PEdAL ED Odyssey Jersey

PEdAL ED's Odyssey Jersey is designed as a long-distance top and to cope with the load-carrying that comes with the territory. The jersey itself has a plethora of pockets and is brilliantly breathable in even really warm temperatures while feeling supersoft against the skin.

• Pros: Excellent breathable fabric, top notch quality
• Cons: Very little, to be honest

It's part of a range of clothing that is all designed to work together – I've also been testing the bib shorts and the vest that make up a complete package. The Odyssey is a really functional jersey, whether for epic treks or lesser ones, where you need to carry kit and have easy access to it on your rides.

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For starters, it has seven pockets. Yep, seven! Three deep ones at the rear in a standard roadie position… 

…with another one on each side of those – ideal for snacks that you can grab quickly while still riding.

On the right hand rear pocket there is a zipped one for valuables, and on the centre pocket is a mesh one which PEdAL ED says is ideal for stashing wet clothes or gloves and a gilet.

The pockets are all roomy and surprisingly taut, considering how thin the fabric is.

Apart from being useful, a jersey that you might be spending days at a time wearing also needs to be rugged and hardwearing – both of which the Odyssey is. The fabric takes plenty of pulling and stretching and snagging without issue or damage.

The thin mesh panels under the arms and down the sides have a decent level of elastane which gives them plenty of stretch to avoid tearing.

The main part of the jersey is made from PEdAL ED's Sensitive fabric and it feels lovely and soft, and very comfortable to wear.

Breathability is impressive too: I've been wearing the Odyssey in temperatures around the mid-20s and have finished long rides amazed at how cool and dry I felt. Those mesh panels really do help a lot, being very thin with a large knit mesh to let body heat escape.

The fit is semi-race, I'd say. Well tailored for a flattering shape but without being restrictive, and sizing covers XXS through to XXL – if you follow PEdAL ED's chart you won't go far wrong.

There is a decent dropped tail to keep your lower back covered which is held in place by a small elastic hem.

Round the front you'll find a full length zip and your neck will be kept free of irritation thanks to the zip guard. There is one at the bottom of the zip too, to prevent damage to the front of your shorts when you are crouched over in the saddle.

The quality of the Japanese-designed/Italian-made jersey is pretty exceptional, with immaculate stitching throughout, which at least backs up its £125 price tag.

It is only a fiver more expensive than the Neon Velo Pro Fit jersey and it comes with a lot more details.

Another race jersey I was impressed with recently is the Pearl Izumi Elite Pursuit Graphic jersey for £99.99. The fabrics used here on the PEdAL ED are superior, though, and with all of its practically it's a well-thought-out piece of kit.

> Buyer's Guide: 17 of the best summer cycling jerseys

As well as this grey version with bright orange fabric used for the pockets, which I think is a nice touch for visibility, there is also an all black option if you don't want the brightness. Both have plenty of reflective strips running down the back, around the hem and the bottom of each sleeve. Though you might want to consider buying the vest too, for all-nighters...

Verdict

Very well made jersey with loads of storage and attention to detail