NE Rando and Hagan Ski Mountaineering are teaming up with Crazy Idea (the clothing company that is, tho' we've always had the crazy idea to race skimo) for a custom lycra two-piece race outfit!
Price is $250, ordered directly from Hagan HERE.
Two-piece outfits provide all the benefits for racing & training of more traditional one-piece race suits, with so much pocket stowage that a pack is necessary only for the bootpack segments. But two-piece outfits offer enhanced versatility, so you can wear just the tights for real backcountry touring with more substantial upper layers, change out of all your damp top layers after a race, etc. The jacket & tights have snaps to join them together securely, but these snaps are entirely unobtrusive when worn separately.
Tights = Crazy Idea Hugo model, as shown at Skimo Co (yes, exactly the same as the variation with the fake jeans print, although our graphics will be somewhat more subdued). Rare for a race tight, the back features a mesh pocket with elastic closure. Perfect for stashing energy gels while racing or training, or even a phone (if you don't plan on crashing). The integrated gaiter and stirrup provide a very tight fit (with a pre-made slit for a vertical walk-ski lever, and a reinforced area for cutting out a custom hole for older side-throw levers from Dynafit and La Sportiva), especially valuable for race boots with bikini-style liners. (If you have "near-race" boots then you probably won't be able to fit the gaiter & stirrup all the way over your boot cuff, but then again you won't need that extra sealing up against the elements with such boots -- plus you should upgrade your boots anyway.)
Jacket = Crazy Idea Hugo model, as shown at Skimo Co. The pocket layout varies with the graphics, but ours will include: inner zippered pocket, intended for avalanche beacon, not required for our races, so perfect for a key fob; two inner kangaroo pockets, good for skins and/or soft flask for water; outer zipper pocket, good for phone; outer elastic-closure pocket, good for food and/or soft flask for water.
Sizing = unisex Euro. Some competing brands provide dual sizing labels, e.g., a garment is labeled both Euro Medium and U.S. Small. So your size might be one up from your typical U.S. size. The charts from both Skimo Co and Crazy Idea are fairly accurate. And here are some real-world results from our racers:
- XS = [couldn't find any feedback on this among Eastern racers]
- S = 5'6" 150lb, 5'7" 135lb (generally preferred to his size Medium, especially for our relatively shorter races that don't require as much stowage)
- M = 5'7" 135lb ("top feels a little baggy and long in the arms," but easier to stuff w/ gear for longer Western races), 5'8" 145lb, 5'11" 172lb
- L = 6' 155lb, 6' 170lb
- XL = [couldn't find any feedback on this among Eastern racers]
Layout is as shown below, with sponsor logos from Hammer Nutrition, Nikwax, Pacific Cycling & Triathlon, and Skimo Co (whose logo is included on the suit despite its omission from the top left of the picture). Note that the plain text of "NE Rando" on the right upper arm is due to the lack of any NE Rando logo -- the graphic above the NE Rando text on the right calf is the Crazy Idea logo.
Valid reasons for purchasing, race outfits in general: advice from our sponsor Skimo Co.
Invalid reasons for not purchasing, specific to this outfit:
"I already have a lycra skimo race outfit." Do you have only a single ... bike jersey? ... pair of bike shorts? ... pair of running shorts?
"I don't have any gear from any of the sponsors." Has this ever stopped you from wearing bike jerseys promoting sponsors whose very existence is entirely unknown to you?
"I can't think of how to pay for this." What better use for your federal stimulus checks than supporting the Italian garment industry!
"I don't want to look even more intimidating to the Shift-burdened masses while trying to set my new PR during Wachusett dawn patrol." Yeah you do.
"As a proud skimo race veteran, I don't want to give up my current Hagan outfit for something that will be indistinguishable from all the newbies." For a unique (or nearly so) look, you can combine the jacket or tights from your old outfit with the tights or jacket from the new outfit!
"I absolutely must wear my fake jeans tights at the races!" Just snap those fo' denim Crazy Idea tights into the new custom Crazy Idea jacket for max craziness!
"I have all the skimo race gear yet I don't ever actually race." Then what better way to complete your skimo racer image than a lycra skimo race outfit promoting a series whose races you never enter -- nobody at your local training resort will ever be able to discern the truth when you're uphilling!
"I don't even know whether NE stands for Northeast or New England." It's intentionally vague, so nobody is quite sure. (Really, totally true!)
"I don't live anywhere near the NE (however defined)." Then this outfit will be even more compellingly exotic and generate all sorts of interesting discussions with the general public.
"I don't know why a series of skimo races is called Rando." The French word randonnée roughly translates as touring, and is used in many contexts, e.g., skiing, cycling, hiking. The Series is so venerable as to date back to when these races were still often known as Randonnée Rallies. (Once again, this is really true!)
"I'm too overweight to look anything but utterly absurd in such an outfit." Purchasing this outfit will now provide an additional incentive to get into shape, as every time you're tempted to skip a workout or overeat, you'll be reminded that the money spent has been wasted until you can look dashing in your newly purchased outfit!
