Solo Cycle Jersey Review and Giveaway
Solo is an online cycle clothing company with a passion for two wheels and the styles of another era. So when this pre-1970 pro racing inspired cycling clothing company contacted us about doing a review and giveaway, we thought we’d get involved and check them out a little closer.
It feels like I’ve already done far too many jersey reviews and I know a few more are coming in the future so I decided to have someone else supply their comments on this one….and who better than one of our readers? I put the word out here in Austin and Jose De La Rosa jumped on the opportunity to try out one of the Solo jerseys and tell us what he thought.
Solo Konig Jersey Review
by Jose De La Rosa
“I was given a Solo jersey by Darryl from Loving the Bike and I wear it proudly. It is colorful and bright but not too loud or flashy. It’s colorful enough that I feel noticeable riding down Parmer lane, and I find it very breathable and dry. This jersey was definitely designed with performance and style in mind. I have gotten a couple of compliments on it which definitely boosts the confidence and makes me ride stronger. I really want to thank you for your kindness, this gift helped make my birthday week really great.”
Each Solo Classique jersey is an interpretation of the styles worn by the great riders of the 50’s – 70’s. These jerseys are tailored from Nuovotech polyester with superb moisture-wicking qualities. This means we can use colours, patterns and styles that are not possible with wool. It’s the best of both worlds – retro style using modern fabric. Look closer and you’ll notice the meticulous attention to detail throughout each garment.
For more information or to order your own Solo Jersey, Kit, or Clothing visit them at www.solocycleclothing.com.
Win a Solo Jersey
Winning jersey may not be as this one shown
Congratulations to Eric Hutchins who was picked by random.org as the winner in our Solo jersey giveaway. Congratulations, Eric and thanks to everyone who shared their opinion and entered to win.
We’re offering our readers the chance to win a Solo Cycle jersey. To enter, leave a comment below as to what you think of the classic jerseys from the 50’s and 60’s versus the modern race jerseys of today. Which do you like better, what do you like best about them?
Get your entry in by this Friday at Noon EST and we’ll announce the winner soon after.
Older jerseys are classier. Flashiness just calls attention to you, attention that you should earn through your sport, not your apparel.
SInce I am 61 of course I like the older ones!!
Old school
Old school will always look better.
I’m a romantic and love the simpler designs of the older wool jerseys. I have a few of them and wear them on the rare ride whenever I feel nostalgic. On the other hand the newer Solo jerseys are beautiful offering the best of the old/new …simpler design with the new fabrics!
Love the simplicity of the retro look. Solid colors with limited distractions. Slap it on to show pride and support for a brand you believe in. Dream for a moment as if you the pro racer !
I like the look of the retro-style jerseys–sometimes the modern ones have way too many things crammed onto them!
Maybe it’s just me, but older jerseys, and this is across all sports, had a sense of being crafted by hand that had quirks to it. Newer ones have materials that are amazing (and stinky when sweaty, old) but wear better. Gosh, if a choice. I would probably say a new one designed in a throwback style. Best of both worlds.
I like the simplicity of clasic jerseys.
i like the simpler look/style of the older jerseys
Since I am 60 I find I like a lot of things that are old school because..wait for it..it WAS better back then, the experiences and things,in many cases. Love modern road bikes but so like the look of these retro style ones !
There is something about cycling and racing that has a depth to it, hard to express but if you are a rider, you feel (at least I do) like a part of a fraternity or society that has a history that means something. the old jerseys remind me of that. They old jerseys say to me ” I am a member of something cool”
Most new jerseys scream at me ” LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME” not all, but many.
However, the materials in the new jerseys are so much better.
So, give me old style with new material, and life is good.
Old school is not always better, but in this case, very cool!!
I love the classics. A single sponsor means a better story to tell. I can imagine these being great conversion starters and they look great! Using today’s tech also makes sense so they’ll be used rather than just looked at. Sadly, a single XL as the biggest size is tough on us Clydesdale former Linebackers turned cyclists. My wife would love to wear one, though! (Me too if you can fit a 48″ chest….)
Love these classic designs, their simplicity makes them so much easier to look at. Only problem is it is hard to decide which is my favorite.
the otherbig advantage of the 60/70s jersey is that is a great option in spring/fall with roubaix arm warmers to pimp the ride with- i need to get out more don’t i
enjoy your ride
does the number of cycling jerseys you ‘need’= the number you own + 1 ?
sorry , did forget to mention the 2012 merckx indeland jersey, a nice mix of lavie claire and the old merckx jerseys of the early and mid 80s, smart and potentially timeless, but would you wear it with jeans and get away with it
the wool/acrylic mix of the older jerseys, while heavier, are great in the forest MTBiking. The late 60s, early 70s had clean lines, simple sponsorship and were relatively timeless, the 80s with th change to lycra/poly did however have some great changes, the cut down collar looked great on the team Z jersey. the pinks and neon colours of the GIS ballan while full on, are making a comeback, and can too look great in the forest. Some of the more modern jerseys however have been more about the sponsors than the style, eg the italian team gino bartali, full of sponsors with limited style. The moder jerseys do have aome come back however, feeling great in the warmer weather and some of the newer jerseys could become classics eg the liquigas jersey
that being said, its hard to beat the pale blue bianchi/campagnolo jersey of gimondo or the molteni or faema of merckx, and the advanatge is that they are cool and can be worn with causal clothers
sorry to bore you all, I am a jersey nut
cheers
There are a lot of bad jerseys out there. If you are going to ride, you have to look good. These definitely set themselves apart from the rest with a classic look that is timeless. Something that you don’t have to worry about your kids seeing you wearing in a photo years from now and saying, “Dad… what were you thinking!?”
Classic is the way to go. Those riders from the 60’s looked so classy in their jerseys.
I like it. And the use of modern fabrics and know how can only make it better. I was just watching a vintage ride in France on you tube and telling my wife the museum curator what a great fundraiser a vintage ride would be!
The 50s and 60s jerseys are more understated! Today’s are crazy wild! I like both, but don’t have a retro look. I need one. Send it to me!
Not bad but the 50’s all had collars and the front pockets stuck around through most of the 60’s.
An retro look with new design and quality sounds like a winner to me.
For me older jerseys harken back to a day of simpler times, even if it is just a fantasy.
It’s easy to visualize the poor Frenchman who must train after long hours at the mill and race on the weekends. There is something romantic about the notion of grabbing the bike and heading out the door unencumbered by iPhones, Strava segments and CO2 cartridges.
I love the look of retro jerseys. Simple designs that are not covered by corporate logo’s. I understand that modern race jerseys need to carry sponsors names, but can be a bit over the top for wearing on the streets. After all, who wants to look like a “rolling billboard” on thier weekend ride. (unless, of course, you were being paid for it.) Keep it simple and leave the modern race jerseys for the pro’s.
I think I like the classic style. It’s more “me.”
The design of 50’s and 60’s was way more beautiful. Less neon colors and more art into them. The current jerseys are too bright, but the materials are such a great improvement. I say Retro design, modern tech.
I prefer the aesthetic simplicity of the classic jerseys. The jerseys of today are visually overwhelming with every panel being devoted to a sponsor. Same with the bikes of today. The bicycle companies names are on every tube of the bike at least once. With that being said the construction of todays jersey, bikes, etc is much better. So I would take todays products with the visuals of the 50’s and 60’s.
I prefer the simplicity of the older styles. The newer ones look too crowded to me, like turning yourself into a billboard, or a Nascar car. 🙂
I really like the plain-ness of the retro jerseys a lot!! but on the other hand I love the coloring of the new modern ones, I am really liking Team Exergy’s jerseys for some reason.
When I think of classic jerseys, I think of Eddy Merckx in his simply designed Faema jersey or Greg LeMond in the Mondrian-inspired La Vie Claire jersey. These classic jerseys bring the history of cycling to life, and when you’re seen in one these, even those who don’t know cycling, people immediately recognize that old-school look.
Some things never go out of style, and that’s how I feel about many of the classic cycling jersey designs. The retro look is simpler and brings back good vibes from simpler times.
I’m enjoying the retro feel of the jersey, it’s unique to the point that I think the great Marco Pantani would of been a fan.
I love the designs of there jerseys. They’re simple classic designs. The colors and the technical materials they use are great . Keep up the good work SOLO
I’m very enthusiastic about classic jerseys and have gone so far as to have collected threadbare examples at swap meets, and photographed many others that were simply priced beyond my means at the time. Because there have been so few jersey designs that harken back to the classic era, I’ve toyed around with the idea of using my examples and photographs to make my own – but then, as my wife points out, I’m mostly all thumbs when it comes to needle and thread! I’m going to have to keep an eye on Solo Cycle Jerseys lineup and watch for designs that appeal to my own sense of vintage aesthetic. (Are we considering any designs that have front pockets, ala’ French cyclotouring, for instance?)
I love the functionality of the fabric found in more modern race jerseys, especially in a city like Austin where it gets SO hot in the summer. However, I’m much more drawn to the aesthetics and simplicity of classic jerseys.
I own a number of classic mountain bike jerseys from the early ’80s, most of them for Ritchey Mountain Bikes. They’re made of cotton, are fairly light-weight, but what I love most about them is the simplicity of the design. While I recognize today’s bike jerseys are made from more technical materials that allow for better breathability and so on, it’s that straight-forward look that I love – and that applies equally to road bike jerseys of previous years. Thanks for the opportunity to comment.