SUMMER KIT TESTED

10 LIGHTWEIGHT OUTFITS FOR INDOORS OR OUT!

Filter-down tech from the pro peloton features on even modestly priced bib shorts

With warmer temperatures it’s time to feel the heat against your skin as you pedal. These days there’s a wide range of summer-specific riding kit designed to tackle the issues that come with riding in the heat. Technology and quality has never been better, and if you're stuck at home isolating on your turbo, then kit to keep you cool is going to be just as important.

Jerseys today are more riderfriendly while being lighter, cooler, more fitted and offering better breathability. Many feature filterdown technologies from those found on the backs of the pro peloton. Some offer added aerodynamics, while others have sun protection, but beware of some open-mesh designs.

With your derrière being one of the most crucial contact points on the bike, shorts are a serious investment. Don’t skimp here and instead spend what you can, and go for bibs because they hold everything in place. Once again, filter-down technologies from the pro peloton feature even on modestly priced bib shorts.

When trying on shorts, sit on a bike because most are designed to feel right in the riding position. Some race-led brands are designed for race whippets, so you might need to size up on occasion.

A lot of companies have matching socks to keep your feet dry and comfortable, too

Here are 10 outfits, to suit all riding preferences and pockets, to keep you pedalling in style and comfortable in the saddle whether outdoors or indoors this summer.

WE SAY... Well thought-out riding kit ideal for those starting out or on a tightbudget

TRIBAN RC100 WARM WEATHER JERSEY £17.99

SIZES S-XXL COLOURS Black, Navy, Red/Black, Turquoise, White

It’s hard not to be impressed by the RC-100’s low price tag and user-friendly features. It has a forgiving cut but isn’t overly flappy.

It’s designed specifically for warm-weather riding using recycled fibres and it breathes well. Temperature control is further enhanced by under-arm mesh panels and a front zip. This features a garage at the bottom to preserve your shorts; there isn’t one on the neck, but we didn’t experience any irritation. Adjustment is made easier by the addition of simple tags. While a little crude, they work fine. The rear is dropped, featuring a mesh panel with inner silicone to hold it in place. There’s ample storage with three decent-sized pockets, a zipped pocket and two side pockets to keep gels in.

TRIBAN RC 100 BIB SHORTS £24.99

SIZES S-XXL COLOURS Black, Navy

The matching shorts are similarly budget-priced but the neat panelled design gives them a look of something more expensive. The fit here is impressive and tight enough around the legs to provide good muscle support without feeling overly compressive. The legs sit in place thanks to the overall fit and wide bands that stop them riding up. Mesh upper bibs do a solid job of keeping everything in place while helping to keep you cool. These are less stretchy than some, though fortunately the shoulder sections offer more give. Inside, the pad performs better than expected at this price.

It’s well-sized, uses a variety of thicknesses of padding and is perfectly located to soak up road feedback. There are also air channels to stop things getting overly sweaty.

WE SAY...

An impressive package offering good race and training credentials without breakingthebank

AERO N SHORT SLEEVE JERSEY £55

SIZES XS-XXL COLOURS Black, Blue, Orange, Purple, Red, Turquoise

The Italian-made Aeron is a well thought-out summer jersey with many top design characteristics. It’s good looking, fits true to size and delivers a forgiving yet comfortable ride. dhb uses a lightweight yet durable dimpled mesh fabric that helps to keep you cool and dry when temperatures rise. The centre back panel features wider mesh to increase breathability. It also features UPF40+ treatment for sun protection and an anti-bacterial treatment to stop it stinking. The neck is comfortable despite the lack of garage. Laser-cut arm grippers do their job well and provide an air of class. Three decent-sized pockets and a zip pocket provide ample carrying capacity but sit higher than some. A silicone hem helps to hold the rear in place. An impressive performer, considering its low price.

AERON BIB SHORTS £75

SIZES XS-XXL COLOURS Black, Black/Blue, Black/Red, Black/White, Khaki, Navy

The Aeron bibs have the look and styling of more expensive shorts with their smart colour scheme and neat leg grippers. The big update is the Paris HP inner pad. Its wide-covering looks a bit crude, but underneath it uses three densities of foam with ultra-high density foam inserts under the sit bones. It does an impressive job of delivering hours of pain-free riding. The panelled design looks classy and works well with a snug fit that’s true to size. Muscle support is good without feeling overly compressive and it will work for most shapes and sizes. The wide, two-third circumference leg grippers with silicone printwork do a good job. Neatly shaped upper mesh bibs breathe well and sit comfortably. The latest evolution of the Aeron is a great-value piece of kit.

I C O N S HOR T S L E E V E J E R S E Y £54.99

SIZES S-XL COLOURS Large variety of colours and patterns

The Icon is a good-value, bright and colourful jersey with 360-degree reflectivity and a forgiving fit that's ideal for those who need more room. Altura uses a smooth Lycra fabric on the front and rear panels along with wide mesh side/under-arm panels to help with breathability when you’re working hard. There’s a full-length front zip with flap that helps with comfort, but it doesn’t have any garages top or bottom. That said, we didn’t get any neck irritation during testing. Three well-located pockets, along with zipped valuables pocket, provide ample storage for your essentials. We did get some sagging with heavier loads though. The rear drop tail features a silicone grip hem that does a good job of stopping the Icon riding up. A solid performing, yet forgiving, jersey.

R A C E B I B S HOR T S £89

SIZES S-XXL COLOURS Black

Altura’s Race Bibs offer some useful features and, like the jersey, offer a forgiving fit. These are not as tight as many, thanks to plenty of stretch in the nylon/Lycra fabric used. The panelled design sits well, adding to the overall fit and ride. The two-third circumference leg grippers are reflective but subtly look black in daylight. They do their job without ever feeling tight or restrictive. The bibs with rear cutaway section use thin, stretchy mesh fabric to keep things cool, while wide shoulder straps sit flat for added comfort. There’s also a mesh panel across the stomach that helps to hold everything in. The wide covering Pro Stealth four-layer pad features low density memory foam inserts and it does a pretty good job of absorbing road feedback. A reliable and very forgiving bib short.

WE SAY... Well-functioning kit that offers a more sympathetic fit without costingafortune

TOTAL COST £199.98

WE SAY... Topfeaturesandsome great updates delivering pro-level performance

PRO SL LITE JERSEY £79.99

SIZES XS-XXL COLOURS Concrete Grey, Sunrise

The new Pro SL is the evolution of working with pro teams and is cut using lightweight fabrics specifically for warm days. It fits like a second skin without feeling tight. Fine mesh front and side panels are cool, wick well and help with aerodynamics, while the grid patterned rear does a top job of shifting sweat. The smooth fabric arms are not as long as some and feature raw ends with silicone bands that hold them in place. All critical seams are bonded, keeping weight and bulk down. The low-cut neck sits well and does away with the need for a zip garage. The simple three-pocket setup is in keeping with the minimalist design, but they do sit a little higher than some. Hot-weather performance is right up there and the stylish Pro SL punches above its price tag.

PRO SL BIB SHORTS £119.99

SIZES XS-XXL COLOURS Black

Endura’s Pro SL bibs also get an update but keep many of their top features, including the option of three pad widths and two leg lengths. The continuously variable profile 700-series pad matches sit bones perfectly to deliver pain-free pedalling even on the longest days. Endura uses Italian Lycra and the legs feature wide raw-edge grippers with an inner silicone print. The legs sit pretty for a supportive, yet restriction-free ride. A Coldblack coating reduces heat build-up and there’s UPF50 sun protection. What’s completely new, and a feature we appreciated on long days, is the lumbar support panel that hugs the lower back and sides. This takes the pressure off the wide shoulder straps to the point that you hardly notice they’re there. The best of the old and some new features have made the Pro SL kit even better.

MONOCROM JERSE Y £90

SIZES S-XXXL COLOURS Anthracite, Black, Blue Atomic, Coconut, Dry Green, SeaMoss

We love the simplicity yet high function of this lightweight jersey. Sportful achieves the unique colour finish by creating a white jersey before dipping it into different colour dyes to achieve the final shade. As a consequence, every jersey is a one-off with all the component parts taking the dye differently. This gives it a neat, aged finish for a less race-inspired look. The high-stretch mesh panels wick well and fit true to size, offering a more forgiving fit than some of Sportful’s race kit. We liked the overall cut, with long sleeves with wide, raw-finish arm ends, low neck and wide silicone-lined hem that deliver a comfy ride. The three rear pockets are perfectly located and offer ample storage. A chic and high-performing summer jersey at a good price.

T O TA L C O MFORT B I B S HOR T S £145

SIZES S-XXXL COLOURS Black

The Total Comfort bibs get an update but the DNA of a comfortable, rider-friendly, all-day riding short remains. They use thin, lightweight, stretch-fabric panels with raw ends that feature an internal silicone print so they sit perfectly. While they’re not designed to offer compression, these bibs are formfitting so they feel tight to begin with, but this goes unnoticed once pedalling. The overall fit is small so mortals might need to size up. The combination of fit and fabric means they do a top job of wicking, making them ideal for hot rides. Inside, the 18mm-thick, multi-density Total Comfort pad is wide covering and rides beautifully. The newly designed bibs use stretchy, wide and airy straps. These sit flat and comfy on long rides. Highperforming bibs ideal for summer riding.

WE SAY...

A good combination of performance and subtlelooks,idealfor long, warm days in thesaddle

HORS C AT E G O R I E J E R S E Y £100

SIZES XS-XXXL COLOURS Dark Grey, Dark Steel Blue, Red, Vortex Grey, Yellow

Designed for hard, hot days in the saddle the Hors Categorie uses Castelli’s Velocity Rev3 fabric on the main panels with a cool mesh on the rear and wider mesh side panels. The result is a cool jersey that performs in warm weather. The front zip with neck garage provides further temperature control. The arms are cut long without any fancy cuffs or raw ends, but ride comfortably and help with longevity. A drop tail with silicone detail helps the Hors Categorie to sit pretty. The overall cut is fitted and most will need to size up. The three well-supported rear pockets are perfectly located and easy to access on the fly. There’s a zip valuables pocket too. A high-performing yet practical and robust jersey.

FREE AERO R ACE 4 KIT BIB SHORTS £150

SIZES XS-XXXL COLOURS Black, Black/Red, Black/Vortex Grey, Grey, Dark Steel Blue

Developed in conjunction with Team Ineos these race bibs offer all-day comfort while remaining light. The new seamless Progetto X2 Air Seamless seat pad has a soft stretchy layer that sits separate to the padding. This allows it to move naturally while the pad moulds to the saddle. The outer layer is dimpled to reduce skin contact and helps with wicking. It looks crude but it works brilliantly. On the legs Castelli combines dimpled aerodynamic fabric on the front for efficiency while smooth stretchy Lycra on the rear helps with the fit. It feels supportive but not overly tight and the new wide-leg grippers work well without any restriction. The neat-looking striped mesh bibs breathe well but these aren’t as wide as some.

WE SAY... High-performing and comfortable summer-specific kit thatisrobusttoo

PRR GREEN ROAD JERSEY £125

SIZES S-XXXL COLOURS Black, Burgundy, Blue, Turquoise, Yellow

The Green Road uses over 90 per cent recycled materials in this race jersey that’s cut on the skinny side. It’s body hugging without feeling restrictive, which makes it good in windy conditions and helps with wicking. Alé uses a horizontal mesh on the front and a wider mesh on the rear and under the arms for breathability. The smooth, raw-end sleeves have plenty of length and sit well, while the front zip offers further ventilation. A bottom garage protects your shorts but there’s no need for one on the low-cut neck. Three regular-sized pockets take care of storage but sit a little higher than some. There’s also a useful nutrition pocket on the right side. This jersey is right up there for high-end race credentials.

PRR GREEN BIB SHORTS £145

SIZES S-XXXL COLOURS Black, Black/ Burgundy, Black/Blue, Black/Turquoise, Black/Yellow

The Green shorts combine race performance with top environmental credentials using recycled materials. Alé uses its smooth Denali Green fabric in the legs and this provides a good overall fit and support without feeling overly tight. The wide leg grippers use a thinner fabric with an inner silicone print to keep things in place. Small reflective mesh panels on the rear add to their breathability. Plus, they offer UPF50+ sun protection. Wide shoulder straps help with comfort on longer days and the stretchy mesh rear prevents overheating. Inside is Alé’s new 4H Green 12mm pad featuring high-density open-cell foam that’s made from recycled polyamide. It’s wide covering and feels cumbersome at first, but works well once pedalling. Perforation holes and stitching channels help with ventilation and breathability.

WE SAY... Quality, performancedriven race kit that’ s helping to be thoughtful towards the planet

WE SAY... High-end kit with a forgiving fitt hat performs well, but you pay a premium

INTERVAL JERSEY £124.99

SIZES XS-XXL COLOURS Pine/Atomic Red Transform, Navy/White Beval, White/Wet Weather Triad

The Interval is a minimalist, high-performance and neat-looking race jersey. It has a next-to-skin fit with a silky feel inside and out thanks to the Italian knit Elite Transfer fabric that breathes well. This mesh material has lots of stretch for a good fit and is relatively robust compared to some minimalist jerseys. There’s a Coldblack treatment to reflect heat on warm days. The rear hem has a silicone liner to keep it in place and three well-located pockets sit above this. These have bonded tops and inner support patches on the high stress points, but there’s no zip pocket in keeping with the sleek design. The overall cut on this low-neck jersey is fitted but is more generously sized than some of the Italian brands.

INTERVAL BIB SHORTS £149.99

SIZES XS-XXL COLOURS Black, Navy

Pearl’s Interval bibs are good-quality shorts with top features, but they offer a more forgiving fit thanks to the Elite Transfer fabric found in the seven panels. It’s highly stretchy with 34 per cent Lycra, yet keeps muscles surprisingly well-supported and provides an efficient ride. The wide silicone printed leg grippers use a thinner fabric creating a neat restriction-free leg transition. A Coldblack treatment helps to reflect heat. Inside, the wide-covering pad looks simplistic and cumbersome. This is only the floating cover that moves with you while the main inner pad sits in place. When riding out on the road it works well. A mesh rear and wide shoulder straps keep everything in place while offering a comfortable and sweat-free ride. This is a quality short with a forgiving fit that works well for all types of riding.