Solo cycling jerseys

Crankbrother

Bought a Solo jersey online from the new range (the Velux one) and am a bit surprised by the style of fabric used ... It just looks a bit early 1990's ... Very reminiscent of an old Giordana Motorola jersey I had ...

It claims to be some fancy wicking fabric and likely is but just doesn't look like it is of the quality expected from a £70 jersey ...

Anyone have any experience of Solo jereseys/fabric? I'm tempted to return it but obv. there is no way to test how good or bad it is without removing the return option from the table so any feedback would help ...

cubicboy

Solo – in my opinion – have some of the best looking jerseys available. I lusted after one for ages, and once it arrived I was slightly suspicious of the fabric before I gave it a road test. The first ride was mid-spring of last year, and I arrived home sweating... it really does have boil-in-the-bag technology. It's not terminal ie I still have the jersey, but for anything like a warm day I stick to my Assos Cinelli jobbie (which in stark contrast is perfect in terms of breathability and fit). Another annoying facet of my Solo jersey is that the knitted collar catches in my stubble. I would say that they aren't performance jerseys and are perhaps more suitable for the steel-framed retro crew.

They do look fab though!

Crankbrother

Cheers for that, that was kinda my thinking re. the heat ... The Motorola jersey I likened it to was my winter jersey before ...

I also don't like the jersey sleeve cuffs ... They just make them a bit long ... Plus the waist is tiny but the body wide fitting ...

I was just worried I was being a bit too fussy but you've kinda confirmed my gut feeling ...

Think I'll return it and get another Rapha one instead ... Only an extra £20 ...

mountainroad

I have to say I'm a sucker for my solo gear
jersey in the summer with the arm warmers and gillet in the winter (warn with a good quality base layer i have found i get the performance element) there is an obvious retro appeal, i do wear on carbon and steel though...
also stops you looking like all the guys out pretending they ride for sky or leopard trek (very bad form)
so solo is stylish and within the rules!

i do think you are paying for great design from niche brand (cottage industry) rather uber tech
they are good guys, i had a gillet arrive from NZ that had a very small amount of damage (hardly visible) in transit, got a very nice email from the owner who replaced with no quibble and suggested i keep the damaged one for my mountain bike

PS my £150 ASOS jersey doesn't stop me sweating when warm

Crankbrother

In the end I couldn't get past the list of gripes and returned it ... I loved the look but not the product ... It doesn't help that the LBS that used to stock Solo got fed up with the supplier so there was no way to check the item out in person beforehand and buy from a shop ...