Ashmei 3 Season Jersey

Two hundred and twenty pounds is an unbelievable amount to spend on a cycling top but can the new ashmei 3 Season Jersey justify its colossal price tag? It has a bloody good go with impressive material choice, cut and attention to detail.

Castelli's Gabba jersey, now on its third generation made a massive impact on the pro cycling scene and on dedicated enthusiasts in what is to be fair quite a niche marketplace, a short sleeve jersey designed for inclement weather conditions.

Buy Ashmei 3 Season Jersey

The 3 Season is ashmei's take on this and while I can't quite decide if I need it in my cycling wardrobe I certainly want it.

The key time I've found the ashmei works is early spring where the conditions can be warm in the sunshine but as the afternoon turns into evening and the temperature drops you need something more than a standard short sleeved jersey.

The 3 Season is very breathable up to the high teens centigrade so you can whack out a decent pace without overwhelming it while on the flipside it's warm enough when the figures drop into single figures thanks to the fabric being very finely fleece lined to trap body heat.

Heading off to ride the Dirty Reiver in Northumberland the temperature was minus two degrees while later in the event things nudged up to about fourteen in the sun. Paired with a short sleeve summer baselayer I neither felt over cold or uncomfortably warm.

The material itself is unbelievably thin so the fact that it manages to be so warm is very impressive.

The 3 Season is also water repellent. Drizzle and very light showers will just bead off in a rather impressive fashion although if things do get heavier then you will get wet. Thanks to that fleece backed material though you don't get cold especially if you keep moving.

The material has a lot of elasticity, more than just a simple Lycra jersey which creates a very close fit for those who like to go for that pro look. The cut of the 3 Season is very slim, cut for a pure cyclist's body, so if you carry any level of muscle mass you're going to need to size up.

I was fine with this medium size around the chest and waist but the sleeves were cut close around the bicep, somewhere I'm not massively blessed.

If you really study the 3 Season you'll see just how many separate panels go into making this jersey, tiny little sections here and there to give the garment its shape and close fit. It's these little details that start to ramp up the price.

Read more: 10 of the best wet-weather racing jerseys

The ashmei 3 Season actually feels a bit uncomfortable when you are off of the bike, so don't be discouraged if you try it on in the living room. When you climb aboard everything slips into place and it just feels right.

The short front resists bunching while the rear comes with an impressive drop to protect your lower back and rear end from the wind and road spray.

The ashmei is quite a bit lighter than the Gabba thanks to laser cutting a lot of the panels to do away with seams around the hem and sleeves. You don't need silicone grippers or elastic to keep the jersey in place as the material does it on its own.

At the rear you'll find three pockets that are a massive 185mm deep so no matter how low you crouch in the drops you aren't going to be losing anything. Ashmei haven't gone for a headphone socket through the jersey but they've gone for a rather neat solution of a little clip on the outside of the collar to direct the cable. Some may not agree with listening to music on the go but I like to listen to my tunes and this clip was a welcome addition although you do need to thread the cables through before you put the jersey on.

While we're on the subject of little details I'll mention that strip of dots up the rear. They don't look reflective to the naked eye but they are, providing a really cool visibility feature without looking like a full on 'can you see me' jersey in daylight.

So then, value. I can hear the air being sucked in through gritted teeth.

In the grand scheme of things £220 is insane for a cycling top but on the flipside there is a market out there. Castelli have been knocking out the Gabba for years at a pretty high price and the new David Miller Rocka based on it is a cool £300.

Is the ashmei worth more than a third more than the Gabba 3? That's a tough one. The 3 Season is going to be made in smaller numbers and it's got all of those little additions to take into account, most importantly though it makes you feel a little bit special, a little bit pro when you zip it up.

I couldn't afford it but if I could I'd buy it.

Verdict

Brilliantly made race jersey for variable conditions but it comes at a massive – but justifiable – price