Gear Shots

Gear Shots #49

Sugoi, Chromag & Point One

Date: 2009-01-09

Sugoi Majik Jacket
Words by Stuart Kernaghan, photos by Vicki Cunningham

Sugoi is a familiar name in these parts, primarily for its high-performance lycra and wicking clothing. The company has been getting into more versatile trail-riding gear, though, in the last year or two with products like its new Hans baggy shorts to compliment the Gustov shorts that have been a hit with all-mountain riders for a few years. 

One of the areas that Sugoi has added more depth to its line-up is with outerwear that's at home on the trail as well as the road. This fall, I got my hands on the new Majik shell, Sugoi's lightweight, waterproof semi-fitted jacket that is designed to keep you dry without weighing you down.

The Majik isn't the most technical riding jacket on the market, but it does have a number of useful features. It's got a waterproof two-way main zipper, elasticized cuffs with hook-and-loop closures, a front zip pocket at chest level, a wired inside pocket for your iPod, vents on the back to allow for airflow, Scotchlite reflective material and a drawstring waist.


The Sugoi Majik shell jacket, with reflective material on the arms. Note the venting below the shoulders (right).

The jacket is made of stretchable waterproof polyester material with a polyuretane laminate lining. It gets the highest rating on Sugio's waterproof classification (three out of three), while it rates a two out of three for wicking, and one out of three for both warmth and breatheability. It's also ridiculously light, which is nice to see when paired up with the waterproof rating.

I was able to get in several wet rides in the Majik before the snow started falling, and noticed a few things right away. The first is that this is more of a shell than a jacket. That means it's very lightweight and has considerably less bulk than many three-ply waterproof jackets that people use for riding, but that it also doesn't offer as warmth or wind protection you would get from a jacket like that. It's a two-season jacket, assuming that those two seasons aren't particularly nasty.

Like any good cycling jacket, the Majik is semi-shaped so it's designed to fit best when you're in a riding position, rather than just standing around. Arms and shoulders don't bunch or feel tight when sitting on the saddle and reaching for the bars; this is likely due to the stretch fabric as well as the design. The Majik also has a longer tail to keep your ass dry-ish, but like the reflective material, this is going to come in more handy on the road than the trail.

The fleece covering around the collar and over the zipper is a smart comfort feature, and protects your neck when the jacket is done up all the way. Runners will appreciate the wired iPod pocket, but I don't run - or ride with an iPod - so I can't speak much about that. I will say, though, that it's a good place to keep some cash or a credit card if you're travelling light and don't want to put that stuff in your pocket. Drawstring closures on the waist can be operated with one hand, and don't slip once they've been cinched tighter.


The chest pocket is handy for lots of things, not just iPods (left). Drawstring closures on the waist are easy to operate with one hand.

Because the Majik relies on the back vents for airflow rather than pit zips, it can get a bit hot and humid if you're wearing a hydration pack. There were a few occasions that I had to undo the front zip to cool off, in spite of the fact that it was still wet / raining. If I had been wearing a jacket with pit zips, I would have opened them up and left the front closed. Conversely, that also means that the jacket offers acceptable protection against the wind and cold - considering how light it is. Don't expect to ward off a blizzard in the Majik, but it will work well as part of a cool-weather layering system.

Waterproof protection was very good in light drizzles and in generally damp conditions, but when the skies opened up I ran into the same issues I normally have with this type of gear - breatheability. In hard rains and very humid, damp weather, condensation inside the jacket left me wet. Breatheability for the Majik wasn't any better (or worse) than most other waterproof jackets I've tried, and I've come to accept that sweat and condensation will be par for the course when I'm riding with a jacket. As long as I'm warmer with the jacket on than off, which I was with the Majik, I'll live with it.

Fit on the Majik was fine, once I got the right size. I've always found that Sugoi's upper body garments are sized more for vertically challenged Euro road racers than the average North American and the Majik was no different. The XL jacket was too small for me, both under the arms and in the arm length itself. The XXL was better, but it's still a little smaller than I might like, especially around my pecs. Thankfully, the stretch fabric mitigates that issue and I don't have any complaints about the fit when I'm riding.

One minor quibble - the hook-and-loop closure on the right wrist was sewn on incorrectly - pointing inward rather than outward, like it was on the left wrist. It's difficult to pull up on a closure like this when you're holding onto the handlebar. I'll chalk this up to a manufacturing error that's a bit annoying but not something that affects performance. Just make sure to check the closures when you're trying on the jacket.

I haven't got a whole season of riding in the Majik, so it's hard to talk much about durability. It has survived one fall, though, that I fully expected to tear the jacket. After the little blue birds stopped flying around my helmet, I checked the elbow I landed on but there was no hole or even a mark. Score one for the Majik.

At the end of the day, the Majik is a great option if you're looking to travel fast and light in the back country when the weather is kind of crap, or are looking for a jacket that won't weigh you down and can easily be throw in a hydration pack pocket. It will also be my regular commuting jacket once the bike lanes reappear from under that nasty grey crap on the side of the road. I'll definitely be keeping the Majik close for spring and fall rides, as well as summer trips where I'll be miles away from the car and want some minimal protection against the elements, but will likely be packing something a bit hardier when the skies open up on the Shore.

The Majik is available in black, matador (red) and tang (orange) for an MSRP of US$170 / CAD$180.

Chromag OS bar and Ranger stem
Words and photos by Stuart Kernaghan

Last week, I looked at the saddle / seatpost / seat collar combo from Chromag Bikes. This week, it's the Chromag Fubar OSX handlebars and Ranger stem.

The Fubar OSX is Chromag's version of the super-wide bars that are riding a wave of popularity these days. They're made of 7075 aluminum and have a tapered wall to maximize the strength-to-weight ratio. Width is set at 760mm (30”) - 2" wider than most DH bars - and they have 25mm of rise, with 5° upsweep and 8° backsweep. The OSX is only available in 31.8 clamping diameter.


The shiny red Chromag Fubar OSX. Lots of room for all the controls, and a wide perch for your hands.

I put the OSX bars on the Chromag TRL I'm testing right now, and immediately appreciated the wide stance the bars afford. That may have something to do with the fact that I'm 6'4" with big shoulders and damn long arms. I felt like I had more control of the front end on the trail, and my chest was opened up even more so it was easier for me to suck wind (which I tend to do on the climbs). I also found that there was more room on these bars for grips, shifters and brake levers.

There's a trade-off going to bars this wide, though. The obvious one is clearance. We all know of a section of trail that's a bit of a squeaker with 28" bars. Well, you're now going to have to slow down a hell of a lot more with the OSXs on your bike if you want to make it through in one piece. I also found that there was more flex in these bars than I'm used to. That may have had something to do with the additional leverage that comes with a wider bar, or the construction / tapering. Either way, it wasn't a bad thing and will likely add a little more comfort to rides on rough terrain.

The Fubar OSX bar is available in black for an MSRP of $99, blue, red or purple ano for $109, and chrome for $125. Chromag offers 28" bars as well if you want something that isn't so wide.

Chromag also has its own line of stems. You may have seen Chromag DH stems on Steve Peat's bike, and they're definitely worth looking at if you're looking for a new stem for your big bike. But if you need a stem for your all-mountain rig, the Ranger is the one for you.


The minimalist Chromag Ranger stem. Yes, I know there are a lot of spacers. I don't want to cut the steerer.

The Ranger is a pretty simple piece of 7075 T6 aluminum that's CNC machined for Chromag by the folks at North Shore Billet. It uses a standard two-bolt pinch clamping system for the steerer, and four bolts for the face plate; both bolts for the steerer clamp thread in from the right side of the stem. The face place is laser-eteched and machined out to save weight.

A 70mm Ranger weighs in at 160g, which is on par with AM stems from other component manufacturers. Rangers come in 40, 50, 70 and 90mm lengths, all with 0° of rise and are available in that spiffy black colour. They'll set you back $135 dollars, and are a great way to complete your Chromag parts kit.

Something to note - the steerer clamp bolt heads aren't very deep and are a little soft, so be sure you have your Allen key sitting flush before turning it. Removing stripped bolts is never fun.

The Chromag OSX bar and Ranger stem, along with other Chromag components and frames, will be available at Chromag dealers in March.

Point One Racing spacers & integrated stem
Words and photos by Cam McRae

Point One Racing is carving out a niche making stems and unique spacers for your steerer tube.  This is how they describe themselves:

Started by two mountain bike racers passionate about engineering, Point One was created to manufacture high-quality, precision racing products that are not only extremely light weight, but uniquely designed and able to withstand the abuse of mountain bike racing.

No one is more familiar with the importance of time than gravity racers who strive for that perfect run, searching for that fraction of a second to give them an edge, because the difference between winning and losing is Point One.

Seeing that they were tackling a zone on the bike that is often overlooked - the spacers and cap that allow correct pressure to be applied to your headset - got me interested. Why not make a top cap and spacer that is integrated?  If you know your stack height, doesn't it make sense to use one precision spacer rather than three mismatched, low quality parts? If you can save a couple of grams, I'm not complaining either but you aren't likely to win or lose the race based on the weight of your spacers or your stem.


The Time Capsule is a spacer and top cap in one.

The Time Capsule is a spacer and top cap in one. Available in 15mm and 35mm sizes (weighing 11 and 19 grams, respectively) these are nicely machined, no-nonsense parts that clean up the front end of your bike. I like the nicely recessed bolt with a 4mm head - but I'd like to see it sit completely flush to the top of the cap rather than slightly raised as ours were. If you are going to make precision components, why not go that extra mile  Obviously, this is a minor point.


The 20 and 30mm Nano Second spacers are nicely machined and they are an elegant solution to the front end of your bike.

The Nano Second spacers are, to my eyes, even nicer. They are machined so they slide smoothly down your steerer but without a hint of play, and they are narrower throughout the length with a bevel on the top and bottom to make solid contact. They come in 5, 10, 20 and 30mm lengths which weigh 1.1, 1.9, 3.7 and 5.1 grams respectively. We were sent a 20 and 30mm spacer; they seem to be out of 5 and 10mm models at the moment. If you can dial in the length of your steerer just right these are a great option - because piling on the 5mm version will get expensive.  Each spacer costs US$9.


Transformed. This is what my stack looked like to begin with on the left. I tried it with the Nano Second spacer and a Syncros top cap (middle) and the Time Capsule (right). Both are a big improvement, but I liked the look of the Nano Second spacer best.

Point One also makes a direct mount stem. The Split Second integrated stem is about the lightest I've seen aside from road and XC stems at the very end of the scale. With hardware - and that adds up to 8 bolts in total - the 31.6mm version weighs 128 grams. The 25.4 version (they still make those?) is 122 grams with hardware. 


Point One Racing's Split Second stem - made for direct mount dual-crown forks - is tidy two-piece solution to tack your bars on.

Direct mount stems are an elegant solution to tacking your bars onto the rest of your bike. No messing with your headset to change your stem, no spacers to deal with under the stem - which is somewhat ironic, considering the other products Point One makes - and your bars are always straight.

The stem measures out to 0° rise and a 50mm length. We are waiting on a couple of forks that this stem will fit on, and once they roll in we'll mount it up and see how it works. Both versions sell for US$119, but according to the Web site they are currently out of stock of the 31.8 mm version.

If you are a detail freak or a gram counter - or if you are fond of well-made, finely engineered products - these goodies from Point One will be right up your alley.

Want to talk about this sweet gear? Got questions for Stuart or Cam? Head over to the boards.

Previous Gear Shots

  • Rase Seatpost - What do John Holmes and this post have in common? The Black Mamba won't leave you asking for more...
  • 2010 Trek Session 88 DH - To the Alpine! Connor Macleod kicks off a long term test with a trip to Brohm Ridge near Squamish...
  • Gear Shots #60 - WTB, Race Face & Fox - WTB Stout tires, Race Face 3 Over 4 pants and Fox Launch Shorty knee pads
  • Interbike Day 315 - It never ends...
  • Gear Shots #58 - Sugoi RSX 3/4 jersey, Truvativ Stylo OCT crankset and Fox Launch knee/shin and elbow pads
  • Gear Shots #57 - Mace Caliber Jersey & Gloves, Mace Task Shorts and Kali Durgana Helmet
  • Vholdr Contour HD - Mounting Options - Mounting options for the Vholdr ContourHD
  • Gear Shots #56 - VHoldr Contour HD POV vid camera, Kona CoilAir Supreme, and the Mace NOS Short
  • Gear Shots #55 - Rocky Mountain Flatline Unlimited, Dakine Apex hydration pack and Whistler Mountain Biking guide book
  • Gear Shots #53 - 2009 Norco Fluid LT2, Geax Booze Light tires and size XXL Dakine gloves
  • Gear Shots #52 - We check out the Specialized Big Hit III, Manitou Dorado first rides, and the SKS Airchecker digital tire gauge
  • Gear Shots #51 - 2009 Manitou Dorado fork, Fox 32 TALAS RLC 150 fork and the WTB LaserDisc Trail 15mm wheel / wheelset
  • Gear Shots #50! - Some stuff to dream about while we wait for the snow to melt around here...
  • Gear Shots #49 - Sugoi Majik shell jacket, Chromag Fubar OSX handlebar and Ranger stem, Point One Racing spacers and integrated stem
  • Gear Shots #48 - Fox, RockShox, Chromag - 2009 Fox TALAS RC2 fork, RockShox Vivid 5.1 rear shock, Chromag Bikes saddle / seatpost / collar