Nuu-Muu Ruu-Muu Fleurty

There are times when skin-tight Lycra just isn't what you want, and I'm sure there are a good number of women out there who, like me, sometimes want a bit more coverage from a bike top without sacrificing the ability to ride as fast (or as slow) as you like. The Nuu-Muu Ruu-Muu dress may well be the solution, and could just become your new cafe-cruising best friend.

Nuu-Muu is a US-based company specialising in sports dresses. Some of you may wish to tune out now. The concept is simple: the dresses come in two options, the pocketless Nuu-Muu Classic, or the Ruu-Muu Pocket, as tested, which has two flap-covered pouch pockets at the small of the back. Both options come in a huge variety of colours and patterns that should make it hard for anyone not to find something to their liking.

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The dresses are designed to be a blend of genuinely functional sportswear and a fun way to be more girly on the bike. They're also aimed at other types of active women, such as runners or outdoor enthusiasts.

The fabric is a soft and silky polyester/Lycra mix, a flattering weight and not over clingy. It's designed to wick moisture and breathe well enough to cope with even the most vigorous exertions, and it did both effectively enough for a decent road ride.

Sizing is fairly standard, from XS-XXL, with a Medium roughly equivalent to a smallish UK12. The cut is A-line, and the length finishes at a flattering above-knee-but-below-mid-thigh point, making it great for wearing with shorts or even full-length tights or leggings (or on its own if you're daring). The neckline is quite high, to prevent showing off your cleavage when riding, but the keyhole design stops it looking too severe.

It really was exceptionally comfortable both on and off the bike, and absolutely spot-on for those rides which included a bit of wandering about at the end, when you want to look more like a 'normal' person.

Being able to wear technical legwear without the overall effect being too obviously sporty makes it a great option for touring, too, and the simple shift design allows for a choice of sports bra. A long-sleeve base layer underneath could easily transform it for year-round use too.

The pockets at the back are super-handy, although making one smaller and one larger to allow for larger smartphones would be good.

Nuu-Muu is a 1% for the Planet company, meaning 1% of the company's profits go towards benefiting the environment.

Verdict

A stylish and comfortable alternative to traditional bike tops but without sacrificing too much performance