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Alé PRR Bering Long Sleeve Jersey

8
£115.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Performance kit for the cooler months with a quality fit
Weight: 
285g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Bering Long Sleeve Jersey from Italian clothing manufacturer Alé is part of its PRR performance range, making that transition from summer race kit to winter training gear and back again practically seamless. With a bit of tactical layering you can make it work over a large temperature range too.

By adding a gilet over the top or with a change of baselayer I've been comfortable from 4°C to 15°C. The beauty of the Bering is just how thin the material is for a long-sleeve jersey. It has so little bulk to it you can make it a part of any layering system.

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In the low teens the Bering jersey is in its element; pairing it with a summer baselayer leaves you feeling plenty warm enough and highlights the Alé's breathability – it's yet to be overwhelmed even on the climbs.

There isn't anything overly special about the fabric, it's a pretty basic polyester and elastane mix (85/15%), with enough stretch to give a close-fitting jersey without restricting movement. The inside is fleecy, which helps to trap warm air, though there is no windproofing so an extra layer can be necessary to block a windchill effect.

Ale PRR Bering Jersey - neck

I mentioned the PRR racer's cut, and it's really the thing that defines the Bering. According to the manufacturer, its designers studied the typical bike positions of pro athletes as the basis for the PRR design to take into account aerodynamics.

Ale PRR Bering Jersey - on bike

To keep the jersey flat and in position Alé uses what it calls the J-Stability System. Around the back you get the usual silicone gripper on the hem but around the sides and front you get a double-layer elastic fabric to secure the jersey all the way round. The front is cut high in relation to the dropped tail, but there's no danger of draughts as it doesn't ride up at all, even when you stand up to climb, and because the material is so flat you don't get any uncomfortable bunching.

Ale PRR Bering Jersey - rear

The sleeves are a perfect length for me too, with the top of the angled cuff stopping at the end of my wrist when at full stretch, while a more upright riding position didn't cause bunching at the elbow.

We often say you need to try before you buy, especially with European-made clothing as they can come up a little small, but the medium I've been testing was pretty much spot on. I'm a medium in virtually everything I wear on the bike, except for a couple of Italian brands where I'm borderline medium to large.

> Check out our guide to the best long-sleeved jerseys

Other key points are how deep the pockets are. Once your phone, pump and tools are in there they aren't going to come out, even when you're crouched down in the drops. There are three of them, as is the norm, plus you get an additional zipped one for security.

Ale PRR Bering Jersey - pocket

The full zip has a little garage at the top to stop it rubbing the underneath of your chin, and other little details such as reflective strips on the pocket and another garage at the bottom of the zip finish things off.

There are a lot of jerseys on the market, and the Alé comes in at the more expensive end of the range. That £115 buys you a well-made jersey, which feels tough and robust, as well as a little bit racy...

Verdict

Performance kit for the cooler months with a quality fit

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Alé PRR Bering Long Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: Medium, Blue Fluo/Yellow

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

A long-sleeved jersey designed for spring and autumn use thanks to a fleeced lined material. The cut is close so performance is the main consideration. I like the Ale PRR Bering mostly for its fit and warmth.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Thermal and fleece stretch fabric to ensure maximum comfort

Full front zipper with garages

Anatomical cuffs

J - stability system™

Security Reflex for visibility

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

The overall stitching quality looks very high, in line with the quality you'd expect for a £100+ jersey.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Very impressive thermal properties for such a lightweight jersey.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

The material may not be bulky but it certainly isn't fragile.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10

The cut is key. Plenty of length in the arms and the back with a sensibly arched front which reduces bunching when on the bike.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

The price reflects the quality and performance and stands the jersey in good stead against the competition.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Excellent for fast rides this time of year, and with a bit of layering you can easily make it work on days when the temperature drops.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The very deep pockets.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Very little.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

A solid scoring piece of kit right through the range. The quality is there as is the thinking behind the design; you can tell it's been designed for the performance rider when they are on the bike. The dropped tail, long arms and short front make the fit hard to fault.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Mason Definition

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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