FWE LTR Long Sleeve Jersey

The FWE LTR Long Sleeve jersey is ideal for those chillier rides in spring, summer or autumn when you don't want to faff with a short sleeve top and arm warmers. With its lightweight fabric and well positioned mesh panels, you can keep cool and warm at the same time.

FWE is the in-house brand of high street and online retailer Evans Cycles, with LTR being the abbreviation of Lunchtime Ride – which is when the Evans design staff are said to go out and test the kit. It's grown into quite a decent range and when looking at the details and quality of this long sleeve jersey, you can see why.

> Find your nearest Evans store here

The LTR uses a thin polyester material for both the solid and mesh parts of the outer, which really keeps the weight down. You barely notice it on when you're wearing it.

The mesh sections cover the back, upper arms and shoulders to transfer body heat away on sections of your torso not likely to be chilled by the wind. This is helped by the use of a recycled polypropylene mesh on the inside of the jersey, which is designed to absorb body moisture and pass it to the outside.

It works well, as even when temperatures are mid-teens centigrade and you're working hard the jersey never really gets overwhelmed. That mid-teens is about the upper limit for when you would want to wear the FWE with a mesh baselayer underneath and I felt comfortable down to about 8 or 9°C with the same setup.

The fit of the LTR is more relaxed than racy, though it is still shaped enough to offer a performance fit and reduce fabric flapping about in the wind. You get a sensible height neck to stop draughts, where you'll also find a zip garage to prevent irritation, and a dropped tail for when you're in the riding position.

The sleeves and cuffs are the only parts I found a little odd, as they are really snug compared to the rest of the jersey. It does stop any cool breeze getting up the arm, though, and there is no bunching of fabric at the elbow.

The cuffs are made from a material that looks black during daylight but is reflective in the dark when light hits it. You also get a stripe of the same at the rear, and up each forearm, which makes for a neat touch when indicating to following car drivers in the dark.

For storage you get three decent sized pockets that'll swallow the majority of your cycling essentials without sagging. The right hand one also has a separate zipped pocket for cash or keys.

For £39.99 the FWE LTR is very good value – I'd happily pay for it to fill that little gap in your wardrobe between short sleeve and thermal jerseys. It is really well made, performs as you'd expect, and offers a great fit. Most of the long-sleeve jerseys we've tested on road.cc have been thermal or heavier weight, and the closest one to compare it with is probably the dhb Blok, although it's still a little more heavy gauge. The Blok is £50 RRP, and the Wiggle brand is renowned for good value for money, so the fact that the Evans' offering comes in at a tenner less is favourable.

> Everything you need to know about cycling jerseys

The FWE LTR is available in this orange, which is great for low light conditions, or black, with both getting the reflective trim.

Verdict

Very good option for those cool summer evening rides in a vibrant colour