HOY Vulpine Valldemossa Race Jersey

Hoy Vulpine is a collab between a couple of folk we like a lot here at road.cc. Chris Hoy needs no introduction, and his successful range of bikes like the Sa Calobra have shown he's got a good eye for what UK riders like, not to mention something of an obsession with Mallorca. Hooking up with Vulpine was a smart move for his new range of clothing - Nick Hussey's outfit have created a strong brand in a relatively short time, largely through the incorporation of neat details and sharp styling into quality cycling apparel.

The range of products for the initial collection is modest, and reasonably-priced. There's a couple of jerseys, some bibs, and some more casual wear (t-shirts, a polo, casual shorts). The collection isn't really aimed at racers (and in fact they plan to drop the "Race" from this jersey's name), more at riders who want smart, comfortable and well-made gear to feel good on their bikes.

Valdemossa is a village nestled in the hills towards the western end of Mallorca. The jersey which bears its name is a soft and very comfortable short-sleeve, cut to suit the average figure rather than the waifish grimpeur. It's available in men's and women's sizing; five sizes each, giving an option for a wide range of body shapes. There are three colours available, the Orion blue you see here (with red detailing), plus an Orion blue and black version and finally a rather brighter red and Cobalt blue. Styling is simple and classy, using raglan sleeves and flatlock stitching to maximise comfort. Vulpine don't tend to go in for shouty branding, so there's a couple of their trademark V decals paired with the usual muscular HOY logo; small on the breast and sleeve and larger on the centre pocket at the back.

The fabric used is a polyester blend including 30% of a yarn called S.Café, the first time we've come across this here at road.cc. S.Café uses a patented process involving waste coffee grounds, resulting in a fabric which resists odours and stays comfortable and dry as the temperature goes up. Among the claims is that it is "up to 200% faster drying when compared to cotton". Pretty much any modern cycling jersey will dry much faster than cotton, so I'm unmoved by this particular claim, but in any case, I found the fabric to be very comfortable and pleasantly soft against the skin. A nice touch - there are no itchy labels inside, all the necessary information being printed directly onto the inside of the jersey.

If you check out the official marketing shots, they've got Chris Hoy looking into the middle distance, bulging arm muscles pulling the jersey sleeves tight. My arms aren't a lot like Chris's, and here the fit doesn't really work for me, if I'm honest. It's comfortable, sure, but I prefer a more fitted and less flappy sleeve. Dave, in the pictures, is 15kg or so heavier than me and his arms don't fill the sleeves either. That's a medium in the pictures, too, so it's fair to say sizing is on the large side. Vulpine tells us that this was a deliberate decision, making a jersey which performs well but which has a more casual fit than out-and-out racewear, which can be intimidating or off-putting to new cyclists. Dropping the Race from the name sounds a good idea. My only real objection to the looser sleeves is that they won't hold up arm warmers unless you're Hoy-shaped.

It's a jersey for warmer days, really, where arm warmers are but a distant memory of the springtime. A full length zip is always welcome, and this one comes with a nice big pull, making one-handed ventilation adjustments pretty straightforward on the bike. There's a zip garage to keep your neck from irritation. The fabric breathes and wicks well, I had no complaints on the warmer days of spring. It's a medium-weight fabric, suited well to the sort of summer days we get here in the UK.

At the back are three pockets, with the outer two having angled openings making it much easier to get your hands in there. The central pocket is taller and a little narrower; not an out-and-out pump pocket, but it works fine for a mini pump or a phone. The combination of pockets worked fine for me, with enough room for the stuff I generally want to carry. There's no zipped key pocket, but I can live with that. Below the pockets there's a short section of elastic sewn inside the hem to cinch the bottom of the jersey together and - combined with some silicon circles - hold it in place.

This is a decent jersey for those who aren't going to race in it (and let's not forget, that's the vast majority of cyclists). There's smart, understated looks, a comfortable fabric and cut, and the sort of neat unobtrusive details that Vulpine are known for. It's available from Evans shops and also from Vulpine online.

Verdict

Effective and stylish summer jersey with comfortable fabric and casual fit