DIRT BIKE STUNT

FOX Racing
Blitz Gear
At the 24 Hours of Glen Helen event last fall I had a chance to test out Fox's new Blitz racewear. I was a little worried at first, because I had given DR my gear sizes a few weeks before the race, and sizes usually differ slightly depending on the brand of gear. I was relieved to find that the Blitz gear fits nearly true to size. The only exception to this is the $39.99 jersey, which was obviously built for "The G.O.A.T.," because the body fit fine but the sleeves were a little on the short side. The polyester material of the jersey was really comfortable and dried quickly. There was plenty of room in the pant for my knee braces, yet the knees are not too loose. The air scoops on the outside of the knees do a great job of bringing air into the $149.99 pant. At race speed, you can really feel the air flowing through the pant, something I wasn't too stoked about at 3 a.m. in the frigid October air. I was, however, very happy with the fit of the glove. I am very picky about how my gloves fit. The $32.99 Blitz glove was very comfortable, and even with the stock grips on the Honda CRF450X, I suffered no blistering throughout the race.

The gear held up well during the 24 hours and continued to do so even after a dozen more rides. Normally I can't get a glove to last more than a few months, but the Blitz glove absolutely refused to wear out. The palms are thin but very tough. The knees of a riding pant are usually the first things that wear out for me, but the Blitz's knees still look good despite more than a few trips to the ground. The jersey hasn't faded after repeated washing and still looks great.

Fox has always been on the cutting edge with gear styles, and this year is no exception. Every color of the Blitz gear looks great. The pattern that I wore at the GH 24-hour looked really cool on a Honda. At about $220 per set, the Fox Racing Blitz gear is a great choice for anyone who needs a durable, attractive set of gear.

No Fear Cargo Jacket
The new Cargo jacket by No Fear was highly thought out and well designed. From the water-resistant outer shell and fanny pouch to the built-in hydration bladder sleeve, this jacket is great for anybody needing a little extra protection from that sometimes-harsh lady we know as Mother Nature. The jacket, available in black, blue and red, features a full-length front zipper, which eliminates having to pull it on over your helmet. It also has side zippers that allow the jacket to cover a bulky fanny pack or to let a little breeze circulate through.

In the early hours of the 24 Hours of Glen Helen, the water-resistant shell really came in handy. As a slight drizzle turned into a steady rain, the jacket kept me dry, and though it doesn't have much in the way of thermal protection, the fact that it kept me dry also kept me warm. One feature that I immediately noticed it was missing was vents. The jacket had no designated vents for the times when it was cool enough for a light jacket, but too warm for a full coat. A simple lowering of the front zipper would create enough venting to cool you down, but this will also let in all the rain and roost that you usually try to avoid.