Castelli Men's Colpo Long Sleeve Jersey FZ

I pretty much need a slow-moving vehicle sign on the back of my road bike, unless I'm wearing this great jersey. If you're one of those guys who's interested in something as minor as how the jersey performs in cool weather, well, it keeps my old bones happy in temperatures ranging from the low 40s to low 60s. Long-ish sleeves and tight but not confining fit, too. The sizing chart seems accurate as well. Not that any of this technical stuff matters.

What counts is that it feels like I'm riding 5 mph faster when I'm wearing it. And, not to exaggerate, at least 15 mph faster when I'm chasing after a group of callipygian women who remain forever in the distance. That's because it looks so sexy. So, even when some haughty kid passes me and gives me the, Go home to your rocking chair look, I don't care. I'm wearing the bright-red scorpion with subtle detailing jersey, baby. The only thing the jersey could use-as with all lycra-type products-is a tag that reads Please do don't wear this if you have a big fat gut. It really should be a law.

I like the jersey, but it does have some design limitations. I found the fabric to be a bit thicker than I had though it would be, but on colder days or for use in Nordic skiing it works well. I have used it, with a thin polypro underlayer, on days with temps in the mid to upper teens (Nordic skiing) and it kept me sufficiently warm.

What are its limitations? There are two things. First, and this seems to be common among European jerseys and cycling jackets, is that they fit tight. This is especilly true in the arms. I am 6' tall and 150 lbs, not exactly a heavy weight, and generally purchase items in size medium. This jersey is very tight fitting in the arms (and I am no weightlifter!). It is also snug in the torso. Second, arm length would suffice for an orangatang! Again, I have found this to be common for European jerseys. I have to pull up the sleeves up a bit, which is a bit hard to do with them fitting so tight.

The quality and finish of the jersey are quite good. I find it to be a good buy for the money and, assuming you can live with he caveats above, I would recommend it. But if you are thinking about this product, I would recommend a size larger than you might normally purchase

I consulted the sizing chart and ordered a large. But the fit was much too small for me. Also, the jersey seemed too light for cool weather. In fairness, though, I returned the product before using it.