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If like us you don't have pots of money to spend on biking kit then buying a winter jacket is going to be a once every few years job. This means you need to make sure that what you buy is going to last. We don't care if it looks good when you are front flipping the A line, I need to make sure all the zips are still on it after its washed. When the time came to replace the Ron Hill (now minus one shoulder thanks to the double at the Forest of Dean) I bought a RaceFace Shore for 2 reasons, first they have had good reviews and secondly because it was 30% off.
What do Race Face
say
Strewn with roots, rocks and stumps and doused by over 1,500mm of rain each year, the North Shore is the world's most abusive riding environment. Enter the Shore Jacket – an abrasion resistant, waterproof jacket designed specifically for the Mecca of Freeride mountain biking.
So whats it like?
Well it certainly looked the part and first ride out I was well impressed, very comfy and with some nice rider needed touchs like adjustable cuffs, inner key pocket and comfy high neck etc.
We had a good session up at Wentwood in the pissing down rain and it certainly did the job. The only problem being that the reflective logos were playing havoc with Craigs camera flash. So far so good, so next trip out the jacket was on again, but when I tried to adjust the cuff the strap came clean off in my hand, not good but I'm not letting that spoil a session so on we go.
Unfortunately the strap was a sign of things to come. On a later trip to Cwmcarn we had to push up (damn that uplift guy taking holidays) but half way up I heard a jangle and looked down to see my car keys on the road! The key pocket had come clean apart at the seams, lucky it wasn't an hour later because I don't fancy scouring the Mojo for a mobility van keys. I was well pissed off so when I got home had a look to see if it was repairable and that's when I noticed that the decals were coming off the sleeves. That was that, a call to Wiggle and the jacket went back for a refund and I'm still looking for a replacement.
Conclusion
Race Face may have a good rep and this jacket may be a one off but it's a chance I'm not taking again on a £100 purchase.
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