The Delirious from Sweet Protection is a lightweight, packable jacket. But though it’s minimal in terms of features, it doesn’t feel like it’s skimped on cut in order to make the grade.
An easy fit enables insulation to be added as needed, and while it rules out a skinny, race-ready profile, the combination of a more relaxed cut and the lightweight ripstop fabric means it delivers a better level of performance in more regular styling.
Not that it ignores bike style – a dropped tail and long zip-pulls are the details that matter, and crucially waterproofing comes courtesy of Gore-Tex Active, which provides outstanding breathability. It’s not a cheap jacket but you won’t need a separate windproof, it packs down and is wearable for other outdoor fun.
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
The Razor might not make you ride like Sean Kelly*, Vitus poster-boy and Irish winner of the Vuelta and numerous Classics in the 80s – mainly on Vitus bikes – but it definitely represents good value for money.
The Sora kit and double-butted 6061 alloy frame are pretty much the equal of pricier bikes than Vitus’s entry-level offering, and its 9.5kg weight also compares pretty well.
The alloy frame is based on classic 73-degree angles
This might seem heavy compared with today’s more exotic – and more expensive – road bikes, but it’s lighter than most of the bikes raced in Sean Kelly’s day. So it’s not exactly a heavyweight. And the 9-speed STI gearing will be much more versatile than the setup Kelly was used to.
The welds are bulky and functional rather than neat and elegant, but the geometry is based around classic near 73-degree frame angles. The chainstays have been lengthened though to 425mm, compared with 405mm for a race-ready bike.
Gearing is nine-speed Sora
This not only makes the bike more stable; it also means more clearance – and the frame comes with fittings for front and rear fenders and a rear rack, though toe overlap could be an issue at the front.
We’re big fans of these fittings on a budget road bike. After all, it’s much more likely to be used for commuting, training and general riding rather than competitive cycling.
Kelly’s hero? It’s razor sharp
The handling is neutral rather than properly racy, but the compact frame accelerates well, it has a great gear range – also very good to see on an entry-level bike – and decent kit and wheels for the money. The compact frame, carbon-bladed fork, 25mm rubber and 27.2mm seatpost help to make it pretty comfortable too, and this could be pressed into service as a winter trainer or a first ‘serious’ all-round road bike.
This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
