What to Wear Under the Summer Sun
Jerseys and shorts for roads and trails
Jerseys and shorts for roads and trails
Kits for the roads
Rapha’s Laurentian collection was designed with the help of cyclocross champion Maghalie Rochette. It’s named for the mountains around her hometown of Saint-jérôme, Que. The Rapha Laurentian Pro Team Aero jersey ($270, rapha.cc/ca) makes you a little more slippery in the wind with its smooth fabrics in the front as well as the textured fabric on the upper arms. The overall fit is snug. The Rapha Laurentian Pro Team bib shorts ($365) perform well in competitions and long rides. The back panels that sit just below the shoulders make for a secure fit. The bee logo on both the jersey and the shorts speaks to Rochette’s hobby of beekeeping. A
The fabric that makes up the Black
Sheep Essentials Team jersey ($166, roadkit.com) is called a Lightasteroid. The polyester and nylon blend is a feathery 130 g/m2. The jersey has a race fit, tight for high performance. The Black Sheep Essentials Tour bib shorts ($200) have a firm fit, which is a bit more relaxed than race, but still performs well, especially on long rides. The straps and back panel are made with Flexmesh, which offers great support. B
The Giordana FR-C Pro women’s jersey ($295, unoimports.com) is the company’s top-end model. It’s what the pros wear on race day. The Giordana FR-C Pro women’s bib shorts ($275) uses the Cirro S-W chamois, which has a four-layer construction to achieve the right thicknesses at the right spots. The chamois is infused with aloe vera to hinder bacteria growth. The fit is tight for both the jersey and bib shorts, yet throughout many hours in the saddle, the figure-hugging fabrics keep you moving comfortably. C
With many jerseys, you could ask, “Why so serious? Isn’t riding supposed to be fun?” The Reggie Cols Ramble jersey ($95, reggie.bike) has a whimsical design featuring a massive switchback climb. It’s probably what you imagine as you take on your local incline. The Reggie Classy Grey Ramble bib shorts ($145) are a bit more business than the jersey. They perform well on your road, gravel and even trail rides. D
On hot days, zip up the Biemme Altea jersey ($120, cdn. biemmeamerica.com). Its Lancaster fabric is light and airy, allowing sweat to dry quickly. There’s a bit of extra stretch in the side panels to assist with fit. The Biemme Vivo 2.1 Lady bib shorts ($200) use a ceramic Lycra fabric to increase durability on the panel that comes in contact with the saddle. Grippy 4-cm-wide cuffs keep the bibs’ legs in place as your gams push the pedals. E
Perfect for your Canada Day ride – the Garneau Equipe Pro jersey ($120, garneau.com) sports a maple leaf. It has a classic look and a standard fit. The zipper descends 38 mm down from the neck. Three pockets at the back will carry your ride essentials. The Garneau Cb Carbon Lazer bib shorts ($220) are pretty high-tech. Six panels are joined by flatlock stitching to create a garment that compresses your muscles, which will help them perform better throughout a long ride. The edges of the cuffs are nice and sharp thanks to a lasercutting process. F
Don’t let the presence of wool in the Isadore Women’s Woolight jersey
($195, roadkit.com) throw you off: this is a summer piece. The merino wool (23 per cent) mixed with polyester (77 per cent) works to wick away sweat and manage odours. It feels great compared to standard polyester fabrics. In contrast to the sheep material is the silicone tape on the sleeves that holds them in place. The Isadore Women’s Climber’s bib shorts ($260) complement the jersey well in the summer heat. They’re made of two types of Lycra: one from Switzerland and one from Italy. It’s an Alpine blend, if you will, for Furka Pass and Passo Giau, and even the big incline near you. G
The light Castelli Rapido jersey ($135, mvcanada.net) will keep you cool during long outings under the summer sun. A dimpled fabric on the sleeves and side panels called Tailwind offers great ventilation. The back panel uses a fabric that stretches well horizontally, but only a little bit vertically, preventing your full back pockets from sagging too much. The Castelli Superleggera bib shorts ($290) are the Italian company’s top-end hot-weather short. The mesh back panel makes things airy. Castelli says the woven fabric on the main panels is 30 per cent lighter than other materials that provide the same level of support. H
The Select Transfer fabric used on the Pearl Izumi Attack jersey ($130, pearl izumi.com) is made entirely from yarns built from recycled plastic water bottles. The garment’s three back pockets are bellowed to make getting stuff in and out a bit easier. The company’s reflective Bioviz elements adorn the jersey so you’re a bit more visible when you head out early in the morning, or if you’re riding into the sunset. I
The Pearl Izumi Women’s Midland T-shirt ($60, pearlizumi.com) is made from recycled polyester fibres. It has a standard fit with a back hem that will make sure the shirt provides good coverage as you ride down the trail. The Pearl Izumi Women’s Canyon short ($120) has a 23-cm-long inseam. Its detachable liner comes with PI’S Women’s Select Escape 1:1 chamois, which uses a medium-density foam beneath its smooth, brushed outer fabric. J
The recycled polyester threads of the Vaporrize fabric that makes up the Specialized Trail Air short-sleeve jersey ($80, specialized.com/ca) move moisture away from your skin and into the wind. Its fit is pretty relaxed. The Specialized Trail Air shorts ($175) are constructed with the same fabric, but have an added water-repellant treatment. Small perforations on the insides of the legs add ventilation. Zippers keep things from ejecting out of your pockets. K
The IXS Flow-x Women’s Trail jersey ($80, livetoplaysports.com) is breathable, fast-drying and moisture-wicking. If your goggles get coated in a bit of grime, you can clean them off with the jersey’s microfibre lens wipe, which is on the inside at the waist. The Endura Women’s Hummvee Lite shorts ($160) have a detachable liner. It uses the company’s 200 Series chamois with a maximum thickness of 8 mm, making it great for rides one to two hours in length. The shorts’ nylon fabric has a four-way stretch and a durable water-repellent finish. L
The Fasthouse Classic 805 long-sleeve jersey ($100, ogc. ca) gives you a lot of protection from the sun when you are out on the trails. To keep you cool, there’s mesh under the arms and along the sides. The jersey’s polyester fabric will pull sweat away from your skin. The Fasthouse Kicker shorts ($140) have a shoestring-style drawcord that runs around the waist, passing through belt loops, including the doublewide one at the back. There are five pockets that let you carry small items. The material, a mix of polyamide, polyester and spandex, moves well with you as you pedal down the trail. M
With the Jakroo Flow short-sleeve jersey ($90, jakroo.com/ ca), you can fit pads under the sleeves. The shirt comes with a lens wipe and a hidden pocket for your phone. That pocket has a zipper for extra security. The Jakroo Flux shorts ($159) are made with the company’s durable Sedona fabric. You snug them up around your waist with two buckles, one on each side. Jakroo is all about getting you these garments with your custom designs on them, which the company can turn around very quickly: two weeks or sooner. N