Ground Effect ZZ top and Juggernaut short

Mountain bike clothing has evolved leaps and bounds in the last few years. I keep seeing more and more new brands offering different styles and looks, I also see a lot more fabrics being used. Gone are the days of either running lycra or downhill shorts, in the market now lay many brands which offer great fitting trail gear. Ground Effect, a New Zealand based companyhas always had a strong presence in Australia, but their latest line is really impressive for a ‘Made in NZ’ company. For test we had the trail/enduro styled ZZ top jersey and Juggernaut shorts. It was my first time riding in Ground Effect gear so I was keen to see how it all went.

Now I am big on the fit of a kit, first and foremost. No matter how something looks it has to fit me properly or I am not a happy camper. I opted for small jersey and shorts for the test as this is what I would normally run. On my first time putting the kit on it was apparent that Ground Effect’s 20 years experience in in the sport market they had learnt a thing or two about fit. The jersey had the perfect amount of hang on the back, the 3 panels felt snug on the chest and the “¾” length arms felt great (the arms are more of a half sleeve, but I did love the extra length). The shorts were much the same, a nice amount of knee cover for protection on the trail, excellent tightening system to stop any movement and the stretch on the fabric was great. The fit was bang on for me and I couldn’t wait to get out for the next few rides.

My first long ride I walked out the door and it was raining sideways, a perfect time to test out some new gear. The shorts firstly are very light to ride in, this is perfect in the heat but also in the wet as they don’t absorb moisture. The shorts high rear end match with a meshy material means that your movements are not limited at all. The high and stretch crotch area was the real winner for me on the bike however, it kept the material away from the saddle which was perfect for getting off the back of the bike (especially when you don’t have a dropper post). The shorts too seemed quite water proof and even after a dozen rides and just as many washes they still seem to repel water. The front of the short offers zippable vents to regulate heat, personally I didn’t use them for test purposes as I never found I was too hot. The addition though does add to a great look on the kit.

The ZZ top jersey offers a very nice and light material, it is breathable and is great in the heat. The fabric is also SPF50+ protecting you from the harsh rays of the summer months. The minimalist design really stood out to me, this is a jersey you could wear with almost all style of shorts and it would not look out of place. It uses a nice colour palette, but a green, grey, white option is also available. The jersey offers a great small little pocket which I seemed to use the most for all things from multi tools, keys and lift passes. The only thing that did confuse me was the puncture repair patch that came with it – it’s a customary inclusion with Ground Effect gear but I do wonder who rides with tubes to patch still. The longer sleeves were my favourite part of the jersey, it protected my arms more from the sun but also from overgrown trails, my elbows have never looked so neat and scratch free.

Ground Effect really have designed some smart and well fitting kit for 2016. The colour options look great, the fit is on point and the fabrics they use really fit the purpose of mountain biking. If you’re looking for a new trail kit I would give this Kiwi brand a good look in, they offer direct ordering from their website and are backed by two decades of experience in the adventure sports market. The brand makes all their products in New Zealand as well, although it’s not local industry per say it is great to see products coming from countries that are close to home.

Hits:

• Fit and fabric performance
• Well-priced
• Great quality, and pretty much local.

Misses:

None yet!

RRP: ZZ top: $82.57, Juggernaut shorts: 138.22

From: groundeffect.com

Photos: Tim Bardsley-Smith