Danny Shane Performance Cycling Kit Review
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First Impressions of the Danny Shane Cycling Kit
This is where I usually talk about how excited I am to take a piece of gear and push it to its limits. Forget that: The Ashton Grey Jersey is so super silky smooth to the touch that I want Danny Shane to make me a pillow. I had not looked at the specific make-up before receiving the kit, and it appears that there is a Bamboo White Ash in the fabric mix. More on that later, but I am super impressed with the initial quality of the Jersey. The Shelby S5 Bib Shorts have a simple and clean design ready for some action. Danny Shane must be listening to “old-timers” like me by combining classic styles with today top notch technology for optimal comfort.
I’ve slowly been ramping up the miles these past few months with 3-4 early morning hard core weekly group rides. That translates into 35-40 mile lung busting and leg burning training sessions. It’s amazing how training with other good riders will push one’s limits. Hence, I am enjoying taking my new Danny Shane Cycling kit out on my local testing grounds.
Now What’s This Bamboo White Ash All About?
Taking a cue from the tree lingo, Danny Shane incorporates the latest innovations in natural performance fibers. The jerseys are made from a proprietary fabric blend with 50% of the Bamboo White Ash with recycled polyester fabrics. This creates a material that is super soft, quite breathable, odor resistant, durable, and has superior moisture wicking qualities. What’s also impressive is that the jersey won’t fade or discolor. Plus, it won’t irritate the skin like other materials may.
Cycling Jersey Features:
- Rip-Stop BWA fabric for ultimate comfort
- Three oversized, slanted back pockets
- One zippered back pocket
- Mock race collar
- E-Grip race toggle
- Invisible full-zip entry
- Silicone waist gripper
Fit Of The Danny Shane Ashton Grey Performance Jersey
I really like this Jersey. It feels so soft and smooth when wearing it. The simple design and color in the case of my Ashton Grey color is understated yet highly effective. I am kind of over the in-your-face colors and writing all over every Jersey.
The Ashton Grey is perfect for many types of riding positions. No excess bunching, the sleeves are not too tight, and the length is ideal. The fit is designed to wrap the body while still providing comfort and movement for varying riding styles. From a technical standpoint, of course the Bamboo White Ash creates for a unique smooth touch. The textured Microfiber Polyester Rip-Stop fabric hopefully will endure over time, and really has a very comfortable fit.
Three over sized pockets sport this Jersey. Slightly larger which is nice, and they hold my phone, an extra tube, and some mid ride snacks.The one zippered pocket is small, but provides that little extra sense of security for a credit card and some cash.
The Danny Shane Shelby S5 Bib Shorts
I want to make it clear straight away that this kit has a high performance cut. Understand that body types, fitness levels, and different brands will vary when it comes to sizing. I’m 6’-0” plus and about 165 when in mid season form. That translates into a fairly average build, but my legs are far from skinny.
I mention my body habitus because the bib shorts do fit quite snug on me. Danny Shane recommends that you actually go a little tighter with the short sizing. This is due to the fact that the bib will loosen a bit with time on the bike, and that it will contour itself to your body based on the fabric make-up discussed earlier. That is a bit conflicting with my build as the shorts are currently quite tight. I’m going to give it a handful more rides to make the final judgement, but for now the snugness is providing some compression benefits. After 5 or 6 rides, the premier laser-cut leg gripper has seemingly become slightly more form fitting to my legs. I would say, they are still a little on the snug side, but that’s not something preventing me from wearing them.
The cool thing is that is a simple black design, and will go with pretty much any Jersey you choose for the day. All of Danny Shane’s Bib Shorts have basic patterns and are straightforward in their color scheme. The leg gripper is where a hint of design or color can be found to match the Jersey and complete the kit.
The Danny Shane Shelby S5 Bib Shorts Features:
- 8-panel body-contouring fit
- Brightened long lasting colors for longevity
- Rapid moisture wicking and high breathability
- 3D-stretch Cytech Carbonio 100-mile chamois
- Premium laser-cut leg band for gentle compression
- Ultra-comfort shoulder harness design
- Straps made from 100% recycled performance nylon
- 77% nylon (100% recycled) – 23% Lycra
The Cytech Carbonio Chamois
The most important part of the Danny Shane Shelby bib shorts (and any shorts for that matter) has to be the chamois which can make or break a ride. The extra padding in the Danny Shane Chamois does create for a comfortable ride on the point of the contact with the saddle. My only gripe is that the Chamois width wraps around or down my leg slightly more than I am used to. In turn, it has created a small crease which rubbed slightly on my first couple of rides. I am giving it some more testing time to help with the breaking in period before making a final judgement.
Final Peleton Crushing Thoughts on the Danny Shane Cycling Kit
The testing period is coming to an end, but I have many more miles of enjoyment left in this Danny Shane kit. There is something about the body conforming fit that simply makes me feel good and fast. That mental advantage will hopefully give me that extra little boost as I take on the fast guys and gals in my weekly group rides and races. The Ashton Grey Jersey is silky smooth, and fits like a glove. The Shelby S5 bib shorts are race fitting, and have taken a handful of rides to conform comfortably to my body. Hence, give them a proper wearing-in time frame to bring them up to speed. Danny Shane is a smaller boutique brand, and I appreciate the attention to detail, performance, and environmental vibe. Many of the components have come from recycled materials, and I appreciate that. For more information and purchase please visit www.dannyshane.com