At a glance Lightweight, full-zip short sleeve jersey that's good looking, highly breathable and well priced
Tested by
Jon Adams, tester for The Bike List
Performance
For a casual bimble along a towpath or around the lanes, you don't really need cycle-specific clothing. Any top that suits the weather will do, and padded shorts aren't necessary if you're just doing a few miles. Increase the distance, time and effort though, and more performance-oriented clothing starts making sense. Proper shorts increase comfort dramatically, and a high-wicking jersey comes into its own.
The cycling jersey actually asks the impossible of a clothing
designer, though. It has to be incredibly breathable so you don't
overheat when you're sweating buckets up a long climb, and it has
to have a huge wicking ability to suck all that water off your skin
and pass it through the fabric. Of course, when you reach the top
of the hill, the jersey then has to have enough insulation to hold
back the wind and keep you warm when you're hurtling down the other
side at 40mph. As you can imagine, this is rather a big ask for a
single garment, and that's why on mountain stages, you'll see Tour
de France riders accepting sheets of newspaper from the summit
crowd t
o act as a windproof jersey liners for the descent.
Let's face it, if those boys don't have the clothing technology to
tackle this clothing challenge, then you're probably going to be
out of luck, too.
The answer for most, is to address the wicking and breathable bit, and leave the windproof part to a gilet or jacket (assuming no-one is hanging around on your route, handing out sheets from the Le Monde or Le Figaro). And breathability is something the Ergofit Comp Jersey is very good at. Like the rest of Altura's premium Ergofit range, the Comp Jersey is made from multiple panels that are cut for an on-the-bike fit. What's more, if you look closely you'll see that all these panels are made from a finely woven mesh fabric, so all that heat and sweat can escape quickly. It's 100% polyester, so any water can't stick to anything to weigh you down or cause a chill, and to say it's fast-drying is an understatement, as you can almost wear it straight out of the washing machine.
The fit isn't skin-clingingly tight - it's a little more generous than that - and the full-length zip with a locking puller makes even more venting easy to achieve. Three generous pockets line the rear and the centre one has an outer zipped compartment for extra security. Available in black with red trim and grey sleeves, or white with red trim and black sleeves, the Ergofit Comp is an excellent summer jersey that blends high-tech fabrics with a more relaxed fit. Retro-reflective logos and flashes make it good for a late ride home, and silicon grippers around the elasticated hem at the back stop it from riding up when you're pedalling. It's too cool for use alone on chilly mornings, but it wicks sweat really well so would make a good base layer under a windproof top. At £60, it's the ideal partner for the Ergofit Pro Bibs - also reviewed here - and is well priced for those wanting a good looking, lightweight summer jersey that gives the technical performance you need without the 'boy racer' logos.
Buy from: www.wiggle.co.uk
Altura says:
The Altura Ergofit Comp Short Sleeve is a performance fit jersey constructed from pre-shaped panels ensuring a perfect fit for the riding position. The Ergo Fit Comp jersey is made of high wicking, quick dry soft-tec fabric, making sure that the rider is kept comfortable and moisture free.
- Ergonomic high performance fit
- Full length locking zip
- High wicking, quick dry soft-tec fabric
- Seamless lycra laminate gripper with silicone print
- 3 rear pockets and zipped security pocket
- 100% Polyester
- Sizes XS-XXL
Find out more: www.zyro.co.uk
