Club Ride Bandit Womens Jersey

Club Ride's Bandit is a relaxed fit, casually styled cycle jersey for the summer. I like it so much I've been happily wearing it off the bike too – it's great for walking and doesn't look weird teamed with non-bikey shorts or even jeans. The off-white colour goes with pretty much anything, even if it does show up dirt/dust quite quickly – solve that by choosing the TigerLilly red/orange option.

It's very comfortable thanks to the loose yet not shapeless (the contrasting mesh side panels also flatter by accentuating the waist) cut and the super-soft material.

> Find your nearest dealer here

As you'd probably expect, being made from polyester it is breathable, wicking, fast-drying and lightweight. But you might not expect the anti-microbial treatment and built-in sun protection of UPF 20 – very welcome.

The mesh inserts on the shoulders, sides and back of the neck help ventilation while the lack of a seam below the armpit is a nice detail. The short raglan sleeves also eliminate any potential chafing from seams, and I particularly like the cog (or is that sprocket?) pattern and little notch in the hem for a distinctive touch.

There is a zipped pocket to the rear designed for a media device if you like to listen to tunes while you ride. The pocket won't fit one of the larger smartphones but is perfect for an MP3 player or iPod. There's a port to thread your earphone cables through, plus a loop sewn inside the collar to run them through too so they don't accidentally disappear inside your jersey.

> Read our guide to the best casual gear for cycle commuting

Finally, the jersey has a reflective CR logo on the sleeve and tag on the side, both on the left though as it's designed for right-side drivers, revealing its American roots.

Verdict

A well designed and constructed casual top that includes some neat features