Having sampled Gore products before and being very familiar with their high level of fit and finish, I was interested to see how the Countdown shorts compared to the Freeride shorts I reviewed a while back. Since I love my Freeride shorts so much I decided to be sorta tough and nit-picky with my review of the Countdown shorts.

Countdown Shorts

The Gore Countdown shorts feature a padded insert that’s easily removable for cleaning. The insert is designed with the rider in mind and is engineered by a company called Cytech, one of the best padding manufacturers around. Strategically split in a few spots, the pad doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a wet diaper and offers tons of freedom and comfort down there on long rides.  The padding really takes the edge off saddle sores and also minimizes the chances of chafing.

The Countdown shell is a tailored multi-panel arrangement that’s cut to fit best in the riding position. The inseam is 11 inches which (for most people) places the hem of the short right above the kneecap when riding. Unlike the Freeride short, the Countdown features stitched pockets rather than higher-tech welded pockets. This cost-saving measure only marginally changes the overall appearance of the short. The upside is that the Countdown comes with five pockets (two up front, two on the sides, and one zip pocket right in the middle at back).

Speaking of the pockets, I found the front two a bit too tight for my hands to get to my keys. The side pockets, on the other hand, were fine and comfortably held a wallet and cell phone. Even when pedaling like mad, the contents of my pockets didn’t move around too much. The rear pocket is one of those things that you can only get to if you’re not using a hydration pack.

For those who like riding at night, the added 360° reflective material coverage is nicely hidden in the Gore logo, two small patches on the pockets up front, and in the piping in the rear of the shorts. The effective positioning of the reflective materials ensures that people will see you from far away. Lower leg placement also ensures that the reflective material remains free from obstructions such as your hydration pack or jersey.

Now, to be picky, I would love to see the short get the same double snap and zip that’s featured on the Freeride short (though obviously this will raise the cost). Other than that I found the short to be very comfortable and I even caught myself wearing them around the house (removing the liner of course). The short is a great MTB short as well as a short that you can use every day without having people stare at you. The same understated good looks of the rest of the Gore product line carries to the Countdown shorts, backed by a solid construction and good feel.

Countdown Gloves

Choosing gloves often comes down to a personal choice between full-fingered or fingerless gloves. I’m one of those who prefers full-fingered gloves and have worn them almost exclusively for years. With that in mind, I’m introducing the Countdown Summer, a mid-level short-finger glove from Gore’s lineup.

The multi-panel palm ensures that there is no bunching which can lead to chafing as well loss of grip. Near the finger base there are vent holes to help regulate heat. Gore decided to create levels of protection on the palm by regulating the padding in the forehand and base of the palm. The forehand gets foam padding while the heel of your hand gets foam as well as gel for maximum impact resistance.To finish everything off, Gore added a silicon pattern to help reduce slippage.

To improve on some of the shortcomings of fingerless gloves, Gore has added loops in between the fingers to make glove removal easier (one of the things I hate about short finger gloves). There are two loops on each glove which makes it a matter of just grabbing both loops at once and pulling the glove off. The top of the glove is a combination of airy fabric and mesh to help regulate heat and the velcro strap locks nicely without slipping.  Around the thumb you get a terry cloth insert to help wick away any sweat when your ridding.

On the trails I would say these gloves suit the XC – Trail rider best; they’re a bit to lightweight for the AM – DH crowd (stick with full-fingers). The big selling point for the Countdown glove is the level of comfort it offers the rider. The glove doesn’t pinch or bunch up and the grip it affords is top notch. Even after a few hours on hardpack I didn’t notice that numbing feeling that I sometimes get with thinner padded palms. After a few rides the gloves are still in tact with no splits at the seams. I did find it a bit difficult to get my hand back in mid-ride when the glove started to get wet.

The Countdown shorts are listed at $99.99 MSRP and the Countdown Summer gloves come in at $39.99.

I would like to thank the folks at Gore for providing the Countdown shorts and gloves for review. Check out Gore’s webpage for these and additional items, colors and specifications.

Here are two pieces of outerwear that are perfect for this time of year when the temperature starts to dip and the weather becomes a little less predictable. The Gore Bike Wear Tool Windstopper Jacket (MSRP $199) and the Fusion SO Windstopper Pant (MSRP $199) are two great products to hit the trails in. Both are made from Gore’s Windstopper material which is both wind and water resistant.

Before diving into specifics, a quick note on Gore Windstopper fabric. If you’re familiar with Gore-Tex you know it’s waterproof and breathable and the Windstopper membrane is actually made from similar materials. The biggest difference between Windstopper and Gore-Tex is that Gore-Tex is guaranteed to keep you dry; Windstopper is not. Depending on the garment, this could be due to differences in seam taping, enclosures, etc. Bottom line: Gore-Tex is waterproof, Windstopper is water-resistant.

Gore Bike Wear Tool Jacket

The Tool jacket comes with a fleece liner on the inside which feels great. Along the underside of the arms there are a set of vents which open with a zipper to help regulate comfort once you get the blood flowing. Gore basically thought of everything when they designed this jacket like the slight curve on the arms for a zero pull feeling when bending your arms. Love it.

I was equally impressed with the attention to detail on this jacket. One of the very first things I noticed was the intelligent use of integrated reflective piping instead of obvious, single purpose strips of reflective material. The seam taping inside the jacket is impeccable and does a good job keeping the wind out of the jacket while riding.

Last spring I tested out the Countdown jacket which was and still is a great jacket; the Tool is every bit as comfortable but different. For one thing the Tool has a front pocket which is big enough to hold your cell phone or wallet. For those who don’t wear a hydration pack, the jacket also has three deep pockets in the back much like a jersey, deep enough to hold 24oz water bottles and/or emergency tools comfortably.

Wearing the Tool jacket in fall conditions was a pleasure. Clearly the product designers at Gore spent lots of time in the saddle getting the materials and fit just right for biking. I never once felt the jacket snag under my arms or experienced any restriction of movement, even through technical twisty sections.

Specs for the Tool Jacket:

• WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shell
• Fleece lining
• Slim fit
• “Fleece-lined high collar, close fit”
• Adjustable collar with easy-to-operate cord stopper for one-handed use
• Zip with semi-lock slider
• Zip tags for easy handling
• Zip-underflap
• Pre-shaped elbows
• Napoleon pocket with zip
• 3-compartment patch pockets on back
• Long back
• Abrasion resistant elastic binding on hem
• Additional zip pocket on back
• Zip underarm vents
• Reflective piping on back and sleeves
• Reflective logo

Gore Bike Wear Fusion SO Pants

The Fusion SO pants are really two pairs of pants in one since they can be worn in both long and short configuration. These pants do not have a liner so you may want to get a comfy pair of bike shorts if you plan on using these for extended periods on the bike.

I really love the feel and look of these pants. Starting at the bottom, Gore added an anti abrasion pad to prevent the chain ring from ripping the cuffs. You can also adjust the fit of the leg bottoms from close to loose – it’s your choice. When you get hot you can ventilate the lower leg with a zip and allow even more air in the pant. Up top you have an adjustable elastic waist for a perfect fit.

The Fusion pants gets the same treatment that the Tool jacket and other Gore products get with the reflective logo and velcro tabs. The breathable liner material up top near the waist prevents discomfort from the elastic waist band and also keeps air circulating which should keep you dry. On the trails the Fusion SO pants felt as comfortable as my favorite freeride shorts which also happen to be from Gore.

Overall I think the Windstopper Fusion SO pants and Tool jacket are a great investment since they effectively extend the riding season into the cold and windy months. Just like the rest of Gore’s product line up, these two items look great both on and off the bike. Now you can go for your ride and grab a beer afterward without screaming to everyone that you’re a rider (not that there’s anything wrong with that ).

Specs for the Fusion SO Pant:

• WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shell
• Loose fit
• High-cut back
• “Elastic, width-adjustable waistband with Velcro “
• 2 side pockets
• Zip pocket on back
• Zip-off pant legs above knee
• Concealed zip at trouser bottom (wedge-shaped insert behind)
• Pre-shaped knees
• Lasercut pouched pocket with zipper
• Reflective print on back of trouser legs
• Reflective logo

Thanks to the folks at Gore for providing these products for review.

Last week I wrote about some of the technology behind the Gore-Tex membrane and how Gore works closely with brands like the North Face and Pearl Izumi to produce super high quality gear. This week I thought I’d talk about the testing process Gore uses on everything from jackets to footwear to gloves and some of the new developments we can expect to see in the future.

Fabric Testing

In order for Gore-Tex to “guarantee to keep you dry,” they need to test every new garment design before it goes into production. At Gore they use some fancy scientific tests like the “sweating hot plate” and water pressure testing but in the end a good garment design will be all about comfort. To that end, they have a few tests to mimic real world conditions with real human test subjects.

The comfort chamber: This should probably be renamed to the dis-comfort chamber since it’s basically just a small room where the temperature can be set from -20° F to 120° F. The comfort chamber also features fans to add in wind chill to see how stuff like Gore-Tex snowboard jackets will perform on windy ski hills.

The rain room: This room is appropriately named and is the place where Gore tests all their rain gear (like Gore Bike Wear jackets). Rain falls from the ceiling in a fairly natural pattern and there are even nozzles pointing up from the floor to simulate rain coming off a wet bike or motorcycle tire.

The wash room: Ok, so this test doesn’t involve human subjects like the other two but it turns out continuous washing is the best analog the Gore engineers could find to normal wear and tear experienced in the field. I’m told there are more than 200 washers in the room and they’ve all been rigged to run continuously, often for hundreds of hours at a time.

Gore also tests footwear by flexing shoes over and over in a water bath to see how many flexes it takes before water penetrates the toe box. I saw a set of Pearl Izumi kicks in the testing lab and apparently if a shoe doesn’t pass this test, it’s back to the drawing board before the shoe can be manufactured.

Coming soon?

Gore-Tex fabric technology has been around for a long time (30+ years) so it’s interesting to see where Gore might be heading in the future. Back in September element22 and I sat down with a Gore rep at Interbike to preview the Fusion jacket which makes use of “comfort mapping” technology introduced in 2005. Basically the idea is that different parts of an athlete’s body have different insulation and ventilation needs. The kidneys, for example, like to be kept warm (no kidding).

The inside of the Gore Bike Wear Fusion jacket where the colors show various comfort mapping zones

Gore has also developed a new type of waterproof apparel enclosure called “Lockout” that they’re using on a motorcycle jacket which basically looks like a zip lock bag with a slider. Could we see this concept migrate to Gore Bike Wear in the future? I’m guessing yes (just as soon as they improve it – getting it to work properly is a little tricky).

I’m still testing my Gore Bike Wear Alp X II jacket so stay tuned for the official review.

A few weeks back I got an invitation from W.L. Gore & Associates, makers of Gore-Tex, Gore Bike Wear, and Gore Ride-On Cables (among many, many other things), to come visit them in suburban Philadelphia and learn about their products. Although I’ve owned a few Gore products over the years, I didn’t know the whole story so I decided to take them up on their offer last week. If you’re a geek like me you’ll be fascinated to learn how Gore-Tex is made and why it works so well.

How Gore-Tex is made (skip this if you hated science class)

Fluorspar photo by Jonathan Zander (wikipedia)

The Gore-Tex membrane is actually created from something called Polytetrafluoroethylene or as it’s know in the biz, PTFE. PTFE is synthesized from fluorspar (a mineral) and other chemical ingredients to form a white powder which is then polymerized to form a plasticy material. The Gore company figured out that if you expand PTFE you basically get a membrane with advantageous properties like those of Gore-Tex. This expanded PTFE is known as ePTFE and in its basic form it’s very similar to the teflon tape used for sealing pipe threads.

Gore has found a way to use ePTFE in everything from cycling apparel to coatings on derailleur cables to even artificial human arteries. At its core Gore is a technology company and they’re always finding innovative ways to use this stuff. It also helps that many of the employees are outdoor nuts like us

What Gore-Tex does

Gore-Tex basically does two things that you’ll appreciate when riding in the rain: it’s waterproof and it’s breathable. The pores inside a Gore-Tex membrane are approximately 700 times smaller than a drop of water yet 20,000 times larger than a vapor molecule which keeps water out but allows body vapor caused by sweat to be released. If you’ve ever worn a cheap plastic poncho on a bike ride you know how quickly you get sweaty and drenched from the inside which sorta defeats the purpose of rain gear in the first place.

Gore-Tex glove demo showing how a wet hand will eventually dry out, even under water

Beyond the Gore-Tex membrane itself (which is laminated inside fabric so you can’t usually see it), the key to keeping you dry on a wet ride is a coating called DWR. DWR is applied to the outside of a garment to allow water to bead up when it hits. Through normal outdoor use DWR may degrade over time but it’s simple to “re-activate” it – just wash and toss it into a warm dryer! A Gore-Tex jacket with degraded DWR may feel wet (and cold) in the rain as the outer fabric gets wetted out but Gore guarantees you’ll stay dry inside.

The Gore Quality Process

One thing I didn’t realize is that Gore doesn’t just sell liners and labels to outdoor gear companies like the North Face, Sidi, and Pearl Izumi – they actually laminate and bond the fabrics in house and perform extensive testing before they’ll put their name on any product (more on the testing process in Part II of this article). In fact Gore guarantees every product with the Gore-Tex label and will replace or repair any defective item. It’s crazy to think that if your Pearl Izumi Barrier GTX MTB shoe springs a leak Gore will replace it (not Pearl Izumi) but that’s how confident Gore is in their technology.

Next week I’ll follow up with Part II of my visit to Gore where I’ll talk about the testing facilities (including the rain room and comfort chamber) and some of the newest Gore technology. In the meantime, check out these reviews of the Gore Countdown jacket, Gore Ride On cables, and the Gore Freeride Shorts & Alp X Jersey.

We’ve had a pretty good response so far but today is the last day to post your MTB cable nightmare for a chance to win a sweet set of Gore Sealed Low Friction Derailleur Cables ($65 MSRP).  We have a few sets to give away so don’t be left out – post your cable disaster story and Gore just might hook you up. Hollah!

Post your mountain bike cable nightmares on the forums this week for a chance to win a set of bomb-proof Gore RideOn Derailleur Cables. If you’re not familiar with Gore cables, these cables are nothing like the ones that came with your bike – they’re quick, precise, low friction, and highly evolved. Read element22′s blog post about his RideOn experience and you’ll be sold!

So… what exactly qualifies as a cable nightmare? Here are just a few things we’ve seen go wrong with cables over the years:

- Snapped cables due to snags
- Cracked and loose cable housings
- Incorrectly installed cables
- Excessive cable stretch
- Frayed cables and cable ends
- Seized cables due to cable housing friction
- Inconsistent shifting and braking
- Rusted cables (seriously!)

Tell us about your cable nightmare on the forums and if we pick your story to share on the blog next week you’ll score a set of Gore cables ($65 MSRP). Nothing scary about that!

Trying out new things is always fun, especially since sometimes you find stuff that’s way better than you even thought was possible. For me, I’ve always had a hard time finding MTB clothing that is comfortable right out of the box – until now. Gore Bike Wear’s new Freeride shorts and ALP-X Jersey are easily two of the most comfortably fitted pieces of MTB apparel I have worn.

The Gore Freeride shorts are understated in design and graphics. They are not the flashiest shorts out there but perform exceedingly well, going beyond my expectations of how a short in this class should feel. One great thing about these shorts is that when you’re done with your ride and want to go for drinks or a bite, you can just keep them on – these shorts are a big step up the fashion ladder from spandex.

Beyond good looks, the Gore Freeride shorts breathe so well you won’t overheat or feel uncomfortable even with the hammer down. I especially appreciate the adjustable zippered vents in the front of the shorts; unlike other shorts I’ve worn, these slots are actually large enough to let a comfortable amount of cool air inside.

With an MSRP of $149, you may be wondering if these shorts are worth the investment but a quick check of the spec sheet shows you’re getting a lot for your money. Like all Gore products, these shorts are constructed with cutting-edge materials and the company has spent hundreds of hours on research and development to get the perfect fit and performance.

Although these are called “Freeride” shorts, don’t let the name fool you – these are not full-on Freeride shorts by any means. Instead I recommend these as a Enduro / Trail / XC shorts, a great all around choice for anyone who like to ride fast and long!

A perfect compliment to the Gore Freeride shorts is the ALP-X jersey shown here in grey/green with black trim. This Jersey is a slim fit style so try one on before you purchase to get just the right fit. Based on the fit of my ALP-X I’d say this jersey is really a cross between a race jersey and a slightly baggier, casual jersey. One thing I really like about the ALP-X is the subdued logo just above the top left breast – nothing flashy here, just simple, understated, purpose-built stuff here. Like other pieces of outerwear Gore makes, the ALP-X jersey sports reflective piping instead of ugly, fat strips of reflective material.

The multi-paneling on this jesery enables a ton of freedom in the arms as well and there is little to no pinching when moving around. For a MSRP of $119 I think it’s a decent purchase, a bit more than you would normally pay but since it’s a Gore product you know you’re getting a superior product with leading edge moisture control materials.

Going for a few rides around the local trails and hitting some of my favorite stunts and hills I have fallen in love with the Freeride shorts and ALP-X jersey, and I may have to say goodbye to an old favorite of mine (made by another well known brand). Buy the Gore Bike Wear Freeride shorts and ALP-X jersey – you just might find that you end up riding a whole lot more because of them!

Cheers…

Psssst… For those of you who like to be prepared with extra clothing for the ride but don’t want the added bulk and weight have I got a sweet product for you: The Gore Countdown Jacket ($249.00 MSRP). Made from GORE-TEX Paclite, this jacket folds up to near nothingness – perfect to fit in the main compartment of your hydration pack – and is extremely lightweight. When the weather is not cooperating this jacket is perfect for keeping out the cold wind and even light rain.

On the trails or on the street this jacket works well at stopping the wind while at the same time feeling breathable and light. I don’t know about you but I’ve noticed many other waterproof  jackets don’t breath or stretch well but the Gore Countdown excels at both. Even when riding along at a slow pace and generating lots of body heat this jacket controls the humidity without trapping in body moisture.

What I really like about the jacket is its comfortable fit, both in the riding position and walking around. In the riding position the long back folds out and covers your back side so there’s no gap to where your shorts begin.  I’ve also been using my GORE Countdown while jogging (yuck, I know) where it works well even off the bike. GORE incorporates reflective piping instead of tape strips so you get 360 degrees of reflection without the geeky stripes that other jackets sport. Great for being seen at night, and at the same time a great looking jacket that can be worn around town.

From the Gore website here are the details:

• GORE-TEX® Paclite® Shell
• “GORE-TEX® stretch inserts on front, back and arms for maximum comfort”
• Slim fit
• Adjustable collar with easy-to-operate cord stopper for one-handed use
• Velcro fastening for separate hood
• Long back
• Hem-width adjustable by easy-to-use covered cord stoppers and elastic draw-cord
• Adjustable cuff
• Zip tags for easy handling
• Zip-underflap and zip-port
• “Reflective piping on front, back and sleeves”
• Reflective logo on front
• Reflective logo on collar
• Zip stow-away pocket in back

One thing that really makes the Countdown stand out is the quality of workmanship. Not one stitch was out of place on my jacket and not one stitch was not covered with the protective under tape that seals the jacket and adds to the weatherproofing. There are no front pockets on the Countdown which at first seemed odd but then I got it! In the riding position if you had a front pocket whatever is in there would dangle around plus there would be another zipper and a possible place for wind / water to enter.  The rear pocket is dead center in the middle which also seemed a bit weird at first but I realized this is so there is less chance your pocket items will shift to the side and distract you from your riding. Pretty smart.

Overall I think the Gore Countdown is a great purchase for anyone who rides in shifting weather conditions. The jacket is avaliable in 4 color choices – red/black, yellow/black, blue/black, and all black – with many sizes to fit most of us. The jacket shown above is an XL and I am 190lb, 5’9″ and it fits perfect. If you have the need for a jacket during those nasty days and want something compact that you can fit in your Camelbak, look no further than the Gore Countdown!

One thing I love about mountain biking is the constant product changes and improvements. Companies are forever revising their products and finding ways to be competitive in the MTB marketplace. Gore is one of those companies and their new $65 cable set is one of those products that other manufactures are going to work hard to catch up to. The RideOn cable system comes in three formats – low friction coated, sealed low friction coated, and the extra long sealed low friction. The RideOn cables are compatible with Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo. At present they are available in Black or White and if you’re a roadie you also have the choice of Grey.

I recently got my hands on a set of the extra long sealed cables from Gore. For those of you who ride in dirty and muddy conditions pay attention! This cable set is one of the few which are totally sealed from shifter to derailleur, in one continuous low friction liner, and capped with a very effective grub seal, with no chance of contamination. Perfect for those mossy, muddy parts of trails that never dry up, or for riders who don’t clean their bikes after every ride.

Installing these cables is pretty much the same as a regular cable set with a few fine points of difference. The instructions from Gore are pretty clear and for those of us who like video, the Gore website has a video tutorial that clearly illustrates the installation procedure.

To do the job you need:

* repair stand
* electrician wire cutters
* metric Allen wrenches or Allen sockets (4, 5, 6,mm)
* torque wrench
* new razor blade
* sharp awl or punch
* bicycle cable and housing cutters

I found when installing these you need a good cutter such as the Park Tool cutter. The cable housing is very stiff and tough and regular side cutters don’t work that well – the side cutters tend to squish the cables too much. Follow the instructions and do not lube these cables! And remember – measure twice, cut once.

Once installed you need to check the operation of your shifters (or brakes) and adjust them as necessary. The first thing you will notice is the smoothness and crispness of the shift. On my test bikes I was using SRAM’s X0 and X9 shifters and derailleurs, both of which already shift great on their own but with these cables I noticed an immediate improvement in shifting. I didn’t feel any stretching and didn’t experience any ghost shifting as the bikes went through their suspension travel. I really love the improvement in shifting and if someone asks do I think they are worth it, I would have to say absolutely yes.

One final note for those of you who use full length cables – be sure to get the extra long cable set. The extra long set includes more than enough housing and cable for those monster DH rigs out there with miles of suspension travel, and long wheel bases.

Keep an eye on Gore, there will be some new and interesting products on the horizon from them soon! Enjoy and happy riding.