Giordana FR-C jersey and bib shorts review
Recently, the temperatures let me get all summer with Giordana’s FR-C (Forma Red - Carbon) jersey and bibs.
Even though I’ve been layering up for cold ‘cross rides and freezing road rides, November has give me some opportunities to dress in denial of the season. Recently, the temperatures let me get all summer with the Giordana FR-C (Forma Red – Carbon) jersey and bibs.
The materials that make up the jersey seem simple: just polyamide, elastane and polyester. But, as with bike construction, it’s not just the materials you use, it’s how you use them that affects performance. In the centre of the jersey’s back is a panel made using a fabric Giordana calls Host Carbon. It’s said that it “dissipates static energy and electro-smog.” I can’t verify those qualities, but Host Carbon stretches very little vertically to keep loaded pockets in place with very little sag. The pockets themselves are made of Revolution fabric, a particularly stretchy material that makes getting bars and gels out of them easy. The fourth pocket has a zipper hidden behind a reflective fabric. There’s a hole in this pocket for running a headphone’s wire up your back. This is the kind of feature I’ll test out on the trainer. The Revolution fabric is also at the shoulders and sleeves for a comfortable fit.
When I hold the jersey up to the light, I can see that the large red panels have a grid of tiny holes for ventilation. The quick wicking Asteria fabric is also able to keep UV rays at bay. Down at the waist, there’s an elastic gripper, but only at the back, for keeping the jersey in position.
The polyamide and elastane FR-C bib shorts have at least three fabrics working to keep you comfortable on the bike. Like the jersey, the bibs have carbon at work, in this case, around the waist. The main panels next to the legs use HC-50, which is Giordana’s most compressive bib fabric. I definitely liked how snug the fit is, while still comfortable over the long haul. To make sure these bibs last, the company uses its Zaffiro 2.0 fabric on the seat and inner thighs for more durability. The cuffs are about 6.5 cm long and hold the legs well, especially with the subtle gripper grids on the inside. Also inside, the Cirros O.F. chamois keeps the lower contact points comfortable. The chamois has roughly 12 mm of padding but with a gap in that padding at the perineum. Giordana says the outer fabric of the chamois is infused with aloe vera to combat bacteria and even promote healing.
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Both pieces worked to keep me comfortable on the bike, and looking good. In fact, you can look however you want in these clothes. By that, I mean Giordana works with these pieces for custom designs. It’s a very cool initiative with the 2015 line. For 2016, Giordana has more cool stuff in the works. The company recently set up shop in a new factory in Vicenza, Italy. It promises new designs and fabrics for next season. All that has me looking forward to the nicer weather already. ($275, Giordana FR-C jersey; $295, Giordana FR-C bib shorts; unoimports.com; giordanacycling.com)
