Cervo Rosso Strada CX long sleeve jersey

Mat was impressed with the Cervo Rosso Strada full zip jersey that he tested back in the summer, and now with the temperature plummeting as we careen into winter, I've been testing the Cervo Rosso Strada CX long sleeve jersey.

It seems there's always room for new clothing manufacturers in cycling and Cervo Rosso is one of the newest. They're based in Switzerland and most of their clothing is actually made in Italy. The CX is their newest garment and has all the credentials for a hard-working autumn jersey.

Style is a word bandied around all too often but in this case I think it's fully justified. A look at their website reveals that most of the range, like the CX jersey here, adheres strongly to the current trend: mostly black with a few white and red highlights. Nothing wrong with that, I like it the clean look and classic approach.

So I've been wearing this jersey a lot in the last couple of weeks, and it's been the perfect partner for the cooler temperatures we're facing at the moment. Worn over a short sleeve merino base layer, with an emergency gilet rolled up in one of the three rear pockets, it has coped well with everything from the early morning chill to higher mid-day temperatures.

Three fabrics are used to construct the jersey. The majority of it utilises TechnoWool (48% laminated wool fibers & 52% Polyester) which in essence is very similar to smart wool. The fibres are laminated and waterproofed which, while we didn't test it in the rain, does give an impressive level of wind resistance. On rides when I thought I might need a windproof gilet I would return home with the gilet still rolled up in my pocket.

To this Cervo Rosso have added extra warmth with brushed polyester chest hoops and side panels. They're also stretchy which benefits the fit as it has more give. An elasticated polyester is used at the collar and cuffs.

Pulling the top on for the first time reveals it is luxuriously soft next to the skin of bare arms. Those long elasticated cuffs ensure no chill air can drift up the arms, but they could be an inch longer – I found the cuffs slide up the wrist just a little bit.

I tend to struggle finding jerseys that really fit well. In the medium I tested the fit is just about perfect. Cervo Rosso describe the fit as 'race cut' which is to say it's close fitting and conforms closely to the body. If you're not sure about the sizing it's definitely worth checking the size chart on the website. Or better still trying one on first. The medium is a proper medium.

The arms are slim and fitted and it sits snugly around the torso. There's perhaps a hint of excess material around the hip that could be improved just a little. The pockets, even when laden, stay pretty well in place and don't sag too much, helped with a silicone stripe on the hem. The fit around the shoulders is comfortable.

You get three pockets and they're well sized, with a small rectangle of reflective material on the middle pocket. The middle pocket has a horizontal zip at the side to access a partition of the main pocket, but the mesh fabric pulled away at the seam rendering the zipped pocket unusable.

I've had a lot of comments pertaining to the looks of this top. It's not ground-breaking but has a racy appeal that I'm sure many people will like. It's a colour scheme that is likely to match most racing bikes too. Personally I really like how it looks, which contributes to how much I've been wearing it recently.

Verdict

High quality jersey with a strong sense of style and impressive warmth for the autumn chill.