Cycling Kits I Like - Betty Designs Garden Party Cycling Jersey and Shorts (and Tri Top Too!)

Action shot!

Purchase the jersey here!

Purchase the shorts here!

Purchase the tri top here!

Everything Garden Party here!

No muffin in sight!

Pros:

• Bright, colorful, and unique design sure to get you noticed on the bike path!
• Strategically placed mesh on the back and sides of the jersey helps keep you cool. That same mesh is also on the back of the tri top.
• I really like the "yoga" waistband on the cycle shorts - it is extremely comfortable and also helps cover up any bloat.

Cons:

• Pricey, but you get what you pay for and the price is consistent with Smashfest Queen's kits.
• The one pocket on the back of the tri top is kind of a bummer - I like to have two to keep my keys and cell phone separate.

This one pocket I speak of is the blue floral block of material on my lower back

My Thoughts:

I've been staring longingly at everything on Betty Designs' website for over a year. If money was not an object, I would have one of every item on their site! A few months ago, I finally bit the bullet and purchased the Garden Party kit. Like the Smashfest Queen kit I got, I got the cycling jersey, cycling shorts, and tri top for year-round use. 

The size chart can be a little deceptive. Unless you desire a super tight fit, size up! Even though my measurements fall in the "small" column, I went up to a medium on everything and I was happy I did. I found that a combination of consulting the size chart, reading the FAQs posted on Betty Designs' site, and contacting Betty Designs ensured that everything I received fit perfectly. I like my cycling jerseys a little big so that I can pack everything into the back pockets - this actually worked to my advantage, as the sleeves on the size small jersey would have been too snug.

I love the full zip and the gripper at the bottom so everything stays put!

Too often, you have to choose between stylish and function, but Betty Designs does a great job of hitting both marks. In fact, I decided that this kit would get trial by fire - the century test - and it passed with flying colors! I almost wore the tri top, as I knew it was going to get pretty hot in some of the canyons we rode through, but I ended up wearing the jersey, as it was also pretty cool in the morning. Despite my concerns, I did not overheat - the mesh side panels helped keep me cool and dry. As a system, the kit worked extremely well. Everything stayed in place so I didn't have to waste time or be distracted fidgeting with the jersey or shorts.

Venting magic along the sides and just below the neck!

The shorts also held up beautifully during all 100 miles. Usually, no matter what shorts I wear, I have some sort of discomfort after 100 miles in the saddle. However, I have yet to experience any discomfort of any sort in these shorts. The chamois is made of a dense foam that is thicker in the sit bones and other critical areas. The leg grippers keep the shorts in place without feeling sticky. To top this all off, the yoga waistband means absolutely no muffin top, even when my stomach is bloated (thanks, gluten allergy)!

Love these shorts!

The tri top is also great. I still think I prefer Smashfest Queen's built-in sports bra to the zip-down front, but I do see the merits of both designs. Ideally, I would like a tri top with a full zipper, similar to the jersey, but I have yet to find such a top. It definitely runs tighter than the jersey. The jersey is pretty loose on me, but the tri top is comfortably snug. Now that it's pretty hot and muggy here in Southern California, I'm loving the zip-down front and back mesh for venting. It also dries incredibly fast. 

The zipper is fully unzipped

I'm still on the fence as to whether I will get the matching tri shorts - so far, I've been really enjoying just wearing this kit for cycling. I can only imagine they are just as comfortable and functional as the rest of the set, though!

Thanks for stopping by! This is not a sponsored post – I purchased the above item(s) with my own money and I am reviewing the product(s) because I like them a lot. :) There may be Amazon Affiliate links, but I am not compensated by or affiliated with the manufacturer of the product(s).