A cycling jersey can work wonders to level up your comfort level (and style) on the bike. But with so many different options out there, deciding which jersey is the best one for you can start to feel a little overwhelming.
In our cycling jersey buying guide, we’ll shed some light on everything you need to know to choose the best cycling jersey to match your style – and your rides.
From how your cycle jersey should fit and the key features to look out for. To the different types of cycling kit on offer for different weather conditions and even different cycling terrain. Keep reading to get your cycling wardrobe sorted, so you can focus on enjoying your rides!
Cycling jersey buying guide: Quick links
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Do you really need a cycling jersey?
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Cycling jersey buying guide
How should a cycling jersey fit?
What to look for in a cycling jersey?
Road cycling jersey vs Mountain bike jersey
Spring/summer cycling jerseys
Autumn/winter cycling jerseys
Thermal cycling jersey vs winter cycling jacket – what’s the difference? - Which Stolen Goat cycling jersey should I choose?
Do you really need a cycling jersey?
Before we dive into our cycling jersey buying guide, you might be wondering if you even really need a cycling jersey in the first place. Ultimately, what you wear on the bike is completely up to you. Your ride, your rules. But along with a good pair of cycling bib shorts or tights, a cycling jersey can help you to feel more comfortable on the bike and ride more efficiently.
Here’s a quick overview of the benefits of a cycling jersey:
- Breathable, quick-wicking and fast-drying
Cycling jerseys are made from sport-specific technical materials designed to keep you comfortable when you’re working up a sweat. Our Stolen Goat cycling jerseys are made from premium fabrics which are breathable (to help you stay cool), quick-wicking (because no one likes that t-shirt sticking to your back feeling) and fast-drying so you don’t get cold if the wind chill picks up. We also have different types of jersey to suit different weather conditions, more on that below. - Aerodynamic: more speed, less effort
A cycling jersey is designed to sit closely to your body, which means it won’t flap around in the wind as you ride and create extra drag. Loose fitting clothing will act like a sail, meaning you have to work harder to fight against the wind. Wearing a cycling jersey helps you to cut through the air more easily, so you can ride faster for less effort. - Freedom of movement
The best cycling jerseys are constructed with a good amount of stretch, so you can get into your preferred riding position without fighting against restrictive fabric. Our Stolen Goat cycling jerseys are created with four-way stretch so they move with you: all-day comfort (plus our signature stand-out style). - Easy to carry all your essentials (without taking a backpack or frame bag)
As well as making you look great and feel epic on the bike, a cycling jersey is also very practical. As a minimum, you want to be taking your phone, keys and few essential bike spares with you on the bike. A good cycling jersey usually has pockets on the back which are designed to be easily accessible even while you’re riding (excellent for grabbing a snack on the go). At Stolen Goat, many of our cycling jerseys also have an extra zipped water-resistant pocket so you know your essentials are safe and sound.
Cycling jersey buying guide
So that’s why it’s worth considering a cycling jersey to offer improved comfort, practicality (and style) on the bike. Next we’ll talk you through how your cycling jersey should fit, the key features to look out for and the different types of cycling jersey on offer depending on when and where you want to ride.
Already convinced you want a Stolen Goat jersey (excellent choice, by the way) and just looking for guidance on which of our cycling jersey fits and ranges is right for you? Click HERE to skip ahead.
How should a cycling jersey fit?
This depends on the type of cycling jersey – more details on the difference between road cycling jerseys and mountain bike jerseys below. But first and foremost, your cycling jersey should fit comfortably without any restriction to your range of movement.
Road cycling jerseys usually have a closer fit to help with aerodynamics. But it shouldn’t dig in uncomfortably around the waist, the sleeves shouldn’t be cutting off your circulation, and the zip should do up without any bunching or warping. A ‘club fit’ (we call ours ‘Every Day’) will be slightly more relaxed. Ideal for layering up, keeping it casual on the Sunday club ride or for extra comfort on long audax rides, sportives or ultra cycling adventures. Race fit jerseys (ours are ‘Advanced’) focus more on aerodynamics and usually have a closer fit. But a good race fit cycling jersey will still have plenty of stretch so it shouldn’t feel uncomfortably tight.
Top tip: When trying on a cycling jersey, practice leaning/bending into your typical riding position and reaching around to the pockets to make sure it’s not overly restrictive and can move with you.
Good to know: If you’re shopping for your first ever cycling jersey, it’s good to know that often sportswear sizing can be a bit different to street wear. Check the size guides carefully and take your measurements to find your perfect size. At Stolen Goat, we’re always happy to help you too so just get in touch!
What to look for in a cycling jersey?
Not all cycling jerseys are created equal: just because a jersey looks nice doesn’t mean it’s going to perform well on the bike!
Here are the key features we think should be a non-negotiable when you’re choosing which cycling jersey to buy:
- Breathable, quick-wicking materials
A cycling jersey is useless if it makes you feel like a boil in the bag grain of rice. Make sure your jersey has been constructed using breathable, quick-wicking materials so you won’t overheat. A good jersey will also be fast-drying. This is important because you might work up a sweat riding up a climb, but if your jersey stays wet it’s A) kind of gross-feeling and B) will make you cold when you hit the descent. - Four-way stretch
Most cycling jerseys should be stretchy, but we’d recommend choosing one with four-way stretch. This means the jersey will truly move with you. Riding on the drops, signalling for junctions, or just busting out some spontaneous mid-ride dance moves. Four-way stretch is down for it all. - Waist-gripper
Trust us, there’s nothing more annoying than a cycling jersey which keeps riding up. We construct our Stolen Goat jerseys so they should stay in place regardless, but we’ve also added silicone waist grippers to make sure they’re definitely going to stay put. - Neckline zip protector
This is a small detail that can make a big difference to your comfort levels, particularly on long rides. All our cycling jerseys are created with a zip protector to stop the zip scratching at your neck while you ride. - Design
When you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you’ll become unstoppable on two wheels. Look for a cycling jersey in a design that expresses your style. We’ve got everything from the sleek and subtle to the wild and bold. We particularly like offering up some brighter colours to help keep you visible out there. - Premium quality
When it comes to a cycling jersey, you want style and substance. At Stolen Goat, we’ve never been about fast fashion and we focus on making cycling gear that will last, season after season. You can read more on our approach to sustainability and responsibility here. Your cycling jersey should be made from high quality materials that can keep up with your adventures. Bonus points for crash replacement services too!
Road cycling jersey versus mountain bike jersey – what’s the difference?
The main difference between a road cycling jersey and a mountain bike jersey is the fit. In road cycling, aerodynamics are more of a concern, so road cycling jerseys tend to have a much closer fit to reduce drag. Mountain biking is less about going fast and more about adventuring across all sort of terrain – you’re not going to be as worried about aero features when you’re bunny hopping tree roots or bumping it out on a rocky descent. That means mountain bike jerseys have a much more relaxed fit.
The other difference is also things like pockets. Mountain bikers are more likely to wear cargo shorts with pockets built in, so mountain bike jerseys are more of a laidback technical tee. You can check out our mountain bike range here.
Cycling jerseys for spring and summer: what to look for
In the spring (or early autumn) when temperatures are mild but not baking hot, a standard lightweight cycling jersey will be a staple. For warmer days, short sleeves will see you through (you can layer up with arm warmers) but if you feel the cold and you tend to ride early you could also look at getting a lightweight long-sleeved cycling jersey. These give you a bit of extra protection, but you won’t overheat when temperatures rise.
Hot weather cycling jerseys
Heading off on a cycling holiday or lucky enough to live somewhere with consistent hot weather? You might want to add a specific hot weather cycling jersey to your collection. Look for ultra-lightweight jerseys with added cooling features like a slightly lower neckline. We have our ‘Kalahari’ range (named after the goats you’ll find in the Kalahari desert) for those glorious height of summer rides.
Best cycling jerseys for cooler conditions
For cycling in cooler conditions, look for a long sleeved thermal cycling jersey. A mid-point between a lightweight jersey and a full winter jacket. A thermal jersey will keep you warm in cooler spring and autumn conditions, without causing you to overheat. We’ve made ours with a ‘roubaix’-style fleece lining which offers the balance between warmth and breathability to keep you at just the right temperature in changeable conditions. Think of it as the goldilocks of cycling jerseys!
Check out our men’s and women’s cycling jerseys to see the full top-rated Stolen Goat range.
Which Stolen Goat cycling jersey is right for me?
Decided to treat yourself to a Stolen Goat cycling jersey? You’ve got excellent taste, if we do say so ourselves. Welcome to The Herd! We’ve got a few different options in terms of fit and function, so if you’re not sure what to go for, hopefully the following might be helpful. You can always get in touch if you need more advice, too.
Every Day versus Advanced: Which fit is right for you?
Our Every Day ranges of cycling jerseys and cycling jackets have a slightly more relaxed fit. They’re still designed with road cycling in mind, so they’re not going to be so loose that they’re flapping around all over the place. But they do have a little extra room, perfect for layering up or just a slightly more casual look compared to some of the more ‘second skin’ options out there. We love our Every Day line for commuting, weekend socials and long adventures.
Our Advanced cycling jerseys and jackets offer a more aerodynamic fit. These will sit closer to the body to minimise drag, perfect for faster rides (or racing your mates to the coffee shop). But rest assured, our Advanced line isn’t your typical uncomfortable ‘race fit’. We still construct our Advanced cycling kit with plenty of stretch, using premium materials, for an aero fit that moves with you. So you can focus on the ride.
Kalahari versus Ibex versus Alpine: what’s the difference?
So, ‘Every Day’ and ‘Advanced’ refers to how our cycling kit fits. Kalahari, Ibex and Alpine refer to what conditions the kit is designed for. Fun fact: these are all types of goat!
- Ibex: Ibex is our every ride range, perfect for all year round riding these jerseys can be worn alone in warmer conditions or used as part of your layering system on cooler days.
- Kalahari: the desert-dwelling goat! Our Kalahari cycling jerseys are designed specifically to help you keep your cool when the heat is on. Choose our Kalahari jerseys for hot weather rides.
- Alpine: Designed for cold weather cycling, our Alpine cycling jackets are designed to keep you warm in deep winter conditions.
What’s the difference between a thermal cycling jersey and a winter cycling jacket?
Our thermal cycling jerseys are designed for autumn/fall and early spring conditions, when there’s a chill in the air and you’ll be too cold in your summer gear. But it’s not so cold that you need a full jacket. The Stolen Goat thermal cycling jerseys have a Roubaix-style fleece lining which is super soft and keeps you cosy. But they’re still breathable, so you won’t overheat in changeable conditions.
A winter cycling jacket gives you that extra level of warmth and weather-ready performance. All our Stolen Goat winter cycling jackets (available for women and men) are windproof and waterproof. But our Alpine Advanced winter jackets are packed with even more features for those truly gnarly winter rides, including a drop tail to keep your hindquarters covered, a storm guard on the front zip and a high collar for when the rain pours and the wind howls. Plus the option to unzip the side vents if you find yourself working up a bit of a sweat.
Check out our winter gear guide for more advice on what to wear on the bike in cold conditions, and you can also find out more about what to look for in a winter cycling jacket in our dedicated buying guide. Our autumn cycling gear guide is handy for navigating weird between-seasons weather, too!
Find your perfect cycling jersey
Ready to find your next cycling jersey? Tap the links below to browse our ranges.
Women’s cycling jerseys
Short-sleeved cycling jerseys
Long-sleeved jerseys
Cycling jackets
Men’s cycling jerseys
Short-sleeved cycling jerseys
Long-sleeved jerseys
Cycling jackets
Ready to Choose?
Now you know what to look for, browse our range. Every Stolen Goat jersey is designed in the UK with premium fabrics and a performance fit.
