As the temperature goes up even a short ride can become a challenge. That’s why it’s important to have a comfortable and breathable summer road cycling kit. In this review, we’ll be looking at a men’s Velocio Block Print SE Jersey, Ultralight Bib Short, and the unisex Ultralight Glove that are optimized for lightweight and breathability. The Block Print SE Jersey is a special seasonal print that retails for $179 and shares the same construction as Velocio’s popular Signature Jersey. Developed for all day comfort in hot weather, the $249 Ultralight Bib Short is one of Velocio’s most minimal bib shorts. To complete the kit, we paired it with the $39 Ultralight Gloves and the $19 Signature socks in the Fire Red color scheme.
The Velocio Block Print SE, Ultralight Bib Short, and Ultralight Glove offer a form fitting design and lightweight construction that’s perfect for all day or warm weather rides.
If you’re not familiar, Velocio is an American brand that manufactures their clothing in Italy and was launched in 2014 founded on the principles of design, responsibility, and culture. Velocio is also committed to sustainability by using recycled materials, renewable energy sources, and reducing waste throughout manufacturing and transportation. Their sustainable approach extends to a repair program to extend the life of clothing as well as a 30-day Signature Guarantee to allow you to try before you buy.
| Block Print SE Jersey | Ultralight Bib Short | Ultralight Glove | Signature Socks | |
| Rating | Design: A– Size: A Comfort: A | Design: A Size: A Comfort: A | Design: A Size: A Comfort: A | Design: A Size: A Comfort: A |
| Retail Price | $179 | $249 | $39 | $19 |
| Likes | – Vibrant block print. – Large and secure rear pockets. – Lightweight and well ventilated. | – Form fitting and compressive material. – Comfortable even in extreme temperatures. – Reflective details add nighttime | – Light and well ventilated. – Available in a variety of color schemes. – Well placed fabric pulls. | -Thin and well ventilated – Available in variety of matching colors to complete a kit |
| Dislikes | – Some may prefer the more subtle designs. – Fire red color looks more orange than other fire red items | – Crossing bib straps can fold when putting bib short on – Only offered in black finish | – Premium price – Not water waterproof | |
| Where to Buy (US) | Velocio | Velocio | Velocio | Velocio |
UNBOXING
Consistent with Velocio’s sustainable approach, all the clothing items arrived in recyclable paper bags with minimal tags or extra packing material.
BLOCK PRINT SE JERSEY
Inspired by printmakers and organic patterns, the Block Print SE jersey stands out on the road. Velocio currently offers the jersey in three color options: charcoal (black/white), deep sea (navy/white) and the fire red shown here (red/white). On both the website and in person, the fire red color looks more orange than red and doesn’t match well with the fire red socks and gloves. Aside from the color difference, the design is bold and bright as it blends animal-like white stripes designs with large blocks of color. The design isn’t for those looking to blend in and matches well with other bold looking gear like the Smith Get Wild Trace helmet or Bolle Chronoshield sunglasses. The design is part of Velocio’s special edition seasonal prints but uses the same construction and specifications as Velocio’s popular Signature jersey.
The jersey features a full length front zipper with a lightweight YKK CamLock zipper and double zipper garages (i.e. one at the chin and one at the hem). We found the zipper worked well and was easy to operate on the road with one hand. Raglan style sleeves eliminate the shoulder seam and allow for better range of motion and makes it easy to switch between drops or the hoods. Branding is limited to a subtle reflective Velocio logo on the chest and one on the rear left pocket. The jersey is constructed from recycled ultralight high gauge Italian knit fabric and feels soft to the touch while providing ventilation and UPF30 sun protection.
In the rear of the jersey you’ll find four reinforced pockets. There are the traditional three large pockets with the fourth a zippered side pocket that is perfectly sized for cash, keys or credit cards. Velocio has also added a drop tail with a silicon gripper strip that is well suited for riding on the drops. In terms of sizing, we found the medium sized jersey fit very well (i.e. 6’ 1” and 165lbs) with a form-fitting yet elastic fit. We would describe it as less aggressive than the large sized Ale jerseys we’ve reviewed but still a more pro-orientated fit as opposed to loose fitting recreational jerseys.
ULTRALIGHT BIB SHORT
As arguably one of the most important parts of any cycling kit, bib shorts provide a direct connection between you and the saddle. The Velocio Ultralight Bib Shorts are one of the lightest and most breathable bib shorts Velocio currently offers. Constructed of 140gsm woven fabric, the bib shorts have a five panel anatomical design that allow the bib shorts to move with your body. We found the fit to be comfortable on short or all day rides as you don’t feel any pressure points or seams. The bib shorts also stay surprisingly cool even on slow climbs in hot weather as they wick away sweat.
The Ultralight bib shorts use seamless bib straps with a cross style design. While the seamless straps are comfortable and easy to stretch, we did find the cross design was annoying and would cause the straps to fold while putting the bib shorts on. We prefer the standard suspender style bib straps of the Ale Klimatik bib short but didn’t have any issues while riding. Speaking of comfort, the proprietary Signature chamois was also very comfortable to ride with. The chamois has soft fabric with well placed reliefs that prevents pressure points or discomfort on the saddle. Although the Ultralight bib shorts aren’t particularly affordable we’d highly recommend them for those who ride in warmer weather or want to do longer rides comfortably.
ULTRALIGHT GLOVE
As the name implies, the Ultralight Gloves are stripped down versions of Velocio’s gloves with a UPF50 mesh lycra back and micro-suede palm. Velocio offers the gloves in a variety of colors from the Fire Red shown in this review to a full spectrum of colors to match any kit. Regardless of which color you choose, the palms are a gray color with silicone Velocio logo prints for extra grip and Velocio written on the face of the gloves. Design wise, the Ultralight Gloves are similar to the POC Essential Gloves with mesh panel and strapless design. Although it’s less convenient to put on and take off, the minimalist construction is form fitting without any additional fabric bulk. The non-padded micro-suede palm is surprisingly comfortable. It’s also non-slip which helps you keep a secure grip on the handlebars even on rough terrain.
SIGNATURE SOCKS
To finish off the kit we also tried the Signature socks in the matching Fire Red color scheme. Unlike the jersey, the red matches very well with the gloves and has minimal branding with a Velocio logo on the bottom of the socks. As the name implies, the socks are designed for warm weather use and are constructed with ultrafine polyamide yarns with some lycra for elasticity and minimal padding. Depending on the size you choose the cuff height ranges from 16-20cm for a mid-length look. We found the socks to be comfortable even as the temperatures went up without any pressure points or uncomfortable seams.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Velocio men’s cycling kit to be well made and very comfortable for warm weather riding. The construction and material quality felt similar to other premium cycling kits such as Ale or Pearl iZUMi. The bright and vibrant Block Print SE jersey not only looks great but is form-fitting with large and well placed pockets. Although the Fire Red color of the jersey is more orange in person, it’s comfortable and well ventilated. The Ultralight bib shorts also lived up to their name and provided all-day comfort without any pressure points or bulky seams. We found the five panel anatomical construction gave the bib shorts a second-skin like fit. Aside from the higher price, the only thing we’d change on the bib shorts would be to use a standard straight bib strap design in place of the cross design. Finally the Ultralight gloves and Signature socks finished off the kit for a sleek look and were both comfortable. If you’re looking for a high-quality warm weather cycling kit the Velocio SE and Signature products are definitely one to consider.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Velocio. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.