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Hotvelociti Jersey – Syle and Function -by Virginia Smith Look in any cycling catalog and you will find a plethora of fun and interesting jersey designs. Look a little further and you may notice that there are not as many choices available for women! Then, along comes Hotvelociti with its wide range of fun, colorful jerseys. I especially appreciate the bold, vibrant colors as opposed to the usual round of pastels and pinks so commonly found in women’s product lines. Miles (Millas) Jersey
Hotvelociti apparel is made in Mexico, which reflects the company’s philosophy of helping our neighbors south of the border become self-sustaining. This arrangement takes advantage of the free-trade agreement so purchases benefit real families instead of being used to pay customs or import duties. The women’s Miles (Millas) jersey that I tested definitely displays a Latin flare. The design is a bright and colorful silkscreen print, which helps when riding on traffic-laden streets. It has three deep pockets, and it is cut longer in the torso – a big plus as the jersey stays in place on a long ride! I also like the side panel construction, which allows for more freedom of movement than I’ve found in traditional ‘side-seam’ jerseys. I have washed the jersey multiple times, and the colors have stayed as vibrant as when it was new. The fabric has not pulled or snagged, and it has not shrunk or stretched. It is truly well constructed.
I wore the jersey with a long-sleeved base layer in the early spring, and without one through the warm spring months. The fabric wicked away the perspiration to keep me cool and dry on both my shorter commute days and my long weekend road rides. However, I found the jersey to be a bit warm for riding in temperatures above 90 degrees. I tend to ride with a lot in my pockets, so I appreciate that the three back pockets are large and deep. They easily accommodated my rolled up jacket or arm warmers in addition to gels and other food, cell phone, and wallet. I usually ride on a very well-traveled bike trail, and whenever I wear my Millas jersey it elicits compliments from other trail users. I make a point of telling them it’s Hotvelociti!
One word of caution when ordering – the sizes run very small! I usually wear a size S or XS, depending on brand. With Hotvelociti, I was wearing a size XL, which was a tad too large. I probably would have been comfortable in a Large, but I doubt that I could have fit into anything below that size since I don’t like my jerseys to be too snug. |
