Performance Road Biking

GORE BIKE WEAR™ has expanded its innovative XENON range for summer 2009. The new XENON SONIC Bib Shorts incorporate the next generation of seat inserts and the new XENON AS jacket has a significantly reduced weight and packing volume.

A bike marathon or a 100-mile tour is a physical challenge to say the least. As well as having light and versatile equipment to protect the body from overheating or chilling, it is equally important to sit comfortably. In the normal seated position, the entire weight of the body falls on the ischium. The sportier the seated position on the bike, the more weight is shifted to the perineal area and the groin. To protect the large number of nerves that run through these areas and to prevent injuries and discomfort, pressure needs to be evenly distributed via an anatomically-shaped seat.

New XENON SONIC Bib Shorts provide enhanced comfort
GORE BIKE WEAR™ and CyTech (Elastic Interface Technology), the Italian specialists in cycling comfort, have spent three years developing the padding for the new XENON SONIC Bib Shorts. Their aim was to create a product that would meet the high performance demands of top cyclists and the result of their work is the new XENON SONIC Bib Shorts, which have the most complex seat insert ever developed by GORE BIKE WEAR™.

The XENON SONIC Seat Insert is so thin it can scarcely be felt and yet if offers maximum saddle comfort due to state-of-the-art gel foam positioned at critical pressure points in varying degrees of density and thickness. For example, in the sciatic area the foam is extremely dense and perforated to allow maximum breathability and moisture transportation. This area also needs special cushioning which is provided by the new gel-foam inserts with their open cell structure and 35 million microcells per cubic metre.
The new structure and materials in the XENON SONIC Insert not only ensure rapid moisture transportation and superb heat distribution but also reduce friction and provide total freedom of movement, while the special 3D ergonomic cut fits the male anatomy perfectly.
The mix of materials in the XENON SONIC Bib Shorts has been specifically designed to match the body’s anatomy during road biking. The soft, skin-friendly mesh material used for the bibs is positioned in such a way that there is very little pull on the shoulders. A functional material which is highly resistant to abrasion and thus more durable is used for the inside leg, an area subject to extreme wear. An aerodynamically-designed material has been integrated into the outside legs to provide improved performance through compression: the golf-ball effect minimises drag while compression ensures better blood circulation and performance and shorter recovery times after biking.

Functional lightweights: jackets in the XENON line
Significant improvements have been made to the XENON AS jacket. It is now 20% lighter at only 180 grams, and packs down to an extremely small size. Performance has also been enhanced thanks to several new features.
The XENON AS jacket now incorporates the lightest WINDSTOPPER® Active Shell material currently available. Technical features of the XENON range have been improved to ensure perfect visibility and aerodynamic efficiency on the road. Both the men’s and women’s XENON AS jackets now have a ‘bite’ patch on the collar to allow one-handed opening of the jacket as well as a new, comfortable cut, which is particularly suitable for races, and an innovative grip elastic hem to keep the jacket in place while riding. In addition, new 360º reflective transfer prints are used for greater safety in twilight conditions, while the small volume of the jacket allows it to be easily stowed away in the new integrated back pocket.
The new XENON jerseys with Body Mapping combine five separate functional materials which are designed to suit the body’s climatic zones. As a result, wearer comfort is substantially improved.
The figure-hugging XENON Jersey and XENON Singlet are made from a new functional material which allows moisture to escape more rapidly from the body so they deliver superb performance, even at high temperatures. They also incorporate the new 360º reflective transfer print for safe biking in twilight conditions. XENON jackets, jerseys and singlets are also available for women with the same performance features but a feminine cut.

XENON Gloves and XENON Socks complete the head-to-toe performance of the XENON range. The new XENON range is a perfectly co-ordinated clothing system which has been developed to meet the needs of every dedicated cyclist and ensure consistent top-level performance. GORE-TEX®, WINDSTOPPER® and other technical materials have been carefully selected so that each item of clothing provides an ideal balance between comfort, performance and protection. As the focus of GORE BIKE WEAR™ is on entire product lines, rather than isolated products, it can offer comprehensive solutions to meet every sporting challenge.