TROY LEE DESIGNS WOMEN’S KIT REVIEW

LILIUM LS JERSEY & RUCKUS SHORT SHELL

Words by Marissa Krawczak | Photos by Nic Hall

Since 1981 Troy Lee Designs has called Corona, California home, specializing in custom painting, motorcycle helmets and motocross racing. Troy Lee Designs, also known as TLD made the crossover and started making mountain bike clothing back in 2014. Over the years Troy Lee Designs mountain bike line has evolved from just DH racing kits, that were practically just rebranded dirt bike gear, to everything from lightweight XC kits to freeride gear and even women’s specific mountain bike clothing. I have a tendency of riding hard and putting clothing materials to the test, so my in my quest to find a durable and comfortable women’s mountain bike kit out, I tried the Lilium Jersey and Ruckus Shorts.

WOMEN’S LILIUM LS JERSEY

THE LAB
The drop tail hem on the Lilium long-sleeve jersey is practical for aggressive riding stances and offers a bit more coverage. TLD makes the Lilium out of 4-way stretch, moisture wicking fabric and is UPF 20+. The durable yet breathable quality of the fabric makes the long sleeve a perfect fit for an extra layer of protection on fun descents or in cooler temperatures. The Bluesign approved fabric, ensures sustainable and holistic practices are followed for workers and the environment during manufacturing. Who can’t get behind that?

THE DIRT
I am 5’8” and 160 pounds and wore a size Large. The jersey was a bit loose on its own but a short sleeve fits nicely underneath as do pads. I appreciated the overall length of the jersey, it is long enough to overlap the waist of my pants when riding but is fitted nicely to not look too big. The length of the sleeves are just long enough to overlap gloves and the stretchy material can be pulled up to wear ¾ sleeve easily without falling down. I wore the Solid Black and White color and liked the aesthetic. Usually black is choice for me, but I was attracted to the simple white sleeves to mix it up a bit. The fabric held up great after a few months of riding and the simple accents maintained a fresh look with no graphic overkill.

WOMEN’S RUCKUS SHORT SHELL

THE LAB
TLD’s Women’s Ruckus shorts are designed to be a rugged trail riding short and are cut specifically for women. They feature a bi-stretch rear panel, outer thigh breathable mesh accents, inner thigh zippered vents, adjustable Velcro cinches, a durable zipper and dual-snap closure as well as two angled side pockets. The shell can be combined with a mesh and six-hour rated pad offered by TLD.

THE DIRT
I bought the all black shorts as it’s a neutral color and would allow me to wear them with any jersey I own. I liked where all of the seams were and how the different fabrics were patterned and places together to make one well-put-together short. I played it safe when buying the shorts and went with a size XL, which was a baggy fit on me. The Velcro cinches were maxed out but the Velcro held up really well after a few months, which is a common weakness of many shorts. Both side pockets were big enough for my phone, my face covering for the lift line, my lift pass and a snack bar. I could also fit a beer in my waist band to sneak onto the lift, but don’t tell anyone.

The fabric has held up really well being thrown in and out of gear bags, pedaling long climbs into the backcountry and even after hitting the ground now and again. I would probably buy a Large next time but would definitely buy the Ruckus shorts again and suggest them to women looking for an aggressive trail/enduro short.

The Wolf’s Last Word

The company with roots in art and racing on the West Coast holds true to their style with clothing that feels and performs practically in a tastefully badass way. Not only do they provide women’s specific cuts, but they represent a good number of female bike athletes worldwide, one of which is the super-stylish DH champ and 2019 Queen of Crankworks, Vaea Verbeeck. As to be expected by one of the most fashionable brands in two-wheeled action sports, their graphics, color offerings and designs are some of the best in the game. They offer everything from stealthy and clean to bold and wild. I really enjoyed the finer details of the kit, the seems, pockets, weight of the jersey and fit of both the shorts and jersey on the bike.

Price:
Lilium LS Jersey – $70
Ruckus Short Shell – $109
Website: Troyleedesigns.com

Disclosure: Our team selects all of the products we review and do so with honesty and objectivity in mind. Some of the products we receive come directly from Competitive Cyclist, who also value our readers and have offered them a 15% discount (exclusions apply) on their first purchase by using LOAMWOLF15. Through this program we may also receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support, TLW.