Like most activities, having the appropriate gear or apparel can make the experience a whole lot more enjoyable. If you’ve ever spent hours on a bicycle seat, you’ll know the appeal of purpose-designed cycling pants with additional padding where needed. Regardless of the time of year you’re cycling, having layers to add or remove helps with overall temperature control, as well as ensuring you don’t get caught out unprepared if conditions change. We’ve collected some of our favourite items from New Zealand brands to help ensure your cycling basics are covered.
Yank Merino
No matter what time of year you’re enjoying cycle trails or adventures, merino is the perfect fabric of choice. Established in 2019 and based near the heart of Nelson, Yank is New Zealand’s first clothing brand to specialise in creating full-colour printed merino garments. Designed, printed, cut, and sewn in New Zealand, founder Belinda Stuart hails from a small town in Indiana (US) but now embraces all aspects of the Kiwi lifestyle. A former New Zealand representative for running and mother of two, she launched Yank in 2019 to share her love of adventure and colour with the world.
Dragonfish Clothing
We love a true Kiwi success story – meet Paula Gibson-Marshment, the creative mind behind Dragonfish Clothing, dedicated to personally handcrafting women-specific sports clothing. And if anyone should know what’s comfortable, hard-wearing, and hard-performing when it comes to sportswear, it’s Paula. Having represented New Zealand at the World Mountain Bike Championships, as well as completing seven ultra-marathons and numerous running and cycling events, she applies the same determination and passion to almost three decades of building her Dragonfish Clothing brand. Each item is meticulously designed and made by Paula.
Icebreaker
Founded in 1994 by Jeremy Moon, the role icebreaker played in pioneering merino outdoor clothing is well known. While the brand has gone on to be a global success story, its New Zealand origins remain an important part of its legacy. The ultimate in natural layering, whether you’re looking to be protected from the harshest elements with world-leading fabric innovation or seeking the reassurance of a brand that truly values sustainability and transparency, icebreaker delivers the polar opposite of fast fashion with high-quality performance wear designed to last. Whatever your daily planned activity, we recommend starting with the best possible base layer – merino wool underwear.
Silversky
Proudly family-owned, New Zealand business Silversky was created by keen cyclists Gin and Ross Weston in 2016. The Silversky mantra has always been around bright colourful cycle wear with plenty of personality. Available directly online keeps the focus on delivering a consistent quality value-for-money product that’s fit for purpose, rather than managing suppliers and distributors.
All Silversky cycle wear is designed and tested in New Zealand before being manufactured offshore with superior fabrics and colour printing technology that’s simply not available in New Zealand. Offering eye-catching jerseys, jackets, and shorts for a wide range of cyclists and cycle disciplines, Silversky prides itself on designs tailored to the unique conditions of Aotearoa. Gin and Ross share a family passion for cycling which not only allows them to regularly explore New Zealand’s bike trails but also to thoroughly product test each design.
Ground Effect
It may come as a surprise to discover this plucky New Zealand business has been designing and making its own collection of small production runs on-shore for 30 years. Having evolved significantly from its early range of ‘pedal threads’ – a pair of baggy riding shorts in black plaid, these days the brand has a cult following of cycling enthusiasts who enjoy supporting a local business, alongside the opportunity to sport contemporary design using technical fabrics. The Ground Effect crew also share a love of life on the bike, mountain biking, touring, bikepacking, and commuting to and from work each day. The full range is directly sold to cyclists – no wholesalers, agents, or retailers.
