Review: Psyched for Spring with Cycology Kit

Milan-Sanremo aka la Classicissima aka la Primavera is in the books, which means spring is in the air. Time to start thinking about putting winter kit away. Indeed, the peloton was in shorts and short sleeves on the coast road into Sanremo. And what better way to spring into spring riding with some new kit? If keeping your riding more on the fun side is part of the equation, then Cycology has the goods.

PEZ readers might remember my review of the Cycology 8 Days Collection: "what sets Cycology apart from a lot of other kit is the fun quotient." For more riding fun, PEZ requested two different jerseys (Bike Graffiti and Horizon), classic black bib shorts, and two pairs of socks (Bike Graffiti Aero Socks to be matchy-matchy with the jersey and "plain" black that can go with everything).

Cycology does a nice job packaging their kit

A nice touch and one of the things I appreciate about Cycology is that they use easily removable fasteners for their hang tags instead of plastic that has to be cut

Cycology Bike Graffiti and Horizon Jerseys

Cycology makes three different fits: Relaxed, Performance, and Race. My 8 Days Jersey is their Race fit. The Bike Graffiti and Horizon jerseys are Performance fit. According to Cycology: "Our most popular jersey style is the performance fit. This is best described as a close fitting garment."

Bike Graffiti Jersey – $99.95

As the name implies, the Cycology Bike Graffiti Jersey evokes an urban graffiti vibe. According to Cycology: "This design evolved from doodling on a large piece of paper with pens about life on a bike to become the ultimate bike graffiti." When I’m up in Babylon on the Potomac, I’m in an urban environment so an appropriate look. I’m probably too old to be cool or hip, but the design might be considered that.

Although it's a black jersey, the graffiti design makes it noticeable

Construction-wise, the Bike Graffiti Jersey is a lot like my 8 Days Jersey: a front panel — divided by a full length YKK zipper (the gold standard of zippers), a back panel, and two side panels. The front and back panels and sleeves are a "solid" stretch material. The side panels panels are a mesh stretch material to help vent/wick.

All the panels are flat-stitched to minimize/eliminate chafing/rubbing

Ubiquitious (but hard to see with the graphics) three rear jersey pockets plus a secure zipper pocket with a reflective strip

Silicon gripper on the back hem of the jersey to help keep it in place while riding

But because the Bike Graffiti Jersey is a Performance jersey and not a Race jersey, there are some differences. The most immediately noticeable is that the Bike Graffiti Jersey has a higher, more like a mock turtleneck collar (instead of a low cut race collar). And the sleeves aren't quite as long.

Cam-lock YKK zipper: UP to zip and DOWN to lock in place

Not race length sleeves are a combination of raw cut and fold over hem

The front panels of the jersey have a raw cut hem

Where the Bike Graffiti Jersey is really different from my 8 Days Jersey is in the fit department. In size XS on my 5’8″ 130-pound ectomorph frame, the 8 Days "fits the way I like a jersey to fit: pretty much like a second skin but not binding and still allowing for freedom of movement." Being Performance instead of Race fit, the Bike Graffiti Jersey in size Small (the smallest size Cycology makes in their Performance fit jerseys) is "looser" on me. The sleeves still hug my skinny arms (just not quite as tightly), but the body of the jersey doesn't cling to me like a second skin. It's not "baggy" but does have some small "flappy" areas. (NOTE: To provide some perspective, this jersey would’ve been considered race fit back in my racing days in the early/mid-90s.) That said, it's very comfortable (and even though I wear a base layer under a jersey, the fabric is soft and smooth against my bare skin). I know not everyone wants (or can wear) race fit jerseys — so if you’re one of those riders, Cycology Performance fit jerseys are the ‘droids you’re looking for (I’m guessing they will be a better/more comfortable fit for a wider demographic of riders).

Form fitting but not second skin race fit tight

High collar is an indication that it isn't a full-on race jersey

Horizon Jersey – $99.95

From a construction and fit perspective, the Cycology Horizon Jersey is the same as the Bike Graffiti jersey. It's just a different design: "Our Horizon design features fluro slashes of hand painted stripes to enhance your visibility and stand out for miles, even on far horizons." It's a black jersey, but the splashes of color (they look like horizontal paintbrush strokes) are big and bold enough to help you be seen.

A reminder that the Horizon Jersey is Performance fit

Not uber-light (Cycology doesn't spec weight for their kit), but still respectably light (for comparison, my 8 Days Jerseys weighed in at 118 grams)

If it's not full-zip, it's not a real jersey

Cycology Logo Bib Shorts – $109.95

These are essentially an all-black version of my 8 Days bib shorts. So a pair of bib shorts you can wear with any jersey (Cycology or otherwise).

Reflective tabs to aid visibility in low light conditions

From a design and construction standpoint, the Cycology Logo Bib Shorts are a lot like many other bib shorts. That's a good thing because it's a "don't fix what's not broken" design that works:

The Y-back of the bib section is mesh to help vent/wick

The front bib straps are raw cut, lay flat

The leg gripper sections are raw cut, but not quite as wide as what you would find in a pair of race-specific bibs

Of course, what matters most about any pair of bib shorts is the part that protects the important bits aka chamois aka pad. In that department, Cycology uses what looks like a "generic" pad (they don't say where it's sourced from, but it looks like a lot of other pads) with multiple thicknesses/densities and channeling to wick away sweat and for pressure relief. Since it's the same pad as in my 8 Days Bib Shorts, my verdict is the same: "For me, the padding felt firm enough without being squishy. I’ve done several ~4 hour rides (including rest stops) and my undercarriage parts haven't had any complaints. I’m sure I could ride longer without having to worry about any aforementioned friction issues."

Butt's eye view

And my overall verdict is also the same:

If the 8 Days Race Jersey is race fit, the 8 Days Logo Bib Shorts are a little less than that. That's not a criticism — simply a statement of fact. The first hint that they’re not race fit is that they don't take as much work to slide on. Compared to other race bibs I have, the compression is much lighter. That's not saying there's no or not enough compression — simply a point of comparison. For me, the compression was just this side of firm enough to feel it and not worry about leg creep. Overall, these bibs lean more towards comfort than race (although they would’ve been considered race bibs back in my racing days a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away). They’re the kind of bibs that most (probably the vast majority) riders could ride in for hours on end.

Basic bibs that work

Cycology Bike Graffiti Aero Cycling Socks – $24.95

These are more than just matchy-matchy socks to go with the Bike Graffiti Jersey. They are a very different sock design/construction:

Featuring a two-part construction with a form fitting aero upper sock that provides a light compressive, flexible fit and a lower layer to provide breathability and support. The seam is placed behind the leg to improve aerodynamics and is reinforced by reflective tape for increased visibility in low light. Lastly the 7 in cuff gives the socks a contemporary look.

The "foot" part of the sock is stretch knit like other cycling socks. But the material of the "leg" part of the sock is what you would expect to find in a jersey and has a smooth outer surface. The theory being that smoother means smoother/faster air flow. #aero #marginalgains

Turned inside-out, the sock construction is more apparent: Back seam (red arrow) on the aero upper and seam (green arrow) that connects the sock upper with the traditional foot section

The inside top of the cuff has a silicone gripper strip to help keep the socks up

One thing that's different about Cycology's socks is that they’re "one size fits most" rather than coming in different sizes. Cycology doesn't say what the size range is, but the Bike Graffiti Aero Cycling Socks were sized to fit right on my US size 9 feet.

Back seam has a reflective strip for low light conditions

I can't attest to any aero advantages of the Cycology Aero Cycling socks, but can say that they fit and feel the way cycling socks should. The compression around my foot isn't quite as firm as some of my other socks, but not "loose" by any means. Because the upper isn't traditional stretch knit, it feels different against my skin but still comfortable.

Do these make my feet look faster?

Of course, what I love is that the socks are matchy-matchy with the Bike Graffiti jersey. #sockdoping

Cycology Reflective Logo Cycling Socks – $14.95

PEZ got a pair of goes-with-everything black, but Cycology also offers them in blue and pink. As far as cycling socks go, these are traditional stretch knit and pretty "basic" cycling socks. According to Cycology:

The lightweight, durable performance socks are moisture wicking to help keep feet cool and comfortable while the reflective logo on the back and sides, plus your motion, maximizes visibility in low-light riding situations. An 7in cuff height also gives you a modern calf-height finish.

The top of the foot section and front of the cuff is a stretch mesh material, so definitely intended for warmer/hot weather.

Again, these are "one size fits most" and they fit well on my US size 9 feet.

Bring on spring!

The weather is still on the cooler side here in Babylon on the Potomac. But it's transitioning to warmer. We’ve had one or two days when riding in shorts and short-sleeves is possible, but it's more like a sleeveless thermal base layer, at least arm warmers, and maybe knee warmers weather. So I really haven't had chance to fully wring out the Cycology kit. But based on previous experience riding in their 8 Days kit (as well as some winter riding in their cold weather kit), I have no reason to believe that the Bike Graffiti and Horizon jerseys paired with the Cycology Logo bib shorts won't be up to snuff. For sure I’ll get to ride in the kit when I go down to the Lowcountry in April (they’ve already had more days in the 70s but not yet consistently).

Quality kit that's fun and affordable

What I like about Cycology kit is that it's quality stuff that isn't pretending to be something it isn't, i.e., high end race kit. What I said when I reviewed their 8 Days kit: "Cycology isn't the highest of high end kit … but it's not trying or pretending to be. What it is is bang-for-the-buck high value kit that works and won't break the bank. In other words, quality kit that most riders can afford." It's an important and large market segment that spans recreational to performance-oriented riders. Not everyone who rides is a hard core roadie whose goal in life is to look EuroPro.

And what I love most about Cycology kit is that it's fun … by design. Their stuff stands out in a crowd. According to husband and wife founders Sarina and Michael: "Our design style ranges from mild to wild so we cater to the many different tastes of riders who want something different to the same old same old."

While I love all my race-level kit, I also love my Cycology kit that's not. It's perfect for those days when I want to just ride to ride and not be so serious, e.g., a dedicated coffee or taco ride. It's serious kit, but not so serious. Perfect for living up to Peter Sagan‘s motto: "Why so serious?"

Mathieu, Filippo, and Wout weren't available to join me on the sofa

• You can buy all Cycology clothing online at CycologyClothing.com

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