Google+
Photo by Fat Lad At The Back on Unsplash

Understanding Cycling Jerseys

Seen cyclist riding down the street in skin-tight clothing?
​At the first look, it surely looks uncomfortable, being compressed up like a dumpling. 
These clothing are called cycling jerseys and its main purpose is to provide aerodynamic properties and a lot of comfort.


​You must be curious, “Why must it be so tight? Wouldn’t my yoga tights work the same too?” 
The science of it lies in the fabric.
​When the clothing fabrics are close to your skin, it drives moisture away from it to the outer edges of the fabric. So you can remain cooler and pedal on more comfortably.
Additionally, when there is less movement around your skin, this equates to abrasion preventions in certain areas which... leads to uncomfortable situation. (I see agreeing nods from fellow cyclists)
Now that you have understood the purpose of cycling jerseys, let us figure out why some jerseys are more expensive than the others. 
Economical Jerseys:
Pros:
  • Easy on the budget
  • No worries on dirtying your jersey since it's going to burn the wallet
Cons:
  • Non-ventilated fabric on the jerseys means that it could get really hot
  • Pockets tends to sag when loaded; that means you will feel the weight of your extra baggages 
You can find economical jerseys from:
​Some economical jerseys come with half zip and a full zip.  Does it really matter?

Our Coach's Reply:
Well, it really depends on where and how long you are riding. If it is the tropical weather of Singapore, that extra inch of zip you can unzip during the workout will really help to cool you down. 
Unless you are doing slow recreational journey around your neighbourhood, a full zip would not matter. 

Premium Jerseys:
Pros:
  • Multiple specialised fabrics to help with ventilations and aerodynamic properties
  • Consistency of the aggressiveness of fitting E.g. Longer Sleeves, Tighter cuffs
  •  Tighter pockets that do not sag easily when loaded so you do not need to worry if the things drop out.  
Cons:
  • Higher Cost. Due to the production cost since it is manufactured mostly in European countries.
  • Aggressive fitting might not fit everyone (too tight?)
You can find premium jerseys from:
So does it mean that economical jerseys are lousy jerseys? We believe not. They still serve its purpose by providing practicality, utility, and affordability. For example, Decathlon features a high quality jersey at a low cost of SGD$65.
This jersey is made from mesh materials that provide the rider with adequate ventilation to survive the heat in Singapore, pockets that do not sag that easily, aggressive fitting that matches most premium jerseys and most importantly, it affordable. Quite a steal if you ask me!
That's all for now! Stay tuned for part 2 as we go deeper into finding out what type of jerseys suits you and the cycling jersey culture in Singapore.