A few years ago I began wearing cycling socks full time. I don’t get to ride trails everyday, but I always ride a bike, even if it is just to get around. Wearing clothing that’s as comfortable as the kits I live in during the weekends is now part of my everyday life, and I’m slowly replacing the bulk of the clothing in my closet with apparel that works well for a life on a bike. Cycling socks, base layers, check. Bike specific jeans and pants with stretch and gussets? Check. A sweet merino wool t-shirt and polo or two— I still need to get some more of these, as well as more traditional looking button up shirts to complete a few outfits. I’ll admit I’m starting to sound like my lady, but hey— she loves it.
One of the shirts I’ve been wearing for the last few months is the Vibe Jersey from Club Ride. Constructed from a poly-spandex blend, its pretty much the same stuff a lot of folks are making traditional cycling jerseys from, but with a casual look that doesn’t scream “bike guy”. We’ve been seeing more and more riders wearing their stuff on the trails, and it’s a nice change from the usual baggy jersey look. I wanted more of a casual looking every day wear type of aesthetic so I decided to try the top with the most basic look, the Vibe.
Club Ride Vibe Jersey
From a distance, the blue jersey looks pretty similar to a typical short sleeve shirt, with snaps as opposed to buttons. I elected to go with the blue option as opposed to gray as the gray looked much more “jersey-like” and I was looking for a piece that could be paired with jeans for an office friendly every day sort of look. The fit of the top is somewhat boxy with an American fit, and being between small and medium for most sizes, I chose a small. In hindsight, I would have like to have tried an extra small as well, (the Club Ride fit appears to cater to bigger guys, as they don’t make an x-small) as the sleeves look somewhat long, and it didn’t look fitted at all.
The top features snap closures at the front as well as a zipper, a feature I found somewhat redundant. I see other folks often asking for a zipper, so I imagine that’s why Club Ride went that direction. The Vibe top is aimed to be a jersey disguised as a normal shirt, and not the other way around, and the form follows this function. For day to day use, I would have preferred just the snaps, but other than the weigh of the zipper, it really is a non issue.
As a casual wear piece, I don’t like the fit enough to rotate it in very often. However, on days I have a quick lunch ride planned, the top fits my needs well. The full zipper front means it’s easy to let air in, and the material drys quickly. In hindsight, I would choose one of the new plaid color ways as the plaid would look more fashionable, and work better as a casual piece.
Zipper/ snap detail on the Club Ride Vibe Jersey
Functionally the jersey is light, wicks and breathes well and works great on the bike. The full zipper makes it a good option for warm summer days, especially for rides that end at the pub or at a BBQ. And while I wish it had more of a fitted silhouette, most guys probably aren’t as picky. In the office, you can’t quite get away with it, (obviously this depends on the office) as it looks like an active wear piece, but as a mountain bike jersey, it’s a significant step up from the guy in the cotton t-shirt drenched in sweat, or the poorly fitting lycra top. If you’re working to rid yourself of a beer belly and and you want something different than a loose fitting DH jersey, take a look at the Club Ride line.
- Poly-Spandex blend breathes and wicks sweat
- Snaps + Zip up a bit redundant as casual wear, but functions well on the the trail
- Nice, light weight
- Sporty, casual look
- Not overly boxy, but size down if particular with fit
- Pictured: I’m 5’10” and weigh 160lbs, wear a 38 Jacket and prefer more of a fitted look; Size worn above is a small
- Front Zipper pocket
- Nice rear zipper pocket
- Wish it was a bit more fitted/ and or a bit longer in length
Check it out: Club Ride Apparel
