Cycling Clothing I Like - Velocio Helen Wyman Kit

The blue matches my bike nicely

Purchase the jersey here!
Purchase the bib shorts here!
Purchase the jacket here!
Purchase the arm warmers here!

I am a huge fan of Velocio's entire line of cycling clothing, and for the next few days many of their winter pieces (including this kit) are 25% off. Shop their Winter Sale now through February 8, 2016!

Those silver tabs are reflective!

Pros:

• The thermal bibs are warm and cozy without being bulky or unwieldy. 
• The fabrics are warm but still breathe.
• The fit is amazing - everything feels like a second skin!

Cons:

• I wish the bib shorts matched some of Velocio's other jerseys better!
• These pieces are not cheap, though they are well made.

Love the fit!

My Thoughts:

I'm a huge fan of cycling outside year-round. Yes, I know I live in Southern California. However, I often ride at 5:00 in the morning, and it can get down into the low 30s (Fahrenheit). That is "freaking cold" in my book, and I think we can all agree that you don't just throw on a jersey and bibs and hope you warm up quickly at that temperature.

Velocio has helped make these chilly morning rides so much more comfortable. I used to have to really bundle up to stay warm, which made moving pretty difficult. The material Velocio uses isn't super bulky, but it keeps you toasty when you're cold. Once you start to warm up, there's no sauna effect - the materials also breathe!

The lighter blue patterned part is made of a lighter fabric

The lower collars of Velocio's jerseys are a game-changer for me. I've always been annoyed by the "dueling collar" effect of the jersey's collar bunching up against the jacket's collar, and I always seem to get too warm with two collars but too cold when I zip the jacket collar down. This lower collar doesn't interfere with the jacket's collar whatsoever, and my temperature remains just right.

Depending on the weather, I've been pairing the jersey with Velocio's arm warmers or their regular MID Jacket. I debated getting the Helen Wyman one to match, but it doesn't really match any of my other kits. I have really long arms, so I love that the arm warmers are nice and long. There's nothing worse than having the arm warmer and jersey just barely meet up so that the second you go into the drops you end up with exposed skin. It's been pretty windy lately, so I've been mostly wearing the MID Jacket - it does an excellent job of blocking the wind without creating an upper body sauna once you warm up.

The mesh panel adds warm and helps keep everything in :)

For me, the thermal bibs are the crowning achievement of this kit. It literally feels like you're riding in your most warm and comfortable pair of pajamas - that also happen to fit extremely well. Whomever created this fabric is a genius. It is incredibly soft and cozy on the inside, water repellant on the outside, but still breathes when you start to warm up. 

Like the rest of Velocio's bib shorts, they have an amazing chamois. The longest I've gone in these bibs is 30 miles, but I am confident they would be fine for a century. In my experience, I can tell whether a chamois will pass the 100 mile test in the first 15 miles or so. Honestly, the only thing I would change would be to offer an all-black version to match more of Velocio's jerseys!

For your reference, I am a Small in the bib shorts and a Medium in the jersey and jacket. I could probably get by with the Small jersey/jacket, but my pack rat ways mean I like extra room to fill up the pockets. I got an XS in the arm warmers because the Small was out of stock. They definitely fit on the snug side, though not uncomfortably so. 

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).

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).

Cycling Kits I Like - Smashfest Queen Fast N Loud Cycling Jersey and Shorts (and Tri Top Too!)

Tri top + Cycling Shorts

Purchase the jersey here!

Purchase the shorts here!

Purchase the tri top here!

Everything FAST N LOUD here

Cycling top - please notice the adorable zipper pull!

Pros:

• This kit is amazingly cute and amazingly comfortable!
• White background on the backside of the jersey and tri top helps keep you cool
• The two pockets on the back of the tri top are great for keeping your phone and keys/gels separate.
• Material is light, breathable, and wicks sweat away.
• There's a lot of attention to detail - down to the cute Smashfest Queen bird zipper pull

Two back pockets to keep your phone away from your keys :)

Cons:

• The price is high, though consistent with similar products (Betty Designs comes to mind)

My Thoughts:

It is no secret that I love bright, colorful prints on all my athletic apparel. So when I came across Smashfest Queen's Fast N Loud cycling kit on Instagram, I immediately knew I had to purchase it. After consulting the size charts, I decided it was best to contact them to determine what size cycling shorts I should get. My hip circumference would put me in a small, but I know from purchasing from Betty Designs that my thigh circumference might put me in a medium instead. I shot off an email through their Contact page and received a response in less than an hour from one of Smashfest Queen's co-founders, Hillary Biscay. You can't beat that for customer service!

Pro tip: a tri top is pretty much the same things as a sleeveless cycling jersey :)

I ended up buying the cycling shorts, cycling jersey, and tri top. I've discovered that tri tops make great sleeveless cycling jerseys during the warm summer months! I got everything in a size medium. The size small jersey was where I fell on the size chart, but I don't like super form fitting jerseys, as I like to stuff a ton of things in the back pockets (just check out my profile picture if you need proof). Everything fit exactly as I had hoped and expected.

A close up of the built-in mesh bra

On my first ride in this kit, I wore the tri top. I was immediately impressed by how comfortable it was. The mesh bra is sufficiently supportive for smaller-chested women, and the mesh material means it doesn't add a ton of bulk. It was also really easy to put on - sometimes putting on a top with a built-in bra feels like pre-workout yoga. It was pretty hot out during the ride, but I stayed cool and dry. 

No muffins here!

The cycling shorts are also incredibly comfortable. I was a little worried about the lack of a drawstring and the thin waistband, but there was no muffin top in sight. The waistband remained comfortable throughout the three rides I've been on in this kit - it didn't dig into my waist or ride up at all. The hexagonal print panel is not only stylish, but also helps keep the shorts in place while you ride, as do the leg closures. The chamois on the shorts is fantastic. It's not bulky like a diaper but it's also not so thin that you can't do anything more than 10 miles in it. The side panels ensure there is no side chafing and the pad is contoured for a close fit.

Close up of the chamois

On my next ride in the kit, I wore the cycling jersey. I was concerned that I might sweat to death, but I stayed surprisingly cool. The jersey is made of a light, breathable material. Plus, the background of the backside is white, and that definitely helps keep things cool. Speaking of the backside, there are three back pockets that are sufficiently deep and wide to hold whatever your heart may desire. The bottom seam of the jersey has a silicone gripper to ensure that the jersey doesn't ride up or require mid-ride adjustments.

All the colors!

All told, this kit has become my current favorite. I find myself automatically grabbing it before my rides - unless it's already dirty! It was definitely on the pricey side, but the comfort, quality, and style definitely help justify my purchase. Plus, since I have both the tri top and the regular jersey, I can wear the kit year-round. 

In fact, I'm pretty sad that I didn't get the matching tri shorts, as they are now sold out of my size. I guess I'll just have to wear my plain black Pearl Izumi tri shorts for brick workouts. Next time, I'll definitely order the complete set!

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).

Bike Shorts I Like (So Far...) - Performance Women's Elite Shorts

The multiple panels mean the shorts stay put while you ride

Purchase here!

Pros:

• Comfortable chamois, especially for the price (~$50)
• No uncomfortable and/or annoying movement during rides. This can be attributed to the stretchy material, multiple panels, and comfortable leg grippers.
• Wider, "yoga" style waist means no muffin top.

No muffin here :)

Cons:

• Sizing runs small to what is shown on the sizing chart. My hips are about 36 inches in circumference so I got a size small. The sizing chart said the small would fit 37-38 inch hips. The shorts fit me, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't had my hips been any bigger.
• Limited color options: Your choices are pretty much black, slightly less shiny black, and black with a small silver accent.

My Thoughts:

So I have a confession to make: I am a sucker for anything that Bicycling magazine puts its stamp of approval on. So when I saw their article "The Best $100 Kit We've Ever Tried" pop up on my Facebook feed, I immediately clicked on the link and read the review. When I saw that the kit was made by Performance Bicycle, I checked my Team Performance points and was happy to see I had enough points to cover the purchase of the shorts. I didn't go for the matching jersey, as it was a little too plain for my style. 

By the way, Performance Bicycle's loyalty program, Team Performance, is totally worth the annual membership fee, especially if you use it to buy a bike and/or make purchases during their double and triple point promotions. We may or may not have just purchased two bikes for the price of one after getting triple points on the first one... =P

Substantial chamois vs unsubstantial chamois (Pearl Izumi Symphony Shorts)

Anyways, my first impression of the shorts was that the chamois was quite substantial. It is quite large, especially in the front area. I was worried that this might lead to chafing issues, so I made sure to to apply extra Chamois Butt'r before suiting up and heading out for a ride. It turns out that my fears were completely unfounded. The larger front area actually helps to prevent friction issues in the upper inner thigh area.

The mesh vent area helps things stay cool and dry down there

All told, for $50 or so, these shorts are great! If they were $150, I probably wouldn't think so highly of them, as at that price point, my expectations are much higher. I've gotten two rides in them so far - a 16 mile ride and a 32 mile ride - and I have no complaints. They are comfortable and fit well. Plus, I have an assortment of colorful jerseys from charity rides, and black matches every single one of them. 

So far, Bicycling's recommendations have not let me down, and it seems that these shorts aren't an exception. Since I only have two rides in these shorts so far, I'll be updating this post periodically with more long-term observations. :)

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).