June 14, 2018 (Mont-Tremblant, QC) – Pedal was stoked to attend Oakley’s official press launch at the recent Crossroads Tremblant bike festival that combined the Canada MTB Cup races with the popular Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant and many other events for a fabulous weekend of cycling action.

Having checked out Oakley’s exciting new high-end racewear, hot eyewear and innovative helmets with some hands-on testing on Mont-Tremblant’s mountainous terrain, here’s an inside look at the legendary brand’s 2018 offerings.

JB Premium Jersey and Bib

Oakley has developed new cycling apparel in partnership with Bio Racer to deliver what has been called a “ride-free” feeling or riding “naked.” While designing the new racewear, one of the main goals was that the kit just disappears on you – and when tested, it did.

The O-Strech fabric provides a constant silky-smooth flow of air enveloping your body, which creates the collateral perception of slicing through the atmosphere with integrated air-conditioning, but without any chills.

In essence, you simply forget what you’re wearing, keeping you focused on your efficiency and the road you’re attacking. With no feeling of wrinkles, the elastic zone, or seams at the shoulders, sleeves, jersey bottom, or on the legs while pedaling, the Premium jersey and bib combo seamlessly combine as if one with your body.

The experience enhances the pleasure of fast riding and efficiently helps you slip into the zone. And, yes (full disclosure), you’ll feel like a top dog wrapped in Oakley’s new racewear.

As if the padding has been doubled up, in addition, the Premium bib’s thickly padded Smooth Vapor chamois protects and cushions your butt without any feeling of disconnect or lack of efficiency in pedal strokes.

 

With the spiffy black apparel and its distinctive colour accents, Oakley has hit the mark where fashion and functional high-tech design merge to create clean-cut, high-tech and timeless products worthy of the iconic brand’s signature logo.

The new race-fit line will be followed by a more casual fit version to accommodate the form and function of a wider range of riders. The SRP for the JB Premium jersey is $255; for the Premium bib shorts, it is $280.

Oakley Aro 5 Helmet

Oakley’s flagship Aro 5 answers the call for top-end aerodynamics and ventilation in a high-performance helmet. Designed from the bottom up, Oakley launched its new helmet line in 2017, and began the process informed by the best shape and design according to MIPS for safety and comfort, rather than creating a helmet and later introducing MIPS brain protection.

Next, Oakley teamed up with Boa to co-develop an exclusive FS1-1 retention system that uses high-resistance nylon TX1 lace fabric instead of the usual metallic wire for added comfort – you barely feel it and it doesn’t interfere with eyewear in any way.

Minimal X-Static padding offers a natural feel while managing sweat and controlling odor, as well as inhibiting the growth of bacteria. Combined with the MIPS system, the fit was perfect, pairing Oakley’s goal of ultimate protection with its “naked” feeling while riding.

Huge air ports up front and on the upper section mimic race car intakes, providing all-important ventilation, while a major port farther back is strategically placed for head-down sprinting, and side ports cover all tilt angles. The benefits are readily felt while riding as the air is channelled through and out the back flawlessly.

The Aro 5 is Oakley’s do-it-all road helmet, offering a racy, practical lid for sprinters and gran fondo enthusiasts. All bases are covered, from straps that are light and naturally remain flat, to weight – or the lack of it. One great fun design trait was the lower rear air ports that resemble the back end of a classy super-car.

As well, eyewear is easily integrated and earpiece channels are thoughtfully designed in the main air ports, so they hold your glasses safely out of the way when not in use.

Some riders may find the sizing is slightly smaller as I was well-served with a large Aro 5 but normally wear a medium. Available in several colours in both flat and glossy finishes, the stealth black was an eye-catcher, but more highly visible race-colour combinations are available. Personally, this could be the best helmet this tester has ever worn! The SRP for the Aro 5 helmet is $330.

Oakley Aro 3 Helmet

Also part of Oakley’s distinctive helmet line is the new Aro 3, touted to have even better ventilation than the upper-end Aro 5. While Pedal wasn’t able to test this cool lid, comments from other testers were unanimously positive.

With a bit wider fit, the Aro 3 answers the needs of the average sport cyclist, and features many of the bells and whistles found on its flagship Aro 5, but at a more affordable price point.

Designed for cyclists who want enhanced airflow at all speeds, the Aro 3 is for climbers, hot-weather aficionados, gravel bikers and the vast majority of amateur racers. It was not surprising to see it on the heads of several cross-country mountain bikers at the Canada MTB Cup at Crossroads Tremblant.

Featuring the same MIPS peace-of-mind and exclusive top-end Boa retention system as the Aro 5, colour options are numerous for this budget-friendly signature Oakley product. The SRP for the Aro 3 helmet is $240.

Oakley Flight Jacket

Another flagship launch by the Oakley crew was its distinctive Flight Jacket sunglasses that offer its same “naked” feel while riding. These new shades deliver bold styling and technical assets in spades.

The unique frame shape features an open-edge brow to maximize the upper field of view by eliminating the upper-brow frame section, and so addresses the No. 1 hindrance identified by Oakley through elaborate R&D with a wide variety of test riders. With an unimpeded field of view, rider perception is improved and fosters a more ergonomic head and neck position, as unnatural head tilting has also been eradicated.

The new Flight Jacket also features Oakley’s innovative Advancer, the world’s first airflow system that combats fog and overheating by adjusting the distance between the sunglasses and your face 7mm forward without changing the line of sight. A simple toggle on nose bridge provides additional cooling airflow that dissipates any fog buildup on demand. A little push back with one finger resets the sunglasses. The learning curve was short, and the Advancer worked flawlessly.

Another key feature on the new eyeware is Oakley’s Prizm lens technology engineered to dramatically enhance detail and help improve performance by providing ultra-precise colour-tuning for improved perception. Definition with the Prizm lenses is outstanding and the field of depth is noticeably clearer with its great anti-glare feature.

A fun addition was the interchangeable ear-stem end piece that allows you to shorten the length by approximately 5mm to more precisely fit your temple with your helmet of choice. This is also a good fine-tuning remedy for any unwanted pressure around your ears.

All the extras on the new Flight Jacket impart a more relaxed, confident state, including that “naked” feeling, while pedaling any terrain that Tremblant served up, earning two thumbs up for performance. The SRP for the Flight Jacket sunglasses starts at $248.

Oakley Field Jacket

The previously launched Field Jacket sunglasses were also on offer, and represent Oakley’s top-end more conventional sunglasses with virtually the same innovative features as those of the Flight Jacket.

Field of vision was key in its design, and these cool sunglasses are Oakley’s tallest double-lenses eyewear piece ever designed, which translates into unobstructed vision on the road or trail.

Oakley’s innovative Advancer is also found on the Field Jacket, and it was loved here as well, as it works almost instantly and is easily activated with one hand while pedaling. The Field Jacket also comes equipped with the interchangeable ear-stem end pieces for that added personal touch.

The Prizm Road lenses on the Field Jacket sunglasses tested were also outstanding. Your brain gets tricked, somehow in all medium- to bright-light conditions your vision seems even better than 20/20.

One standout lens in the entire line is the Prizm Low Light, initially developed for the athletes performing indoor under the artificial lights at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Oakley-sponsored MTB riders discovered its potential out on trails in low-light situations and instantly adopted it. Try them in flat light, such as evening rides or on cloudy days, and everything comes alive with a light pinkish tint. Every tiny crack, bump and pebble on the road can be seen, helping you optimize the path ahead at speed with confidence. The SRP for the Field Jacket sunglasses starts at $278.

Merci Oakley and Crossroads Tremblant for a great weekend of cycling, camaraderie, innovation, racing, passion and fun.

For more information, visit here.

 

 

 

 

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