Clothing

REVIEW: Café du Cycliste - Heidi Winter Jacket

Thanks to the like of brands like AnaNichoola, Vulpine and Rapha pushing the boundaries over the last few years, it's great to see so much more choice available in the female cycle clothing market. 

Obviously still a fair cry off the men's market, but it's promising to see that the range of products available allow us to express ourselves on the bike, rather than having to wear a hideous baggy pink item. 

Café du Cycliste is a French brand that has shared the same passion, bringing to the market a stylish range of women's cycle clothing. Born in a traditional French café, in the hills above France's Mediterranean coast, the brand was founded on a love of cycling and a desire to produce high-quality apparel with a twist of classic French style. 

They now offer a classic range of women's performance road wear for all seasons. The Women's Heidi Jacket is arguably the stand-out item in the range and the classic styling ensures it will look as good with a pair of jeans in the pub as it will out on a long weekend road ride. 

Having thoroughly tested the jacket over the last couple of months on weekend rides and daily commutes, in a diverse range of weather conditions, I can say with some certainty that it was put through its paces. 

It performed surprisingly well through the February cold spell over only a base layer. The jacket is really warm but did not cause over-heating. The fit is snug, comfortable and flattering. As well as looking stylish, the quilted panels on the torso, shoulder, sleeve and front provide performance benefits by protecting against the dreaded wind. 

But this is not just a jacket for the deep winter, it also serves you well into spring as the breathable fabric and zips on each shoulder that can be opened for added ventilation, make it perfect to just pop over a jersey as the mercury starts to rise.

The tan suede along the back of the zip and the checkered label are examples of some of quirky touches Café Cycliste have added to make the jacket individual. The sizing is refreshingly sensible, with a size small being roughly equivalent to a UK size 10. 

It's functional too; the three back pockets are made from stretchy material ensuring there's plenty of space to stow away a pump, spares and food. For added security the middle pocket has a zip and is big enough to easily fit your phone, keys and money. 

As well as wearing the jacket on longer weekend rides, it's proved great for commuting too. Reflective elements have been included for added safety and the stylish finish means you do not feel out of place popping out to the shops in it, or heading to the pub with your bike straight from work. 

All in all, a really fantastic addition to any female cyclist's collection of kit!

For more information on Cafe du Cycliste visit: http://www.cafeducycliste.com.