There is an old saying that there is no bad cycling weather, just the wrong clothes. This is true when it’s cold or humid, but also when it’s stiflingly hot. If the summer heat is draining your enthusiasm to deal with a ride a big bikeCheck out the latest cycling jerseys and shirts of the season.
All of them make the ride cooler and more comfortable than anything else in your cycling jersey drawer, even when the heat and humidity are intense. Whether you’re a road racer, a gravel racer, or Single Track The shredder and shirts made of feather-light fabrics and cooling will make moving your bike comfortable on any hot day.
Stay cool in the best hot weather cycling jerseys
photo courtesy
1. Kitsbow Superflow Cooling Tee
Made for mountain biking and gravel riding, the Superflow Cooling Tee is a breezy crew neck to wear for cycling or kicking around town. Its highly wicking Polartec Delta mesh fabric. Although the shirt is made of synthetic material, it feels like cotton, which makes it feel like there’s a breeze even when you’re pressing the pedal in extreme humidity. The medium fit is perfect for mountain biking and everyday wear – not too loose and not too tight. Even better, each shirt is custom-made in Old Fort, North Carolina, reducing waste. Choose from nine colors.
Skin-friendly and ready to race, the radiator is so breathable, it’s cooler than wearing nothing at all. Evaporative wicking creates airflow over your skin as the fabric draws in heat and perspiration. The hinge Velocio pattern is fast and practical with the UPF 30. While the jersey body is ultra-light, it doesn’t skimp on functionality. The radiator has three anti-sag pockets and a zip pocket with a sweat barrier to hold tools, food, and a smartphone. Flexible silicone grip mounts on the back mounts whether it’s hammered into the saddle or standing up to feed the hill. To maximize airflow, the Velocio opted for a collar off, but built in a full-length zip-up garage at the front to prevent the closure from chafing.
With six pockets, the summer-weight, quick-drying, highly ventilated Brevet gives you plenty of storage for road and gravel for long rides. A large, low-back zip pocket holds a phone, a wired port (if you ride wired, the internal headphone guides go into the neck) and a jacket in case the weather threatens. This is also where you’ll find Tyvek’s signature beta-printed on the hunt for wild garlic on the ride that cleverly doubles as a tire shoe. Store cash and IDs in the hidden chest pocket, items such as keys and credit cards can’t be lost in the hidden hand pocket, and snacks and tools in the cargo pockets. If you’re fully loaded, you’ll be lumpy, but most pockets are mesh backed so you don’t feel suffocated. The elastic hem prevents the Brevet from tipping over and the mesh side panels keep it fresh. On a multi-day trip, an antibacterial treatment keeps the odor at bay. Simply rinse the shirt to get rid of the salt and let it dry overnight.
This looks like your favorite cotton T-shirt, but it handles the hottest road and gravel riding without getting sweaty and saggy. The hybrid jersey is woven from polyester with lyocell wood fibers that retain some perspiration by design. Like a wet bandana, it feels comfortable against your skin and prevents you from overheating on very hot days. When you stop for coffee after the ride, the shirt dries almost instantly. It is as versatile as it is convenient. Wear it with swim trunks, jeans, and pebble shorts as the day’s adventures dictate.
Most cycling jerseys are either crew neck tees or zip front tops. Henley’s Gorewear’s poly/Merino blend offers another style option to the world of cycling jerseys, and there’s no better top for multi-day gravel adventures. Polyester wicks sweat and merino keeps smelling fresh for longer. This is key if you’re packing one T-shirt for a four-day adventure. The design makes it look cool and casual off the bike when taking off.
The midday sun can burn your skin, but the fading daylight will leave you shivering at home. This long-sleeved mountain bike shirt magically keeps the shirt cool when it’s hot, but keeps you warm and covered when the sun sinks below the horizon. Yeti’s secret sauce is its open texture UPF20 that combats bad odor with an anti-odor treatment. It contains less elastane than previous iterations, so it dries faster than ever. The Turq Air LS has no pockets, but the sunglasses bandana is a lifesaver on bouts of rain, sandstorms, and wet days. With the pack on, the dropped hem kept the shirt from riding up, and the trail fit was comfortably loose without being baggy.
As much air as you can get without showing the skin, Fox’s Flexair has two-tone color blocking, imperceptible flat seams under the pack, and a flank hem that prevents the shirt from riding up. It’s not just an open woven mesh that keeps you cool. Polartec Delta fabric wicks strongly for evaporative cooling. The fit is defined without being tight, with four-way stretching that allows you to move freely up and down. The sleeves are knitted more densely than the body of the shirt. Fox says this is for corrosion resistance. (We didn’t take a digger wearing this shirt, so we can’t confirm that.) The shirt is simple and too light to support loaded pockets, but the minimalist design and minimal branding makes this an everyday favorite for trail riding.
Body armor is hot, whether he’s wearing a back protector and elbow pads or a full-pressure top to lift the laps. In short, it’s a little more when you add jersey over the pads. This lightweight, race-friendly pick is made of stretchy mesh with visible air channels for breathability. The elbows are reinforced with a protective abrasion-resistant film for peace of mind when not padded, and the elbow patches prevent the shirt from ripping. Stash the gloves in the inner side pockets between the rolls (there’s enough room for the fuel, too). We tested the path of black color, which did not show dirt or stains. It can even be chalked up to stain-resistant jersey paint or it can be coloured. The flat seam neck is stress free when paired with a Leatt neck brace. It also comes in a range of sizes: XS-3XL.
Joseph
