Page 87 - AMB Freelist

RUBBER SIDE DOWN
Environmentally conscious packaging – recycled materials and recyclable!
Australian made
Great fit
Multiple designs available from plain to wild
Long and short sleeve options
Slightly heavy fabric for peak summer riding
Slightly higher price tag than some
Single material construction – no lightweight mesh
rubbersidedown.com.au
GLOBAL ARTIST SERIES JERSEYS
The mountain bike clothing market is seemingly flooded with Australian brands looking to make their mark and stand out from the crowd. From the likes of DHaRCO, Crofto, Unit among many others there are almost endless options for riders looking for a baggy fit jersey to suit their own personal taste. The latest in a line of local brands we have come across is Rubber Side Down Global (RSDG). Touting a line of jerseys and accessories with a unique flavour and environmentally conscious construction Ash and I were excited to get a few of their ‘Artist Series’ jerseys in the mail and put them to the test on the trails over the past few months.
THE DETAILS
RSDG are an Australian owned brand, and they are designed in Australia, with the items cut and stitched here as well. They’ve got an emphasis on doing things in an environmen- tally friendly way, and use 100% recycled polyester construc- tion. They have a variety of cuts and patterns available, with men’s and women’s fits. They also have youth options!
JUNGLE PINK SHORT SLEEVE JERSEY - $99.95 RRP
Ash really liked this jersey. She commented that the design was really eye catching – something unique in a world of solid colours and sharp lines typically seen on mountain bike jerseys. Her favourite aspect was the flattering, form fitting cut of the jersey. She feels that the majority of women’s jerseys are typically too revealing around the neckline, not providing the amount of sun protection and skin coverage that she would like. The Jungle jersey has a high neckline and a longer cut on the sleeves like what you would typically see on a road jersey. Pair all these great features with a dropped tail and you have a jersey fit that is on point from tip
to tail. Ash also mentioned that she likes that while the main body of the jersey is brightly patterned, the sleeves and collar are black. This gives you a great spot to wipe your brow mid ride without worrying about staining the lighter toned pattern on the torso of the jersey.
SIDEWINDER EUCALYPTUS LONG SLEEVE JERSEY - $109.95 RRP
The Sidewinder Eucalyptus jersey is a part of the new ‘Artist Series’ which RSDG are producing. The print design is quite subtle, using pastel tones of olive and grey. It’s nice to have more subdued colour options, for days where you don’t want to look like a power ranger out on the trails. As with Ash and the Jungle jersey I really appreciated the high neckline and dropped tail, ensuring I am sun safe and not flashing everyone my knicks while out riding. The long sleeves were also a good length and diameter. I find many jerseys are going with a tight cuff and generally tight fit on the arms in the current market, but this jersey bucks that trend and, in my opinion, offers more comfort and breathability as a result.
The recycled polyester material does a good job of wicking away sweat but in my opinion is a touch thick for use in peak summer – here in Queensland anyway. The upshot of this is durability, as some super light jerseys don’t really have a long lifespan. It would be nice to see some mesh panels on the sides and back to aid in breathability – particularly for a jersey which comes in at over $100RRP. But again, this might impact the UPF30 rating, which I was happy to see. Asides from those few small nit-picks this is a great jersey and I really like how environmentally friendly both the packaging and construction is.
Hayden Wright
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