It’s shoulder season in Utah – that time when ski season hasn’t started, but bike season is winding down. Cool weather makes for great bike rides, but pedaling in the mountains can be downright frigid on an autumn morning. How does one dress warm, but not so warm that you’re sweating too much in the cold? Enter the Velocio ES Long Sleeve bike jersey.
VELOCIO ES LONG SLEEVE FEATURES
- Mid-weight denier gradient Italian milled fabric – 195gsm
- 3 back pockets with 4th zippered pocket
- Reflective trim details for visibility
- Micro-fleece lined sleeve cuff and collar
- Shaped collar and tapered sleeve cuffs
- YKK Zipper with internal flap and garage
THE RUNDOWN
Traditionally road and mountain bikers alike have used arm warmers to stave off that cold breeze. There’s versatility, for sure, especially if you begin a ride in the cold, but end the ride in the warm afternoon. But what if there was a long-sleeve jersey that breathed well, and kept the body comfortable in all conditions? Then fussing with arm warmers would be a thing of the past.
I’ve been mountain biking with the Velocio ES Long Sleeve this fall, and continue to wear it even as we enter the winter months. From temperatures in the upper 50’s, to as cold as the mid 30s, this jersey has kept me comfortable. The reason is the fabric is light enough weight to be very breathable. It’s also super moisture wicking. Even when grinding up a long singletrack ascent in Corner Canyon, I didn’t feel like I broke much of a sweat except that spot under my pack.
Moving sweat away from the body is key, especially in cold weather. That same ride, our group was hit with a massive cold front just after we topped out at our highest elevation. High winds, and blowing dust were irritating, but what really tested us was the massive drop in temperature. We went from riding in the upper 50’s to the low 40’s within minutes. Everyone was wearing short sleeves and froze. But I was perfectly comfortable in this jersey.
VELOCIO ES LONG SLEEVE LIKES
In addition to how well the jersey performed, I also really dug the feel of the fabric itself. This jersey is downright plush. If this piece wasn’t bike-jersey specific, I would wear it every day. Imagine the finest, Italian milled denier fabric against your skin. Well you don’t have to imagine, because that’s exactly what you get with the ES Long Sleeve.
The cut of the jersey is also top notch. The sleeve length is spot on, the waist length is perfect, and the torso fits around the body tight, but not too tight. This is not your typical spandex-style jersey, but more like a mid-layer. You can still wear a thin base layer underneath for really cold days, and even wear a shell over it in case of rain or snow. It’s great alone, or as a component in a layering system.
I also like how fully featured this jersey is with 4 total pockets to store gear and food, and reflective trim for night riding,
VELOCIO ES LONG SLEEVE GRIPES
While I like the fit of the jersey, I actually had a hard time finding the right one. I’m a solid size medium for most apparel, but this jersey in a size medium was very small. I’m an even six-feet-tall and 160 lbs. But the jersey’s sleeves were too short, the waist line was too high (exposing my belly) and I could barely zip the front. Maybe I need to lay off the beer. So I returned the medium for a size large, which fit much better.
So if you’re shopping for this jersey, consider sizing up, especially if you enjoy IPAs as much as I do.
THE VERDICT
Toss those arm warmers in the garbage. If you’re riding your bike and there is a hint of cold weather, your arms (and your body) will be warm and comfortable in the Velocio ES Long Sleeve jersey.
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