I have an alarming number of cycling jerseys hanging (yes, hanging - on hangers) in my wardrobe. Some I love dearly, some not so much, but being a hoarder I haven't the heart to get rid of them. It's nice to have a shirt for every occasion, even for every mood. Some I've, ahem, grown out of, while others will never be worn again and it's only a matter of time before they're listed as 'rare' on eBay.
Lately, though, I have rifled less through the cornucopia of stretchy nylons and plumped for the first shirt on the rack. It might not 'go' with everything but I have long since ceased to care, David Millar style, with the gear that 'defines my ride' - there are times when the most favourite, most comfy and most versatile is the only one that will do.
My cycling equivalent of the Little Black Dress is my ashmei Merino Carbon Cycle jersey. Made from superfine merino wool, it's as soft as my midriff and as prickle free as a shaved porcupine. The merino is blended with carbon, which speeds up moisture wicking and drying time - a definite bonus, as I'm usually wanting to put it back on as soon as the spin cycle has finished on the washing machine.
OK - let's get the one niggle out of the way. It's not really a niggle, it's my poor clothing co-ordination, but something that you should be aware of. The material is so fine that anything you have underneath that contrasts, i.e. dark straps on bib shorts, will tend to show through. If this bothers you, then you need to have a think about your choice of undergarments - for me, though, it's not a game changer.
Despite the merino carbon material being fine, it's not flimsy - the super-stretchiness covers all of my lumps and bumps and makes me feel like a million dollars. I particularly like the length of the sleeves. There is a trend these days towards longer cut sleeves, and these hug nicely without feeling tight, as does the rest of the shirt.
Aside from the image you might now have of a merino-clad bag of spanners, the ashmei merino carbon jersey boasts a host of other features that set it apart from my other garments and make it my go-to jersey. There are two zipped compartments, incorporated in the large pockets on the dropped back of the jersey, either side of the understated, yet distinctive centre brand stripe. There are no bold, shouty graphics going on, just a horizontal half band on the left chest and embroidered maker's name.
Just like the ashmei soft shell jacket, there is an incorporated clip for your headphone cable (should you choose to wear them) and subtle reflectives on the back hem, which has silicon to keep it in place. Sadly, as I was overloaded with freebie sugars, a packed lunch and my emergency gilet on a recent sportive, I spoiled the line of the jersey and pushed the gripper to the limit of its adhesion - but that's my bad, and I had an unusually large amout of gear stuffed in there. It didn't sag like some merino can, and it didn't swing about either.
The top quality, full length zip is gaitered on both ends - a feature I found confusing at first, but it's part of a shield that keeps it so that the only thing you feel is the material of the shirt. The zip covers mean nothing gets caught there that shouldn't be, a problem I sometimes have as a mesh base layer doesn't always tame the chest rug...
The jersey is light enough to act as a base layer for my rain jacket or weather-resistant soft-shell, but it also regulates temperature efficiently so that spring rides these days mean just packing a gilet in case of sudden cold winds or if the chance of rain is slim. In fact I wore it on a six hour sportive which started in drizzle, climbed up through low cloud and ended in glorious sunshine, and the only discomfort I felt was when I slipped and fell on a quarry-tiled floor at the feed station.
The merino carbon blend's wicking properties have come in useful in a spin class, where a maniac called Gareth made us all melt to death in a darkened back room for 45 minutes. Stationary training has me pooling sweat on the floor almost instantly, but I stayed (relatively) comfortable.
The close fit was a benefit, too, during a recent track session in Newport, where aerodynamics can save you watts of power and loose clothing can cost you seconds per lap. I'm not saying my lap times were slow, but they were measured using a sundial. But, as they say, every little helps.
In short, the ashmei merino carbon jersey is a wonderfully versatile garment: equally suitable as a sub-, mid- or top-layer, packed with clever and useful features, and just a joy to wear. A little pricey, maybe - but in terms of value for money, you won't really need much else from spring through to autumn, indoor or out.
Ashmei merino carbon jersey, £95 from ashmei.com
4 Comments