Velocio is a cycling clothing label that's historically been female-focused, likes to scour Italian mills for premium fabrics and, according to its website spiel, places obsessive emphasis on detail. The company was founded by former professional Kristy Scrymgeour and has several jersey and knicks combos for women but just one – the Signature line – for male riders.
True to form, the Signature series kit is Italian-made. Its race fit will let you know in no uncertain terms whether your body is ‘race fit’ or not, but its feel and aesthetics immediately impressed us, and you'll certainly feel fast and comfortable wearing it in the saddle.
Men's Signature jersey
US$159 / AUS$159 / £TBA
The 2014 Velocio Signature Men's jersey offers a sleek – or, alternatively, unforgiving – race fit
The first thing you notice when you pick up the Signature jersey is how soft and stretchy it feels. Indeed, the snug fit and soft BioCeramic material can sometimes leave you wondering whether you’re wearing anything up top, but thankfully this isn’t a see-through garment.
The dark fabric delivers an understated look, with bright sleeve and neck bands offering subtle contrast. Small reflective ‘V’ logos on the chest and sleeves, and 'Velocio' on the rear pockets, are the only indications of the brand.
Mesh panels run from underarms to waist on both sides of the jersey, enabling plenty of air to get in and keep you cool without sacrificing that tight aero fit. It's claimed that the BioCeramic fabric reflects UV rays, and we can’t complain of having had any sunburn through the jersey, even on searingly hot days.
While this jersey is geared towards the warmer months, with its light breathable fabric, we were also perfectly comfortable wearing it through cold Sydney winter mornings accompanied by nothing more than arm warmers.
Our only real complaint was with the design of the full-length zipper, which can be difficult to operate one-handed while riding.
Generously sized pockets are complemented by a fourth sealed-zippered compartment
There's plenty of pocket capacity for longer rides, and the addition of a smaller water-resistant zippered pocket proved very handy for keeping phones and keys safe and secure. Three strips on the pocket, including a Velocio logo, deliver some welcome extra reflectivity on what's not exactly a high-vis item.
A thick waistband with well spaced silicone grippers keeps the garment in place and stops it from riding up.
Our gripe with the zipper aside, this jersey is one that you’ll feel comfortable in most weather conditions while looking chic – just beware the snug fit if your proportions are on the generous side.
Men's Signature bib shorts
US$199 / AU$199 / £TBA
The Signature jersey's style is nicely replicated in the range's bibs, which also offer a tight fit and minimal branding.
Made from Italian Lycra and featuring a Swiss-made carbon upper, the quality of the bibs is apparent as soon as you touch them. The compression fabric hugs your body shape well, and we had no issues with leg restriction when out riding.
Chamois placement proved to be spot on
The chamois may only have two densities, but we found the material and placement of the padding was spot-on and kept us comfortable in all the important places. As with the jersey, there's no problem with transparency in these bibs – and decency in any case seems assured given the height of the chamois out front.
The fabric feels thin in use, but it keeps your temperature under control. We'd no complaints of either overheating or feeling too cold. Well-placed seams enhance the snug kit, while the mesh bib straps are stretchy and adapt to your position whether you’re in an aero tuck or standing around with a post-ride drink in hand.
Silicone branding acts as a leg gripper
Safety wise, there is a reflective ‘V’ logo on the back of the shorts and a reflective 'Velocio' on the right leg. But as with the Signature top, the bibs are pretty stealthy looking in the main – which also means you needn't worry too much about sartorial clashes when pairing them with another branded jersey.
While some riders might discover curves they didn’t know they had in these race-fit bibs, we can’t fault them on either comfort or performance – especially as they're the first attempt by an up-and-coming brand to stake out a space in the crowded men's market. If you try it, it's likely the Signature series will quickly become kit you’ll automatically reach for when heading out on a ride.
Note: We reviewed the 2014 kit, for 2015 Velocio has made some minor refinements to the kit, including an updated jersey zipper and chamois pad.