GORE BIKE WEAR is probably best known for it's synthetic materials, most notably, GORE-TEX®. But, for the last 20 years or so, GORE BIKE WEAR has been venturing into many product lines including cycling gear. It's interesting to see the results when a company that is a "membrane specialist" makes a foray into producing finished clothing. What you get are highly specialized products that employ the use of technical materials to aid in comfort and performance.

GORE BIKE WEAR's Competition Road Jersey is a fine example of this evolution from materials manufacturing to clothing design. By applying materials science to design you get a jersey that excels in performance first and foremost. The Competition uses near seamless integration of panels of varying characteristics to optimize comfort.

Materials: The main material is a sheer, tightly woven fabric that actively pulls moisture away from the skin and feels like a second skin, especially once you've got a good sweat going. This material allows air to flow through so readily, it's like you are

bare chested. In other typical hot spots, (armpits and back, at the nape of the neck) GORE BIKE WEAR has placed panels of mesh. The material that makes up the mesh is thin and barely there. This lets heat vent and sweat wick away, unhindered. Basically, when you are moving the breeze pours through the jersey like a wave rushing the shore at high tide. The flow between these different types of fabrics happens through what appears to be one panel welded to another. Each fabric presenting benefits specialized for a certain area, all working together to help you keep cool, comfortable and dry.



Design: Style is always one of those questions that's hard to answer to. Everyone has different tastes and ideas. GORE BIKE WEAR's seems to subscribe to philosophy of keeping the design simple and let the performance speak for itself. For the Competition GORE BIKE WEAR uses a simple solid color block with black and white accents. In the vane of a simple clean look, they also use a "hidden zipper". This 3/4 zip, is recessed and sits tucked away in the front panels of the jersey to offer a clean zipperless look. Also worked into the design are reflective strips along the shoulders and down the rear, triple pocket. The Competition is race cut but also somewhat fuller to be more forgiving of body type. This is kind of nice touch because, not all of us are built like Michael Rasmussen (and most of us can account for our whereabouts).

+/-: GORE BIKE WEAR has created, engineered and designed comfort into the Competition. Top notch materials, and elegant design make for a very pleasant ride in a range of conditions. The only two negatives I could come up with are that the "hidden zipper" is a little delicate and the rear pockets are a tad on the small side. On all other counts, GORE BIKE WEAR has made an exceptional jersey.