Drew Eckhardt 

Jerseys aren't too different once you get past long vs short sleeve, long vs short zipper, and race or club cut.

Size tags which survive many washings are significant too so buying more of the same brand doesn't require visiting a fitting room.

I'm fond of my favorite beer, 1997-1999 Campagnolo Record titanium derailleur, and Litespeed head badge jerseys. I also think I need Rush Fly by Night and 2112 jerseys.



For unpleasantly warm situations I recommend something that's mostly white to reflect sunlight.

(Shiny silver would be cooler if that was possible on a breathable jersey fabric)

lsberrios1 

Agreed. I think my six pack says more than any jersey could.

lsberrios1 

ever since they stopped taking me seriously i had to find other grounds to be cool! Turns out it had to be a place where shaving your legs is a status quo. between you and me, i still ride motorized two wheel contaptions. I'm just a little bit slower, a little bit skinnier and a little less drunk

CuriousGeorge

Buy Voler!!
Made in the USA, nice fitting, great material
Once my current shorts disintegrate I will buy the matching bibs for my jersey
Great Customer service and sent me 2 tootsie rolls with my order
So good

bruce19

I've got a whole story about this year's ECM in Fontana but I won't bore you with it. I find I am having more fun and getting more out of cycling. Last July I crashed on my Masi during a group ride and ended up having C1 & C2 fused. It was painful and I was laid up for months but back on the bike by Nov. And, this year I am better than ever on the bike. Just bought a Guru steel and have decided life is too short not to have great stuff like Assos gear. Just a change of perspective after a near death experience.

clausen

This is just plain wrong. The material used, combination of materials used, different cuts and pocket layout of each brand make huge differences in a jersey comfort and performance. A short sleeve jersey that is great in hot conditions, won't be the best choice in temperatures just above when you would take arm warmers off. Pocket layout vary from great to non functional as in too small or stuff falls out.

kvnrvn

I second this. I have 3 or 4. All really high quality and American made. Price is reasonable too.

spdoran

So, I got lucky and got the new Castelli Aero Race 5.0 as a graduation gift. It has a bazillion different materials and fits perfect everywhere except right at the peak of my bicep on the right arm (no low rep curls for a while). The jersey is great, but I can't answer my own question because it is the only decent one I own. I will say it is amazing though. Don't think I would shell out my own money on it at the same time.

Canadian_giant

Bibs, no jersey. The only way to ride

just dank

Sale racks have tons

rpenmanparker 

Hey, I know you are adamant about how important are the differences among jerseys, and how one has to buy way up the line to have a satisfactory product, and that's fine. We all have our opinions, and I, for one, am in no position to say you are wrong WITH REGARD TO YOUR OWN NEEDS. I think you can see, however, that a great many folks disagree. As evidenced in this thread, many believe that once you get a technical wicking fabric of one kind or another, a decorative print design you can live with, and one or more brands that offer a size that works for you (which for many folks is just about every brand), it isn't necessary to look any further. And since so many jerseys that fit that description are available heavily discounted at both the LBS and online, spending over $100 for one just isn't necessary. If you can only be fit or otherwise satisfied by the crème-de-la-crème, so be it. I for one have owned some of the best and many of the better and just don't see the value in them compared to close out goods with the necessary fundamental properties I listed above. From what I can see, lot's of folks share this opinion.

I should also mention that I have never encountered a jersey at any price point on which the back pockets were so badly designed or executed that I had to give it any thought at all.

Lanterne Rogue

Merino wool has been great for me, especially on tours when you have to go days without a washing. Merino jerseys don't itch and they don't stink, even after repeated wearings. (And I sweat a lot.) Just did a four-day southern Utah trip with temps in 80s, and the jerseys never felt hot, which is weird, because the jerseys look like sweaters. You can get them on clearance for as little as $50 at this place (my only connnection is that I am a happy customer): Portland Cyclewear - highest quality & best prices on merino wool cycling jerseys

rpenmanparker 

At first when I wrote "once you get a technical wicking fabric" above, I was tempted to include the limiting adjective "synthetic" but then didn't on purpose. As far as I am concerned, Merino wool is indeed just that kind of material.

Slackerprince

This is a good deal:

Garmin-Sharp Team Cycling Jersey by Castelli

Don't know if you're into the team thing, but I bought a couple of
team jerseys from them, made by Santini, and they've lasted me
many years.
I always wash my kit in Woolite for Darks and hang them to dry.

S

snidely

Assos. I never understood their pricing, until I bought one. I still will never pay full price, but when they are half off I am happy to pay that for the quality.

I have many other quality brands and styles, but none compare to the material and fit of the three Assos jerseys that I have.

My wife has just bought a couple of Assos pieces, and she agrees.

For the record, I do consider them an absolute luxury and not a necessity to enjoy cycling. To each their own.

spdoran

My personal view (and this will get shot down) is that if I am going to spend $100 on just about any jersey new, then I might as well spend $120-$140 on a top of the line jersey on sale. if anyone has questions about the differences between a $30 jersey and $100 jersey I can go n for hours about why too cheap is truly too cheap at some point. I'm going to continue the search for the perfect point on the curve between quality and price. I might try to find something with an antimicrobial lining so it really never stinks. I have a Dakine fleece jacket with the lining for mountain biking and no amount of sweat will ever make it stink.

It is good to know that some team jerseys are less expensive because the $210 price tag on the Team Sky Rapha jersey is a little ridiculous. The garmin sharp jersey looks pretty slick and all of my castelli gear is top notch. Another castelli I'm interested in is the scratch labs climbers jersey.

rpenmanparker 

Somebody please explain to me how price relates to fit. If everybody is shaped differently, how can there be any concensus about which brand fits best? So how can there be any correlation between good fit and high price if only a fraction of the customer base will agree that the fit is good?

snidely

Sorry, let me clarify:

On MY body, the Assos material and style fits ME the best, in MY opinion. MY other jerseys tend to gather in places that can bother ME. MY Assos jerseys do not do this. Therefore it is MY opinion that MY Assos jerseys fit ME better than MY others, which equals better quality to ME.

If YOU want to see if it fits YOU well, then spend YOUR money to get YOUR own opinion. This is just MY opinion.

Jeeebus, is this the old Hot R' Not thread?

spdoran

Nicer materials will tend to fit better on a broader range of builds because they will be designed to stretch more and form to skin better.

rpenmanparker 

No, your explanation is completely sensible. That's exactly my point. If you want a good fit, you try on jerseys, you don't check to see if they are expensive enough.