Unless you're in the habit of buying designer kit, cycle gear can tend towards the boring end of the spectrum. Looking for a jersey can mean trawling a seemingly endless sea of identikit polyester. Thankfully, if you're bored of black, Summit Different might be just what you're looking for. Based in Sussex, this small British company are out to show that bike clothing doesn't have to be dull, with a range of exciting designs featuring bold colours and characters so your on-bike look can reflect your personality. Feeling a bit bah-humbug before Christmas, I decided to give Dr Seuss's Grinch a go.
First look
The jersey is made of a lightweight polyester - it's probably best suited to spring/summer riding, rather than colder weather. The full-length zip is nicely enclosed and the finishing feels good quality; there's a silicone gripper around the hem to keep the jersey in place. The jersey has a main design with a pattern on the rear, and a perforated material on the sides and under the arms to wick sweat, which is a really nice touch.
The cut is quite slim, I'm a curvy 12-14 and a medium fit well, but I might be inclined to size up in future as it was a little snug around the hips. There are three pockets on the back, which are nice and deep for all your essentials. A zipped or waterproof pocket for money or a mobile would be appreciated, but as a simple jersey goes, this has pretty much everything you'd expect.
On the bike
The weather outside is frightful, and there was no way I was putting that jersey through its paces outside, so I popped my bike on the turbo to give it a quick test. (I never normally use the turbo because my bike's not really built for speed, and I'm just too lazy. The things I do in the name of research!) As I warmed up the jersey proved to be comfortable and kept me cool and dry. Being pear-shaped I sometimes find that jerseys with gripper hems ride up a bit, but this stayed in place despite my exertions.
On balance, I'd say these are great fun jerseys for the rider looking for something different. The price is very fair for a good quality product, and they'd make a great gift.
The Grinch jersey is available from www.summitdifferent.co.uk, priced £46.95.
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