Tokyo Fixed Wing Jersey

Team kit and retro-inspired begone – the Tokyo Fixed Wing jersey looks more like it was designed at art school and certainly stands out from the crowd. With its combination of light weight, mesh panels and tight fit, it's one for hot days when you can forgo the base layer and arm warmers.

The Fixed Wing won't be to everyone's taste, with its dark turquoise front panel, and sleeves and rear featuring a feather/wing pattern (hence the name) in a contrasting light pink, but there's something about it that works very well.

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Picking up the jersey, it's immediately apparent that this is a lightweight top for midsummer riding, not one to reach for in early spring/late autumn when you're looking for an extra bit of warmth. Closer inspection hints that the focus is on breathability, with 'micro-cut outs' on the arm bands, something halfway between a mesh and a fabric. They look flimsy but do the job and keep the sleeves securely positioned around the bicep without rolling or rucking; they're tight fitting, though, and you'd be pushed to get an arm warmer under them unless you have pipe-cleaner arms.

Focused on warm weather riding, the jersey's very trim fit keeps the material close to your skin so it wicks away sweat (it's good that it's for warmer weather, as you probably won't want to be wearing this if you're still carrying a bit of early-season weight). The manufacturers state that the cut is tight-fitting and they're not wrong – if you're at the larger end of your usual size, go one up unless you want to spend your pre-season avoiding cake at the end-of-ride cafe stop. The cut at the front is high, which feels slightly odd off the bike but makes perfect sense once in the saddle, and there are also silicone grips around the waist that do a good job of keeping the jersey in place.

Pockets are a decent size for this type of jersey – some only give you space for a couple of gels, but here there's room to stow tubes and a CO2 inflator as well as gels, which is handy if you don't use a saddle bag. The tops of the pockets are elasticated and open up enough for you to grab what you want, but aren't big enough for a good rummage.

The fully-concealed full length zipper is good – you don't want a big white zip on show, especially if it's a jersey with a strong style such as this one. Around the sides, mesh panels with 'carbon fibre weave' aid airflow, and this is quite noticeable when riding along with the zip open as the air finds an easy way out. It can make your sides feel a little chilly on cooler days, though. After a sweaty ride the fabric does dry quickly, too, as rapid as most race-orientated jerseys, and much quicker than a heavier weight year-round fabric.

This is a lovely jersey, well detailed and nicely put together. The combination of mesh panels and tight fit mean it's really one for warm days when you're not going to be riding with base layers or extras like arm warmers. A number of small features such as a headphone hole, hidden reflective dots and the already mentioned concealed zip really make this attractive for the price; £70 isn't by any means cheap, but these details make the difference if you're spending that amount.

Verdict

Stand-out jersey if you want race fit and performance but not race styling