle free, it’s just comfortable.
I train mostly to stay fit and participate in all the outdoor activities that Vermont offers: walking, hiking, cycling, skiing, swimming.
I also find myself reaching for this shirt when I teach spin. My students just love the buddies design!
I own most every color that has come out in the past three years. On the road I like bright green, bright red. As for my workouts I try to rotate, so my peeps don’t see me in the same color three times a week.
[clearfix]
I am a 5’9″ girl who is stuck between a medium and a large. I choose fitted styles in Terry cycling shirts and I do find they run small, so I always size up – Soleil and Bella for example – and I also wear the Tech Tee in large as it’s more fitted. The Tech Tank is a loose fit so I find that a medium works best.
I wear leggings or shorts to workout, and for teaching spin I always choose the Terry Soleil short. On the road, well, now that I’ve been at Terry for 3 years, I have some great choices. Right now I’m loving the Chill 7 and Hi Rise Holster shorts!
One more thing about the Tech Tank, I find cycling in Vermont that there are days when I actually want to catch more sun. I grab this top for that, and also for the bright colors and visibility on the road.
Cindy rocks the Terry Breakaway Mesh in Moulin Rouge, on Bora Bora
Terry customer and brand ambassador, Cindy Wienkers, took a selection of Terry cycling gear on her trip to French Polynesia, where she put it through its paces in demanding conditions: high heat and humidity, with varied terrain and daily rides, often of quite high mileage.
She and her husband, Kevin, joined a Santana tour of the Polynesian islands, an absolute dream destination. They raced, toured and relaxed by tandem, sailboat, cart and barge, enjoying the wonderful hospitality of the native islanders, along with many other local delights.
Cindy planned her wardrobe carefully for this trip. As she explains:
[clearfix]
What cycling gear did I pack?
Yoga in the bungalow on Moorea
I packed only my Terry Bicycles apparel to wear on the trip. I knew it would be hot and humid and I don’t do well in the heat. It was the first time I decided to forget about dressing like my captain and go for comfort. And let me tell you, I am so glad I did.
Many tandem couples dress alike when biking. I find the unisex jerseys to not be comfortable at all. Over a year ago I was introduced to the Terry Bicycles line of women’s apparel. The fit and fabrics are amazing. I am an avid seamstress, and I appreciate the feel and appearance of really nice fabrics. Everyone has a different body build of course, so each person has their own favorite Terry pieces. I especially love the Soleil, Breakaway, and Sun Goddess tops. I love the SPF factor, the higher neckline on Soleil that keeps bugs from getting down my shirt (I am allergic to bee stings,) and the unique fabrics/styles.
I have several tops that I wear not only for biking but also for working out at the gym. Many of the 3 pocket jersey styles also have a hole for my headphone cord – great when working out if you are not wireless.
Oh so hot, our boat in the background, tender arriving – Breakaway Mesh in Vendée Jade
Bike Tops for all occasions
I brought various tops along on the trip. The sleeveless because I knew I would be melting (and I wore them every day), the Soleil tank because it is super comfy with a high neck, the short sleeve Soleil which is more of a ¾ length in case I needed some sun protection, and I even brought a couple light colored long sleeve Soleil in case I needed total sun protection on my arms. All of the Terry tops I brought could also be worn for casual wear. I wished I would have had my Sun Goddess tops with me, but I didn’t order them until I returned from the trip, knowing summer would be arriving soon in Green Bay.
Cycling Bottoms galore
The bottoms I packed were the new Chill 7 elastic-free leg short, which I think is great, the Metro Skort, and the Fixie Skort (which I also wore for casual wear, but wouldn’t wear this one for a long cycling day), and Mixie Skort & Liner. Also one pair of knickers, the Breakaway, because they are a light weight and comfy fabric. I never wore the knickers though, as it was just too hot.
Another reason for packing the knicker was in case I started having a recurring knee issue. My brace is more comfortable with fabric between it and my skin.
How did my Terry cycling gear perform on tour?
Besides being comfortable, all of the Terry items I brought along for the trip washed up easily and line dried quickly in our ship’s cabin.
Ready to roll on Taha’a – Breakaway Mesh, Moulin Rouge & Metro Skort
[vertical-spacer]
I had ordered the Metro Skort two piece with removable liner in both medium and large. I preferred the fit of the large, as it sat lower on my hips. The combo worked well, but I did find the waist band on the skirt stretched out and nearly fell off my hips after a pretty long and hot day of riding: hot, muggy and pushing the miles to keep the schedule. On the tandem as the stoker I sometimes have a lot more movement in my saddle than on my single, especially when pushing a little elevation. I sit on my skirt so any forward and back movement along with extreme heat could have caused the band to relax from the tugging on it. Once back home, the Metro skort did return to its original size after washing and line drying. Other ladies on the tour loved the Metro Skort!
The knit charcoal gray Mixie Skirt fit well. I wore it for casual wear, and had it on for the road race (first day of the tour! 55 kilometers, hard, non-stop riding). Not sure if the chamois in the Mixie Liner is different from others, but I could have used more padding for that long ride. It’s probably better suited for shorter rides, commuting etc.
After riding in the heat and humidity, my favorite bottoms for hot weather are now the new Chill 7 short, and the Fixie Skort.
Cycling Gear from Bike to Gym to Store
I justify all of the biking tops I own because I wear them Monday-Friday at the gym. The pockets and cord/headphone access hole are great. They are also great as I can toss on a clean one afterwards, to wear for errands.
MPG is driven to design cycling apparel that seamlessly blends fashion and performance. This devotion to detail leads to richly composed pieces with a technical edge. We’ve selected pieces from this season’s collection that not only make them wearable pieces of art, but integrate features like mesh ventilation, reflective zippers, hi-viz embellishments, stow-away mud flaps and more.
Glow Jersey by MPG – complete with mesh ventilation and hi-viz accents.
Extreme in every sense, the Blitz is cutaway in front and rear with hi-viz details, reflective zipper and mesh.
The Intersection is full-zip, full-length, ventilated and boldly graphic.
Bike-ready, Odyssey Hi Viz Jacket. Complete with concealed reflective cuffs, hood tether and stow-away mud flap.
When considering cycling gear, few components are more important than the choice of footwear, but with all of the different riding types, compatible cleats/petals and price points, it can be mind boggling to find your perfect match. One way to pare down the selection is to shop for women-specific cycling shoes. I have to admit, the first time I was asked the question, “what makes a cycling shoe women specific”, I was a bit stumped and after a bit of searching, I was surprised at the amount of studies that have been done in this area.
Research has found that the shape of women’s feet, and therefore shoe-fit needs, fall into a bell curve. The bulk of the curve (the majority of women) need a shoe that is narrower in the heel/ankle and has more arch support (for higher arches) than typically provided by a men’s shoe. Of course, this is not true for all women, but most will find more comfort, support and power transfer from a shoe with these distinctly non-male characteristics.
With this in mind, these are our top picks for women-specific cycling shoes of 2016.
Best Road Shoe:
Empire Shoe by Giro. Available at terrybicycles.com
The Empire Shoe by Giro is QOM approved. Created with a full carbon sole, this lace-up, high performance cycling shoe built on a woman’s last has unrivaled adjustment with a footbed that lets you fine-tune your fit with an adjustable arch support. Why laces? Giro’s designers say it best:
“Once upon a time, nearly every shoe had a laced closure. In the last few decades, however, mechanical closures have been developed to mimic the function of laces while providing the ability to adust fit on-the-fly. But with each new system, there is always a tradeoff to be considered: limited tolerance to grit and grime; added weight; increased exposure to damage in a crash; or less precise fit adjustment…So why laces? Because the fit and feel of a laced shoe is unrivaled. From different lacing patterns to more incremental adjustment points, laces simply provide more range when it comes to fit, and the feel is more natural.”
Flynt Tri Shoe by Giro. Available at terrybicycles.com
Designed for quick transitions and high performance, this shoe comes in at the top of our list. Not only is the Flynt an amazing tri-specific shoe with it’s breathable microfiber cover, lightweight sole and multiple cleat-compatibility, it’s also a great summer option for road riding. Find more details or purchase, here.
Best All-Around:
Manta Shoe by Giro. Available at terrybicycles.com
For club rides, touring, commuting, single-track, bike-packing and more, the Manta is a very versatile option. We recommend it because it really does give you the best of all worlds: a recessed cleat area for off bike walkability; supple microfiber upper with straps and micro-ratcheting buckle; a stiff and efficient nylon outsole that optimizes each pedal stroke. You’ll be amazed at all the places these shoes will take you. Find out more, here.
As the weather warms, we start to see more and more bikes out on the road that catch your eye and make you say, “…WHOA”. I am here to share my secrets to making the bike you already have, more whoa-worthy without spending a ton of dough.
A little tape can go a long way.
Manual for Speed RFTD SPACE TAPE. Image Source: shop.manualforspeed.com
Available at Manual for Speed, an optical print, Cinelli bar tape can do incredible things for your ride. If you’re feeling like the love for your bicycle is fading – try giving your bike a good scrub down and adding this Space Tape. Your heart and ride will race again.
Take your ride out of this world.
Terry Butterfly Galactic+ Saddle
Not only does the Galactic take comfort up a notch (with a wider cut-out than then traditional Terry Butterfly™), it’s also designed with an iridescent night sky cover with reflective constellation details. How cool is that? SO COOL – everyone who spots it on my bright orange frame is awestruck. However, you don’t have to just take my word for it–if you happen to spot one around town, snap a picture with your flash on and I promise, you will see stars.
As I entered the road bike world, it seemed to be a rule that simple is best for tires. However while watching current cycling trends, as one naturally does on their day off, you know that gumwall tires are back in style and oh boy does that make me happy. My top pick for this throwback accessory is the Veloflex Master Clincher Road Tire. For those of you who want a full on color tire, it’s also available in yellow, blue and red, and can be found here.
The possibilities are endless at Kustomcaps.com. Create your own or choose from ready-made options including their artist series, road caps, and special editions.
Cages that will have you soaring.
The Owl Cage by PDW. Image source: www.ridepdw.com
It is often, as they say, the little things that count. So, if you are looking for a small change for your bicycle that will make you smile look no further than The Owl Cage by Portland Design Works.
Do you have any accessories that make your ride that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comment section below!
I wear the sleeveless Tech Tank almost daily, and I love it for my functional training workouts. I never have to adjust once it’s on. I love the rear coverage as it’s cut longer in the back, which works great for dead rows, push-ups, stretching etc.
[/one-third-first]
[/one-third]
[/one-third]
