Warum ein Merino Base Layer?
Ein Merino Base Layer ist nicht nur eine weitere Schicht Kleidung. Er ist ein essentielles Element für jeden Radfahrer, der auch bei kaltem Wetter fahren möchte. Hier sind einige Gründe, warum:
Temperaturregulierung: Merino Base Layer sind dafür bekannt, die Körpertemperatur effektiv zu regulieren. Egal, ob es draußen kalt oder warm ist, Merinowolle kann dazu beitragen, dass dein Körper die richtige Temperatur behält, indem sie Feuchtigkeit ableitet und isoliert, ohne dass du überhitzt oder frierst.
Feuchtigkeitsmanagement: Merinowolle ist von Natur aus feuchtigkeitsableitend. Das bedeutet, dass Schweiß von deiner Haut weggeleitet wird, um dich trocken zu halten. Dies ist besonders wichtig beim Radfahren, da ein feuchtes Hautklima zu Reibung und Unbehagen führen kann.
Geruchskontrolle: Im Vergleich zu synthetischen Materialien haben Merino Base Layer die Fähigkeit, Gerüche zu minimieren. Auch nach intensivem Training bleibt Merinowolle länger frisch und geruchsfrei.
Weichheit und Komfort: Merinowolle ist bekannt für ihre Weichheit und ihren Tragekomfort. Im Gegensatz zu einigen synthetischen Materialien fühlt sich Merinowolle auf der Haut angenehm an und verursacht keine Reizungen oder Kratzen.
Nachhaltigkeit: Merino Base Layer sind oft umweltfreundlicher als synthetische Alternativen. Merinowolle ist biologisch abbaubar und stammt von Schafen, die in unserem Fall in umweltfreundlichen Bedingungen gehalten werden.
Beim Kauf eines Merino Base Layer gibt es einige wichtige Dinge zu beachten:
Materialstärke: Je nach den klimatischen Bedingungen, unter denen du fährst, solltest du die Materialstärke deines Base Layers wählen. Leichtere Materialien eignen sich gut für mildere Temperaturen, während schwerere Materialien mehr Isolierung bieten.
Passform: Achte darauf, dass der Base Layer eng anliegt, aber nicht zu eng ist. Eine gute Passform ermöglicht eine effektive Feuchtigkeitsableitung und Isolierung.
Pflegehinweise: Merinowolle erfordert spezielle Pflege, um ihre Leistung und Haltbarkeit zu gewährleisten. Achte darauf, die Pflegehinweise des Herstellers zu beachten.
Unser klassischer Baselayer mit Crew Neck bietet bewährte Leistung und Tragekomfort für jede Fahrt. Für zusätzlichen Schutz vor Wind und Kälte am Hals empfehlen wir unseren Baselayer mit Rollkragen.
Beide Baselayer bestehen aus einer hochwertigen Mischung mit fast 50% Merinowolle. Bei Tests stand für uns im Fokus, einen hohen Anteil an Merinowolle zu gewährleisten, während wir gleichzeitig effektiv Schweiß ableiten und eine leichte Kompression im Baselayer integrieren, damit er sich angenehm eng an die Haut schmiegt.
Erlebe den Unterschied, wenn weniger Luft zwischen dem Baselayer und deiner Haut ist – dein Körper muss weniger Energie darauf verwenden, die Luft zu regulieren, und du kannst dich voll und ganz auf deine Fahrt konzentrieren. Entdecke die perfekte Kombination aus Leistung und Komfort mit unseren Merino Baselayern.
Ein hochwertiger Merino Base Layer ist eine lohnende Investition für jeden Radfahrer, der bei kaltem Wetter fahren möchte. Mit ihren herausragenden temperaturregulierenden Eigenschaften, ihrer Feuchtigkeitsableitung, Geruchskontrolle und ihrem Tragekomfort werden sie schnell zu einem unverzichtbaren Bestandteil deiner Radbekleidung.
Unser Baselayer
]]>Wie genau sich mein Training verändert hat, kann ich gar nicht so genau sagen. Natürlich trainiere ich etwas mehr. Das kommt primär dem Radfahren und Laufen zu Gute, wobei das Schwimmen etwas vernachlässigt wird. Am Ende ist es nebensächlich, ob ich 20sek früher oder später das Wasser verlasse, viel wichtiger war / ist es, die Radform zu heben und im Laufen eine zu bekommen.
An dieser Stelle, zeige ich einmal vier exemplarische Trainingstage. Vom Ruhetag über wirklich belastende Tage ist alles dabei.
Montag: ein klassischer Ruhetag, folgt auf einen längeren Block bestehend aus zwei bis drei Wochen durchgängigem Training. Gegebenenfalls waren die Vortage ziemlich intensiv und voluminös, auch dann ist ein Ruhetag „sinnvoll“ (Zusammenspiel Coach & Athlet).
Ein Entlastungstag besteht häufig aus einem lockeren schwimmen (3-5km) und Stabi (Core) (30-45min) Training. Womöglich kann man an solchen Tagen sich getrost auf das Rad schwingen und ein wenig durch die Gegend gondeln (30-45min).
Der klassische Trainingstag beginnt etwas strukturierter. Am Vorabend weiß man bereits, um wie viel Uhr man aufsteht, stellt ggf. einen Wecker, frühstückt zeitig und beginnt mit der ersten Trainingseinheit gut und gern vor 10 Uhr am Morgen. Beispielsweise drei Stunden Grundlagenfahrt mit dem Zeitfahrrad in Aeroposition, am Nachmittag ein lockerer Lauf über 60min, manchmal auch mit ein paar Abschnitten im DLintensiv- Bereich. Ebenfalls möglich, wäre ein Schwimmen am Abend an Stelle des Laufs. Von einer lockeren, bis über eine G2/ EB Einheit ist auch da alles möglich.
An Sams- und Sonntagen sind die Straßen verhältnismäßig leer. Diese Tage eignen sich gut, für intensive Radfahren, wo man sich primär auf seine Leistung konzentrieren kann, und nicht auf den Verkehr.
Diese intensiven, langen Tage verlangen einem ziemlich viel ab, deshalb wird der kommende Trainingstag am Vorabend kurz strukturiert, um stressfrei starten zu können. Zwei meiner letzten beiden Trainingstage.
Samstag: 7:25Uhr aufstehen, frühstücken, 9:50 Abfahrt mit dem Rad. 130min, davon 4x10min bei 325 Watt + 30min bei 255 Watt. Um 11 Uhr zu Hause angekommen, das Rad abgestellt, Laufschuhe an und einen kurzen Koppellauf über 20min im 3:59er Schnitt (min/km). Im Anschluss gibt es Mittagessen, einen Espresso, alltägliche Arbeit und schließlich zwei - drei Stunden später ins Schwimmbad - lockeres ausbaden über 3600m. Der Sonntag gestaltete sich umgekehrt. Gegen Mittag ein intensives Schwimmen gefolgt vom Mittagessen, einer kurzen Ruhephase, ehe es am Nachmittag für 60min aufs Rad mit 4x4min bei 315 Watt ging + einem Koppellauf über 24km im 4:24er Schnitt. Das schlaucht, zweifelsohne!
Insgesamt liest sich das wahrscheinlich so, als würde all das locker von der Hand gehen. Am Ende ist das nur das Endprodukt, welches über einen längeren Zeitraum geschaffen wird, auch hier ist das Ganze ein Prozess, dem man Zeit einräumen muss. Die letzten drei Wochen, war das Schwimmen eine Katastrophe. Nichts ging mehr. Lockere Grundlagenserien, die ich normalerweise im 1:25min/100m Bereich schwimme, waren ziemlich nah am Limit. Das Einzige was geholfen hat, war ruhig zu bleiben, sich gar nicht aus der Fassung bringen zu lassen und einfach weiterzumachen. Als erstes haben wir das Tempo komplett rausgenommen, am Land die Technik am Zugseil neu kalibriert und dann ins Wasser transferiert. Siehe da, es klappte.
Wir verbringen den größten Teil unserer Freizeit mit dem Sport, gerade deshalb ist die Bekleidung ein elementarer Bestandteil unseres täglichen Trainings bei Wind und Wetter. Für mich ist die Bekleidung von Pippo nicht nur Mittel zum Zweck, sondern auch ein Teil meines Denkens. Slogans wie: „Redefine your limits“, sind fester Bestandteil meines, Achtung abgekultetes Wort,„Mindsets“.
Klamotten in denen man sich heimisch fühlt und diese gern trägt, lassen die ein oder andere schwere Minute vorübergehen. Insgesamt sind Sachen, die man geil findet, ein riesiger Benefit auf motivatonaler Ebene. Manchmal hat man, verständlicherweise, einfach keine Lust auf eine Grundlagenfahrt, über vier Stunden, dennoch ist es für meine Begriffe sehr wertvoll, wenn es etwas gibt, was Dich über deinen Schatten springen lässt - und sei es nur eine neue Radhose.
Autor: Max Lou Kerth
]]>Erfolg ist relativ. Er ist maßgeblich von meinen Erwartungen abhängig. Diese wiederum sind geprägt von Trainingsergebnissen und mentalen Aspekten. Bist du Träumer oder Realist?
Ein Buch, welches mich in meiner sportlichen Entwicklung nachhaltig geprägt hat, ist Alex Hutchinson’s Endure. Er spricht bereits im Titel von den elastischen Grenzen der physiologischen Ausdauerleistung. Und obgleich ich Karriereberatern absprechen möchte, dass sämtliche Herausforderungen im Kopf zu meistern sind, so hat sich seine These in meinem Fall häufig bewahrheitet: Die Auswirkungen der mentalen auf die sportliche Leistungsfähigkeit sind enorm.
Ich persönlich hege sehr große Ansprüche an mich selbst. Es reizt mich, meiner Komfortzone zu entfliehen und am Tag X zu neuen Bestmarken vorzustoßen. Körper und Geist derart in Einklang zu bringen, dass ein Schwebegefühl einsetzt. Im Flow State, Raum und Zeit vergessend, Momente für die Ewigkeit schaffend.
Sind wir ehrlich, diese Momente sind rar. Und dennoch haben sie die Kraft, uns über einen trainingsintensiven Winter zu tragen. Vielleicht eine Hand voll dieser Erinnerungen kann ich mir bei zähen Rolleneinheiten vor Augen führen, immer in Antizipation des nächsten Erfolges. Des nächsten großen Wurfs, welcher die Gesichter meiner Liebsten mit Stolz erfüllt und unzählige Glückshormone für Tage meinen Körper durchströmen lässt.
Nach Rennen dieser Sorte fällt es leicht, sich für die nächste Trainingseinheit aufzuraffen. Als Triathlet gibt es quasi keine Ruhetage. Nach dem Wettkampf ist vor dem Wettkampf. Doch was, wenn Erwartungen und das Ergebnis auf dem Papier auseinander fallen, es eine Niederlage zu verarbeiten gilt?
Auch Rückschläge sind Teil des Leistungssportes. Sie lassen mich zweifeln. Verletzungen in der Vorbereitung oder andere Umstände führen dazu, dass ich Dinge hinterfrage und Neid hege. Momente, in denen ich merke, dass ich Mensch und keine Maschine bin, und in denen all die Abstriche plötzlich schmerzen. Der verpasste Geburtstag, das versäumte Festival oder das in weite Ferne verschobene Praktikum. Die Mühle arbeitet.
Absurd, schließlich tue ich tagtäglich alles dafür, um am Wettkampftag mit metaphorisch gesprochen möglichst breiter Brust am Start zu stehen. Selbstvertrauen als erster und letzter Anker. Eine Eigenschaft, welche ich durch stundenlanges Training, fortschrittlichstes Material und andere Spielereien gestärkt sehen möchte. Mentale Stärke ist nicht alles, aber ohne die richtige psychologische Einstellung ist alles nichts.
All die Strapazen einer Karriere gilt es auszumerzen. Eine gesunde Balance, Wertschätzung und eine klare Benennung meiner Motive helfen mir, resilient durch das Leben zu schreiten und nicht zum Opfer meiner Emotionen zu werden. Redefine your limits, in jederlei Hinsicht.
Autor: Jannik Schaufler
]]>
As the search results for “professional grade cycling jersey” came up with a long list of ads, I sighed at how bad I (still) am at using google. Seeing the number of brands preaching “professional grade” I also realized this was going to take a bit of comparison shopping. After checking out 5 or 6 I didn’t feel any closer than when I started. Aside from how each jersey looked, whether it was for hot/cold weather and the cost, I struggled to differentiate the product. What made them “professional”?
With a range of prices between 30 and 300 euros, I was determined not to be swindled. Clearing my afternoon plans and plugging in my mouse, I sat down to a session of thorough research.
I usually take a simple decision to begin with – am I here to win on PRICE or QUALITY? With the result being that I usually either buy a cheap product or seriously over pay. With a few hundred euros on the line I wasn’t ready to commit in either direction.
Thinking it through, I realized I’m looking for a jersey on the lower half of the price range but one that shares as many traits as possible with those on the upper half.
Brands – I didn’t care what brand it was, so wasn’t a reason for me to pay more.
Style – I found ugly and stylish choices at all ends of the price range.
Features – Reflective fabric, back pockets for storage
What then? I can’t decide on pockets alone…What makes good clothing, well, good?
I began studying the fabric composition of the higher priced jerseys and found 3 recurring materials -
Polyester, Polyamide and… Wool?! I started digging…
First learning here was that wool isn’t just for Siberian winters. Actually, it can be knitted in very thin layers.
Across the brands and ranges you find mostly either Polyamide or Polyester. A few brands include a % of wool as well.
I believed I had found the crux of the issue. A few searches of this vs that and I find that all 3 have their strong and weak points. Below is my take on each one, with a recommendation on what and when to buy.
The GOOD:
The BAD:
Merino wool tends to be much softer to the touch than synthetics. It is a high performing fabric, providing excellent breathability and odor resistance as well. However, it is less durable, less moisture resistant, and less thermally efficient (meaning heavier for the same insulation) than the ‘poly’ fibers. Merino is also decidedly more expensive than polyester and polyamide. Be prepared to pay a high price for a jersey feels great, but won’t last as long as synthetic jerseys.
The GOOD:
The BAD:
Most sportswear is made of polyester. However, compared to other fabrics noted here, polyester scores highest only in terms of moisture resistance, as it is considered “hydrophobic”. I expect price is the key reason for this, as the lower priced jerseys tend to show a higher % of polyester. Polyester is still a good fabric and is more durable than Merino. It is considered stretch resistant, and has an “anti-pilling” effect, which keeps it looking newer, longer.
However, 2 important call outs were comfort; polyester is harder than Merino and less flexible than Polyamide – making it the least comfortable of the 3 materials. I also learned a new word today – Oleophilic. Polyester is Oleophilic, meaning it holds odors strongly – picture your stinky sports gear. Of the 3 materials described here, it stands out for this feature, as the other two are highly odor resistant. Therefore, I think if you willing to splurge for a high price/high quality jersey, be wary of those which are made up of polyester. I regularly found that the lowest price jerseys were 100% polyester.
The GOOD:
The BAD:
Polyamide appears to be the “all-around” choice. For one it is the most durable, and the most odor and oil resistant of the 3. It does this while being softer and more comfortable than polyester, but lighter and less expensive than merino. It is however the least insulating of the different fabrics, but as I will be exercising, I am not sure it is my most important criteria. It is highly breathable and wicks moisture away from the body, keeping you dry.
Many jerseys had %'s of each material worked in anyway, which typically reflected back into the price. One additional material which many featured was Elastane (spandex). I did not include it in the comparison because it is not the fabric which makes up the bulk of the jersey (like the others) but is only added in small %'s to create a snug, stretchy fit.
I was settled then -> Find a jersey with a high % of Polyamide, at a good price (I thought 90-110 euros), that looks stylish too. After some searching, I settled on one from PIPPO Sportswear. Their Alp D’Huez jersey met all the criteria, including having back pockets and reflective fabric.
TL;DR - Focus on the materials the jersey is made from to guide your choices. I chose Polyamide (nylon) as my main fabric, as it is more affordable and durable than Merino, but softer and more odor resistant than Polyester.
Thanks for reading!
Matt
]]>
I was talking with a friend of mine about sports (well, he's half personal trainer, half friend). I’ve always felt that a sport required a board or a ball, without one you are just exercising. I started on the topic just to tease him, because I knew he loved cycling. The joke was on me though, as by the end he had me looking online for cycling gear. He made an impression on me, and I thought to take the time to share it with you, because I was glad that he had shared it with me.
1. Climbing the mountain
“When I am halfway up and already feeling the burn, I look up and see the rest of the mountain in front of me... I get anxious, I get excited, I even laugh at myself a bit. I said that I would reach the top, and now I have to do it, but I'm not 100% sure that I will. I know that it is just me, the bike and the mountain who can decide if I make it or not. The sense of independence, of self reliance and commitment is just an incredible feeling. Talk about endorphins (happiness chemical in brain). You are so proud when you reach the top. You are chasing that feeling when you are on your way up. You are pumping yourself up with every pedal, you've got a clear purpose in life - perform.”
2. Flying
“When you reach the top, you win a prize - the descent. People who ski or snowboard may know the feeling. It is freedom, mixed with adrenalin. Approaching each curve, getting as aerodynamic as possible. Feeling yourself truly flying down the mountain - it is pure excitement. “
3. Discovering yourself
Even with friends, you are alone on the bike. You each have your own battle, your own voice in your head and tiredness in your legs. Its a chance to discover your boundaries, and break them. I don't like the term limits, because it has a definite sense to it. We often think we are at our limit, but it is only a boundary we haven't crossed yet. I never feel satisfaction like I do when I know I've broken a boundary I (thought) I had. I learned what I can do through cycling. I've learned to control the voice in my head, and not the other way around. I know myself through cycling.”
“The bike can be a lonely place, but you know your friends are next to you going through the same pain (though yours feels worse). Reaching the top together creates a sense of brotherhood. Anytime people go through challenges together, they become closer through the shared experience. The guys I ride with are like brothers to me.”
5. "Tired legs"
“This might sound weird but there's nothing more satisfying to me than feeling my tired legs after a long ride. No pain is more enjoyable. I'm proud of my effort, I can taste the salt in my sweat. It feels victorious.”
…Okay that last one was a bit weird, reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzeneggar and "the feeling of the pump" (youtube it). But the imagery of the mountain, the wind, the descent, the struggle was very powerful to me. More so as this guy is not known for his eloquence. Everything he said was spontaneous - from the heart. The cycling community does seem inspiring, and inclusive. I've never been much of a football player and am sick of being looked down on for it... With cycling what you put in is what you get out, and there's something very egalitarian in that.
Consider me officially a cycling convert – I have seen the light. Now I need to choose some cycling gear. I’ve written about that decision-making process in another post.
For those interested, the TL;DR was that I ended up buying from PIPPO - will share my reasons in another post coming soon!
Special thanks to our friend Matt for contributing this article!
]]>…actually that is the same way we feel right now.
Three days of straight pitch, interesting chats and loads of sales are over.
Setting up our booth next to established cycling brands like Gore and Rapha is just another highlight of the recently started journey of PIPPO. As we are still flying under the radar of many competitors we won’t be a threat – they thought. However people seem to always be attracted to the most unconventional looking brands. Not being able to set up a complete shop sight like the above-mentioned brands.
Essentially our authentically handcrafted, cozy booth helped us to transmit our image and very young company culture.
Referring to this year’s winner of the race, we also felt like winners seeing a lot of happy people proudly wondering around the sight of the main event in there Pippo Socks. Being business owners ourselves the feeling of creation is tough to describe. Things you have created from scratch for months, to finally seeing them turning out a success or just a real, tangible product, is just great. In December 2018 we didn’t dare to think about strangers walking around in our product at a major cycling event in our home country. Then things like the following casually happen. See for yourself…
Hamburg is famous for many things, one of them being Elbe and the beautiful “coastal road” Elbchaussee that is taking cyclists through a hilly terrain towards Blankenese, leaving behind the busy streets of the Northern Metropolis. This is exactly what we did after closing our booth. Freeing our minds by pressing those pedals to the ground. When rolling through the beautiful alleys of North Western Hamburg the busy hours of explaining our concept to interested cyclists and enthusiastic tourists were washed away.
A highly recommendable ride in particular at dawn. A quick look across the river to the other side of Elbe reveals what makes one of our highlights when coming back home – the brightly shinning harbor lights. This is where you can experience Hamburg and its industrial charm to the fullest.
We have always been people wanting to give back to society. That is why we decided on selling our pairs of burgundy socks for 12€ a pair, donating 2€ per sale to a children’s hospice in Hamburg-Altona. Being able to donate a 100€ on Monday after the event was not the biggest donation ever, we are well aware of that. But it’s a start. Most importantly we built a relationship with staff and found a partner for a lasting cooperation on a public matter for the greater good. For us the need to share with our neighbors – is a given.
Looking back at three vivid days in Hamburg one can spot big smiles on our faces. As we now realize, more than ever, PIPPO has just experienced it’s lift off. We are working passionately on our new collection to supply you with more quality goods from Amsterdam.
Make cycling great again.
Yours,
PIPPO
]]>
Remember we met Oriol Batista in Spring? Well, that is exactly were the Pippo journey started to climb - full gas. Leaving us fully fueled with loads of high-quality pictures and great content on our phones.
We agreed on meeting Oriol at a roundabout close to Llagostera so we could get started and discuss the final route. Oriol being experienced but still excited for meeting a new client from central Europe. Shortly after starting to discuss the overall course of the shooting it was clear, that one of us needed to sit behind the wheel of his VW Van. So it was three riders behind the bus and Oriol strapped on top of his mattress in the back of his van, doors open. A once in a life time picture. Needless to say we were having a lot of fun riding, seeing Oriol working with so much passion.
Rolling and climbing behind a van was new to all of us, but Oriol managed to give detailed orders. Having worked with quite a few professionals, Jan Frodeno among others, he managed to get a little extra out of all our legs.
Picking up where we left .., having chosen the mid-distance route from Girona City Centre towards Tossa de Mar we made no mistake. A nicely tarred road out of the little town of Llagostera, located about 20km southeast of Griona, took us to the start of the climb of Sant Grau a well-known route among locals and professionals. Needless to say that the region of Girona offers a great variety of rides, so does the level of bike fanatics. We have been passed by a Education First cyclist at furious speed as well as overtaken a couple older mates from the UK, who took it rather easier on their way up.
In other words, Girona offers routes for everyone from bloody amateurs to pro tour champs.
climb and scenic descent from the Sant Grau, via Llagostera
What a beauty.
The about 6km long descent from Sant Grau down towards the connecting coastal road to Tossa de Mar was a mind-blowing experience. Sometimes it was hard to keep our hands attached to the handlebar, to be honest, being tempted to take pictures and videos. As the road can be rocky and difficult to oversee, we recommend to take a short break so you can take all the pictures needed for your poetry albums.
Adding up to a solid 100km for a round-trip. that is good for a training ride as well as a day trip to the sandy beaches of Tossa de Mar, another scenic component of this tour and tourist hotspot of Costa Brava. We definitely recommend to give this tour a spin.
The Old Town of Tossa is another magnet for tourists from all over the globe including loads of cyclists who are warmly welcomed in this city. Be careful though, Police is alert, so don’t roll through the pedestrian area.
The Mediterranean roads, stunning views and various touristy medieval towns, not to forget the vineyards of the Empordà region, make Costa Brava one of the hottest destinations for cycling in Europe.
Having completed our tour and the shooting we rolled into Girona Old Town, like champions, exhausted from the acceleration, which Oriol wanted to see at the climbs, but happy. Sipping another tasty and great looking coffee at Espresso Mafia we felt a hundred percent satisfaction.
Make cycling great again.
Yours,
Jannik from PIPPO
]]>Girona is not alike your typical destination for a bike holiday or general holiday. There is no place like Girona, that is probably what many people have written about this unique city, it’s just true. This lively city is anything but sleepy. Sitting between the mountain step of the Pyrenees and the vivid coast of Costa Brava, we find ourselves in a place that is beyond anything we experienced biking through Europe, so far. Climbing up the city wall one can not only see but feel the breeze of a joint venture of crystal clear mountain air and soft sea breeze.
Not only is the scenery of the Barri Veill – the renown Old Town of the city – a magnet for locals as well as tourist from Catalunya, Spain or any other country in the world. Walking through the narrow alleys of Girona is like a walk through the Middle Ages. Big yellow sand stones build their way up to the Cathedral, a truly magical place. About 100 stairs guide our way up to the stunning main entrance of this 1733 finished cathedral. That is by the way part of the season V shoot of Game of Thrones, just a little gimmick besides all the other fantasies this place awakes in us.
In other words, we truly feel the spirits of Girona to its very grounds. The most interesting time to visit the city is probably in April/May when temperatures climb faster and the soft mornings are heated up by strong sunlight. Busy semana santa, the national holiday during the most important festive times of the catholic church, is a true experience. Parades marching their way from the city center towards the Cathedral in Old Town, filling the air with a remarkable set of sounds that complete the mystic picture in front of our eyes. Even more interesting, for the eye, is temps de flors, the spring Flower Festival, that let’s Girona look even more magical. As you understand from our words it’s definitely worth a visit.
Being lucky enough to have come to this place for the first time in early 2017, when things were still warming up, Girona has become more important for pros and amateurs since. Genuinely, everyone who enjoys Catalan Lifestyle and a very decent set of routes to cycle will feel comfortable here. Strengthening your endurance and pushing yourself to more powerful climbs – Girona is the place.
Being convinced already we see another very positive upside, this place manages to become further and further rooted in the training plans of world class cyclists and triathletes. Initially the main reason why we made our way to Northern Catalonia – the routes, the climbs, nature. Just a solid five minute ride we find ourselves on the first climb, called Els Angels, the first kilometers of the renown Hinkapie Course.
Lance Armstrong and his supporting squad realized in the earls 2000s what most mainstream cyclists only know now – Girona is the for cycling. Needless to say the amount of routes is suitable for any kind of cyclists from coach-potato to pro-cyclist. It’s all about setting goals and expectations to manage your cadence, watts and heart rate. Back to business as we pedal just outside the city, leaving two roundabouts behind us, the beautiful scenery of subtropical forest opens up in front of our surring wheels. Taking in these moments if what we came for.
Launching Pippo is still exciting for us and our journey certainly just has begun. Making our way to Girona with the whole team is even more thrilling as we are going to meet Oriol Batista, a top-notch photographer and ultra-runner, (Oriol) who is supporting us with quality footage from his sensitive eyes using his Nikon - making our products look even brighter.
So it shall happen. A sunny Friday morning we meet Oriol, being the most relaxed person you can imagine at our favorite coffee shop ( Espresso Mafia ) to talk about the photo-shoot and obviously getting to know each other. Getting to know such a professional and focused as him was not really on our list. We were really thankful getting to know a local person supporting our spirit for life and sports.
Turning out to be one of us, Oriol agreed on the suggested route. Our plans took us from LLagostera to Tossa de Mar, being composed of a scenic climb and descend towards Sant Grau, a renown challenge among cyclists from the area.....
Big thanks to the Pippo team in person of Jenny, Nina, Jannik, Johannes, Marcel, Oriol and Hendrik without them Pippo wouldn't be were it is today.
Stay tuned for Part 2!
Make cycling great again.
Yours,
Jannik from PIPPO
]]>It all starts with choosing the right materials. Because it is a big difference how much you can enjoy your workout depending on the fit and feel of your clothes. We can tell you that you will not enjoy a cotton shirt when biking 100km+!
So let us give you a quick overview which materials you should look out for. Obviously at PIPPO we strive to use only the best fabrics out there to provide you with the most comfortable and perfectly fitting workout gear. We work together with trusted suppliers in Europe that help us to make the greatest jerseys and shorts possible.
We use a combination of Elastane, Polyamides and Mesh, resulting in breathable clothes that fit tight on the right spots and provide movement where needed. A high end jersey is breathable, durable and moves with you, not against you. We have integrated a anti skidding gripper at the hem that keeps the jersey in place, adding to your comfort during the workout - a difference that you will certainly feel.
Breathable fabric is essential when it comes to sports gear. It transports water away from your skin and evaporates, a phenomenon referred to as ‘wicking’ in analogy with the way wax moves up a candle wick. We are using sole mesh which is 4 way woven and due to open spaces between the strands of yarn it is very light and breathable.
An essential part of a good shirt or short is its ability to stretch. We use just the right amount of Elastane that pops right back into place after the movement. So no loose fitting clothes for you anymore.
A little overview about the fabrics used:
Elastane (Spandex fibre, Lycra): Elastane, founded 1937 in Germany, is a durable fabric that moves back into its original shape after being stretched. Too much of it leaves the piece of clothing too lose after a few washes but the right amount helps to deliver an extraordinary elasticity and freedom of movement. Furthermore, the fabric is resistant against tearing and durable while being lightweight. Plus it is very easy to care for!
Polyamide (Nylon): Nylon is one of the fully synthetic filaments developed in the 30's. It's often used in the sportswear due to its high durability and strength. Polyamide does not absorb oil, so all your oil-based body odors will be removed when you wash the fabric.
Mesh: Mesh refers to a knitted structure of fibers which most often is woven. This means there are little “gaps” in the fabric, allowing breathability.
Enjoy your next bike ride and don't forget to have a look at our collection!
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