If you aren’t familiar already with the brand Alé, the chances are you soon will be. Although the brand itself may be relatively new, the expertise behind it is extensive.
Designed and produced in fair Verona, Italy, parent company APG has over 25 years of experience designing and making performance cycling kit for other brands, and has routed all of that know-how into Alé. It has an extensive range of women’s products covering the road cycling essentials of bib shorts, jerseys, knickers and jackets.
The Alé look is sporty and certainly European-inspired, with bright accents incorporated into the mostly black range, and logo-emblazoned jerseys in coordinating hues.
BikeRadar received a jersey and bib shorts from the PRR Barbados range to put to the test, and our first impressions of both fabric quality and construction were positive.
The PRR Barbados series is a performance range designed for an aerodynamic fit, and it sits very close on the body, with panelled fit and high tech fabrics.
Alé Women’s PRR Barbados bib shorts
There’s an impressive selection of fabrics used in the panels of the Alé PRR Barbados Bib Shorts (£95). Sturdy Lycra at the crotch promises abrasion resistance, there’s firm but stretchy Lycra around the midriff, and breathable stretch mesh on the back as part of the bib straps. The bulk of the shorts are constructed from Eyelet Carbon Fabric, which as the name suggests incorporates carbon into weave, and also has antibacterial properties.
The chamois is one of the narrower ones we’ve encountered and medium thickness. Combined with the cut of the shorts, we were impressed at how well it sat against the undercarriage, but of course a full test in the saddle will be conducted to see how it performs on rides.
Laser cut hems on the legs are a welcome feature, and they also include an inserted dart of stretch fabric to improve the fit. Alé has incorporated reflective taping into the seams on the rear of the shorts too, to aid visibility in low light conditions.
Alé Women’s PRR Barbados Jersey
We received the PRR Barbados Jersey (£90) in a bright turquoise and purple design, which coordinates with the purple flashes in the bib shorts. The attention to detail doesn’t simply apply to appearance though; this is a jersey that’s very well thought out, with not a stitch out of place.
The panelled construction incorporates several different fabrics to provide breathability or support where needed. On the front and sides, micro-perforations aid breathability, while on the back carbon is incorporated into the fabric – said to aid the evaporation of sweat.
The hem of the jersey has a distinctive curve, which is part of what Alé calls its ‘J Stability System’ which helps ensure the jersey stays in place and as aerodynamic as possible. This consists of a stiffer fabric at the front hem, which holds its shape and doesn’t roll up, and a silicone grip strip at the rear hem.
There are three good-sized pockets at the rear, plus one small zippered pocket for valuables.
International prices are TBC – we will update as and when we have more info.
