Sea Otter 2015 | First Look: Kitsbow Cycling Apparel
Kitsbow is building a reputation for creating stylish, functional high-end cycling apparel with a no-holds barred approach to sourcing using the finest materials. While it results in a price point that often creates sticker shock, they’re finding a niche among those willing to invest a bit more in gear designed and built to last.
We met up with Kitsbow founders Zander Nosler and Charlie Cronk as well as social media man Elliot Wilkinson-Ray to talk bike fashion, coffee and adventure vans, as well as what they’re currently wearing and what’s new for 2015.
The guys are the first to admit their gear isn’t cheap. When you consider wearability though, the pricing proposition becomes a bit easier to swallow. Unlike bright and often gaudy race kits, Kitsbow riding gear is stylish enough to wear to work and head out for a ride at lunch, or a long dirt commute home. The anti-odor properties of the merino wool blends mean you may be able to get more than one wear or avoid offending co-workers before it heads to the dirty clothes hamper.
Kitsbow Ride tee in charcoal heather
Though it wasn’t readily apparent, Elliot Wilkinson-Ray only needed to don a hemet before hitting the dirt. Donned in the casual-yet-stylish Kitsbow Ride tee, the top is a blend of Merino wool and polyester, with the breathability and wicking properties both materials provide.
Though it can be hard to wrap one’s head around the cost, additional details like the drop tail, a back and pocket, make it more than just another riding tee, and the nylon shoulder panels offer enhanced durability for years to come.
Adjustable A/M short in gunmetal grey
The Adjustable A/M short is a trail riding short fashioned from Schoeller ®-shape, a blend of nylon and elastane. Treated for water resistance, the softshell fabric offers mobility and durability. A tailored fit keeps it out of the way when riding as well as a handsome profile. Features include locking adjusters on the waist, mesh ventilation on the inside thighs and lower back and a slider snap at the fly. Two rear pockets are available to stow your EDC and essentials and secured with a magnetic snap.
Recently the Kitsbow line has been expanding and have taken it to the next level with a lifestyle line for those that live and breathe the culture of bike.
Icon shirt in olive plaid
Kitsbow’s take on the classic riding flannel passes on the stretch polyester of other performance flannels, going straight to the OG classic, Pendleton Wool. Modeled here for us by Kitsbow co-founder Zander Nosler, the Icon is sewn in San Francisco in a limited run, and is has a leather label hand-branded with the logo and limited edition number. Features like stretch gussets at the shoulders aid in mobility while on the bike, and Schoeller panels on the shoulders and elbows offer abrasion resistance.
Drifter jean
There are a number of cycling jeans currently on the market, but the cotton-nylon-lycra blend set the Drifter apart. While most offer lycra for stretch and mobility, the Cordura nylon content offers durability. It has the tailored fit of high-end denim and features a crescent shaped seam around the knee for articulation, a finished interior gusset and reflective print on the inside of the left cuff to aid in night time visibility.
More Info: kitsbow.com
Words & Photos: Jason Van Horn
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