Sportful Fiandre Light No Rain Top

OK, this one’s not a jersey as such (it doesn’t have any pockets), but Sportful’s Fiandre Light No Rain Top is ideal for combating the changeable conditions that are part and parcel of UK riding.

Part of the Italian firm’s Fiandre range, named after the Flanders region of Belgium, the top uses a windproof and water resistant fabric on the front, shoulders and upper arms, and a lightweight fabric on the back and forearms to aid breathability, plus it’s received Sportful’s proprietary No-Rain treatment to offer protection from light rain or road spray.

While the top, designed to be worn over a short sleeve jersey (and arm warmers if the conditions dictate) won’t offer the full protection of a jacket, it’s ideal for when you’re not quite sure what the weather’s going to do and need a little more protection than a gilet. ‘Like a vest, only better’, Sportful say, and we’d agree, plus it’s light enough to stow in a jersey pocket if things do warm up.

Price: £100
Website: Sportful

Rapha Brevet Long Sleeve Jersey

The Rapha Brevet Long Sleeve Jersey is well setup for long autumn rides. It’s based on the short sleeve jersey tested by Rapha riders at Paris-Brest-Paris, a 1,200km audax from the French capital to the Brittany coast and back again.

As a result it’s designed for long hours in the saddle and offers plenty of storage in the three generously sized rear pockets, plus there’s a large zipped ‘ballast’ pocket for stowing a jacket or similar, as well as a zipped water resistant chest pocket.

Paris-Brest-Paris is an event which requires entrants to ride through the night and the jersey has two high-visibility stripes around the chest, plus a reflective armband on the left arm and reflective tab on the back of the jersey. Even if you’re not going to tackle PBP, all that reflective detail is ideal as the days get shorter. Otherwise the jersey’s made from a Sportwool fabric – a 61 per cent polyester and 39 per cent merino mix which seeks to combine the high-wicking quality of polyester with the natural thermoregulation of merino.

Price: £145
Website: Rapha

Pactimo Alpine RFLX Thermal Jersey

New from Pactimo for this year, the Alpine RFLX Thermal Jersey is made from a brushed-back fabric to combine comfort, warmth and insulation.

Key to the jersey, however, is Pactimo’s RFLX reflective technology, whereby refractive elements have been impregnated directly into the fabric to ‘explode’ with brightness when illuminated by hit by a car’s headlights. There’s also additional placed reflective trim on the back, shoulders, chest and forearms, on a jersey designed to offer 360 degree visibility to motorists.

At the back you’ll find three rear pockets plus an additional zipped pocket. The jersey also has a brushed thermal collar and wind flap on the full-length zip to stop the breeze sneaking in. Pactimo recommend the jersey for a temperature range between seven and 18 degrees, though naturally that varies significantly on how warm you run.

Price: £95
Website: Pactimo

Cafe du Cycliste Claudette 

New for the autumn-winter 2015 season, the Claudette combines classic French styling with a technical fabric blend from Cote d’Azur-based brand Cafe du Cycliste.

All in all, the jersey’s made from a 42 per cent merino, seven per cent silk, 44 per cent polyester and seven per cent polyamide mix. Like the Rapha Brevet jersey, the Claudette combines merino and polyester in a bid to offer the best of both natural and manmade fabrics, with merino naturally retaining heat and being odour-resistant, and polyester being high-wicking. Silk also adds a touch of luxury.

Despite the thoroughly modern fabric, the jersey has plenty of classic style – a trademark of Cafe du Cycliste. You’ll also find three back cargo pockets and a zipped valuables pocket.

Price: £134
Website: Café du Cycliste

Ale PRR Ponente Long Sleeve Jersey

Bold styling ensures the Ale PRR Ponente Long Sleeve Jersey stands out from the crowds and it’s designed for a suggested temperature range of between ten and 15 degrees.

Once again the jersey’s made from a thermal fleece-lined fabric (like many of the jerseys here, it doesn’t have any windproofing) and, like the rest of the range from Italian firm Ale, has a slim, racy cut, though it does go up to an XXXL.

The close fit means the jersey feels unobtrusive on the bike and there are a number of well thought out details, including cuffs which are longer at the back to stop it getting draughty, and a super-grippy hem which sits perfectly flush against bib shorts or tights, and which is cut high at the front to stop any material bunching up. Three rear pockets and a zipped valuables pocket with reflective detailing (also on the left-hand pocket and front full-length zip) complete the look.

Price: £115
Website: Ale Bike Wear

Morvelo Bloc Orange Thermoactive Jersey

Morvelo’s bold Bloc Orange Thermoactive jersey is a typically eye-catching piece from the south coast brand.

Morvelo say it’s designed to be the cornerstone of a layering system, worn on its own over a base layer in autumn or spring, with a gilet when it’s a little chillier, under a waterproof when it’s cold and wet, and under a jacket when it’s really freezing.

The jersey’s made from a brushed ‘ThermoActive’ polyester fabric and Morvelo have paid attention to get the details right, with close-fit cuffs and arms designed to keep the cold out and warmth in, a high and contoured collar to work to the same effect, and a tailored fit. Otherwise, there are three pockets, an additional zipped pocket and reflective details.

Price: £85
Website: Morvelo