Alé Kenya Equipment Evaluation: Alé has introduced out a placing new design for the summer time with African overtones, all the best way from Kenya. Our man Chuck Peña takes the colourful new equipment on a motorbike safari to see the way it performs within the wild.
Alé (pronounced just like the French allez) is an Italian firm whose equipment you may acknowledge within the professional peloton — presently worn by the Bahrain Victorious, Groupama FDJ, and Bike Change groups.
That’s Alé equipment underneath all of the mud and muck
En path to the Cyclamen jersey on Stage 5 of this 12 months’s Giro
Clear crusing on the airstrip in Mende on Stage 14 of this 12 months’s TdF
It’s additionally been ridden to 2 consecutive World Championships by Julian Alaphilippe sporting the French Les Bleus.
Solo FTW in Flanders
You should buy all the above equipment from Alé if you wish to emulate your biking heroes. However me being me, I selected to go together with the loud and colourful Alé PRR Kenya jersey to antagonize my heroes, i.e., Ed, Alastair, and Leslie.
PRR Kenya Jersey – $84.00
What Alé says about this jersey:
Drawing inspiration from Kenyan artwork and tradition, this distinctive jersey pairs the vibrancy of the African continent with superior technical options to assemble a warm-weather efficiency jersey. Light-weight, breathable materials ship frenetic vitality alongside complete performance, guaranteeing that you just get final consolation, trip after trip.
The jersey itself is a contemporary, race-inspired design. Development consists of a single again panel, two aspect panels, two entrance panels which can be joined along with a full size zipper, a low lower collar, and uncooked lower set-in sleeves which have a vent panel beneath. Alé makes use of serge stitching all through.
On my 5’8″ 130 pound ectomorph body, a dimension small was type becoming however not constricting. Alé makes use of the time period “physique mapping” and that’s how the jersey “clung” to me. The material is a “micro mesh” for venting/wicking that’s tender and easy to the contact.
Micro mesh for the primary physique of the jersey with a extra open mesh on the underside of the sleeves for much more airflow/wicking
Reflective dots on the backside of the jersey pockets
For contemporary highway using, the PRR Kenya Jersey ticks all of the packing containers:
- Comfy race match
- Low collar
- Lengthy, uncooked lower sleeves
- Full zip
If it’s not full zip, it’s not an actual jersey
Not a storm flap, however the backing on the backside makes it simpler to get the pin into the retainer field and the backing on the prime prevents the zipper from chafing your neck
Low collar and long-ish sleeves are the hallmark of a race jersey #aero #marginalgains
Alé’s trademark fluo is obvious on the entrance and sleeves of the jersey, however a extra delicate contact on the within three rear pockets
And fluo for the rear silicone gripper
If there’s something “missing” within the PRR Kenya Jersey, it’s a safe zipper pocket for stuff like keys and ID. It’s not a dealbreaker, however my older Alé PR-S Bullet Jersey has one.
Undoubtedly a light-weight jersey
PRR Sella Plus Bibshorts –$98.00
Like just about all different bibshorts, the PRR Sella Plus Bibshorts adhere to a well-recognized building:
- A number of panels within the shorts part (I counted 5 predominant panels plus the leg grippers and a vented dart on every leg)
- Y-back bib part (with vented entrance and aspect panels, vented again panel, and extensive, uncooked lower straps)
All these panels/sections are flat stitched to reduce rub/forestall chafing.
As with most of my different equipment (aside from a couple of producers which have “quirky” sizing), I put on a dimension small within the Sella Plus bibs. They require a bit little bit of tugging to get on (largely due to the leg gripper sections being … effectively … grippy), however it’s not like stuffing your self right into a pair of thin denims. As soon as on, the compression is comfortably agency. The leg grippers grip with out being too tight and with out the dreaded sausage impact. The bib straps are tight sufficient to carry the chamois in place (to forestall friction, which is the primary explanation for any discomfort down underneath fairly than lack of padding) however not so tight as to be binding/digging in on my shoulders. The general really feel is someplace in-between full-on race and lounge lizard comfy.
These sections are a mesh materials
Your complete Y-back can also be mesh/perforated
Broad leg gripper panels have reflective parts. And be aware the vented dart to assist cool/wick. #marginalgains
The bib straps are suitably extensive and sit comfortably on my shoulders
Talking of chamois aka pad, Alé makes use of what they name their “4H shammy” that’s multi-density/thickness/firmness with dimpling. As a substitute of a perineal channel, the padding is softer in that space. The “4H” signifies that it’s alleged to be good for as much as 4 hours of saddle time. I’ve solely managed rides of a pair hours or so so far, however my butt and different essential undercarriage bits have sufficient expertise to know that I’d be good using within the PRR Sella bibs for no less than 4 hours, if not longer.
Extra Alé fluo, however not the place anybody goes to see it
Right here’s what I mentioned in regards to the Alé R-EV1 Agonista Plus Bibshorts (their prime tier bibs) that I beforehand reviewed: “these would be the most comfy bib shorts I’ve ever worn.” My backside line is that the PRR Sella Bibshorts are just about in the identical class.
Alé doesn’t spec weight, however the PRR Sella Plus bibs are positively on the lighter aspect of the burden spectrum
Estesia Sleeveless Baselayer – $45.40
One of many issues I really like about Alé is that they provide baselayers in one thing apart from primary white. Simply to be totally different (however in the event you will need to have white, they’ve that too). The Estesia baselayer in blue is a pleasant distinction IMHO to the colours of the Kenya jersey. At a distance, it seems to be like a strong cloth with a printed sample. However nearer inspection reveals it to be a mesh like most different scorching climate baselayers.
It truly is a mesh materials
Some shade to go together with all the opposite colours
Functionally, the Estesia baselayer is like all my different scorching climate baselayers. Which is to say it gives venting/wicking beneath my jersey. The result’s that sweat strikes from my pores and skin by way of the baselayer after which to (and thru) the jersey. The result’s that I really feel drier and cooler than I’d in any other case. It’s not air-con, however it’s higher than being completely drenched in sweat.
For the burden weenies
Kenya Socks – $24.50
I couldn’t go up the possibility to go all matchy-matchy with the Alé Kenya Socks. They’re made with a skinny ribbed materials that’s tender and easy towards pores and skin. Compression is mildly agency and the highest is double-cuffed to create further maintain. In different phrases, a “typical” biking sock that works a method a biking sock is meant to work.
Feets don’t fail me now!
#sockdoping
Tender spot for Africa
Thus far, my using within the PRR Kenya Jersey and PRR Sella Plus Bibshorts has been within the South Carolina lowcountry the place it’s scorching (90s F) and humid. After I return to Babylon on the Potomac it will likely be extra of the identical. This equipment has held its personal in this sort of climate. Sure, I’m scorching and sweaty — there’s no avoiding that. However I’m about as comfy as comfy will get given the circumstances.
You’ll should resolve for your self in the event you just like the graphic design and symphony of colours of the PRR Kenya Jersey. I do know model is within the eye of the beholder, however IMHO Alé has captured the feel and appear of Africa with the jersey. It’s positively a jersey to face out from the group in your subsequent group trip.
The truth that the jersey evokes Africa additionally touches a “tender spot” with me. I’ve been a longtime fan of the now defunct Qhubeka professional biking group, which was the primary African biking group to trip within the Tour de France (2015). I vividly keep in mind when Daniel Teklehaimanot made historical past that 12 months donning the race’s coveted purple polka-dot jersey (he held it for 4 days), turning into not solely the primary Eritrean however the first African to put on the long-lasting climber’s jersey. And I proceed to help the Qhubeka charity “that strikes folks ahead with bicycles in Africa.” Lastly, I’m an enormous fan of Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay of the Intermarché Wanty Gobert biking group. He’s an amazing expertise and his wins at Gent-Wevelgem and the Giro (beating none apart from Mathieu van der Poel within the dash) this 12 months are large for biking and African biking — however extra importantly, for breaking down shade limitations in biking. Watching each was watching historical past within the making.
So to all of y’all out in PEZ-land, as they are saying in Kenya: “Safari njema.”
Notice: In case you have different experiences with gear or one thing so as to add, drop us a line. We don’t declare to know every thing (we simply suggest it at instances). Give us a pat on the again in the event you just like the opinions or a slap within the head in the event you really feel the necessity!
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