In the world of cycling, it doesn’t take long to discover you’re only as good as the gear you’ve got on you. It doesn’t matter if you’re riding a top-of-the-line $10,000 carbon fiber rocket – when that persistent feeling of pain sets in due to an uncomfortable pair of shorts and/or jersey, your ride quality is going to drop. The solution? Get yourself gear engineered from the ground up to maximize your comfort and performance when you ride. There are many companies that claim to follow this mantra, but few that do it as well as 2XU.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, 2XU offers a variety of performance oriented gear across various disciplines of sporting events including cycling, swimming and triathlon. They’re also the key innovator in the area of compression technology. If you’re unfamiliar with compression technology, it’s an concept that’s been utilized in the sporting industry for over 100 years in the form of compression bandaging. The principle is that by supporting the various muscle groups, circulation is improved, thus providing more oxygenated blood to the various muscle groups when they need it most. Because your muscles are adequately supported, fatigue and damage that can result from muscle movement are severely reduced, and post exercise fatigue and recovery time are also lessened. It’s these benefits (and others) that led 2XU to transfer compression technology directly to their garments, offering the advantages of compression technology across a wide spectrum of activities. 2XU calls it “Human performance. Multiplied.” I call it brilliant.
I’ve been using the 2XU Elite Cycle Bib Short and 2XU Elite Sublimation jersey for the past two months, and my wife has used the women’s 2XU Elite Cycle Short and the 2XU sublimation jersey. On the road, every 2XU garment has performed exceptionally. Each piece is comfortable, and after a long ride, the moisture management is absolutely superb. All utilize a combination of the materials to provide support and cooling where needed, and all will help you take your riding to the next level. Here’s a an overview of the various 2XU Elite cycling gear we’ve used:
2XU Elite Cycle Bib Short (Men’s, $210)
Exceptionally comfortable, supportive, and offering fantastic moisture management properties, the 2XU Elite Cycle Bib short makes races and longer rides a pleasure. Featuring Swiss dimpled airflow technology and Japanese extreme moisture management fabrics combined with 2XU’s Fusion Pro Chamois, the Elite Cycle Bib Short is an excellent option for virtually all types of performance-oriented riding. Features include:
- Kinetic Speed – Turbulent airflow technology, compression and moisture management properties
- Sensor Mesh – High stretch for increased support and comfort
- Kinetic Fabric – Durable 220gm weight for long life performance and enhanced muscle containment
- Flatlock Seams – For anti-chaffing and comfort
- Fusion Pro X Chamois – Seamless multi density chamois and moisture control
- 2XU Silicone Leg Gripper – Anti-ride hem, soft against skin and maintains position
2XU Elite Cycle Short (Women’s, $150)
Like the 2XU men’s Elite Bib Short, the women’s short also feature Swiss dimpled airflow technology and Japanese extreme moisture management fabrics paired with 2XU’s Fusion Pro Chamois. All of the properties found in the men’s bib short can be said of the women’s short – exceptionally comfortable, supportive, and offering fantastic moisture management properties – but with the added benefit of the perfect fit for the female form. Features include:
- Kinetic Fabric – Durable 220gm weight for long life performance
- Fusion Pro X Chamois – Seamless multi density and moisture control
- Kinetic Speed – Turbulent airflow technology
- Contour Panellingo – Optimising the human form through looks and function
- Flatlock Seams – Anti-chaffing and comfort
- Silicone Leg Gripper – Support with anti ride silicone gel strip
2XU Elite Sublimation Jersey (Men’s, $130)
Comfortable, stylish and innovative, the 2XU Elite Sublimation is a great choice when opting for an all-around functional jersey. Microfibre fabric technology keeps moisture to a minimum, and the rear pockets (one zippered) along with eyelets for MP3 player make taking your entertainment on the road easy. Features include:
- Micro Fibre Fabric – Extreme moisture management sublimated fabric
- 2XU Full Length Zip – Adjustable zipper for climate control
- SMD Mesh – Extreme moisture management and denier graded technology
- Fitted Pockets – Storage for all your essentials
- Wired Pocket and Eyelets – Pockets and loops for MP3 player storage and cable management
- Rear Zip On Back Pocket
2XU Elite Sublimation Jersey (Women’s, $110)
Again, everything that can be said of the men’s 2XU Elite Sublimation Jersey is true of the women’s. It’s comfortable, stylish and innovative; it has an integrated wired pocket and eyelet for your favorite MP3 player; and unique to the women’s jersey, it offers the option of a sleeveless design, providing a wider range of movement. It also features the same microfibre fabric construction as the men’s, beautifully managing moisture on long rides. Features include:
- Microfibre Fabric – Extreme moisture management
- Sleeveless Design – Greater comfort and freedom of movement
- SMD Mesh – Extreme moisture management and denier graded technology
- Contour Panelling – Optimising the human form through looks and function
- Fitted Pockets – Storage for all your essentials
- Wired Pocket and Eyelets – Pockets and loops for MP3 player storage and cable management
- 2XU Full Length Zip
For more information detailing the 2XU line of cycling gear as well as their other compression technology, check out the official 2XU website for more information. You can also see additional photos of the 2XU Elite cycling gear in the gallery below.
