Whether you’re trying to justify to your significant other why yet another Stolen Goat parcel has just dropped through your postbox, or you’re just doing a bit of a cycling wardrobe stock take and refresh: you might have found yourself wondering just how many cycling jerseys you actually need. While we firmly believe you can never have too many options when it comes to what to wear on the bike, and that the N+1 rule applies to cycling kit as well as bikes (i.e. always however many jerseys you have, plus one more). In this article we’ll help you to figure out how many cycling jerseys you really need to ensure you’ve got the bare necessities covered, depending on what conditions you cycle in and how often you like to ride.
What are the different types of cycling jersey and when do I need them?
Before we jump into how many cycling jerseys you might need, first it’s important to understand the different types of jerseys on offer and what conditions they’re designed for.
Short sleeved cycling jerseys
A cycling wardrobe staple: the classic short-sleeved cycling jersey. Perfect for wearing alone in warm weather, or layering up when there’s a chill in the air. We’ve got two different types of short sleeved jersey on offer here at Stolen Goat.
Stolen Goat Ibex short sleeved cycling jerseys
Our Ibex jerseys are the ultimate all-rounders. Lightweight and breathable enough for cycling in warm weather, but with enough substance that they can layer up nicely for cooler rides. We create our Ibex jerseys in our ‘Every Day’ fit: designed for ride all day comfort with a fit that’s slightly less aggressive than our race fit ‘advanced’ range.
- Check out our spring cycling gear guide
Stolen Goat Kalahari short sleeved cycling jerseys
Our Kalahari jerseys are designed specifically for riding in hot weather. These jerseys are ultra-lightweight and super breathable, with a lower neckline than our Ibex range and more of an aerodynamic fit (though with four-way stretch, you’ll still be ridiculously comfortable). These jerseys are perfect for those hot, height of summer rides; hard efforts or long climbs in hot places.
- Check out our guide to what to wear for cycling in summer
Lightweight, long sleeved cycling jerseys
A lightweight, long sleeved jersey is your layering hero. Made from the same fabric as our short sleeved Ibex jerseys, the Stolen Goat long sleeved jerseys are perfect for layering under a gilet in spring and early autumn conditions. But, they’re still lightweight and breathable so if you prefer a bit of extra coverage from the sun you can wear them in warmer conditions without overheating.
Thermal cycling jerseys
A thermal cycling jersey is essentially your in-betweener: not quite a summer-weight jersey, but also not as full on as a full winter cycling jacket. The Stolen Goat thermal cycling jerseys are constructed with premium fabrics which are warm but breathable, with a super soft Roubaix-style lining. The result is a jersey that adapts to the weird, changeable weather conditions you’ll encounter in the early spring and mid-late autumn. You know those between-seasons rides where all your mates are either shivering in their summer gear or sweating it out in their winter kit that they’ve committed to a little prematurely? Add a few thermal jerseys to your kit drawer and you’ll never have a between-seasons cycling wardrobe dilemma ever again!
- Nail between seasons layering with our autumn cycling gear guide
How many cycling jerseys do I need?
The answer to how many jerseys you need is really: it depends. It comes down to how often you ride, what weather conditions you ride in and let’s face it – how often you want to be doing laundry! We’ll go into a few specific examples later in this article, including for commuters. But for now, here’s our recommendation based on an average recreational cyclist.
- Short sleeved jerseys. If you ride a couple of times a week, we’d suggest a minimum of 3 short sleeved cycling jerseys. This way you can have one in the drawer, one in the wash and one to wear at all times.
- Lightweight long sleeved jerseys. Having at least one or two long sleeved lightweight jerseys in the kit drawer is a good idea, even if you only tend to ride in fair weather conditions. It’s a versatile piece that’ll help you to layer effectively in the shoulder seasons. A long sleeved jersey is one of those bits of kit that you think you don’t need, and then you’ll end up getting a surprising amount of wear out of! If you run hot, you could consider sticking to short sleeved jerseys but grabbing a couple of sets of arm warmers to take the edge off instead.
- Thermal cycling jerseys. Strictly a summer-only rider? No judgement here, it’s arguably the best time to ride! If you favour the turbo the second the calendar ticks over to September, you can probably get away with just sticking to lighter weight jerseys. But if you want the freedom to keep riding as the seasons change, we’d recommend having two thermal jerseys in your arsenal. That way if you get caught in a downpour and you want to ride again the next day, you’re not having to get home and immediately stick a wash on. The more kit you have, the less laundry you have to do – the ultimate justification to treat yourself!
What you need: weekend/casual cyclists who mainly ride in fair conditions
Who you are: you’re down for the Sunday club ride or a long Saturday adventure, as long as the weather’s on board. Cold and wet? You’re probably going to hit the turbo or go for a run instead. For you, the priority is having enough comfortable kit for riding in warm/hot conditions.
The cycling jerseys you need:
- 2-3 x short sleeved Ibex jerseys
- 1 x short sleeved Kalahari jersey
- 1 x lightweight long sleeved jersey for cooler mornings and spring rides.
What you need: the ultimate weekend warrior
Who you are: Come rain or shine, summer or winter – you’re getting out on two wheels whether mother nature likes it or not! That means you need kit to cover all seasons and all conditions.
The cycling jerseys you need:
- 3 x short sleeved Ibex jerseys
- 1-2 x short sleeved Kalahari jerseys
- 2 x lightweight long sleeved jerseys (to layer up with a gilet)
- 2 x thermal cycling jersey
- 1 x winter cycling jacket
What you need: the ‘always on a bike’ all year rounder
Who you are: Commuting in the week, riding with your mates at the weekend… and still down for a quick lunchtime leg blast if duty calls. If anyone needs you, you’re probably cycling. And you’re at it all year round, whether it’s a cold December morning or golden hour in July. You ride a lot, and you ride in all weathers – which means having plenty of kit to suit the different seasons so you can stay comfortable (and not spend every spare minute off the bike loading and unloading the washing machine!)
The cycling jerseys you need:
- 5 x short sleeved Ibex jerseys (because nobody likes mid-week laundry)
- 2 x short sleeved Kalahari jerseys
- 3 x lightweight long sleeved jerseys (don’t forget your gilet)
- 2 x thermal cycling jerseys
- 1 x winter cycling jacket (for commuters, we’d suggest checking out our Advanced jackets – available for men and women – to really be ready for anything).
Tips for looking after your cycling jerseys
At Stolen Goat, we want your favourite kit to last you season after season. Which is why we don’t take shortcuts when it comes to quality (only on rides when it means being first in line at the cafe stop!), we only create kit with the best materials and offer a lifetime guarantee. But with the best will in the world, mishaps can happen. You can see our full cycling kit care guide, but for now here’s some quick tips to keep your cycling jerseys looking good as new:
- Fasten the zip and turn your jersey inside out before washing.
- Don’t wash your jersey with items that have abrasives (such as Velcro fastenings) – some cycling mitts and overshoes have fastenings that can cause snags, so be careful what you throw into the machine with your jersey!
- Use a delicate/cool wash cycle.
- Hang to dry – no tumble dryer required.
- Always read the label before washing.
- Tinkering with your bike? Change out of your favourite gear first (if possible, road side fixes are sometimes a necessity). Chain grease can stain, so swap your favourite jersey for an old t-shirt before you get the bike tools out.
By having a few different cycling jerseys to pick from (we’d recommend doing the same for bib shorts, too) not only do you reduce the amount of laundry you’re having to do every week. You’ll also help each item to last longer by alternately wearing them. A fine excuse for a spot of retail therapy if we ever heard it!
Stolen Goat cycling jerseys
Time for a few new additions to your kit drawer? Check out some of our latest products below, or browse the full collection.
