Gore C7 Windstopper Jersey

Gore's C7 Windstopper Jersey is made for riding hard in cool conditions. The Windstopper material does a lot to keep you warm but it also breathes really well. The fit is good too, with stretch just where you need it, though I could have done with a slightly more tapered waist. The price is very high compared with similar designs.

• Pros: Short front offers great on-bike fit; breathability is brilliant; excellent windproofing
• Cons: Very expensive

Gore's technical fabrics are brilliant and this jersey is another example of how well they can work for cyclists. This jersey uses Gore's Windstopper fabric, a totally windproof, extremely breathable and water-repellent material that we've seen on countless other jerseys and jackets.

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But having a brilliant fabric doesn't automatically make a great jersey. Fit plays a massive part and I think that Gore has nearly nailed it. It's aimed this jersey at fast riding and racing in cool conditions and it works really well for this thanks to the high levels of breathability and the close fit.

The cut is high at the front, which prevents material bunching too much when you're on the bike. At the rear, the tail is dropped slightly, giving good coverage of the lower back and easy access to the three large pockets (plus one zipped).

Gore has included stretch panels in the arms that extend down under the pits. This allows the stretch needed as the Windstopper material has very little give. Gore has extended this down the side panels a little to allow more flex around the chest.

This all results in a close fit that feels very comfortable on the bike. It isn't a skintight fit on the arms but it is close enough on my skinny biceps to cause no flapping. At the waist, though, it's just a bit on the loose side. I have a very slim waist and I could have benefited from the jersey tapering more. The rear hem gripper is wide, but it couldn't grip to my shorts and the jersey could ride up over the layer underneath – especially if I was wearing it over another jersey with stuff in that jersey's pockets. I will stress, though, I have a very slender waist.

Out on the road, I found the jersey perfect in the late spring and also the recent cooler weather. It also does well as an extra layer, over another jersey and arm warmers on cool days or just for the start of a chilly ride. Once it's warmed up you can then roll up the jersey and store in a pocket if needed. Below about 17°C and the jersey won't cause you to overheat.

The material is also slightly water resistant. It fends off a bit of rain but anything heavy will quickly soak through. The thin material doesn't hold much water, though, and the jersey will dry quickly.

There is an argument that the long-sleeve jersey might be a better option, but I'd pick this one and pair it with some arm warmers. That way, you get a wider temperature range to use the jersey and an easier job of getting it in a jersey pocket.

> Buyers Guide: 19 of the best arm and leg warmers

Value is where this jersey loses points. This type of jersey was kicked off by Castelli with the Gabba. Castelli now has the Perfetto Light (£135) which uses Gore Windstopper fabric and is a great jersey, and there's the Endura Pro SL Classics (£149.99), currently available for £96, with arm warmers included. The breathability might not be quite as good, but the jersey performs much the same job and has a very good fit.

> Buyer's Guide: 10 wet weather racing jerseys

Pricing is an area that does confuse me. There might be more to it, but as Gore is using its own fabric, I would have assumed that would make its product cheaper than Castelli's Perfetto, which requires Castelli to buy-in Gore's fabric... Whatever the case, it's a great jersey but there are cheaper alternatives that work just as well.

Verdict

Brilliant performance in a wide range of temperatures, though the price is very high and the fit not perfect if you're slim-waisted