Morvelo Rip 'R Jersey

Brighton-based Morvelo are always coming out with cool new clothing every year and their most stylish - in my opinion - in a while is the Rip 'R range.

The jersey is well constructed from a Twin Dri-Clim fabric that effortlessly deals with sweat on hotter days, managing to dry out very quickly, avoiding that clammy feeling you can get with some jerseys. The fabric also has a high UV protective treatment so there's little chance of the sun's harmful rays burning you through the lightweight fabric.

It's a close cut jersey, not skin tight like some racy jerseys, and it's just generous enough to be flattering. It's a comfortable fit is perhaps the best way to describe it. If you're of the skinny build, you might want to drop down a size.

The sleeves use a wide elastic band that is so fashionable in the cycle clothing industry right now. That's a good thing, because this approach produces a much more comfortable fit than traditional stitched sleeves with nasty silicone dots or tape. There's not a huge amount of stretch in the elastic band so they're snug, but they don't shift about.

The majority of the back panel, and the back of the sleeves, is made from a mesh fabric that helps dissipate heat and works well to prevent overheating. The full-length zipper terminates with a small zip garage on the collar that prevents any irritation when it's fully done up.

While we're focusing on the back, there are three mandatory pockets and they're a good size, with enough depth to safely stow a mini-pump, wind jacket, food and assorted other gubbins you need to carry with you on a ride. That's not all. There's an extra pocket on the right side panel that I found an ideal place to keep important stuff to hand, like a couple of gels, as you can get to them very easily. There's also a small zipped pocket that is ideal for your car keys.

So functionally the Morvelo Rip 'R jersey works a treat, with some really nice design features that ensure it's lovely to ride in. It's also a great looking jersey, quite unlike anything else on the market that I can think of. That will undoubtedly appeal to a lot of people who want something a little different from the usual conservative jersey designs.

Verdict

Stylish and high performance jersey that copes well in the heat with some really nice design touches