French company Ekoi say their new jersey and bibshort outfit, Primavera, has been designed for early season wear, between temperatures of 4 and 12 degrees. The fabric of both items has a breathable thermal fleece layer named Lombardia Miti. The idea is to provide that little bit of extra warmth for those chilly mornings and evenings, where temperatures can turn from fresh to mild, and vice-versa pretty quickly, especially come spring time.
Faced with some early morning spring temperatures where the call between tights and shorts was a close one, I opted to be bold, and test the bibs and jersey combo. I have to say that the fuzzy, fleecy lining of the bibs definitely provide a welcome warmth around the legs against the fresh start of around 8 degrees. A couple of hours into the ride, with the temperature and sweat levels rising steadily, the extra warmth of the fleece layer wasn't noticed and my legs still felt warm and comfortable.
The chamois is an Italian-made item called Aero Sotto. The main point to note regarding the chamois is a separation along the main central area, that on occasion pinched on the sensitive skin of the under regions and needed some mid-ride rearrangement to relieve and return to normal. Other than this, the chamois provided adequate comfort and support.
The size of my test bibs was a small, same size as my Morvelo, Assos and Dhb bibs, and I have to note that the Ekoi Primavera come up just a little on the small side of small. By the end of my first spin the shorts were riding high up my legs and seriously starting to mess with my carefully cultivated tan lines.
The jersey, again a size small, also came up a little tighter than I'm used to from other brands - slightly more so than the bibs to be honest. I found it a very close fit around the arms, with some serious stretching across the shoulders and neck. Again, all my other jerseys are sized small, and while they also vary from brand to brand, none have come up quite as tight as the Ekoi Primavera.
If you're usually borderline between sizes, I would suggest opting for a size up in the Ekoi kit. Ekoi provide size and fitting charts for most clothing on their website, as well as advice on a toll-free line from customer services. But if like me you do find you've ordered the wrong size, they offer free 48-hour exchange. You can't really argue with service like that!
The jersey features the same thermal Lombardia Miti fabric, and also provided a nice layer of warmth early on that allowed me to dismiss the gilet layer. However, I did notice the additional warmth on the upper body and was required to regulate heat with the full length zipper. Not a massive issue though.
Aesthetically, the Primavera outfit takes an interesting if somewhat indecisive approach, lurking somewhere between subtle and stealthy and logomania. Huge logos cover the jersey, but the outlined text and restrained palette of mainly black with flashes of red and white mean the branding is not as overpowering as it otherwise would be. Even so, the shouty graphics may not be to the taste of the hippest of the hipster racers out there. For those looking to make an impression, two other, less restrained colourways are also available.
With the bib shorts and jersey currently priced at £39.33 (discounted from £70.85) and £67.70 respectively, the Ekoi kit sits in the mid-budget range. At this price I feel the kit - and the bib shorts in particular - offers some decent value, especially for early season riding when we're all itching to feel the wind on our bare legs.
Ekoi Primavera Jersey (£67.70) and Bibshorts (£39.33) from www.ekoi.com.
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