Over the Easter weekend I went to a local motorcycle dealer to check out a long sleeve riding jersey that I can use for mountain biking. Since most mountain bike wear are derived from motocross gear (i.e. Fox) it just makes sense to go look at motocross accessories at the motorcycle dealer.
At Bert’s Motorcycle Mall I found several brands of jerseys also sold at local bike shops. My budget of the day was $30 or less and with the help of a Bert’s sales associate, I found the Fly Racing F-16:
Fly Racing’s product description:
F-16 Jersey
Affordable pro performance has never been easier. Fly Racing’s F-16 Series is anything but entry level. Constructed from race proven designs and materials, the F-16 kit boasts such features as 1680D denier knee panels, and sub-dyed graphics, not to mention a huge variety of sizing options. F-16 is high performance without the high price.
Jersey Features and Materials:
-
SUBLIMATED GRAPHICS – All Fly jerseys are printed using dye sublimation, a process that allows the highest quality, fade free graphics possible
-
SHORTY CUFFS – Elastic sleeve cuff help avoid arm pump
-
RAGLAN SLEEVES – Superior comfort and heavy-duty flat stitch construction makes this one durable jersey
-
COMFORT STRETCH COLLAR – Soft, stretch rib collar
First impressions:
The shirt appears to be well made. No loose threads or poor stitching. The colors are bright as well as the graphics. The material looks like its thin enough to be worn during summer and not be hot, though this I will have to find out as hot weather is fast approaching.
Hits:
Loose fitting allows full range of motion.
Looks durable.
Loose fit allows use of pads or impact suit to be worn underneath.
Miss:
Since these are made for motocross and not really bike specific, the shirt’s hem is way too long to be worn outside the pants. The shirt could be easily be caught on the saddle and the shirt must be worn tucked in riding shorts. I happen to like wear my shirts out of my shorts untucked as to keep it cool and airy when riding.
As the weeks go by I will be testing the jersey and see if its comfortable during XC-type riding.
