Royal Racing has come along away from its core British roots to an internationally recognised brand with a roster of riders that reads as a who’s who of world class downhill racing. What started not so long ago is now a flourishing clothing company who design and manufacture riding gear with one purpose and one purpose only; mountain biking. One of the most remarkable things about Royal’s rise to prominence is undoubtably it’s links with Steve Peat, who has helped push the brand to the heady heights only occupied by brands who have been around for decades, but there is far more to Royal Racing than its association with the sports most recognisable figure…

Words: Olly Forster

Photos: Alex Tyler

In this review we wanted to take a look at some specific downhill kit that would work both on the race track and out in the woods sectioning your local track. Race kit can sometimes be unpractical when hiking and actually where ‘cycling’ is involved; with some of the wilder colours and designs currently de-rigeur, you can sometimes look a little out of place away from the uplift queue. Earthy tones were very much done, and thankfully dusted two years ago and colour is a good thing, it’s just a case of taste and how loud you want to go. I also think that everyday ‘DH’ kit needs to be practical with pockets, breathability for long days hiking up tracks, comfy to wear riding down them and with all the features and indestructibility needed from riding kit designed for downhill mountain biking.

For this purpose we are looking at the 2011 Royal Racing Blast Shorts, Ride Jersey and Blast gloves – all of which are designed with gravity riding in mind and the shorts and gloves have the pedigree of having none other than Steve Peat, Aaron Gwin and Tracy Moseley wearing them, not to mention the whole Trek World Racing Team, CRC/ Nukeproof Team and the Steve Peat Syndicate to name just a few.

As you tell by the look on my face this was on very hot day and at the end of a long days shoot, but it was made that bit more bearable having some kit designed for the job at hand.

Blast Shorts.

These shorts are Royal’s premier racing and riding shorts and they don’t leave much uncovered when it comes to cramming as many features as possible into one product.The shorts are constructed using a 600 Denier Polyester shell with an all important moisture wicking liner. The construction is of the highest level and the attention to detail is pretty crazy with plenty of the all important Royal logos embossed all over the shorts.

The Blast shorts consist of a fly zip and double button enclosure with fully adjustable tabs on either side of the waist with plenty of room for all those who are in between sizes. The rear spandex panel is there to let the shorts stay put as you move and reposition yourself on the bike. There is even a tab on the back to hang them up, should you need to get them hanging up somewhere over a week ends riding, especially if your pushed for somewhere to hang your wet and drying kit.

There are also two ample side pockets which are also zipped for extra security and probably the best pocket design out there – super simple and effective and taking any would-be stored item and raising them above the thighs removes them from swaying around under pedalling forces you might experience with thigh pockets. Looking at the graphical design on the Blast shorts, it’s no surprise that’s why they got the name – BLAST! Aesthetics are always subjective, but there’s no denying the appeal of these shorts in the looks department. The Blast shorts are available in 4 colours which match the Blast jersey for that race look – available in the Graphite we tested, Green, Red and Blue.

Ride 3/4 Jersey.

The Ride jersey is a multiple discipline jersey, that is if you assign disciplines to jerseys, which I don’t. This jersey is for any kind of riding and equally at home on any bike and on any ride. Available in two colours, the red we tested and black and both available with either regular short sleeves and the best of both worlds, three quarter length sleeves. Constructed using 100% polyester that has been washed with an enzyme to increase moisture transfer from your sweaty bod, to the outside of the jersey and on the hottest shoot so far this year, it was wonderful!

Loud jerseys may be all the rage, but sometimes there just too much and not everyone wants the ‘factory’ look. Being mostly a “T-Shirt and shorts guy”, having a jersey with casual looks and the technical qualities of a garment designed for the job at hand is amazing and the Ride jersey fits that bill perfectly. The logo is spot on in the slightly darker shade of red against the material and all helps make a really attractive and highly functional riding jersey that will be at home anywhere you ride your bike.

Blast Gloves.

I’m a fussy one when it comes to gloves and I hate loose fitting or poorly designed gloves that roll when death gripping the bars down a hairy descent. The Blast gloves have a great fit and the 0.8mm Clarino palm offers an amazing feel and grip, with the Clarino coming over the fingers tips and embossed with a robust and effective silicone tips, which after countless trips through the washing machine, are still present and correct.

I like products that look good, and these gloves certainly look very good indeed. Available in Black, Red, White and the Blue we tested; there is a colour in there to compliment you and your riding gear. The careful and tasteful use of the Royal logo and fonts are directly injected into the material to ensure you don’t loose them. The thumb also includes the all important ‘snot wipe’ that will no doubt prove essential as the weather turns bad.

This is a funny one – the cuff size is massive. I’m not a skinny guy, by any stretch and using the full amount of adjustment from on to fully tight, goes right past the end of the receiving velcro strip. But strangely, this doesn’t seem to hold back or hinder the gloves fit or snugness on the hand and it make me think that these could almost be cuffless. None the less, the strap is useful and any doubt in the sizing is lost when out on the bike where they perform faultlessly.

It was hot I can tell you and even in this sweatfest of a day, the gloves stayed put and did a great job of aiding that all important grip on the bars. Out in the rain and mud these gloves are also tip-top and come out of the washing machine looking fresh and bright.

Conclusion.

If your looking for some riding gear that has all the features of modern day DH specific kit, but don’t want to go crazy with loud kit and still go racing knowing you look the part, then the Blast kit and Ride Jersey are a great combo and have proved pretty versatile at the trail centre too.

The only issue I have had, which a personal one, is that shorts have a roomy fit and feel a little too baggy and even a little too short in the leg, especially when compared to what the competition have on offer. But this is all I can think off and that’s scraping the barrel when trying to think of negatives towards this gear. It is always useful if you can try kit on before you take the plunge as what is an odd fit to some, is perfect fit for someone else.

With the Jersey coming in at a crazy £22, the gloves at £28 and the shorts at an industry standard £70GBP, your looking at a well priced package that will last a long time and keep looking good. Royal Racing have a solid and cost effective line up of riding kit on offer in 2011 that that is technically advanced yet still pays homage to it’s core roots and race pedigree. With so many of the world’s top riders wearing this kit, it’s no surprise how popular it is and the versatility and manufacturing quality make this gear a great option in a stacked field of great riding kit on offer today. This is some great kit that you really need to check out!

Royal Racing is distributed in the UK by Decade Europe. For more information on Royal’s 2011 line, athletes and everything in between, tap the logo below and get involved. Happy trails!

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