Vermarc is clothing supplier to Mark Cavendish’s Omega Pharma-QuickStep team and we’ve just received a short sleeve jersey and bib shorts from the Belgian firm’s flagship ProRacing.Research collection.
The PR.R range, Vermac say, is developed with its professional riders in mind – thanks to the use of its most advanced fabrics and an ergonomic cut – as well as amateurs seeking maximum comfort. That’s where we come in.
We’ll be testing the Vermarc’s Mare short sleeve jersey and Mare bib shorts. Both are made in Italy and are yours for £110.99 and £105.99 respectively. Let’s run through the key features and fabrics before we hit the road.
Vermarc PR.R Mare short sleeve jersey – £110.99
The Mare short sleeve jersey is a lightweight summer piece made from two fabrics. The front panel is made from a micro-perforated fabric dubbed ‘Think’ by Vermarc. It has thousands of tiny holes punched into the material to improve ventilation and moisture management in the heat of summer. Vermarc say the fabric, which is said to have a UPF rating of 50+ to protect from UV rays, offers a compressive fit, while there’s still plenty of stretch in the material (85 per cent polyester, 15 per cent elastane).
The back of the jersey, meanwhile, is made from a fabric called ‘PR-Carbon’ made up of a 96 per cent polyester and four per cent ‘other fibres’ mix. That four per cent includes carbon fibres, which Vermarc say shield the body from absorbing static energy and UV rays. Aside from protecting from sunburn, whether that has any tangible benefit for you and I is open to debate. The fabric still has a degree of stretch, though not as much as the front, and it’s also perforated to help keep the skin dry in warm weather.
We’re testing a medium sample and early impressions suggest the cut is geared towards riders of an athletic build, with a slim fit and very little excess material bunching up when on the bike. The arms have a compressive band (rather than a silicone gripper) to help keep them in place, though there is a gripper on the hem. All that’s left to mention, then, is the full-length zip, and the usual arrangement of three rear pockets, plus an additional zipped pocket, which has a small hole through which to feed a headphone cable.
The Mare jersey is available in one colour – the black and red pictured – and six sizes, from S to XXXL, for £110.99.
Vermarc PR.R Mare bib shorts – £105.99
On to the Mare bib shorts. The shorts have a multi-panel construction (as you’d expect) and are made up of three fabrics. The main body of the shorts is made from a fairly conventional lycra fabric, while a thicker ‘Power Lycra’ is used on the inner part of the shorts, including all of the area likely to come into contact with the saddle, as Vermarc say its offers a higher level of abrasion resistance. Otherwise, the lightweight braces, like the back of the jersey, are said to have carbon fibres weaved into them. The presence of carbon helps improve blood circulation, according to Vermarc.
Like on the sleeves of the jersey, Vermarc have avoided using a silicone gripper on the legs of the bib shorts in a bid to improve comfort. Instead, they’ve used a 4.5cm-deep laser-cut elastic band, which has an adhesive texture on the inside to help keep the shorts in place.
The chamois is Vermarc’s ‘Long Distance’ pad. It’s a new design, well-padded with a ‘waffle’ texture said to apparently improve breathability so the chamois doesn’t retain moisture, but instead moves it to the outside of the pad where it can evaporate quicker. Vermarc say the padding itself is cut to support the rider at crucial contact points on the saddle, with prostate relief cut-out in the centre and independent glute panels said to move with the body. The pad also has an element of elasticity, so it conforms to the rider on the bike then returns to its original shape post-ride.
The Mare bib shorts come in one colour – black and red to match the jersey – and sis sizes, from S to XXL, for £105.99.
Website: Vermarc
UK distributor: Chicken Cycle Kit
