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Ana Nichoola Star Jersey

8
£54.99

VERDICT:

8
10
An undeniably stylish jersey with some nice quirky little features. Good quality but a bit of a shame about the snaggability of the fabric
Weight: 
218g
Contact: 
www.ananichoola.co.uk

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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'Ride Loud' is the motto of Ana Nichoola's new spring/summer range and indeed, shrinking violets might want to pass on the Star Jersey. Available in Gothic black and purple with white stars or white with pastel stars it's a jersey that, as the manufacturers say, shouts 'look at me!'.

It's a fully featured short sleeved jersey, with some detailing that makes it a little bit different, in common with most of Ana Nichoola's kit. The short, elasticated sleeves have just a bit of puff in the shoulder, there are two generous, attractively curved rear pockets, each with a press stud to keep them from sagging open, and one with a zipped security pocket big enough for a mobile phone or wallet. The black/purple option has an invisible 3/4 length front zip while the white/pastel version has a full length zip with a cute brass star zip pull. When asked, pure aesthetics was the reason quoted for the difference between the two. The hem is elasticated all the way round.

It's a comfortable jersey to wear, with the fabric feeling pleasant next to the skin, and wicking moisture well, even in pretty warm conditions, which was quite a surprise as it's not an especially lightweight jersey. This does make it useful for most of the British spring/summer and autumn seasons however, especially if combined with A.N's arm warmers. The fit is not quite as 'loose fit' as the description would have you believe, but isn't shrink wrap neat either. The medium (10-12) fitted my size 12 quite happily, with a nice non-baggy fit. It DOES get you noticed- the first ride I wore it on, someone said "nice jersey"!

The only problem with the jersey that I encountered was the fabric. It's a lovely silky feeling fabric, but it is prone to snagging and abrasion. Keep it away from Velcro at all costs and steer away from any webbing straps etc that may rub on it, or (with the purple option) the white backing to the fabric starts to show through in tiny dots. This was a shame as it's really an otherwise good quality jersey, and the fabric performs well.

It's a little on the expensive side, but only on a par with the upper mid priced labels like Gore, Odlo and some of Pearl Izumi's higher end jerseys. It's a good piece of kit and you're paying a small premium for the fact that it's a designer jersey, with just a little bit of extra pizzazz.

Verdict

An undeniably stylish jersey with some nice quirky little features. Good quality but a bit of a shame about the snaggability of the fabric.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Ana Nichoola Star Jersey

Size tested: Black Medium (10-12)

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?

Aimed at stylish female riders who want to stand out.

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

Stretch Fabric

81% polyester

18% lycra

1% elastic

2 rear pockets

Elasticated hem and arms

3/4 length zip on black/purple- Full zip on white/champagne

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Nice feeling fabric, with good wicking performance and comfort. Well made and nicely finished but fabric snags very easily.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Performed very well, with good moisture wicking and wear comfort.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Durable apart from the snagging issues with the fabric, which are mainly cosmetic.

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

Not the lightest, but a good weight.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10

Very comfortable in wear. Elastic at arms nice and broad and not too snug.

Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Good value for a really unusual designer jersey that'll make you stand out from the crowd.

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

Performed very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Style, colours, fit, comfort

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Fabric prone to snagging and abrasion.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? I already have.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Definitely. But only a good one and if we never ride together!

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Great jersey with oodles of style and some nice features, let down very slightly by the fabric being prone to snagging.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,

 

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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1 comments

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notfastenough | 12 years ago
0 likes

I think it looks cool!

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