Review (Road Cycling UK)
The POC Fondo Classic jersey is a strong performing and thoughtfully designed jersey that incorporates some interesting design features. The excellent breathability and original colour choices are particular highlights on a jersey that I was really impressed with.
POC moved from making ski and mountain bike gear to cycling kit a few years ago and their helmets and glasses have now become a staple for many in the pro peloton. 2015 also saw them move into clothing, with the AVIP and RaceDay collections selling well and getting strong reviews, even if they were on the expensive side.This is where the Gran Fondo collection comes in, being more affordable (it’s all relative) and a more useable cut for general use.
I took a look at the POC Fondo Classic jersey to see how it stacked up.The jersey comes in four colours to represent four locations around the world - Napa Valley (pyrite multi green), Holguin in Cuba (seaborgium multi blue), New York (phosphite multi grey) and Rio de Janeiro (sulfate multi pink). That none of these locations have much to do with cycling history makes them a slightly odd choice, but the colour schemes themselves are fairly nice.
Specification
Price: £130
Size tested: Large
Sizes available: S, M, L, XL, XXL
In terms of cut it’s a tight fitting jersey, but without the restrictive nature that you can sometimes get with pure racing focused kit. And that means that it can be used for many more kinds of riding. I used it for everything from long weekend rides through to daily commutes without feeling that I’d rather have something with more/less give/performance.
Adding to the comfort of the jersey is the excellent wicking and breathability. The semi-mesh material used allows for the removal of sweat and excess heat very well and even when I riding with it under a jacket it still managed to work effectively, not allowing me to overheat or sweat excessively. I’d say that it’s probably the jersey’s strongest point and POC have clearly learned from their previous work in clothing. Helping this breathability are the two under-arm vents, which allow for further heat to be released.
At the back of the jersey is the traditional three pocket layout as well as a small zipper pocket. The regular pockets are large enough for anything you would need to take with you, although I found that the zipper pocket could have been slightly larger as it does limit what can be put in there. The hem beneath these pockets has a set of really strong silicone grippers which wrap around the entire bottom of the jersey. They keep everything locked down and I couldn’t notice any real movement at all when in the saddle.
The design of the jersey – as with anything POC – isn’t subtle, with the Rio de Janeiro version we tested being bright pink, burgundy and dark blue at the bottom. The branding on the front is relatively understated, with just the POC logo appearing on the collar. On the back it’s slightly more obvious with a large POC logo appearing cross the pockets. There are some nice design details too, like the taped seams on the zipper pocket, chin protector around the front zip and my favourite element being the Christ The Redeemer shaped zipper.
Although the Fondo collection is the cheapest POC line they’ve produced, this jersey comes with an RRP of £130, which certainly isn’t cheap. However, the jersey merits this price based on the kind of quality it offers, with strong stitching, great breathability and unique design features. Some may baulk at the price, but those who take the plunge won’t regret it.
Conclusion
All in, I like this jersey and there’s very little negative to say about it apart from the fact that it would be nice to have a slightly larger zipped pocket. Aside from this, it has great breathability, a unique design and a comfortable yet high performing cut, making for a great jersey.
Pros
– Unique and fun design features
– Strong Breathability
– Well made
Cons
– Some may be put off by the price (Try to buy it cheaper from your friendly eBay seller) ;)
– Zipper pocket could be bigger