Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

Merino and Mud: Kitsbow Mountain Biking

By

Spring is in rare form across the country, and that means urban and backcountry trails are in perfect condition for some serious riding. Whether you’re a serious enduro mountain biker whose idea of a good ride is a 30+ mile suffer-fest, or one of those crazy downhill riders launching 40 foot red rock cliffs, the last thing you want to be caught wearing on your next ride is nondescript decades old spandex. At the same time, having a set of purpose built biking clothes will be the difference between adding a few extra miles to your evening ride, or heading home after battling sweat and chafing – and losing.

We love the line up from California based Kitsbow because it not only keeps us from looking like the dreaded Middle-Aged-Man-In-Lycra, but hits all the right technical design notes to build the perfect mountain biking jersey and shorts. Kitsbow was born from a pair of friends obsessed with designing cycling apparel that took cues not just from performance driven metrics, but also from well tailored suits and high fashion. The result is a line of jerseys, shorts, and base layers sourced from top shelf Australian and New Zealand merino blends, and treated using industry leading Schoeller technical fabrics and water resistant nano treatments. Details like silicon gripper hems, strategically placed zippers, and ergonomic fits make the entire line a must-have for any performance minded and fashion conscious rider.

Recommended Videos

For summer weight apparel we recommend staying with their merino-nylon blended jerseys. Their unique fabric blends provide all the durability of a synthetic fabric with the enhanced temperature control and breathability (not to mention odor control in case things get a little too sweaty) of natural wool. the Rudy Jersey ($220) is our favorite. It’s understated style is at home charging mountain single-track, and in some places would even pass muster for office casual (we’re looking at you, Boulder, CO). Layered with the all new Wind Vest($175), you’ll easily weather spring storms and deep mud. As if that wasn’t enough, the A/M Midweight Shorts ($230) are easily our new favorites for everything from serious backcountry rides, to the evening bike commute to your local dive bar. Made with Schoeller dryskin fabric, they shed water and mud with ease, and have five pockets to protect your essentials from the elements. Whatever you choose, when you’re out on the trails with Kitsbow this summer, you’ll get more than your fair share of compliments and envious stares as you crush miles of mud on two wheels.

Austin Parker
Austin Parker
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Austin Parker is a former contributor at The Manual Parker is a powder skier and sport climber and is no stranger hauling…
Wax London believes polos shouldn’t be boring
Get creative with your polos with Wax London
Wax London polo black floral

The men's polo is one of the staple shirts every man needs. It is something that has endured since the days of LaCoste wearing them on the tennis courts. Nowadays, it is the paramount piece for any man looking to wear a basic business casual wardrobe. Of course, that doesn't mean it has to be basic. Most men tend to opt for a solid golf polo and a pair of basic chinos, paired with a hybrid dress shoe. While that has led the polo down a path to gaining a dad shirt image, that doesn't mean it needs to stay there. Wax London is one of the leaders in making everyone, from celebrities to dads, look stylish, and they don't think a polo needs to be boring or basic. Instead, Wax London polos this season emphasize patterns, standing out, and being seen as a celebrity, even if you're just a dad.

Wearing the polo like a celebrity

Read more
Now is the perfect time to layer with UNTUCKit spring pieces
The spring collection for UNTUCKit is stocked with seasonal pieces
UNTUCKit quarter-zip

As the April showers come to a close, the May flowers will be in full bloom. While that sounds like a great time of year (unless, of course, you struggle with allergies), there is one thing that stubbornly sticks around this time of year, especially if you are north of the Mason-Dixon Line, and that is the cold snaps. The unpredictability of the spring means you are bound to have those days where you are a bit chilly in the morning and a little warm in the afternoon. The best way to combat this little problem is with the subtle art of layering. UNTUCKit is known for creating some of the most comfortable shirts of the last decade and a half, and they have released a spring collection that makes layering the simplest it's ever been.

Layering made simple

Read more
Hockerty uses AI models to showcase SS25 collection
Different models of different backgrounds creates a collection inclusive for all
Hockerty SS25 men on a car

We're living in a world of ever-evolving technology. While we look at trends from the past and see that we're pulling from yesterday to curate a stylish aesthetic, there's no doubt that technology propels us forward. Now, we were promised flying cars by 2015 in the movie Back to the Future, and we fell short of that. However, artificial intelligence is still surging forward and changing the way nearly every industry does business. Hockerty took the path of utilizing AI models to showcase their new spring and summer collection with diverse LLM models from different ages and backgrounds, ensuring it works for everyone. The Hockerty SS25 Collection is redefining classics with fabrics of the future and putting linen front and center.

Using linen to create timeless sophistication

Read more