Louis Garneau

Tri Elite Men's Course Suit

The logic behind the Louis Garneau Tri Elite Course Suit is simple -- more seams mean more abrasion, a less precise fit, and decrease in aerodynamics. So, the natural solution to minimizing seams is creating a one-piece suit. And with Garneau's One-Piece Technology, you receive a next-to-skin fit that increases comfort and speed over every leg of the course.

Garneau constructed the lower portion of the suit from its Lazer Rev fabric. This material features a knit that has a high percentage of Lycra fibers in its composition. This means that you'll experience more muscle support in comparison to heavy polyester blends. Why is this important? Well, more support translates to less muscle movement from road vibration, and thus, less muscle fatigue. Additionally, even though the Tri Elite Course isn't a designated compression piece, you can still expect a slight improvement to blood flow, correlating to a reduction of lactic acid buildup. Even better, Lazer Rev has been designed to retain its shape after expanding for body conformity. So, the fabric's shape, fit, and compressive qualities don't run the risk of degradation. And to keep the heat at bay, Garneau also treated the lowers with its Coldblack finish. This finish forces the sun's heat to be reflected away, instead of absorbing it like most fabrics. So, you can ride on the rivet during summer races without running the risk of overheating.

You might be asking where aerodynamics come into the fold. Well, this a two part story, with Chapter One being the materials, and Chapter Two involving the construction. Moving along these lines, Garneau designed the Tri Elite Course shorts portion with a minimal number of seams. Not only does this minimize the possibility of abrasion, but it also creates a smooth, laminar air flow over the legs. You'll notice that the inner leg features a seamless design, and that the hems of the legs have been laser-cut. Together, drag is reduced, and unwanted compression and chafing have been eliminated.

For further comfort, the suit features Louis Garneau's own TriElite chamois. This chamois, developed with Beveled Edge Molding, uses a minimally surfaced, pre-shaped design that moves in unison with your body. After all, a non-conforming insert is a leading cause of abrasion. So, to guarantee obedient flexibility, the TriElite chamois uses a variable-density, perforated memory foam that's been shaped objectively towards every direction of movement and pressure. And unlike other forms of variable-density padding, the TriElite shape ensures that height transitions flow smoothly from region to region. This means that pinching and chafing are nearly eliminated. Keep in mind that this is a tri-specific chamois, and in accordance to its application, Garneau made sure that the insert is highly breathable, and most importantly, quick drying. So, you'll experience a smooth transition from water to saddle, and from the saddle to the pavement. All the while, you don't have to sacrifice pressure relief to the genitals and sensitive nerves for comfort in your run. However, Garneau didn't stop there, instead, it incorporated the medically-used Crabyon fabric. This antibacterial, therapeutic material adds comfort to raw, chafed, and even burned skin.

For the top of the suit, the natural fabric choice for the construction was Garneau's Speedtech material. As the name implies, this fabric is built for speed. It features a dimpled mesh design that's akin to the surfaces of aero helmets and golf balls. The reasoning behind this is simple -- between speeds of 15 and 45 mph, the dimples reduce drag at the forward most point of your body. Additionally, this aerodynamic trait also has natural hydrophilic properties that assist in wicking away moisture. And even better, its 18% spandex content qualifies Speedtech as a certified compressive fabric. This means that your upper-body will be less susceptible to the volatile effects of road vibration and general fatigue.

Speedtech is also responsible for the top's next-to-skin fit and comfort. It also doesn't hurt that it's been treated in order to wick moisture away rapidly, and it too has been given a Coldblack finish. To secure the fit of the Tri Elite jersey, the shoulders and torso have been pre-shaped for added comfort in both the cycling and running positions. Garneau also made the zipper around 15 inches long, with teeth that pull away from the skin, and with an inner flap that eliminates any abrasion between the skin and the zipper. You'll also notice that the arm and neck holes have been cut liberally to not only permit a full range of motion, but to minimize the amount of the fabric's surface area. Altogether, the stretch of the material, along with the thoughtful design of the cut, provides a next-to-skin fit that will feel unnoticeable over the stages of your race.

The Louis Garneau Tri Elite Course Suit is available in the color Black/red/white and in six sizes from X-Small to XX-Large.