At last, the days are getting longer, the sun is occasionally out and thoughts are turning to summer rides in balmier temperatures. As we gradually peel off those base layers, gilets and gloves that have served us through the chilly first few weeks of spring, it’s time to dig out warm weather gear from the depths of your kit drawer. Or perhaps consider replacing old with new.
Adidas are not the first brand that springs to mind when it comes to cycling gear despite a heritage in the sport that includes once providing kit to Team Sky, but the German sports behemoth has come up with a new line of warm weather clothing, including the Supernova Climachill jersey. Having got my hands on an Adidas coupon, I thought now was a good time to try a brand of cycling gear I had typically stayed away from. Admittedly, the name doesn’t really conjure up long days in the saddle under the scorching sun of southern France (more like a dodgy legal high some festival goer might ingest before heading to the Shangri-La stage at Glastonbury). But what’s in a name.
The jersey features all sorts of innovations which Adidas assure us will keep riders cool when the mercury is rising: specifically it has “aluminium cooling spheres”, “polar fibres” and “sub-zero yarns”.
The cooling spheres are scattered across the garment’s shoulders and are supposed to give a cooling sensation as you tootle along. This might seem like a good idea, but I wear bib shorts in even the hottest weather – I’m paranoid about suffering the cycling equivalent of builder’s bum. So that meant the cooling spheres only worked on the edges of my shoulders. And they weren’t so much cooling as tickly.
The sub-zero yarns are flat as opposed to round, which gives them a larger surface area that supposedly helps transfer heat away from the body more rapidly. And the polar fibres allow Adidas to produce a light fabric that allows plenty of ventilation and evaporation. Frankly, this was difficult to gauge over the course of six rides, but the shirt is light, silky and feels nice.
There are three roomy elasticated back pockets and a zipped, moisture resistant pocket. If there was a “less is more design prize” this jersey would nail it: coloours are plain black, blue, red and grey. But I’ve just about had it with couture cycling jerseys. Plain and simple is just fine.
Its second best feature is the cut: I’m fed-up buying cycling kit designed for blokes the size of Nairo Quintana. Almost every jersey I own fits me across the shoulders and chest, but is so long that when I fill the pockets it dangles down over my bum. The Supernova Climachill fitted me perfectly – good news for all those broad-shouldered short-arses out there.
The best feature of the Supernova Climachill jersey is the pricing. At just 55 it’s almost a bargain.
Summary: The super cooling properties left a little to be desired but in terms of simplicity, fit and pricing this is difficult to beat.
