Review: Pedal Mafia PMCC Long Sleeve Jersey
Rarely are there times when a cycling jersey complements the conditions. In the spring classic sense of riding, there are numerous garment solutions in an attempt to keep the rider barely warm. Morning rides are full of jackets and leggings that doom later miles. Summer kits with arm and knee warmers are too cold for the morning crispness but melt into the afternoon warmth. It’s all a bit too much really. Excitedly the conditions have been perfect for the Pedal Mafia PMCC Long Sleeve Jersey. It’s a must for every cyclist’s wardrobe.
Almost every long sleeve jersey on the market comes with fleece lining. While that might work well in many conditions, it has been a request over the years for companies to simply elongate the sleeves of a summer weight jersey. Don’t add insulation, just add sleeve length. There have been numerous rides where insulated arm warmers have been too much. This sounds like griping, but the want of a long sleeve jersey has been dreamed about on numerous rides.
Today was the best example of the perfect conditions. We have continued our navigation of another warm winter, and today was well above average. The temperatures hovered in the low 60s (16C) with abundant sunshine. First the Pedal Mafia sleeveless base layer was slipped on, followed by the PMCC Long Sleeve Jersey. Its made in Italy rigid sleeves provided the right amount of compression without the concern of floating out of place. The pockets were loaded up with a cycling wallet, cell phone, and field tools. These pockets are high and tight, keeping the contents close. It took a moment or two to get the zipper to function, given the amount of compression along the bottom of the jersey, but we got there.
We have used the PMCC Short Sleeve Jersey on summer nights. The concern that this would not provide the right protection was there. What if the cold spring breeze permeated the breathable fabric? Is black the right color on a day when arm warmers should have been prioritized? The answers were found throughout the rides with the PMCC Long Sleeve Jersey. The fabric is breathable, but not transparent. This could be considered even in the warmest weather to provide an SPF barrier. There was nominal flow through the arms, but it became refreshing once acclimated to the conditions. Though the PMCC Long Sleeve Jersey is black, it wasn’t absorbing intense sun rays that would make it unbearable; it was confidently performing as a quality garment does.
Questions regarding sizing are there. For example, we have confidently gone with the same size across Pedal Mafia’s charts. The PMCC Long Sleeve Jersey appeared slightly short when standing, but didn’t have that bunching effect while riding. Perhaps the omission of fabric along the bottom of the jersey prevented frustrating wrinkles. Even the sleeves sat perfectly smooth along the arms from shoulder to wrist, blocking the wind in stylish fashion. In our experience, Pedal Mafia’s PMCC line tends to expand a bit when used heavily, which we will certainly do with the Long Sleeve Jersey.
It’s not often a garment is as highly recommended as the PMCC Long Sleeve Jersey. This is a versatile jersey that could be used for sloppy spring classics, warm summer group rides, or season-closing cyclocross races. Whatever the use, a long sleeve jersey without fleece lining is a must for the year-round cyclist, but don’t be surprised if it’s worn year-round when the conditions present themselves.
