Troy Lee Designs are a big name in BMX, Motocross, Mountain Bike racing,
Indy Car racing, the list goes on. It seems that every second BMX pro
is wearing a TLD D2 helmet these day. TLD have products appearing in Hollywood
movies like "The Fast and The Furious", everywhere you look
it's TLD. As well as producing high quality race equipment that for some
is just unaffordable, TLD make casual clothing that's definitly worth
checking out.
They have a substantial range of casual wear that would cover everything
from your head to your feet, with beanies, hats, shirts, t-shirts, sweatshirts,
jackets, shorts, pants and socks.
Over the years I have built up my own collection of TLD casual wear including a handful of t-shirts, a shirt and a Speedway jacket. I actually have pretty close to 50 t-shirts but still wear my TLD stuff at least every second day...to work, to the race track, out to dinner, pretty much everywhere. While that's a lot of wear, TLD casual wear is very high quality and is more than capable of handling the day to day wear and tear. I have had some of my TLD t-shirts for more than 2 years and had absolutly no problems with the prints fading or peeling, materials stretching, dies running or fading, not even a problem with the stitching (apart from a stain on one t-shirt, but that's because white t-shirts and I don't mix well)...heck I have a 2 year old TLD shirt that has Troy Lee Designs embroided on the back and the lettering is still there as clear as day, not a stitch missing. Each TLD garment has been a worthy investment, sure you might pay a little bit extra, but what would you rather do, pay good money for clothes that will last or have to continuously replace an inferior product?
The TLD t-shirts...
The
TLD t-shirts are slightly smaller than the usual USA made t-shirts, which
is one thing to keep in mind, but then again I personally prefer loose
fit clothing, so a larger size is always important to me. Unlike other
manufacturers TLD have a range t-shirts so huge, so diverse in colour
and design that there's bound to be something for everyone, male or femal
and regardless of personal taste. And unlike other manufacturers you don't
have to feel like you've forked over big bucks just for the privalige
to advertise their products, the designs usually overpower the logos.
TLD shirts...
The
TLD shirts are a very large fit as opposed to the t-shirts, they are very
comfortable, light and most importantly don't require ironing.
Hats...
A
hat is a must at a BMX track for in between motos or you risk a serious
case of "helmet hair". My personal hat of choice is the TLD
international which is a stretch fit, one size fits all deal. A comfortable
cap, even for a head as large as mine, it stays in shape even after a
machine wash or two, just don't lend it to a friend or you may never see
it again.
The Speedway jacket...
In
the growing range of TLD jackets the Speedway would have to be the most
versatile. Basically a nylon water-proof shell which is lined with a soft
fleecy material, it has two front pockets and an inside pocket which is
a great spot for a wallet. It's a good all-rounder that would get good
use right throughout the year, although you probably wouldn't wear it
in heavy down pours. It's comfortable and a large fitting jacket, which
allows for the additional layer or two of clothes through winter. It's
available in black or silver and both colours have reflective piping around
the collar and the pockets.
I can only tell you about the TLD clothes that I have worn and put through
the bmxultra.com's famous LCT (Life Cycle Testing) process. If you would
like to find out about any of the other products in the range, check out
their website at www.troyleedesigns.com
or get into your nearest bike shop and check out their latest catalog
if you can't see one ask for it by name.