..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
vulpine long and short sleeve merino polo shirts and cotton/cashmere socks
the village of bowmore sits almost centrally on the island, with its nearest neighbour being that of bridgend, a far smaller conurbation around five kilometres north. in anyone's parlance, bridgend could reasonably be described as close to bowmore. by bicycle, it takes around ten minutes in either direction, depending on the strength and trajectory of the wind. astronomers and astrophysicists, on the other hand, have an entirely different concept of close.
but a few days past, the european southern observatory announced the discovery of hr6819, a black hole which can be viewed with the naked eye from earth's southern hemisphere. based on current astronomical knowledge, this black hole, part of a triple star system in the bizarrely-named constellation of telescopium, has been described as the closest to our planet; travelling at the speed of light, it would take a mere 1,000 years to arrive. that's a tad farther away than bridgend village; in fact, it's farther from bowmore than new zealand.
astronomers contend that the universe is home to millions, if not billions of black holes, a phenomena that continues to keep its secrets well-hidden. though current knowledge would predict that black holes are collapsed, incredibly dense stars, whose gravitational field allows not even light to escape, science fiction has frequently contended that they offer tunnels to far distant portions of the universe. it's highly unlikely that we're unlikely to learn the truth in our lifetimes.
the nature of black holes is but one of those unanswered questions that continue to pervade modern existence. others, such as what length of socks would defy good taste, quite what the point of electronic gear systems truly is, and whether carbon-fibre would be quite so desirable if known as burnt plastic, are every bit as quizzical. but, pertaining to the review under discussion, a question we must all be asking ourselves is this: should polo shirts be buttoned to the neck, closely resembling the predilections of david bowie, or a member of kraftwerk, or ought they to be left unbuttoned in a more devil-may-care fashion?
sadly, this review is unlikely to offer any definable resolution.
the rationale behind vulpine cycle clothing leans more heavily towards the style-conscious commuting cyclist, in preference to those of us happy to don polyester and lycra for a weekend's stravaiging about the countryside. though the company offers a range of merino-blend jerseys, replete with the necessary three rear pockets, you will not find any bibshorts midst their products. there are two basic types of commuting cyclist: those who prefer to shower and change on arrival at the office, having ridden there clad in the finest of pelotonic apparel, and those who seek clothing that is both practical on and off the bike. their excellent merino polo shirts will satisfy either, or both.
vulpine has changed hands once or twice during the course of its career, but on the evidence of both polo-shirts and socks, they have now discovered their true metiér. the fabric is almost impossibly luxurious, providing both comfort and sartorial elegance. i wore both to sit imperiously in front of photoshop and to pedal my way hither and thither. neither aspect ruffled their countenance.
on the bike, a dropped rear hem keeps untoward draughts at bay, while a single, buttoned pocket at bottom right, offers solace for keys, phone, or coffee money. this is far preferable to the flapped breast-pocket of yore, on which the flap resolutely refused to sit flat. carefully adjudged space around the shoulders offers ideal versatility, whether your bicycle features flat or drop bars. merino wool is renowned for its exclusion of the niffs associated with hot and sweaty cyclists, and for remaining sartorially presentable even after an intrepid battle with traffic and the elements.
as to the perennial question of whether the top button ought to be securely fastened or left casually adrift, i have tried both without alighting on a definitive answer. perhaps the best answer is to leave the neck unbuttoned during the bike ride to aid ventilation and composure, before closing prior to entering the boardroom. however, i can but offer my thoughts without resorting to dogmatic assertion.
socks bear close affinity to that of the bottom-bracket; both are necessary components of the cycling milieu, yet both are the subject of scant regard from their users. probably the best compliment that can be paid to both, is that they remain all but invisible in use. should that be an acceptable judgment, vulpine's 'three-dash' cotton-cashmere socks reflect the luxury of the matching polo-shirts (always assuming you find it necessary to match your shirt and socks). i have no idea whether cashmere has the same odour-free properties as merino, but nonetheless this italian-made luxury will cosset your hard-working feet all the way from home to the office and throughout the day's travail.
vulpine cycle clothing may be a marque that has escaped your attention of late, particularly when considering less frantic cycling apparel. however, based on my experience with the clothing under discussion, it's a brand that you ignore at your peril, particularly at present when many items from the range are currently on offer with a 40 or 50% discount. let's face it, if vulpine's merino polo-shirts can make me presentable without resorting to suit-and-tie conformity, just think what they can do for you.
vulpine's long-sleeve polo shirt is available in eight colours, (biking red reviewed) in sizes ranging from small to xxl, currently reduced from £90 to £54. the short-sleeve version is offered in seven different colourways (grey heather reviewed) in sizes from small to xtra-large at a retail price of £80. the socks are available in six colour patterns in sizes small/medium and large/extra-large, currently reduced from £15 to £7.50.
monday 11 may 2020
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................