cycling tops to ride in comfort throughout the year

Despite what you might think, the best cycling jerseys are more than just thin zipped tops, designed to rip cycling enthusiasts off. On the contrary, the best cycling jerseys – much like the best cycling shorts or even the best bib shorts – have a range of features that can help you ride the best road bike faster and in more comfort, as well as keeping you dry when the rain starts to come down.

See, the modern cycling jersey is designed to fit the torso like a glove made out of lycra, meaning its wearer positively slices through the air like a hot knife through butter, without a baggy T-shirt flapping in the wind and causing all sorts of nipple issues.

BEST CYCLING JERSEY: WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Zips can become deeply unpleasant torturers of your Adam’s apple over long rides, so look out for jerseys with ‘zip garages’ (yes, really) if you put in big mileage. These are fabric flaps that cover the zip when it’s done up.

Most jerseys have pockets at the back, but make sure they’re the right size to hold whatever you habitually carry when riding without breaking for freedom at every bump in the road, but loose enough to easily retrieve items on the move.

All of our picks will keep you mobile and flexible, as well as cool and sweat-free on warm days and protected against the most biting winds on colder ones, but if you’re looking to keep cycling into the colder months then it may be worth investing in a long-sleeved jersey or one with extra wind-proofing and thermal properties — we’ve listed the seasons to which each jersey is best suited.

Finally, we’ve described the fit so you can find one that’ll both flatter your bod and work around your workout.

While you don’t want something that’ll flap around you dramatically in the wind like Batman on a Boris Bike, buying a cycling jersey needn’t mean donning something that’ll slowly crush your internal organs.