Dec 17th, 09.

Untouched World, the first company in the fashion and clothing industry to be recognised by the United Nations for sustainability, has turned its attention to the cycling market.

RoadCycling.co.nz first heard Untouched World were developing cycle clothing back in April when Phil Keoghan announced he was planning to wear the Christchurch based company's bib shorts and cycle jersey on his ride across America.

A few months on, Untouched World confirmed their cycling range was ready for launch in New Zealand and CEO Peri Drysdale invited us to give it a test. Sarah and I dropped into her office last weekend whilst visiting Christchurch for the Festival of Cycling.

Drysdale is extremely excited about the new range, and enthusiastically talked us through the stunning photographic promotional material being finalised for the launch on December 17th; Castle Hill through Otira Gorge by bike, amazing photos and a great place to ride - if you like climbing.

I left with bib shorts, an undershirt and a cycle jersey to test. Drysdale said the male and female range was designed for road cyclists but will have appeal for mountain bikers too.

Like most of Untouched World's clothing, the understated elegance has not been lost on the cycle clothing. There are only small touches of branding, with all focus on comfortable, good looking, and well made gear that delivers on its promise.

Bib Shorts - quick look

The bib shorts follow a fairly traditional design with flatlock stitching, soft leg grippers, and come in a colour range made famous by Henry T Ford - black.

These were the same shorts that Phil Keoghan, presenter of "The Amazing Race", used in his ride across America earlier in the year.

He gave the chamois the thumbs up after testing it on this ride, where he cycled over 3500 miles, averaged 100 miles a day and spent about six hours a day in the saddle.

"We wanted to make the best short we could, and that's why we selected the very best chamois for our bib shorts," said Drysdale.

The chamois comes from Italian manufacturer Elastic Interface Technology and is the top chamois in their range. They also supply well-known brands Assos, Campagnolo, Ralpha, and Capo, which bodes well for the quality of the chamois and the choice made by Untouched World.

Technical information on the chamois can be found on the website www.elasticinterface.com.

Untouched World has developed a new fabric blend used for the majority of the bib shorts called Mountainsilk Procycle.

The core of Mountainsilk Procycle is an inner base layer of 100% sustainably sourced merino, linked with a protective outer layer of technical performance nylon blended with elastane.

Drysdale said the blend was included to ensure the strength of the fabric on the seat where wear could have been an issue with pure merino.

Cycle Jersey - quick look

The Untouched World cycle jersey also follows a fairly traditional design with a couple of small additions to make it special.

The shirt has three rear pockets but with one extra nice touch.

There is a small zipped pocket perfect for your keys or mobile phone. You needn't ever again have the worry of your phone falling out of your pocket and smashing to the ground when you pull your banana out on the move. Something every cyclist has had happen, or seen happen, numerous times.

The other nice feature is the rubber gripper sewn into the bottom seam of the jersey. Not many cycling jerseys have this, and it's a great idea to ensure the jersey stays where it first sits and doesn't slide up.

The colour of our test jersey was a deep charcoal, with black trim on the neck and sleeves. Untouched World also offer an iridescent milky white coloured jersey which would be more visible for maximum safety out on the roads.

For those who would prefer an Untouched World logo'd jersey, the team jerseys and shorts will be available in late January/early February.

The material in the jersey is slightly different from the bib shorts, it is called Mountainsilk Recycle.

Similar to the Mountainsilk Procycle fabric, Mountainsilk Recycle also has an inner layer of 100% merino, this time the additional fabric is a protective outer-layer of 100% recycled polyester. The outer layer is wind and water resistant while the inner layer delivers all the comfort and climate control properties of Mountainsilk.

Road Test

After a quick adjustment to the Garmin Edge 705 to pick the training route, I set off. The Selle SMP Strike was the saddle of choice. This saddle is basically a carbon shell with a leather cover, when testing a new chamois what better way to do it than on a seat with no padding whatsoever.

If first impressions are anything to go by, these shorts really are something different. As I hurtled down the back streets of our local neighbourhood I was amazed at how comfortable they felt. It was like I wasn't even sitting on a saddle.

Drysdale mentioned their testers had said the feeling of the shorts was like you weren't really wearing them, and this is exactly what it felt like.

Two hours later, arriving home having traversed some of the local climbs and ridden over some rough chipseal roads, the report card was in. Untouched World cycle bib shorts get an A+ for comfort.

The Untouched World cycling jersey also impressed me. It felt great from a temperature point of view, and when I was descending into a headwind it definitely didn't allow the wind to whistle through, the wind resistance claims proved true.

Merino might seem an unusual choice for cycling clothing, especially in summer, but anyone who has worn merino for sports activities will tell you the following claims are valid:

• It creates its own microclimate next to your skin, constantly working to keep your temperature in perfect balance.
• In a hot dry environment, it is ideal as it slows the rate of evaporation of body water, keeping you cool and comfortable.
• In colder weather, it draws excess moisture away from the body and expels it keeping you warm and dry

Drysdale says that the reason you don't notice you are wearing the cycle gear is in part due to the merino, but also due to the ergonomics of the fit.

The clothing certainly hugs the lines of the body, unlike lycra shorts which can tend to sag a little until you are bent over on the bike.

I gave the clothing a wash through a gentle cold water cycle and was pleased to confirm it dried overnight just like lycra, meaning I was able to double check my findings with another ride.

The report card remains unaltered: A+ for comfort.

Overview

• Shorts and chamois materials which mold perfectly to your shape.
• Great wicking properties of merino against your skin.
• Wind resistant without adding extra layers.
• Proven comfort over the long term - ask Phil Keoghan.
• Supports sustainable materials.
• Made in New Zealand.

The full range of Untouched World cycle clothing will be available at Untouched World stores, online, and at selected cycle stores in time to sneak a set under the tree for Xmas.

For pricing and further details visit www.untouchedworld.com