Gore Bike Wear Xenon Jersey £75

It’s hard not to be impressed by the Xenon jersey from Gore Bike Wear. The company has consistently upped its game in the last few years and has now positioned itself as one of the top players, with sharp, well thought-out designs and quality fabrics.

Gore has redesigned the Xenon jersey for 2009 and it’s even better than before. Designed for performance, here’s a jersey with no compromises. Foremost is the fit; it’s snug but not tight thanks to the ‘ergonomic 3D fit’ employed by Gore. All the different panels are cut to perfection and brought together with flat-lock seams, giving the impression of it being made from one seamless piece of material. Impressive stuff. Raglan sleeves seemed a bit on the long-side (at least, they didn’t match the tester’s tan lines), but the shaped collar avoided irritation on the neck. There’s the usual dropped tail and the hem is elasticated around the back.

You get a three-quarter front zip. A full-length might have been more suitable but there are other jerseys in the Gore range that do. Below the zip the lower portion of the jersey is made from a thinner and stretchier material to the rest which has the effect of avoiding unnecessary bunching up, helping it fit nicely in all positions on the bike.

Three pockets out back are generous enough for a day’s worth of supplies and, to make reaching into the outer pockets for a snack easier, Gore have slanted the pockets, something we came to appreciate on the long stages of the Tour of Wessex, an event we used to test the jersey’s sportive credentials. There’s an outer zipped pocket for keeping your car keys secure too.

Of course Gore made its name with high visibility jackets and this keenness on safety continues, with an understated and stylish 360 degree reflective print giving the wearer a huge increase in visibility to other road users. Something we appreciate on evening rides after work.