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VO2 Sportswear Team Pie Long Sleeve Cycling Jersey

7
£59.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Fun spoof with impressive enough performance to not be classed as a joke
Weight: 
235g
Contact: 
www.vo2sportswear.com

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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A bit out of shape to join Team Sky? Custom clothing manufacturer VO2 could have just the kit for you with their Team Pie strip.

Loaded with satire towards the love 'em or hate 'em top flight pro team, the Team Pie long sleeve jersey mimics the colourways of the Rapha kit with tweaks to the branding. Piearello riders for once will have a top to wear with their logo on it.

Underneath all the jest though is a serious bit of kit, made from the same material used in the rest of their custom kit range. The fabric is exclusive to VO2 who say it has superior comfort and moisture management for wicking sweat away from the skin. The material is very thin, thinner than I've ever known a long sleeve jersey, but it is surprisingly warm even on days when the temperatures are hanging around single figures.

Push the effort and you don't seem to get overly hot in it though. Any heat that does build up quickly dissipates and the fabric is dry again within minutes.

You get a dropped tail that's long enough for a proper racing tuck. It also stays in place thanks to the pressure from the elasticated hem. Up above that are three pockets that will take pretty much all you'll need for a training ride. They are a good depth and things like a mini pump will stay put even when you're crouched right over.

The full-length YKK zip makes controlling your temperature easy and didn't snag or stick over the test period. This ends at a decent height neck that'll stop the drafts without digging into your throat.

On the whole it's a well made jersey with tidy stitching and so far it's certainly shrugging off any scuffs or daily wear and tear.

Sizing covers a broader range than most going from XS to 4XL and the cut is rather relaxed. I'm a medium in most brands but a switch to small would have fit me slightly snugger.

Overall the Team Pie range of kit is about having a bit of fun but VO2 haven't scrimped on the quality or performance because of that. It's good quality and as part of a layering system will easily get you through three seasons of the year.

First impressions were that it was overpriced going on how thin the material was. I didn't think it would be warm enough or strong enough but it's proven me wrong on both counts.

Verdict

Fun take on the world of cycling but with impressive enough performance to not be classed as a joke.

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: VO2 Sportswear Team Pie Long Sleeve Cycling Jersey

Size tested: Medium, Black/Blue

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Custom club kit aimed at people who don't want to take things to seriously but that's not to say the kit isn't a top performer.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Exclusive VO2 moisture management fabric for superior comfort and wicking sweat away from the skin

100% permanent UV protection yarn

Three rear pockets

Separate side panels

No annoying label tags at the neck

Elasticated Rear Waste-line to stop the jersey riding up

YKK zipper

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Good, its a lot warmer and harder wearing than I expected.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The humour.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The sizing is a bit generous.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Whatever needs testing or Genesis Flyer, fixed of course!  My best bike is: Kinesis T2 with full Centaur Red

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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10 comments

Avatar
Super Domestique | 9 years ago
0 likes

Horrible. Sorry but that is my view  31

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Leviathan | 9 years ago
0 likes

This is a parody shirt and it still costs 60quid. We have all heard the debate about Rapha prices, but when is the parody shirt of this coming out?

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mrchrispy | 9 years ago
0 likes

bit of tipex and jobs done!

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Bob's Bikes | 9 years ago
0 likes

Pity they don't offer to print your name on the side panels like a certain team do.  4

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Simon E | 9 years ago
0 likes

They have sizes up to a Mamil-friendly 4XL, which I guess you should do with a team name like this.

Design is a bit too similar to genuine Sky jersey for me but fair play to them.

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James Warrener | 9 years ago
0 likes

Looks good.

Anyone know who is making new road.cc jersey ?

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mikeprytherch | 9 years ago
0 likes

I've got one of their running shirts, been through the wash loads of times and still like new, good quality stuff and always gets a smile down the gym.

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euanlindsay | 9 years ago
0 likes

Does it come with a disclaimer that neither Team Pie or vo2 consider this plagiarism but parody?

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Sudor | 9 years ago
0 likes

Belongs on the backs of proud Wigan folk ( and Hon Wiganer Wiggins) not you pate munching southern softies mind  4

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Gkam84 | 9 years ago
0 likes

Its my favourite jersey at the moment. Had it for over a year and can't fault it

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