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vulpine organic cotton t-shirt

with last year's drastic change to normality, i now find myself slightly confused as to whether cycle component purveyors are adhering to a strategic schedule of product releases, or whether ad hoc is the order of the day. i mention this because, around the end of september, one year ago, campagnolo launched their thirteen-speed ekar groupset, while shimano entered the fray but two or three days ago with an update to their dura-ace di2. that would tend to support the ad hoc theory more than a purported structured product release schedule, but that might be a rather myopic view of events.

the confusion engendered by the pandemic seems at least a smidgeon accompanied by climate change, though once again, maybe i need to look more closely at the bigger picture. though i'm extremely grateful that the hebrides were not in the flight path of hurrican ida, videos of which were scary enough when viewed from the safety of youtube, yet our weather is not what we might expect when turning the page of the calendar to the month of september. by now, we would usually have begun to feel a strengthening of the autumnal winds, and almost certainly there would be sufficient precipitation and lowering temperatures that would encourage the wearing of at least lightweight waterproofs.

heck, the geese will be here in a matter of weeks.

yet, if you could look through my sitting room window towards bowmore distillery's bonded warehouses, you would see them framed by cloudless skies, interrupted only by the small top windows being open to allow for a modest cooling breeze. there has been so little rainfall over the past few weeks, that sepa (scottish environmental protection agency) along with scottish water, has advised scotland's residents to be more careful with water use. that's scarcely advice we're used to receiving in the hebrides. in fact, according to local reports, more than one of the island's distilleries have suspended production due to a lack of water in their reservoirs.

and i'm wearing a t-shirt.

while the latter news might be considerably less earth-shattering than the turmoil engendered by hurricane ida, it is, to be sure, a less common occurrence than hurricanes over the southern states of america. and, if you'll forgive my directness, it's a t-shirt proffering unashamed and almost impossibly soft luxury. though i confess i have not the faintest idea of what is involved in the carbon brushing of organic cotton, whatever its intended purpose, it makes for one of the softest cotton graments i have had the privilege of wearing. my only real complaint (and it's more of an observation than a complaint), would be the uninspiring pattern applied to the front.

however, for a mere £35, there's no denying it's excellent value for money.

practically, on a garment intended for cycling use, the sprint t-shirt offers a commendably loose fit, allowing for a notably cool journey when commuting to and from work or school. it's cotton construction doesn't really lend itself as a baselayer for more frenetic pedalling, but this is more a garment designed for continuing wear off the bike, marking the wearer as more of a normal human being, than one inured to the world of sprint or summit finishes. but as vulpine position themselves closer to the jack thurston end of the velocipedinal world than that of jens voigt, that's pretty much as it should be.

the jury is out on how long islay's distilleries will be starved of water, or for how long i can continue to wear short sleeve t-shirts, but matched with a softshell, harrington, or rain jacket, provided the mercury doesn't take a sudden dive, this is luxurious pragmatism designed for cycling without calling attention to your pelotonic heritage.

vulpine's carbon brushed, organic cotton tee is available in various designs, in sizes ranging from small to xxl at a retail cost of £35.

vulpine sprint organic cotton tee

thursday 2 september 2021