Shutt VR Men’s Training Jersey 2011 £89

At a glance Expensive but beautifully made long-sleeved jersey in Merino Perform fabric that offers a flap-free fit, loads of beefy pockets and an attractive, retro styling.

Tested by
Jon Adams, tester for The Bike List

Value

Performance

A long-sleeved jersey is a sensible investment for Autumn and Spring rides, and if you pick the right one, it'll also double-up as a warm base layer under a softshell or windproof for the winter, too. Based in the UK, Shutt Velo Rapide (Shutt VR) has developed a range of top quality cycling kit since the company launched in 2009, and the Training Jersey is a new addition for 2011. It features a full-length zip so it's easy to vent as well as being simple to put on and take off, and it's made from Merino Perform Sportwool - a blend of natural Merino wool and man-made polyester.

The Training Jersey comes in four different colourways, each with a distinctive, contrasting stripe across the chest, and on the red and white sample we tested, the stitching was very tidily finished throughout. The overall fit is snug around the body and the sleeves, so there's no flapping in the wind once you get some speed up, and the drop tail has a silicon gripper to stop the back of the jersey riding up when you're in an aero position.

Staying with the back, there are three pockets, and these are really beefy in their construction, and feel like they'll take quite a bit of abuse. This is great if you're one of those riders who really uses their pockets, stuffing them with pump, multi tool, spare tube, windproof and the like, and the rugged stitching and fabric around the pocket entrances also makes it really easy to get at the stuff inside. There's a fourth, zipped security pocket on the front of the centre one - nicely sized for a wallet or phone - and the zipped closure is vertical, so it's really easy to open and close with your right hand while riding. At the base of the centre pocket there's some retro-reflective piping to aid visibility from the rear at night, though this is as far as it goes on the reflectives side, so some additional kit in this area would make sense.

Round the front, the full zip is of the locking variety, so you can fix it in place for the amount of venting you require, and there's a neat chin guard at the top to stop you snagging your skin in it. The zip is easy to do up, too, so you can perform this task quickly while riding no-handed if necessary. Though this is more important with short-sleeved, summer tops than long-sleeved, three-season variants, it's still useful to be able to fully undo and vent a jersey in cool conditions, especially when you have a base layer underneath and are getting hot on a climb.

The Merino content makes the Training Jersey really comfortable next to the skin, and it's very effective at wicking the sweat off your body and passing it through the fabric. It's also superb on top of a baselayer in chilly weather, and the natural stretch in the fabric doesn't give any problems with a thin short- or long-sleeved thermal top underneath. What's more, the tight weave of the Sportwool gives a good degree of wind protection, too. It's not fully windproof, but does a decent job in holding the worst of it at bay.

Overall, the Shutt VR Training Jersey is a lovely piece of kit. It's light at just 255g (Size M), it fits well, performs brilliantly and though it uses a modern, hi-tech blend of natural and man-made fibres, it sports a very retro look that'd satisfy the most die-hard of traditionalists. Equally at home on a classic tourer or a fancy carbon affair, this is a versatile jersey that'll take spring and autumn days in its stride, and will also get you through milder winter days with a little help underneath or over the top. The only downsides are the rather limited showing of retro-reflective flashes for night use, and the price. At £89 it's quite steep, especially considering the value offered by garments like Polaris Fission at just £40, but those after some traditional styling and a good dash of Merino content will justify the outlay.

Find out more and buy from www.shuttvr.com

Shutt VR says:

Shutt's Training Top is truly a jersey for all seasons with long sleeves and full length zip in Merino Perform Sportwool fabric it has become essential wear for all types of road riders and racers. It is also proving very popular with the mountain biking and cyclo cross communities. It's a firm favourite with our customers and employees alike because of its year-long versatility. A great jersey for 3 season outer use and a great base layer for winter because of it high merino content. As with all Shutt jerseys, the training top has three rear reinforced pockets, zipped valuables pocket, reflective strip and soft tip zip puller.

Size S-XL

Fabric composition by colour