Jerseys - casual

Ou la la, this smart short sleeved Simone jersey from French bicycle outfitter Cafe du Cycliste looks sophisticated. But the down side of looking good, using quality fabric like the perforated lightweight merino wool, and small production quantity is you are going to have to pay for it.

If onions don't make your eyes water then maybe the 130 euro price tag might. Sacré bleu! Ok, you need to enjoy your threads to spend so much on a short sleeved jersey, if you are the person who wears Aldi's finest in public then stop reading now.

With their Short Sleeve Merino Polo, Vulpine continue their campaign to prove that you can ride a bike without looking like either a neo-pro or a hi-viz-vested railway worker.

The Vulpine Women's Merino Button Jersey is a gorgeous looking top, with a subtle and stylish v-neck and four button fastening, long sleek, contoured cut with curved hem and neat short sleeves.

It has plenty of features too, with a partial hem gripper, reflective accents, a small light tab at the back and three rear pockets (one with a zip). It's easily non-bikey enough to wear with jeans around town, or in the café.

The Howies Jesse Polo shirt is a super-comfortable merino option in a cycle-friendly slim cut.

Sometimes you want to ride somewhere, but you don't want to look like you've just stepped off your bike when you arrive. You might be going to work, going to meet friends in town or whatever, and the full Lycra get up just isn't the look you're after. That's the type of occasion when the Jesse Polo comes in handy.

Howies' Classic Vail Merino tee is made from merino wool and it's a good, casual option if you're likely to spend the day both on and off the bike.

There's nothing bikey about the cut of this shirt – Howies don't market it as cycle-specific. It's a pretty standard T-shirt shape, albeit fairly slim through the body – which is useful because it doesn't flap around too much when you're riding.

There's definitely a time and a place for skin-tight Lycra, but for riding around recreationally, pedaling to the gym or down the shops, it can feel a little bit, well, skin-tight! The Long Sleeve Active Top from Zoca is designed to be a more general fitness top, for all sorts of activities, rather than an out and out cycling top, but still technical enough to be suitable for vigorous pedaling if you want.

The first thing I noticed was the style of this top. Yes, that IS important, and especially in a more casually-styled garment.

Tenn are an outdoor clothing retailer who sell mainly through non-specialist outlets like Amazon and Halfords. I've been less than kind about their mitts, which I'll be reviewing soon, but this jersey is much better.

The first thing you need to do is ignore the RRP. Tenn will sell it to you for £38, but Amazon list it at £16. That's a proper bargain.

It's not a flashy top - ours came in plain blue and black. It doesn't scream WANNABE PRO! at the top of its voice, which is nice.

Creux Cycling's Omerta T-shirt is a lightweight treated cotton t-shirt that's perfect for a casual ride where you don't want to end up hot and sticky.

Creux (and others) use dri-release, a treated cotton, which allows designs to be printed on the t-shirt.

This shirt is comfortable and works well as a cycling to work t-shirt or just wearing at the weekend.

The Vulpine Merino Button Jersey is soft and comfy with good cycle-specific features, although it's subtle enough not to look too out of place off the bike.

The Rohan Cadence Polo is a well made and smart shirt that performs well on the bike and looks good off it. It certainly isn't cheap, but it should last and it's a useful bit of kit for leisure riding and plain clothes commuting.