Here’s the latest instalment of our summer clothing special: bib shorts, jersey, and a lightweight jacket from MOA Sport, an Italian brand with a 40-year history and now imported into the UK by Raleigh.
MOA Abydos Bibshort
These four-panel bib shorts come with ambitious claims for it’s “new generation” Lycra Newport fabric, which MOA claim will improve performance by reducing muscle fatigue. We found it lightweight and comfortable and thought the padded insert was well considered. The UCN microfiber chamois in the middle of the insert was soft, supple and held in place with minimal stitching, reducing the potential for irritation. It offered substantial comfort on long days in the saddle.
The minimalist design is unusual for an Italian brand and not unwelcome. It comes in black and white or all white, in sizes from S to XXL, and costs £79.99
MOA Coclite jersey
The unfortunate moniker aside, the Coclite jersey features an interesting and distinguishing feature: the fabric is treated with aloe vera. MOA say the treatment is to enhance comfort and reduce irritation. Did it work? We certainly didn’t experience any irritation. That said, we’ve ridden a similar type of Lycra in other brands with equal comfort. The weave here is one MOA call MantoDry and makes the usual claims for transporting moisture from the skin to the outside of the jersey. We found it did this rather well, passing the ‘back pack’ test by not leaving the jersey soaked at the back and shoulders after the daily commute.
We’d describe the fit as comfortable rather than close, more Richmond Park than Tour de France. The hem is held in place with an elastic band at the waist, while the inclusion of a full-length zip and three rear pockets are standards of which we strongly approve. Reflective strips are a bonus, but we’re more likely to wear this short-sleeved number in the long daylight hours of summer.
The Moa Coclite comes in sizes S to XXXL and costs £89.99. It’s available in black, yellow, green, red, blue, grey, or the white-black we’ve tested.
MOA Othala jacket
The first thing we noticed about the Othala jacket was its weight, or lack of. It weighs 35 grams, a useful asset for a garment that can be folded (ingeniously into its own, left hand pocket) and carried as well as worn.
The Othala is made from 100 per cent polyurethane, which allowed it to stretch. An external, water repellent coating (Durable Water Repellent) is claimed to be shower proof. The weather conditions of our test period didn’t provide an opportunity to test this claim (we won’t pretend to be sorry) but look out for reports in future blog posts.
The MantoDry weave of the abovementioned jersey is used again here for its wicking properties, an essential feature of a windproof jacket. In mild temperatures on windy days, the Othala performed well.
It’s available in white, black, grey, and lemongrass, from sixes S to XXXL, and costs £109.99.
