Royal Racing 2015 – Review

Check out Tom’s review of Royal Racing’s Matrix shorts and jacket, the Impact jersey and Storm waterproof shorts.

If you’ve been into bikes for a few years you probably know the story of Royal Racing. With Steve Peat at the heart of their origins, and a team roster of some of the fastest and raddest riders in the world, you know that their kit is going to come up with the goods. I’ve had these two combinations on test since March, so they have had a full range of conditions from the scorching heat of the Kamloops Dust bowl, to the murky rainforests of North Wales thrown at them.

The Storm waterproof shorts are a great idea. Quite a few brands have been introducing waterproof shorts, and the Storm a definitely at the simpler end of the the scale, with just a couple of mesh pockets and a cam-buckle waist. The cut is similarly straightforward, baggy enough to accommodate knee pads, but not overly flappy.

The length sits just over the knee, and the waist sizing is spot on for Royal’s sizing chart. The fabric has had some really heavy abuse, with mud and grit being ground in on long wet rides.

Despite this they still keep the rain and spray out preventing soggy-crotch, and have remained pretty breathable. If you want to ride through winter (and spring, autumn, and let’s face it summer!) then these are a great short to have in your arsenal. One minor gripe (one that doesn’t affect me, but does affect the wife!) is the absence of an XS in the range. XXL does make it however, so perhaps cakes are in order… RRP £89.99

In really foul weather, the Storm shorts pair nicely with the Matrix jacket. It’s been in the line up for a few years now and has been a winter favourite recently. The fabric is pretty thick, and there’s a mesh liner as well which means it needs to be pretty chilly outside to warrant it for anything too pedally, but for uplifting it’s been perfect. The design is simple, with a couple of long torso pockets that double as vents. These are really deep for putting your hands in while queueing for uplifts, and the double-ended zips make venting dead easy.

The hood is big enough to get over a helmet and has enough adjustment to keep it in place, the rest of the cut is great for riding in maximising freedom of movement without being flappy and baggy. The longer back covers your backside effectively and helps prevent chill breezes circulating round your kidneys. Despite some prolonged drenchings the Matrix has stayed waterproof, and the breathability has held up pretty well, though as with all fabrics this dropped off a bit as dirt became engrained in the fabric. A wash and re-proof did the trick and it’s back in the game. Overall this is a great coat for those really foul days when it’s cold and miserable, it’s not the lightest, but it’s certainly one of the burliest. RRP £124.99

Sunnier times call for awesome shorts, and the Matrix2 shorts hit that right on the nose! For me, a good pair of all day, every day  shorts should be comfy, fit well, and be normal looking enough to wear in the beer garden afterwards. The fabric is similar to that used in board-shorts, quick drying tough polyester with a bit of simple styling on them. A couple of pockets and a zip-pocket with a headphone port keep things simple. If you have a massive phone it won’t fit in the pocket, but iPhone5 /Z1 Compact/Galaxy Mini kinda size will be fine.

The fly is a two press stud and little hook affair, with a decent zip. The cut is similar to board shorts as well, sitting mid-knee with room for knee pads. The waist has a couple of concealed adjusters to tweak the fit, and I found the sizing chart to be spot on. Basically these are my favourite shorts, and I can’t wait for spring so I can start wearing them again…. RRP £74.99

The Impact jersey is a well cut garment, slightly athletic in its fit but not overly tight and certainly not restrictive. Most of it is a thick, silky smooth polyester that wicks sweat away well, while the back panel is made out of vented fabric that keeps you cooler, and does help with sweaty back riding packs. The colours have stayed bright and fresh despite plenty of abuse and endless laps in the washing machine. For people looking for a bold jersey for all sorts of riding, this is a great one to have in the wardrobe. RRP £39.9

http://royalracing.com/

Decade Europe

Pictures – Tom and Rab Laws. Thanks to Tom Parker of Tom Parker Coaching for spending the evening in the garden under a watering can!