Icebreaker, a New Zealand-based company with a conscience for sustainability, makes merino wool performance and travel clothing, has a line of technical sports clothing including cycling jerseys and high performance merino socks made for cyclists and runners.

What’s so great about merino wool? Merino wool is very different from traditional wool which though warm, was also heavy, bulky and itchy, and took forever to dry. Merino wool is much softer, lighter, breathable, odor-free, non-itchy and easy –care. Merino is very good at regulating body temperature, especially when worn against the skin. The wool provides some warmth, without overheating, and naturally wicks away moisture from the skin. Compared to synthetics and other wool, merino has an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio because the fibers trap dead air and keep in body heat like a good sleeping bag—even when wet. (Perfect for those late autumn rides.) It’s amazing how humans can spend so many years working on technical clothing, when a sheep with finely crimped, soft wool had the answer all along….

Icebreaker’s GT line is their most technical and is perfect for high performance aerobic activities. The merino wool is combined with a little touch of LYCRA for shape retention and fit and eyelet fabric for breathability. Icebreaker’s technical clothing comes in different weights from the “Ultralight” to keep you cool in the heat, to a “Lightweight” and finally, “Midweight,” which will keep you warm in colder weather. In addition, the natural characteristics of the merino wool make the clothing soft, odor-free, breathable and easy-care—all the aspects we want in the best technical clothing.

We had Katie Young, a road cyclist who lives in Park City, Utah, put Icebreaker’s “Ultralight” socks and jersey (SS Dash Zip) to the test over the course of several rides. (Thanks, Katie!)

Katie’s Review:

The Bike Ultralight Mini socks are amazing! They are so comfortable and so nice for the long bike rides and they don’t bunch up in the foot, which is usually one of my biggest complaints with socks. If they could change one thing about them it would probably be the height of the sock on the ankle for the women. Other than that they breathe well and are very, very soft! (Note: Icebreaker has a pair of socks that is 2 inches shorter: the Bike Ultralight Micro.)  

The Ice Breaker Ultralight jersey is one of my favorites to wear on a bike ride early in the morning and after 6:00 p.m. It wears very well and breathes nicely. It is too hot to wear in the peak hours of the day. Another nice feature on the jersey is the long front zipper on the chest and the handy dandy pocket on the right side of the shirt! It holds treats very well for a fast shot of energy! I also love the long length of the jersey! 

Carve Designs put their Southern California touch in the design of the clothes. Their line is perfect for your summer sojourn at the lake or seaside: sun-kissed, soft to the touch clothes, which are well made and will stand up to hard play. Carve Designs’ dresses softly drape and can be dressed up for dinner at the restaurant on the pier, yet are comfortable enough to be worn for a sunset stroll. At Cycle & Style, we think the clothes pair nicely with a fun beach cruiser  for summer fun where ever your bike takes you!  

Taylor wears the Paris Dress (in aqua) from Carve Designs. (Bike: Nirve Rio)

Where to Get Them:  

Whether you like to surf or water-ski, play an intense game of beach volley-ball or take a relaxing ride on your beach cruiser to get an nice cold shaved ice treat, you can comfortably do it with the clothes from Carve Designs. They are available at REI and many other locations and have a great online store (which is having a summer sale now).  

Go to these links for more information on each of the clothes shown here, including the Turtle Bay Reversible Short and Peasant Roller Tee, and  Paris Dress worn by Taylor; the Avalon T worn by Jillian, and the Paddler short worn by both Jillian (in Sage Dots) and Lauren (in Zig-Zag). Lauren also wears the Sunblocker Rash Guard.  Susy wore the Hawaii Dress while Ashley wore the Peasant Roller Tee with the Oakalani skirt; Natalie wears the Irago Dress. 

Cycle & Style’s fashion show in May featured Carve Designs. Check out scenes from the show and a video as well.

Jillian rides Trek’s Zara 13 LL . She is wearing Carve Designs' Paddler Shorts (sage dots) & Avalon T.

 Photo by Elizabeth V. Macias 

Tara’s Review: I bought several pieces of the spring/summer 2010 line and took them all for my vacation 2 weeks ago. They packed well and wore well for a lake-side vacation. A Carve Designs skirt was the perfect thing to wear for a ride in a boat that ended with an evening dinner at a floating restaurant (considered by my youngest daughter to be her ‘first fancy restaurant.’) I have always thought that Carve Designs does spring/summer clothing very well, but last year they debuted a fall/winter line. I had a sneak-peak at their upcoming fall/winter line and can hardly wait to get a few pieces from that line! You’ll want to check it out!  

Bike Details: We really love Nirve’s beach cruisers–a perfect summer-weather bike. From the sassy, leopard print design of the Nirve Minx to the pink-and-white tropical look of the the Nirve Island Flower to the classic design of the coffee-colored Nirve Rio, we love how Nirve has put so many fun touches into each of the designs for their cruisers. 

Trek’s Wasabi is another fun summer beach cruiser and the girls loved its paint design. The Trek Zara 13 LL is a special bike–it is perfect for young teen girls who have outgrown the bikes they had as little girls but who have not yet grown tall enough to fit on an adult woman’s bike. There aren’t many bikes out there made for young teen girls so I am glad to see Trek jumping in to feel that need. 

 Photo by Elizabeth V. Macias 

Natalie enjoys a sunset ride wearing Carve Designs' Irago Dress. (Bike: Nirve Minx)

The Heat is On!

The summer is full of so many possibilities for where your bike can take you! Those closed-for-winter roads are now open and calling your name and the sun is shining high in the blue, blue sky. It can be the perfect weather for a ride. On the other hand, all that sunshine can make it very warm. It’s time to find the best cycling gear for the warm-weather rides. We tested out a few of Pearl Izumi’s collection: the Women’s Pro Leader Tank, (W’s) Symphony Cut Short and the Elite Tank.

The Symphony-Cut Short and P.R.O. Leader Tank that I wore were both made with a sun-protection fabric which has a UPF rating of 50+–truly perfect for the summer weather. But even better is that Pearl Izumi has also given its P.R.O. Leader Tank its ColdBlack technology which gives the cooling and reflective benefits that white fabrics have to all colors—in this case my jersey is red with black side panels, although it would be the same if it were all black in color. With this technology, you can feel as “cool” as if you were wearing white fabric and there are plenty of strategically placed panels for extra venting . The tank has some reflective touches in the back to help the cyclist be seen and has a nice slimming fit. I liked how the tank stayed nicely put, as it didn’t ride up in the back. The back pockets have a third hidden zipped center pocket behind the two back pockets, allowing plenty of room to stow a cell phone, banana and an energy bar on your back.

Pearl Izumi's PRO Leader Tank and Symphony Cut Shorts offer sun-protection and optimal cooling.

The Symphony Cut Shorts are  a little shorter than the average bike shorts, (the medium has a 6-inch inseam, while the small size has a 4-inch inseam)which is no problem in this weather. They also have vented panels on the lower part of the short for extra cooling. The chamois is Pearl Izumi’s Elite 3D version—perfect for long-distance rides! The little touches are there as well: a small rear pocket on the right-hand side and no elastic on the front panel for extra-comfort.  I loved the way Pearl Izumi’s PRO Leader Tank and the Symphony-Cut shorts fit and loved the way it looked. But the real test came when hours later, I felt so comfortable I didn’t have to think about it; there was no chaffing, no tugging to adjust the dreaded jersey creep in the back and no wishing that I had worn something else!

Paula’s Review: Riding in the heat? Here is a tank that can take you where you need to go! The Pearl Izumi women’s Elite Tank is the perfect top for those days in the eighties and nineties. The fabric is exceptionally soft and the moisture transfer and ventilation keeps you cool while riding. It features one small back pocket, an inside support liner with adjustable straps and reflective elements for low-light visibility. Another great feature with this top is that is long enough to stay down while riding. It is very form fitting yet so soft and comfortable. It is also made with sun-protection fabric with a UPF of 50+. A great addition to any bike wardrobe! 

The Pearl Izumi Elite Tank lets you bare your shoulders and gives cool, dry comfort for summer riding!

Front view of Pearl Izumi's Elite Tank

It’s the World’s Greatest Bike Race

If you are an avid fan who follows the Tour de France with devotion, you will love this book! It’s a pop-up book aimed at adults and older children–beautiful enough to display on your coffee table, but so intriguing, you and your family will find yourselves constantly picking it up to read and re-read! The Pop-Up Tour De France has been created with the endorsement of the Tour de France official organization and covers the Tour’s history, explains the various stages, has a glossary of all the French terms used during the Tour and much more! 

The book has a fun way of going over the history of the bicycle as well!

FOR OUR JULY CONTEST, you can win one of these fabulous Tour de France prizes. The contest winners will be chosen by July 21st and if they respond immediately to their e-mail notification, they will have their prize before the final day of the Tour!

It’s very simple–just make a comment on one of our articles during the month of July and you are entered! As they say in France, “Bonne Chance” (good luck)!

First Prize: The Pop-Up Tour de France book. Our First Prize Winner is Christina Baribault of Sammamish, Washington–congratulations, Christina!

Second Prize: Tour de France Headsweats Cycling Cap appropriate for the “Queen of the Mountain”! (Yes, it’s officially endorsed by the Tour de France!) Our Second Prize winner is Nancy Porter of Halifax, Nova Scotia—congratulations, Nancy!

This lightweight cycling cap is perfect for wearing in the heat of summer. It's Headsweats Tour de France Cap with its polka-dot design for the "Queen of the Mountain!"

Ane is wearing Castelli's Ideale Jersey as she rides by Lake Lugano

By Ane Evjenth

It is 18.45 pm (6:45 pm), and I am heavily sweating, struggling my way up the 16 km of Monte Bisbino. Monte Bisbino is located at Lake Como. (See Ane’s previous article about cycling in the Lake Como area of Italy.) The last few days we have been blessed with sun and a temperature of 28*C (82 F). I have chosen this particular afternoon to try out the Vizio Due Short, Essenza Jersey, and Leggera W Jacket, all from Castelli. When it comes to cycling clothes I already have an opinion based on my experience from six years of cycling. It is therefore no coincidence that I have chosen Castelli to represent Italian cycling clothes. Castelli has a good fit and it looks great, and I find their collection for women to be as rich and varied as the one for men.  I always prefer biking jerseys with three rear pockets; I never go without my cell phone, identity card, some coins and key (and often also with an energy bar and a wind jacket, so yes, three pockets are strongly needed). The second thing I look for when it comes to jerseys are the length. They have to be long enough in order not to slide up above the cycling shorts and make an open space where the wind can enter. Castelli has all this.

The Castelli Leggara W Jacket

The Essenza Jersey is the right choice for a hot summer day. It is really thin with light weight and reflective elements. I got the Essenza Jersey in white and pink, a feminine combination which just looks great on a sun-tanned skin. In other words, a summer favorite. On top of Monte Bisbino, (1200 Ft. elevation), I stop for a moment to put on the Leggera W Jacket, as I enjoy the great view and the fantastic light from the early evening sunset.

The convenient Leggara W Jacket Pocket

I had no problems fitting the Leggera W Jacket into one of my Essenza Jersey’s rear pockets. The jacket which is wind proof and water resistant, has a stand up collar lined with soft mesh, a good length and long arms with elastic cuffs which keeps them at the wrist even when you stretch out your arms to brake. The jacket has hidden breathable mesh-insert in upper back and small reflective elements. It includes a small transport bag which can be hooked on to a little loop on the inside of the jacket. The jacket is a must for going downhill and makes the trip a great cycling experience and pleasure to the very end.

Ane enjoys the view from Monte Bisbino. She is wearing Castelli's Essenza Jersey and Vizio Due Shorts.

When it comes to cycling shorts I prefer the ones with straps (bibs). This is because shorts without straps have a tendency to sag a little. So when I got the Vizio Due Short from Castelli without straps, I was in doubt. After cycling up (and down) Monte Bisbino the shorts did not sag, or even move, except when they followed the movement of the body. The other great thing is that the legs of the shorts are without the usual silicone leg grippers, and they still sit perfectly around the thigh. I am very happy with these shorts and can highly recommend them.

Castelli's Tenacia W Gloves

Castelli's Luna Socks

ChicoBag™ makes great little compact bags made of recycled materials that can be transformed into a commuter’s best tool when needed: a backpack or messenger bag for carrying items when needed. Picture this scenario: you are out on your bike and pass by the farmer’s market, a garage sale, or a friend’s house and then find yourself in need of carrying home some irrestible item that you simply must have right then. If you have only a plastic grocery sack with which to carry your item, it can be quite awkward. But these great little bags from ChicoBag™ can go from purse-sized bag to backpack or messenger bag and save the day. How well do they perform? We gave bags to two college students and they thoroughly used them for a month and give us their complete reviews which are below.

Stephanie tested the Messenger-Style ChicoBag

Stephanie’s Review

I have had the opportunity to use the bag five or six times and there are things that I like and things that could be changed. First, I really love how compact it is and I think this concept is hugely important to the commuter cyclist. I have just stuffed it into my saddle bag, or clipped it to my water bottle holder and its size is just great, and easy to take out and stuff back down. I also like the magnetic clips because it is not bulky like a zipper but I still feel like my stuff is secure and safe. I also like the material because it is durable and reliable; I don’t feel like I need to take special care of it. In fact it has actually taken a bit of a beating and it is holding up very well!
A few cons:  even at the strap’s smallest setting the bag rides very low and I have found myself moving it around on my back a lot in order to prevent it from hitting the tire, the strap needs to be able to get very tight seeing as it is intended to sit high up on a cyclist’s back. The other issue is that the bag continually slips forward from my back to my side while I am riding. This could be due to either the slippery material that it is made out of, or maybe the shape of the strap and/or bag itself. Either way I have found myself worrying about whether or not it is going to slip forward on me while I am riding along.
Those are my two suggestions, but I really do think that it is a great bag and the concept of having it compactable is absolutely fantastic, and much needed in the women’s cycling community.

The ChicoBag is stuffed into its' own pocket to form a compact little bag.

Johanna’s Review:

This bag starts out as a roughly fist sized pouch that can be strapped to anything. This bag then turns into what appears to be a backpack. Without anything in it the bag is not noticeably heavy. The fact that is made from nearly 100% recycled everything helps relieve my guilty conscience for existing and buying things and using resources. Given this start, I had very high expectations for the bag and wanted it to function as well as a regular backpack. I stuffed it full of books, pencils, pens and a calculator and my lunch during my last few weeks of school. The bag was not as comfortable with a heavy load. The straps had a tendency to fall off my shoulders until I McGyvered a chest strap together. The bag never gave way under the load, but it always felt like it could bust a seam at any second.

 But then something wonderful happened, I graduated from college and stopped needing to haul heavy things around. I started using the bag as it should be used; as an object of convenience. When I did not need to haul an entire days worth of things in it the bag was wonderful. I could bring a library book back to the library and then smoosh the bag back into its pouch and strap it to my bike. One day I was biking past a bakery and the smell was too tempting. I stopped, bought a loaf of deliciousness and was able to carry it home because the ChicoBag™ was conveniently attached to my bike. I forgot the bag was there until I needed it and then it really came through and performed.

Jo was able to easily clip the bag under her saddle so it was there when needed.

Kids and their bicycles should go together like peanut butter and jelly, like popsicles and summer afternoons.  Do you remember your childhood bicycle and the places it took you? It may not be that simple for our children as it was for us. Too many of them are more attracted to playing computer games than to being active outdoors, even on a summer day. It takes more effort on a parent’s part to help our children enjoy an active lifestyle and find the joys of cycling. A set of books to read to your young children that gets them excited about bicycling can get them off to a great start.

Michael Ward, who has been a Grammy-award winning guitarist and songwriter (and former member of the Wallflowers) became an avid cyclist, and was inspired to write the children’s book, Mike and the Bike, which was followed by its companion book, Lucille and the Wheel.  The books are poetic and fun, perfectly aimed at the 3-5 year old age group. “The whole idea of the Mike & Lucille books,” says George Starks, publisher of the books, “was to make something fun for preschool and kindergarten kids and introduce the concept of bicycling as something fun to do.”

A Mike and the Bike book signing at Mellow Johnny's in Austin, TX.

Although the books have a great introduction by Lance Armstrong and are narrated by “Voice of Cycling,” Phil Liggett, their focus was not necessarily on elementary age children who might be old enough to enjoy watching the Tour de France and are old enough to spend more time on their bicycles. It is for that age of children that a new active lifestyle program has been set up on Mike & the Bike’s website: The Mike & the Bike website will not only offer a fun kid-aimed way to follow the Tour de France, but will have a downloadable fitness program meant to inspire children to get outside and have fun bicycling or even walking around their neighborhood. The website also wants to promote a summer reading program and good nutritional habits. A little extra motivation is offered in the form of a downloadable literacy & fitness log for children and their parents to fill in and then enter a special sweepstakes. The prize? A fun day on your bicycle in the park with professional cyclists!

(You can check out the Mike and the Bike website here. The website’s new program promises to be up and online soon!)

Mike offers such safety tips as proper helmet fit!

_________________________________________________________________

Jessie and her children’s Book Review of Mike and the Bike & Lucille and the Wheel

Michael Ward is a musician turned avid cyclist. He has made a huge effort to help engage young children in biking. He wrote Mike and the Bike and Lucille and the Wheel to further the cause. He has worked closely with Lance Armstrong Foundation to help those living with cancer. Lance Armstrong provides the forward for both books.

These two books are fun and my kids really enjoy them. Both books include a CD that has several funky techno songs that kids can song along with. The Mike and the Bike website offers games, activities, information and more for free!

Phil Liggett, “The Voice of Cycling”, narrates both stories. He has commentated 32 Tours de France among countless other cycling events. I loved hearing Phil read the story to me and my kids – he has a voice like no other!

The first book, Mike and the Bike, introduces us to Mike and his beloved bicycle. We follow him as he rides through his town and dreams of all the places his bike can take him. He even goes to bed with his helmet on one night.

Mike and the Bike meet Lucille and the Wheel is the second book and my favorite of the two, by far. Lucille is a longer story and has more substance. In this book Mike meets his new neighbor, Lucille, who also loves to ride. Lucille is very handy when it comes to fixing bikes and she even teaches readers how to change a tire. The book  follows the two as they go for a long ride and become fast friends

Overall, I really liked these books and so did my 3 and 8 year old children. It was a bit remedial for my 10 year old but he still enjoyed reading them to his little sister. These books and the activities on the website are geared toward kids Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

If there weren’t enough reasons to love these books on their own, beginning this summer, the Mike and the Bike team is launching a summer program to encourage exercise and learning! There is more information about these programs and how you can earn money for your kids schools on the Mike and the Bike website

Light & Fast

I had a chance to demo Specialized’s S-Works Era, a cross-country bike which is light and fast and gives confidence to riders whether going up or down the hills.  It’s a fantastic bike for the woman who wants to get out on her favorite trails and yet it would be the bike of choice for those who race. To start with, the carbon frame is lighter than their men’s bike frame of a similar size. Simply put, the tubing is a bit thinner and the carbon lay-up is more compliant for lighter riders on the Era than the Epic. Even if men may be the same height as a woman, he is on average heavier. It stands to reason that a lighter, less muscled woman would be at a disadvantage with a bike of the same weight. I took the Era through the paces: racing it down a fairly straight bike path, I found it to be racy and quick. I like “fast” and it did not disappoint. Then I took it up the switchback trails on a steep hill. Its lightness was really an advantage here as I found myself easily climbing. Because I am not an expert mountain biker, there are times a hill has conquered me rather than vice-versa.  I have loved my Trek mountain bike, but the Era felt nearly 10 lbs. lighter. I think I would have done better if I had ridden the Era last summer up the aptly named “Puke Hill.”

The Fit

A bike with good frame geometry that is made to fit means good bye to back and neck pain. As you roll over rocks, roots, and up and over bumps in the trail, you want a bike that stays comfortable.  The Era offers not only a good geometric fit, for the average proportioned woman like me, but also a suspension that can be dialed in to adjust for my specific weight. The Era has a “performance” geometry which helps the rider to get into an aggressive position for climbing–which you will feel when you ride straight up a slope.

The Epic and Era have different tuned suspensions; with the Era being well tuned for lighter-weight riders.  The Era’s front fork has an adjustable negative spring that you can tune for your appropriate rider weight and the shock has a lighter platform and the full-firm (hard-tail) setting would be different for a lighter-weight rider. The shock can also be adjusted to a “Trail Tune” setting, allowing it to self-adjust to differing terrain.

Have you ever hit a large bump or other obstacle had had your chain slap the frame below it? That’s called “chain slap” and most riders justifiably hate that because it nicks your frame. The Era features SRAM’s rear derailleur that holds the chain tight and still as you hit those obstacles. There are more thoughtful details that Specialized has put into the engineering and design of the Era. If you wish for more technical details about the Era, and/or learn about  its FlowControl Mini Brain shock, visit the website here. I am won’t pretend to be technically savvy, when I’m not. But I can tell you about the ride, how the Era inspires confidence on the trail, how it is an absolute joy to ride and will have you wanting to ride longer and more often.

The Columbia Sportswear Company has put some of their newest technology into cute, comfortable clothing suitable for a cyclist who will be hitting the road, trail, or making a commute to work. Columbia has decided to focus on women this year and their clothing is made for women who love the outdoors and have a sense of adventure.

Emeliee can ride comfortably in this hoodie. (Columbia Sweet Peak Hoodie -$65)

The Wicked Summit jacket, Sweet Peak hoodie and Curb Check half-zip top all offer their Omni-Shade sun protection (with UPF of 50). All three are very soft and comfortable, but vary in thickness from the ultra-thin Sweet Peak hoodie to the only slightly thicker Wicked Summit jacket with its stretched fleece. All three will keep you dry and comfortable and wick away moisture with technology that Columbia calls Omni-Dry.  The clothing all runs true to size.

Gloria is ready for the trail. She wears Columbia's Wicked Summit Jacket ($65)

The Sweet Peak hoodie has a nice sleek look that is very girly. It is very lightweight and would be fantastic to wear on a breezy yet sunny day–the kind of days you get on the Oregon coast in June. It’s long sleeves stretch just over the top of the hand and has thumbholes, which is a nice perk.  The Wicked Summit jacket has stretchable comfort and a soft fleecy interior feel. It has two front pockets and one on the left arm (the arm pocket could have an I-pod, but there is no interior slit for a headphone wire.) The Summit jacket would also work well as a mid-layer, with a waterproof jacket over it in wet, snowy weather. The Curb Check Half Zip Top is stretchable and very soft. It features a piping of reflectivity along the back shoulder and a vertical venting strip down the back. It is collared and features two front pockets

Detail of Columbia Sweet Peak Hoodie

The Columbia Women’s Titanium Pave the Way jacket is a great jacket for the commuter or cyclist who goes out in wet and windy weather. It will keep you dry from the inside out, wicking away moisture from the inside and keeping the wet and cold from coming in. Columbia calls that waterproof-breathable feature “Omni-Tech.” The jacket is stretchy which translates into comfortable. The stretchiness also means that you can move with ease on the bicycle or in other athletic activites. The hem and neckline have a drawcord for use in really nasty weather. The jacket has some reflective touches and a back jersey pocket and the back is slightly longer than the front for better rear coverage.

Kathleen wears the Columbia Curb Check Half-Zip Top in Lemongrass ($50) while Emeliee rides comfortably with the Titanium Pave the Way Jacket in "Tin" color ($140)

I have been a huge fan of sunglasses with interchangeable lenses because I wear glasses for 2 reasons. First, is to protect my eyes for the bright sun shine which the tinted lenses work great for. The second and most important reason is to protect my eyes from flying bugs or debris. For years I have been riding with a pair of AXIS Smith glasses with interchangeable lenses and I have loved them. I have 3 different lenses: a clear for riding at night, rose for overcast and brown for sunny days. The lens colors do not distort the natural colors; they just moderate the light with their tint. The lenses are fairly easy to change out and have never fallen out on a ride.  I really like the light weight of the frames and lenses and the comfortable way they grip my head. Once I put them on they never have to be adjusted during a ride.

I recently tried a new pair of Smith glasses; the PIVLOCK V90’s and I love them. There are a number of things that I like about them. First and foremost is that there are no blind spots. I didn’t realize this until I started riding with them. My AXIS glasses have got a thin frame across the top of the glasses to hold the lenses but I noticed that when I am down in the drop position on my handle bars I have a blind spot where the frame is and I do not have a full field of view. When I put on the PIVLOCK glasses all blind spots are gone. The new PIVLOCK glasses fit higher and protected my eyes more from the top with no blind spots. Alternatively, my AXIS glasses nearly touch my cheek and stop light from reflecting up from the ground. I love both of these glasses but these subtle differences made a big difference when I am on my bike and I prefer the PIVLOCK glasses.

The nosepiece and ear/temple piece snap on and off to change the lenses.

The PIVLOCK glasses offer a unique lens changing system as the lens is an integral part of the frame. The Temple and ear portion of the lens simply rotates up to capture or release the lens when changing the lens. The nose piece is simple as well. I had a little trouble removing it the first time as I was not sure if it should just pinch or pinch and rotate the noise piece. I found both methods work just fine. Replacing the noise piece is simple as it just snaps in. I would have to say that it is easier to change these lenses out than my AXIS lenses. They just snap neatly into place.

Both of these glasses are very light weight, but the PIVLOCK are lighter and more comfortable. They are definitely an upgrade for me and for the type of riding I do. They are very comfortable and stylish and extremely functional and best of all: they come in an awesome case.

Another Recommendation: I just met endurance mountain biking champion, Rebecca Rusch last night. She wears these particular glasses for training and racing and she loves them!

To see Smith Optics website–go here.