Kit Reviews with Larisa Chinces

LARISA
CHINCES
Kit ReviewsCamelbak

Performance & Style with Larisa

Having been involved in competitive sports since childhood, and at a high level, Larisa knows what good kit should be and how it should perform. She’s been testing it to for Pedalnorth for over 6 years now, and this Masters graduate in Sports Education spends so much time in the mountains, that she knows when kit performs well. Why not let Larisa make some kit recommendations  for you.


This page is filled with useful kit reviews, articles, blogs and tips to help you in your own cycling lifestyle. Simply read, inwardly digest and allow Larisa to guide you towards the best cycling kit and equipment.

Larisa left the writing team at Pedalnorth in late 2023; and so, her kit reviews may now be somewhat out of date. However, they are still relevant, in helping to direct you towards some of our favourite brands and the quality and style of their kit.

Cycling kit can be a minefield these days, and it’s even more difficult for women, trying to find kit that is both high performance and extremely stylish. As a performance athlete and someone who likes my kit to be stylish too, I work closely with leading global brands, testing out the very best products – it’s a great role to have, and I feel privileged 🙂

Here at Pedalnorth, where all of our reviews are independent and unbiased. It’s simply  the kit that we use and love ourselves. Let me take you on your own cycling kit choice journey then. Take a look at the reviews and blogs below, and if you’ve got any questions, then simply email the team at Pedalnorth 😉

Larisa

Alé Cycling PRE Play Jersey and Magic Colour Bib Shorts

Ale Cycling has always been one of my favourites brands since I started cycling. I remember seeing a professional cycling team wearing Ale kit and sponsored by them; and since then, I’ve really liked their kit – so very much.

Let's take a look at their latest kit forus stylish ladies then 😉
September 14, 2023/by Pedalnorth Website

The Benefits of a Custom Built Bike

Approximately one year ago, I got the RedChilli WR1 Bike! What a delightful memory! I have to say that I am very content and extremely grateful for the bike. What I noticed in this period of using the RedChilli, is the importance of the correct bike fitting in long term period which assures comfort and safety.
April 23, 2023/by Pedalnorth Website

Camelbak Podium Water Bottle Range

It's hotting up outside and it's definitely time to start looking at water bottles. Larisa and Robert take a look at the latest bottles from world leaders in hydration, Camelbak 🙂
April 1, 2023/by Pedalnorth Website

Lake CX 177 Road Cycling Shoes and Larisa Chinces

Living in the mountainous region of Transylvania, in Romania, Larisa has easy access to steep and challenging roads. Let’s find out what Larisa thinks of the new Lake Cycling CX 177 road cycling shoes in this tough terrain
March 31, 2023/by Pedalnorth Website

Ladies Cold Weather Cycle Clothing by Alé

When Alé Cycling launched their Fall-Winter collection, it was designed just for those really cold days, where style is also important, but performance is key. Cycling where I live is tough and uncompromising, which is why I’m wearing it in Transylvania.
March 23, 2023/by Pedalnorth Website

ALE Ladies Cold Weather Accessories 2023

Once the sun is under the clouds, it’s much colder, and so, we have to dress smart. The base layer and accesories like gloves, necktube, shoe cover, socks are equally important as the main kit when choosing how to dress-up for the ride.
March 21, 2023/by Pedalnorth Website

Bike Box Alan EasyFit on Team Training Camp

It can be difficult to transport the bike abroad. It’s precious and important, our bike, and we don’t want it damaged . It’s often very difficult and inconvenient to disassemble the entire bike into pieces, and then to put it in a cardboard bike box. It’s not very well protected, and complicated to transport and takes up a lot of unnecessary space. - welcome to the Easy Fit, from Bike Box Alan
February 23, 2023/by Pedalnorth Website

Red Chilli Interactive

Christmas holidays have passed, and me and my family had a wonderful time. We all gorged ourselves with delicious food and drinks, pretty much of the time, spending time at the table with relatives and friends. New Year came with a fresh start (and 1-2kgs extra) and new resolutions plans for most of us.
January 24, 2023/by Pedalnorth Website

My Elite Red Chilli Bike

The greens of summer turn to reds and browns and a million shades, that literally light up the autumn countryside, as everything gets ready for winter and long periods of darkness.

My Red Chilli WR1 is also a object of transition and fits perfectly with the context of autumnal change, with its chameleon colours.
October 19, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

Red Chilli and Hot Pirelli Tyres

It’s autumn and soon it will be winter. We have some sunny days, during which we can still enjoy riding in shorts, but soon it will get really cold - chilli  😉

When the temperatures do drop lower and the wet and rainy weather will be most likely, it won’t be possible to cycle outside for a while. The snow will come and for safety and for the cold, we’ll have time retreat and to cycle indoors or ski 🙂 - not so bad I guess 😉 .
September 28, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

Camelbak Lobo Pack

I’ve always loved mtb rides in the mountains of Transylvania, but I also like to explore other parts of my country too. For example, Baiu Mountains with altitudes of 1700-1900 m, located in Prahova county. Transbai is an off-road trail and it is 38 kilometers long and will connect the cities of Azuga and Busteni to Valea Doftanei. In these kind of adventures, it is important to have an adequate physical condition and proper nutrition.
September 21, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

Red Chilli WR1 – Sitting Comfortably

Ok, now that I got your attention, we can continue with some technical aspects about my bike:

There are two really important parts to my RedChilli WR1 bike; firstly, the carbon pedals by Shimano, as they fasten to my feet and prove superb power transfer and stability when riding. Then, it’s obviously my saddle...
July 21, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

Camelbak Hawg Pro Backpack & Womens Luxe

There are so many options for biking backpacks these days. However, Camelbak have revisited the classic Mule pack, and they've created something rather special. We took a close look at the new Camelbak Hawg Pro and Ladies Luxe pack over spring and early summer.
July 20, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

SIGR Ladies Summer Cycling Kit 2022

SIGR are a relatively unknown brand outside of the Scandinavian countries. However, we first tested them last year and were extremely impressed, with both the design and the performance. When Sigr told us that they had some new designs for 2022, it was time for Larisa to take a look.
June 24, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

Rosti Alpina Ladies Jersey and Pro 1 Shorts

The latest ladies summer kit from Rosti is super stylish and unique. Larisa has been testing it out in Transylvania and yes, she really likes it 🙂
June 21, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

Rosti Superblack Woman summer knickers

This is my first ever pair of three quarter length cycling knickers and I really like them; they are perfect for spring and autumn and colder days in summer.
June 6, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

Rosti Spring ladies long sleeved jersey

I really like the turquoise color of this jersey; it's a fav in either dark or light shade. This Rosti Spring jacket comes in turquoise color on the torso area, the sleeves are grey with reflective particles, and the back of the forearm is matte black with gradient sized dots. Multiple pieces of fabric are beautifully sewn to get a better fit - viola!
June 5, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

Bike Box Alan Easy Fit

Modern bikes are expensive and difficult to protect when travelling. Thankfully, Bike Box Alan have developed their Easy Fit, which caters and looks after all manner of bikes with integrated handlebars and seat posts etc. Larisa likes it so much that she became an ambassador 😉
April 12, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

Yakima Front Loader Bike Carrier

Yakima make carriers all kinds of bikes, and their Front Loader is probably one of the most secure and well fitting bike carrier on the market. We tested it both in Romania and in the U.K.
April 10, 2022/by Pedalnorth Website

ALÉ PRR Versilia Ladies LS Jersey and Bibs

We all know that some winter days can be mild, and that autumn simply isn’t as cold as winter. Add to this, the colder early spring days and you’ve got the reason why ALÉ developed the Versilia jersey and bib shorts. It’s the transition kit that you need between the seasons. Best off all, it’s super stylish. It’s feminine and modern and fits superbly too, which is very important 😉
November 21, 2021/by Pedalnorth Website

ALÉ PRR Green Race Ladies Bib Tights

Winter is a time when we want to be warm and comfortable, but we also want to look good. These eco-friendly bib tights from ALÉ allow me to ride well and show my style and athleticism too - after all, I'm a woman 🙂
November 18, 2021/by Pedalnorth Website

ALÉ Graphics PRR Green Road Winter Womens Long Sleeve Jersey

If you’re looking for feminine style and cold weather performance, together with excellent adherence to eco-friendly recycling fabrics, then ALÉ have the answer in this super stylish jersey. Read what Larisa makes of it here…
November 16, 2021/by Pedalnorth Website

Alé Ladies Colour block winter jersey

Alé from the Italian city of Verona understand simplicity; it’s in their dna and their new winter Colour Block thermal jersey is testament to their style
October 29, 2021/by Pedalnorth Website

ELITE Direto XR Trainer – Getting ready for indoor riding

It’s now October and the weather has turned cold. The rain is here more often, and soon it will snow. There is already snow in the mountains, and so I am starting to sweat more indoors from now on. Training outdoors is no longer a nice experience. Thankfully I have my Elite trainers to look after my cycling training.
October 27, 2021/by Pedalnorth Website

Elite Bio Green Bottles

It gives me great pleasure to ride a bike in the forest, to hear the birds chirping, to enjoy the landscapes and to see other creatures which live in the wilderness.
Thankfully, we have lots of wild and remote and very beautiful paces here in Transylvania and Romania. It’s very important to treat nature as if it were our home; to keep it clean, to take care of it and not to exploit it.
June 28, 2021/by Pedalnorth Website

ALÉ Bullet WR Bib Tights

These bib tights are designed to go well with the Ale´ winter and cold weather jersey range. Thankfully, they also go well with many other jerseys and jackets from across their ranges. They’re form fitting, which means that you look great in them, and they also have good compression where needed, showing off your body and your style and allowing you to perform to your best.
March 24, 2021/by Pedalnorth Website

Alé Ladies Switch DWR Combi Jacket

New Year, new style and more fun!

The Ale´ Women’s winter jacket Switch DWR Combi looks lovely, like most of Ale’s wonderful collections, always full of bright and vivid colors, with unique designs. The one I have on test is a shade of light blue or celeste color, one of my favorites of course!
March 3, 2021/by Pedalnorth Website

Selle Italia SLR Boost Lady Superflow

Saddles are important, especially to me. I don’t like it when I have to use a strange bike and the saddle is uncomfortable. I want to be comfortable on my bike, so that I can give my best performance. That means not worrying about being on a bad saddle.
February 22, 2021/by Pedalnorth Website

Elite Nero Rollers Introduction

Larisa is currently testing the Elite Nero interactive rollers and by all accounts they're awesome. Read her first thoughts on riding these high end technology packed rollers from this leading Italian brand.
January 24, 2021/by Pedalnorth Website

Ale Winter Cycling Gloves

Here’s the deal people: “It’s not over until it’s over!” Yes, the cold winds of winter will stay for a while yet, especially in the high passes and hill areas. Thankfully Alé make great cold weather gloves
March 12, 2020/by Pedalnorth Website

Ale Klimatik Winter Overshoes

Cycle overshoes are simple really: they need to be waterproof, strong and stretchy, with excellent fastenings that don’t come apart
March 12, 2020/by Pedalnorth Website

Alé Klimatik Winter Bib tights

Good quality cycling gear is important to me, both for performance and for style. Transylvania requires hard cycling, especially in winter and I like to challenge myself. I also like my bib tights to fit well and yes, to show off my athleticism
March 12, 2020/by Pedalnorth Website

ALÉ Ladies Thermo Cycling Vest

This ALÉ ladies cycling vest or gilet sits alongside other jerseys from their range, but is just at home on a warmer day in early spring, with the long sleeved seamless baselayer as its partner.
March 12, 2020/by Pedalnorth Website

Alé Future Nordik Ladies Jacket

The Alé Future Nordik Lady jacket is a superb winter garment, and extremely useful for other cold days in the hills.
March 12, 2020/by Pedalnorth Website

ALÉ Ladies Seamless Wool Baselayer

Base layers have become more popular. It’s not simply about keeping you warm, as the latest garments also manage moisture and have lots of other technical features.
February 9, 2020/by Pedalnorth Website
Pirelli

Pirelli Scorpion mtb Tyre

Living in the mountains, I need good tyres. Testing the latest ones from Pirelli was intersting, as they were new to me. The Pirelli MTB range is born from Pirelli's experience and know how in the world of off-road competitions. Let's see how they do...
December 3, 2019/by Pedalnorth Website

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