Alé R-EV1 Maglia Quick ls
Style and performance for those cooler days
Reviewed by Robert Thorpe
Over the many years that I’ve been testing and reviewing cycle clothing; there are only a few items that have stayed in my mind as being truly exceptional. When the Alé Maglia Quick jersey arrived some time ago, its style and quality immediately struck me and I was itching to get out on the road. However, significant health issues arose and delayed my cycling by many months; by which time the high temperatures had arrived and short sleeves were the order of the day.
Recently though, the summer sun had dipped away behind clouds for a few days, and rather than resort to uncomfortable arm warmers, it was the perfect moment to wear the Alé Maglia Quick jersey – result. Expanding on my initial impressions of the jersey; it’s simply a stylishly modern, well designed and lightweight mid-season cycling jersey – long sleeved. The jersey is super comfortable for those cooler overcast days, thanks to the well thought out fabric choices and the high-quality Italian finishing. I tend to wear my jersey close to the skin in summer, and the Alé Maglia Quick is exceptionally comfortable against the body, and fits to form, due to the body mapping cut, the anatomical design and the high-quality multi-directional fabrics.
Less sweat, more comfort!
Alé have chosen world-leading fabric technology, QuickDry Frame® for their fabric on this state-of-the-art mid-season cycling jersey. It works in unison with their own renowned fabrics, by applying a precise functional grid to the fabric, allowing excess moisture produced by the body during activity, to be channelled through a hydrophilic process, increasing the level of comfort by keeping you drier on the inside. Ideal then for a cooler, overcast summer day, where I’d hopefully be working hard on the bike!
The choice of fabrics to the front are rear of the jersey are as you’d expect from Alé, with a slightly heavier fabric to combat the wind, and a light fabric to the back. It’s the arms however, that really draw your attention. Alé have kept a very light – and very narrow strip of super-light and super wicking, stretch fabric on the underside of the arms. However, the majority of the long sleeves are constructed of a unique mesh-like fabric, that clings neatly to your arms and moves freely with them, whilst allowing air in and moisture out. It also adds to the super-stylish look of the jersey; contrasting with the soft colour tones and sweeping geometric design for the body of the jersey.
Yes, the whole look and feel of this thoroughly modern and technical cycling jersey makes it a ’must have’ piece of cycling clothing for riders looking for the very best quality and performance, at the right price point.
Italian quality for comfort and longevity
The double cuffs on the jersey, sweep neatly across the wrists, and the silicon waist works in unison with the stretch fabric to keep things in place. It has the usual 3 rear pockets, which hold items in and don’t over-stretch and sag. There’s also a useful zipped pocket at the rear, which is easy to access – unlike some. One aspect of all Alé clothing that I like, is the high-quality zipper. There’s nothing worse than paying out for a high-end branded cycle jersey, only for them to fit a cheap zip which simply breaks or malfunctions too soon. Not so with Alé, who ensure that Italian style and quality comes as standard!
On the bike, despite it being summer and at the end of July, heading into August; this Alé Maglia Quick jersey proved itself the ideal jersey choice for the cooler temperatures as I cycled the steep Yorkshire Dales roads, into the hills.
I’m now looking forward to also wearing it regularly in its natural mid-season environment this forthcoming autumn. Ultimately, it’s already a favourite of mine and a definite recommendation.
Image courtesy of www.bormio.eu/en
