Royal Stage Shorts and Jersey – Review
I’ve written before about the rules of the bike industry, including the enduro-naming-convention that at least one product should be named “Stage” each year. Royal have had Stage in their line up for a few years, and the 2016 offerings are as good as we’d expect from them.
The Stage jersey has been designed with all day racing in mind, with feedback from some of the world’s top enduro racers. This has given the Stage downhill styling but with a slightly slimmer cut. The fit is great for riding in, but you’d be pushed to get a bulky set of armour under it. Wicking fabric and generous under-arm vents keep you cool, keeping airflow good even on really hot days. It’s definitely not as warm as some long sleeved jerseys I’ve worn, and chillier days need a layer under it. A great jersey for riding and racing in. RRP £44.99
The Stage short pairs perfectly with the jersey, both in terms of colour options and function. A light weight short with a fit that toes the line between relaxed and racey. 4 zipped pockets on hips and thighs mean you can carry a bit of gear, or more importantly put your wallet in when you go to the cafe! The fabric is light and stretchy, with a DWR coating that is designed to help stop you becoming soaking wet. They certainly aren’t waterproof, but they don’t soak up loads of water. Large vents across the thighs keep air flowing through which is great for warm rides, and the cut means perfect fit with knee pads. RRP £69.99
To complete the look I have also been running the Core glove. The core has a super-thin perforated palm and a stretchy back for a really nice minimalist feel. The thumb is lovely and soft for wiping away snot or cleaning eyewear, and the fit is great. There’s no strap on the cuff, keeping the fit and styling simple and effective, and the fingers are thin enough to work with a phone for mid ride ‘instagramming’ and business calls. My only slight gripe with these came on my first ride, a very wet one, which resulted in a bit of a blue tinge to my hands. In the 3 or 4 pairs I’ve seen used, this is the only case of this though, so it doesn’t look to be an ongoing issue! RRP £19.99
Royal have put together another great set of kit suitable for riding hard and racing harder. You can also run it in more than one colour, if you don’t want to go all blue!