With the UCI Tour of Cambridge Grand Fondo fast approaching I had one over-arching question still hanging over me. What the hell was I going to wear?
To be fair, this is a question I’ve asked myself more than I ever thought possible since Victoria and I launched Vamper.cc, but for this ride in particular I had a very specific list of requirements.
The forecast for the TOC was looking fine, verging on very warm, so keeping cool was my first consideration.
I needed something seriously race-fit if I was going to try and keep up a respectable average speed over what turned out to be 84.4 miles.
And – some might say most importantly – I needed the jersey (and the rest of the kit) to look great. (Hey, you never know who you’re going to bump into at a cycling event.)
Having met the very affable Lorenzo Curci (Co-Founder of cyclewear brand Huez) a few weeks earlier at the SPIN16 event in London, my thoughts turned to the Huez Champ 1 Jersey that Lorenzo had asked me to put through its paces. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.
The Huez Champ 1 is a super-lightweight race jersey that incorporates impressive technicality and a full list of features that has seen it become my go-to piece of kit when it comes to event riding.
It features a four-way stretch fabric that provides compression yet remains comfortable. Its flat-seam panels have been ultrasonically welded together to provide comfort and unrestricted movement in the saddle.
It boasts five rear pockets for all race-day essentials and has silicone pellets at the cuff and waistband to keep everything in place. The waterproof valuables pocket is abundantly large and will house even the largest of smartphones.
The Huez Champ 1 also features Coldblack technology, once the sole preserve of the pro-peloton, to keep everything cool. What with this and the vented side panels I can attest to its ability to regulate body temperate, even in 24-degree heat. The Huez Champ1 also has you covered when it comes to UV protection.
It is probably no surprise that since I took ownership of my latest stealth black bike the jersey has barely been off my shoulders.
The Huez Champ 1 is a race-fit jersey: its polyester and elastane mix provides a good close fit for those who like an aero silhouette. I’m 183cm and weigh around 75kg with a 38-40 inch chest, putting me squarely in Medium on the Huez size chart. The fit of the Champ 1 Jersey is perfect for me.
I was in the saddle for a little over four hours on the day of the TOC Gran Fondo (thanks in no small part to an impressive bout of cramp at 65 miles). My cramping legs may have been in agony but my torso was comfortable throughout. With the temperature creeping up to the high 20s as the day went on, the breathability of the Champ 1 Jersey came into its own.
The silicone grips on the arms and waistband are great with no creeping up during riding.
The stealthy black-and-grey colourway of the Huez Champ 1 speaks to my sensibilities, too – it is probably no surprise that since I took ownership of my latest stealth black bike the jersey has barely been off my shoulders.
The Huez Champ 1 is a super-lightweight race jersey that incorporates impressive technicality and a full list of features that has seen it become my go-to piece of kit when it comes to event riding.
The Huez Champ 1 jersey retails at £110, placing it in the performance/technical category. Convincing a lot of cyclists to part with north of £100 for a jersey can be a difficult proposition but I will happily hold my hand up and champion the merits of the Champ 1.
During these warmer summer months (or weeks…) there are few better jerseys to keep you cool, comfortable and aero. It is expertly crafted, well cut and keeps you looking sharp.
The Champ 1 jersey and I have a lot of miles to do together this summer. I think we will carry on our love affair at the Prudential 100.
The Huez Champ 1 Jersey is available from Huez.co.uk and retails at £110.
