We’ve just got hold of a few items from the new Gore Bike wear range, and jolly smart they look too. Some pictures:

Gore Bike Wear is part of the same group of companies that makes Gore-Tex fabric, so the presence of the legendary breathable waterproof stuff in a couple of these items is no surprise. Well, it’s no surprise in the case of the Alp-X jacket, which features a “3D ergonomic cut”, one-

handed drawstrings, a detachable hood, fold-away drop tail, mesh back insert for ventilation, reflective bits and what Gore calls a “Napoleon pocket” and the rest of us call, rather more prosaically, a chest pocket. The Alp-X jacket is £160, so it’s a high-end item.

We’re slightly bemused by the £90 Alp-X shorts – a perfectly conventional pair of unlined baggy shorts (wear over something padded), but also in Gore-Tex. We’ve never really felt the need for waterproof shorts before, but if you want such a thing, you now

know who to get it from.

In a racier line we have the Contest 3/4 bibs. They’re of eight-panel construction with flat seams, a meshy bit at the back and pre-shaped knees. Just the job for spring – £50.

The Freeride long sleeved jersey isn’t limited to having long sleeves – they zip off if you like. It also has abrasion-resistant panels on the sleeves, meshy bits under the arms, a zipped back pocket and reflective piping for your £50.

For those “not sure how warm it is” days, some sort of gilet (aka “vest”) is often a boon, and

Gore’s offering is the Helium. It’s made of Windstopper fabric (does what it says on the tin) with a mesh panel on the back and various pockets. Also £50.

At £90 the Path shorts go straight in at the high end of MTB baggies, but they’re pretty smart-looking. The inner shorts are removable while the heavy-duty outer features zippered vents with mesh inserts, stretchy panels where necessary, a heavy-duty wear-resistant seat (which looks like it might

outlast your saddle), adjustable waistband and the usual selection of front/side/back pockets. Most of these, along with the rest of the range, are available in a choice of colours. We’ll let you know how they fare…