Road Cycling

Reviewed: Hotmix Cycling Chevy Jersey and Hibiscus Bibshorts

It's dangerously different...

We’re in the thick of a very British Summer and in all honesty, it’s not been as wet as we first feared. With the baking sun warming our island, we turn for help from those more accustomed to these hot temperatures.

And who is better to deal with the heat than our friends Down Under? Suffice to say, if you’re looking for warm weather cycling kit, you want the reassurance that it’s been developed and tested in warm weather and Hotmix Cycling apparel has been doing just that.

The Australian brand has hit the cycling scene with a bang of bright colour as both their men’s and women’s ranges use vibrancy to the max, something not often seen on the roads of the UK as the classic black bibshort seems to rule the roost.

It’s not just the bold patterns and daring designs that make Hotmix’s kit so eye-catching either, but they defy the cycling norm by creating non-matching kits. With complementing colourways, the patterns vary between jerseys and bibshorts to create a “hot mix” of whatever takes your fancy.

Well, we fancied mixing up their Pink Chevy jersey with their Hibiscus bibshorts and took the set out for a spin this summer.

Hotmix Cycling Pink Chevy Jersey

Ok, let’s address the elephant – It’s for women and it’s pink.

Personally, I have no issue with the colour pink and the bright intense shade coupled with the sharp zig-zag design offsets girly association. In case you’re wondering, the women’s range has a pink/blue theme and the men’s range has a red/blue theme… with flowers too!

So, let’s get back to the jersey construction. Designed from 120gr Microfibra, B-Elastic 135, this jersey is packed with features to make it the perfect lightweight summer cycling companion. The mesh material is soft, stretchy and breathable making it cool to ride in and the large rear cargo pockets are accessible for all your ride essentials. Although, I feel a small zipped pocket would have been a great benefit here to provide peace of mind for your keys, cards and coins.

One particular favourite feature of mine is the low profile collar, which tapers nicely to the top of the zip to reduce possible irritation on the neck. Another great feature is the soft laser cut sleeves which seamlessly hug the arms without restricting movement as you ride.

There’s a long dropped hem on the Chevy jersey which provides ample coverage when you’re down on the drops and giving it all you got, and what’s better is the sticky hem grips to the bibshorts firmly enough to stay put.

Hotmix’s Pink Chevy jersey is available in a variety of sizes from xx.small to xx.large, for £84 here.

Hotmix Cycling Hot Hibiscus Bibshorts

Why would you want to dull the brilliance of the Chevy jersey with plain black bibshorts? You wouldn’t, and Hotmix cycling doesn’t believe you should either. They have a range of bibshorts for men and women which perfectly compliment their range of jerseys.

Constructed from 210g Lycra sports yarn, 3D mesh and a Fiandre HP women’s chamois pad, the Hot Hibiscus bibshorts have been designed to withstand hours in the saddle. The mesh straps are breathable and secure and the front panel of the Lycra comes up high enough to provide comfortable support – like yoga pants.

The cuffs grip the skin comfortabley to ensure they stay in place and the reflective tabs on the side of the legs help keep you visible – as if they bright colours weren’t enough.

I found the chamois pad to be extremely comfortable to ride in, even on the hot days where many hours were spent in the saddle. The straps are constructed from soft mesh material but expect these to slip to the boob-side as there’s no grip or clip to keep them in place.

Hotmix’s Hot Hibiscus bibshorts are available in sizes xx.small to xx.large here for £143.

Verdict

If you’re looking for an in-your-face cycling kit that allows you to ride, perform and feel great then Hotmix should definitely be on your list.

Their designs are bold and “dangerously different” but they work and deliver exactly what you need in a high-end cycling kit.

One downside is the price and coming in at over £200 for the top and bottoms set, this places Hotmix cycling apparel at the upper end of the budget spectrum. The justification for the cost, though, is a culmination of quality Italian fabrics, extensive research and development and testing, however, it would have been great to have had a zipped stash pocket at the back.

Fortunately, the kit washes well if you follow the guidelines with the colour staying bright and the shape not warping at all.

For more information about Hotmix and to see their full range of cycling apparel, head over to their website here.