Velobici Verne Cycling Jersey

Having tried a handful of items from Velobici’s line of road cycling clothing, I was really looking forward to the Verne Jersey and Shorts becoming available. Velobici chose to release the line on St George’s day, the Patron Saint of England, which seems in keeping with the brand’s policy of manufacturing and sourcing their fabrics within the UK.

At a glance, a lot of cycling clothing can look very similar, but as with many things, it’s all in the detail. After using garments from a number of different brands, I have found that only a small number offer the fit, quality and design details that make their clothing perform really well. The Velobici Verne Jersey and Shorts are in the top tier of this category.

The Verne Jersey is manufactured from VB/Pro-VR1 (190g) fabric. This is the brand’s lighter jersey fabric grade, and the Verne is described as a Spring, Summer and Autumn garment. It’s a fabulous fabric and this plays a large part in what makes the Verne such a superb jersey. The VB/Pro-VR1 fabric is soft to the touch, stretches to assist fit, comfort, and ease of movement. It also provides UVA and UVB protection.
When using the jersey, it’s easy to notice how well the fabric transfers moisture, dries quickly and resists the wind. These qualities can really make those long days on the bike more comfortable and enjoyable.

The jersey is close fitting, and is shaped to match the position we take when on the bike. The front of the jersey is shorter to avoid fabric bunching, the rear panel longer to ensure coverage, even when riding on the drops.

Part of what makes this jersey that little bit special is its versatility and comfort. I have used it for short evening rides after work, to eight hours plus days in the hills, and during a recent trip to the French Pyrenees. It’s simply the case of putting the jersey on, place the kit you need in the pockets, after this, the garment seems to disappear. It’s that comfortable.


Great Design Features

The jersey pocket design is formed in Velobici’s very functional curved top profile. This is fabulous when carrying a rain cape, as the deeper pocket retains this type of cargo very easily. The slightly shallower pockets are great for essentials such as multi tool, bars, gels and phone. There is also a waterproof zipped valuables pocket. My personal preference is to use the pocket on the far right hand side of the jersey to store bars and gels. The location of the pocket makes it really easy to get food whilst on the move.

The jersey features a full length zip design. This makes for easy on and off, and regulating temperature. The zip runs smooth and the tab is easy to grip. This is something I noticed when looking to cool off whilst riding up one of the Lake District’s many 20% plus gradients. The zip detailing also ensures neighbouring garments are not damaged by the mechanism. This is something I have experienced with other brands; as I said, it’s all in the detail!

The majority of my cycling is done in the UK. To manage variation in temperature when wearing the Verne, I use either a t-shirt or sleeveless base layer of varying weight and fabric type. The stretch within the VB fabric ensured comfort and is not compromised when layering. However, the highlight of my cycling year is travelling to the mountains of Europe. I love being on my bike in the high mountains, and put a huge amount of effort into choosing what I believe is the optimum clothing and equipment to do this.

During the recent trip to the French Pyrenees, we experienced daytime temperatures ranging from 15 to 40 degrees C. I found that on the cooler days, the jersey and a base layer provided enough warmth (on the long descents I also used a lightweight jacket).

On the warmer days, the jersey without a base layer was the perfect option. For temperatures in the high twenties and above, my personal preference was to use jerseys which are manufactured specifically for very hot conditions. Seamless silicone grippers are positioned at the hem line and arms of the jersey. These are comfortable and efficient. A noticeable feature of this jersey’s performance is that the pockets can be loaded up with all that is needed for a long day in the saddle, and as long a little logic is applied to where cargo is placed, the jersey stays in position and keeps its form whilst riding. This was a real plus point, as the need to be constantly correcting the position of a jersey can detract from the enjoyment of being out on the bike.

Velobici offer the jersey in two colours, gold or grey. I personally like to wear brighter colours for my road cycling, so opted for the gold. The classy styling is something I really like, and the embroidered “Verne” on the arm and “VB” logo on the chest add to the finishing touches. A subtle feature which I really like, is the Velobici brand name within the arm, hem and pocket trim, which is light reflective.

The finish quality of the jersey is superb, with all of the stitching and seams being neat and consistent throughout. The care of the garment is easy, as it is machine washable at 40 degrees. The fabric retains its original look and feel really well.

Having used the Verne for a variety of rides, in the UK and French Pyrenees, I currently deem it one of the best jerseys I have ever used. I found the measurement guidance to be very accurate, and a medium jersey and small shorts are perfect for me.