PEdAL ED's Odyssey Jersey is designed as a long-distance top and to cope with the load-carrying that comes with the territory. The jersey itself has a plethora of pockets and is brilliantly breathable in even really warm temperatures while feeling supersoft against the skin.
- Pros: Excellent breathable fabric, top notch quality
- Cons: Very little, to be honest
It's part of a range of clothing that is all designed to work together – I've also been testing the bib shorts and the vest that make up a complete package. The Odyssey is a really functional jersey, whether for epic treks or lesser ones, where you need to carry kit and have easy access to it on your rides.
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For starters, it has seven pockets. Yep, seven! Three deep ones at the rear in a standard roadie position…
…with another one on each side of those – ideal for snacks that you can grab quickly while still riding.
On the right hand rear pocket there is a zipped one for valuables, and on the centre pocket is a mesh one which PEdAL ED says is ideal for stashing wet clothes or gloves and a gilet.
The pockets are all roomy and surprisingly taut, considering how thin the fabric is.
Apart from being useful, a jersey that you might be spending days at a time wearing also needs to be rugged and hardwearing – both of which the Odyssey is. The fabric takes plenty of pulling and stretching and snagging without issue or damage.
The thin mesh panels under the arms and down the sides have a decent level of elastane which gives them plenty of stretch to avoid tearing.
The main part of the jersey is made from PEdAL ED's Sensitive fabric and it feels lovely and soft, and very comfortable to wear.
Breathability is impressive too: I've been wearing the Odyssey in temperatures around the mid-20s and have finished long rides amazed at how cool and dry I felt. Those mesh panels really do help a lot, being very thin with a large knit mesh to let body heat escape.
The fit is semi-race, I'd say. Well tailored for a flattering shape but without being restrictive, and sizing covers XXS through to XXL – if you follow PEdAL ED's chart you won't go far wrong.
There is a decent dropped tail to keep your lower back covered which is held in place by a small elastic hem.
Round the front you'll find a full length zip and your neck will be kept free of irritation thanks to the zip guard. There is one at the bottom of the zip too, to prevent damage to the front of your shorts when you are crouched over in the saddle.
The quality of the Japanese-designed/Italian-made jersey is pretty exceptional, with immaculate stitching throughout, which at least backs up its £125 price tag.
It is only a fiver more expensive than the Neon Velo Pro Fit jersey and it comes with a lot more details.
Another race jersey I was impressed with recently is the Pearl Izumi Elite Pursuit Graphic jersey for £99.99. The fabrics used here on the PEdAL ED are superior, though, and with all of its practically it's a well-thought-out piece of kit.
> Buyer's Guide: 17 of the best summer cycling jerseys
As well as this grey version with bright orange fabric used for the pockets, which I think is a nice touch for visibility, there is also an all black option if you don't want the brightness. Both have plenty of reflective strips running down the back, around the hem and the bottom of each sleeve. Though you might want to consider buying the vest too, for all-nighters...
Verdict
Very well made jersey with loads of storage and attention to detail
Make and model: PEdAL ED Odyssey Jersey
Tell us what the product is for
PEdAL ED says, "We believe that experience is an essential element when designing a new garment, this is why for the Odyssey Jersey we've put everything we have learned on the road to create a product that could be the contact point of everything we have done so far.
"Crossing Europe with the Transcontinental Race, riding in the fastest competitions with Britain's oldest team JLT Condor and exploring Kyrgyzstan during the first Silk Road mountain race are part of the steps that we took to get to this Jersey.
"The Odyssey is designed to be the ultimate Jersey for adventures on two wheels, with its seven pockets and high visibility details combined with our innovative Sensitive skin® fabric.
"The Odyssey is the first Jersey in the world to feature seven pockets, two lateral, three big cargo pockets on the back, one zip pocket for values and an extra dry mesh pocket on the back if you are carrying wet garments.
"Reflective elements on the back, on the arms and on the back pockets offer the necessary visibility when riding in dark conditions.
"The Sensitive® fabric that we developed over the years is extremely comfortable when riding in different weather conditions guaranteeing extreme breathability, quick drying and anti-smell protection."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
PEdAL ED lists:
Seven pockets
Full Zip
Sensitive fabric
Sizes XXS - XXL
Mesh panels for breathability
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
Rate the product for fit:
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
8/10
Sizing is spot on to PEdAL ED's size guide.
Rate the product for weight:
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
9/10
Rate the product for value:
5/10
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Following a normal washing programme there have been no issues whatsoever.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
It's comfortable for all-day riding and has loads of storage options.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Brilliant fabric.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Very little to be honest, though it isn't cheap.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It's up there with the top-end jerseys but deservedly so.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
The Odyssey is an excellent jersey. It fulfils PEdAL ED's design brief and is very well made; to my mind it justifies the price.
Age: 40 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: This month's test bike My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed
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