It’s thanks to the insights from Adrien and other Café athletes that we can continue to improve what we make, and bring in new styles that meet the needs of how people are riding today. Here’s Adrien’s 15,000+ kilometre report on some key pieces!

Gravel shoes – almost indestructible

“I received these in June 2024. I was just about to start the Transcontinental Race, 4,000 kilometres from Roubaix to Istanbul. Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Northern Macedoinia, Greece, Turkey… they crossed the Bosporus and finished the race. And then we changed continents together, another nomadic journey, another race. The shoes started the Tassie Gift in Australia and ended up in Tasmania. They tore open in Tasmania, and it was impossible to send them back to Customer Service, so I glued them back together myself with Shoe Goo. They haven't budged since, despite the thousands of kilometres they’ve been through. They've also been to Southeast Asia. They have over 25,000 kilometers on the clock. They could have lived longer, but it's nice to know that a new pair is waiting for me in Geneva.”

Eva – over 15,000 kilometres (almost) without a wrinkle

“I received these bib shorts to race the Tassie Gift, which starts in Melbourne and ends in Tasmania. The Tassie Gift is 1,800 kilometres, with 31,000 metres of elevation gain. I finished third, completely sick, unable to eat. Since then, they've traveled, travelled a lot, and crisscrossed Southeast Asia.“Riding and racing in a single pair of bib shorts requires very specific logistics. These bib shorts have always been hand-washed, I've often showered in them, and in many cases, I wash them directly on my body. They rarely have time to dry properly, depending on where I am. I often leave with damp or even wet bib shorts. This can be in places where the temperature drops to -5ºC at night. It's not very pleasant in the morning, a little chilly, but it doesn’t last!”

Suzette – a key piece in the Café du Cycliste range

“If someone asked me about my favourite piece of Café clothing that accompanies me on my adventures, it would be the Suzette rain jacket. When I think about this jacket, the word "safety" naturally comes to mind. I tested it in Tasmania, and the weather there changes in two minutes. You're riding in 25ºC sunshine, suddenly the sky darkens, the temperature drops to 2ºC and a deluge of hail hits you unexpectedly. I remember stopping to put on the jacket, taking off my backpack, putting it on, the sun was already back, the temperature had risen to 25ºC, all within five minutes.