Aldi Ladies Performance Short Sleeved Cycling Jersey

I've long been a believer that unless you're a hardcore speed demon focused on those elusive marginal gains, pretty much any jersey is going to do the trick to a greater or lesser degree, and if budgets are tight, this is a much better place to save money than on shorts, for instance. The Aldi Ladies Short Sleeved Cycling Jersey proves that for just £19.99 it's possible to get a genuinely stylish, effective and deceptively expensive looking jersey.

At first glance it would be easy to think this jersey was made by one of the prestige brands. The fabric is pleasantly silky and lightweight, and the boldly graphic black, white and red design shouldn't upset even the most style conscious of female cyclists.

> Find your nearest Aldi store here

> Buy this online here

On closer inspection, this full-zip jersey still gives the impression of costing far more than just 20 quid, with mesh panels under the arms and on the back, laser cut sleeves and hem, reflective accents and a triple rear pocket with small zipped security pocket. The contrast tonal panelling is a nice touch, with the white section giving an impression of an almost bodice-like detail, making it a bit more feminine than many.

The fit is spot on, with the medium fitting a 12-14 as stated, and the cut and fabric are accommodating of a variety of body shapes – although the lightweight silky fabric does mean that pairing it up with curve-flattering bib shorts rather than waist shorts is a good idea.

> Check out our guide to hot weather cycling jerseys

Out on the bike the fabric wicked moisture well and dried quickly, while the underarm and rear venting were great on a hot day. In essence, it behaved like a well-performing jersey – rather than a budget one – should.

The only niggle I had was with the size of the rear pockets. While the central one is large enough for a windproof jacket or similar, the two side pouch pockets are really only big enough for an energy bar or two at best. Not the end of the world, though, and with lightweight fabric like this, overloading usually results in a saggy fit anyway. There's a small zipped pocket too – it isn't lined to keep contents from getting sweaty but will just about accommodate an iPhone 5S sized smartphone in a freezer bag.

All in all, it's extremely hard to find fault with this jersey for the paltry sum of £19.99, especially as it easily looks like it could have cost four times that and it performs well enough for all levels of rider too. A genuine bargain.

Verdict

Well designed and exceedingly good value for money – looks a lot more expensive than it is, with performance to match