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Castelli Velocissimo Team Jersey FZ

8
£70.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Stylish jersey with highly breathable fabric and excellent fit, perfect for spring/summer ride duties
Weight: 
180g
Contact: 
www.saddleback.co.uk

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Castelli produce a vast range of jerseys and choosing the right one can be tricky, but I reckon the Velocissimo Team Jersey FZ is one of the nicest, with simple graphics that should appeal to most people's aesthetic sensibilities. And the fabric works brilliantly to keep you dry on hot and potentially sweaty rides.

It's made from a fabric which Castelli call Prosecco Strada. It has a distinctive dimpled appearance, and is used on the front, back and shoulder panels and has a small amount of stretch that works well to provide the jersey with a good shape. Stretchier mesh side panels both aid cooling and give the jersey a bit of flexibility so the jersey can move with you.

The multi-panel cut is extremely well designed, and the fabric keeps the jersey in place. Load up the three rear pockets with as much food as you want and they won't sag around your ankles, but stay put on your lower back. As with most Italian clothing, it's a fitted top, with an anatomic cut that works well on the bike whether slammed in the drops or cruising along on the tops. It's one of those jerseys that feels more comfortable on the bike than stood up.

Nobody likes drowning in sweat, and no matter how fit you are it's going to happen at some point. As the temperature increases and you're riding more and probably faster, you're going to work up more of a glow. This Prosecco Strada has a hydrophilic treatment, which works by encouraging water droplets to spread over a larger surface area, so they can be more easily evaporated. That means you stay drier.

And it works too. I've been testing it in the recent warmer weather during hard training rides that usually leave me pretty saturated, but I have to say, the jersey does feel drier at the end of the ride than others. Castelli claim it works well up to 35 °C, so if you're planning any trips abroad this summer where it gets that toasty, this is a very good choice.

It's a classically simple jersey both in style and also features. You get the regulation three rear pockets, plenty capacious enough for lugging loads of food, tools and money for an espresso at the mid-ride cafe stop. A YKK Vision full-length zipper is silky smooth to use. The back of the jersey drops a little lower, and the waistband is lined with a grippy silicone tape to help keep it all in place.

All in all, it's a very smart looking jersey for spring and summer riding, whether it's just long rides to the beach or a spot of road racing. It's available in three colours, but red on white looks the best, though is potentially a maintenance nightmare. Not one for the grubby.

Verdict

Stylish jersey with highly breathable fabric and excellent fit, perfect for spring/summer ride duties.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Castelli Velocissimo Team Jersey FZ

Size tested: n/a

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?

The Velocissimo Team Jersey FZ is a beautiful simple piece that looks good on its own or can be paired up with matching Shorts gloves and socks for impeccable Italian style, Castelli Cafe will be carry winter upgrades for this Kit at the end of summer to give you a 365 matching kit option. The Velocissimo Team Jersey FZ has a rather extreme anatomic cut for on-the-bike comfort; the sleeves come out the front, not the sides.It's a bit tight across the chest when you first put it on but once on the bike, the fit is perfect. The YKK Vislon® zipper slides easily with one hand. And it's full zip for easy on/off and temperature regulation. The side panels are lightweight mesh to help stretch and cooling. The silicone gripper elastic at the bottom helps the jersey to stay in place. Our famous Prosecco Strada fabric treatment keeps you drier by quickly wicking moisture away from your skin. The Velocissimo Team Jersey FZ in Black Fluo a Cafe Classic in the making.

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

Prosecco strada fabric for breathability and comfort

Full-length ykk® vislon® zipper

Mesh side panels

Set sleeves for perfect anatomic fit

3 rear pockets

Reflective tabs

Comfort range 17-35c

Weight 156g (large)

Sizes S-3XL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Excellent quality of construction.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

The fabric is super breathable and keeps your dry when the going gets hot and you get sweaty. The mesh side panels give extra ventilation.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

The multi-panel design and good cut, with the limited stetch of the main panels combined with the stretchy side panels, gives a very fitted jersey.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

It's a lot of money, but for a jersey that will see a lot of miles in the spring and summer, and will cope with any trips abroad, it's not so bad. Looks fab too.

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

Performance in warmer weather and hard riding is this jerseys forte, and it delivers with good comfort and great style too.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit and how darn nice it looks.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I'd love to see a zipped pocket out back.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

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: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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