Cafe Du Cycliste Constance Jersey

The Cafe du Cycliste Constance is a premium colder-weather jersey that comes in an eye-catching design and boasts a very high-end and durable finish. The snug performance fit, generous elastication and capacious pockets are all very well done, but there are jerseys at around half the price doing a very similar job. There's no windproofing or rain protection, for example, though it does dry quickly. The temperature regulation is good all the way down to single-figure rides when coupled with a baselayer, but it does lack some versatility for the price.

Looking for a new long-sleeved jersey? Check out our guide on what to wear for autumn cycling, or for warmer options, our guide to the best winter cycling jerseys.

> Buy now: Cafe du Cycliste Constance for £176 from Cafe du Cycliste

The first thing that will catch your eye about this Cafe du Cycliste jersey is the fetching cream and navy stripes – sorry, chalk and navy –which are very visible but not particularly forgiving to those carrying a bit of holiday weight! It also comes in a more low-key black and avocado tone.

I was mainly riding in dry weather between 6 and 16°C and the Constance Jersey performed admirably. The Italian material is over three-quarters recycled, and its four-way stretch is very handy for keeping everything supported.

I liked the close performance fit, but the front was a touch on the short side, so I was glad I had paired the jersey with some of my higher-rising bibs.

Often, I find sleeve length can be a problem, but Cafe du Cycliste has got it just right here, for me, with material cutting off just before my gloves begin. If you like having a bit of additional material for tucking into gloves, you might them a bit on the short side.

The collar is low rise without quite being grandad shirt; a happy medium.

The material is incredibly soft thanks to what Cafe du Cyclist calls micro-brushed material, and when it does soak up body moisture, it dries in the wind pretty quickly. Cafe du Cycliste says the jersey is intended for high-intensity big efforts and it did dissipate moisture quickly at moments where I'd built up perspiration.

It's definitely a positive for me that Cafe du Cyclist has used OEKO-TEX and Bluesign-certified fabric, which means only environmentally safe processes are used in its production and it contains no harmful substances.

The same material has been used throughout, so there is no additional blocking of chilly winds, something that was particularly noticeable without an underlayer. The internal zip baffle built into the neckline blocks some wind, and extends almost a third of the way down the torso.

Combined with a baselayer, it kept my body temperature at a pleasant, constant level.

I'd advise adding, at minimum, a gilet or a long-sleeved windbreaker for any days or evenings where the temperature drops below 6 degrees – especially if you aren't going to be dealing in the "intense efforts" recommended by Cafe Du Cycliste. Your arms will thank you as they won't be protected at those lower temperatures by the jersey material.

At the rear of the jersey a thick belt of elastic has been sewn underneath the entrance to the cargo pockets. From what I can tell, this adds nothing to cargo capacity, but contributes to the tight fit of the jersey.

The dual row of grippers at the rear hem works well to keep the jersey in place, though I did need to tug the front down to prevent a gap opening up when off the bike. On the other side of the hem, Cafe du Cycliste has added some very subtle 'CAFE' branding to accompany the flying orange fish on the breast, which completes a tasteful overall effect, in my opinion.

My only concern really is the durability of a partially cream-coloured jersey, as even small road spatters are hard to remove.

Value

While there are other jerseys around this price and higher, they do tend to offer a bit more for the money.

The Castelli Flight Jersey Air, for example, is £176 but a significantly more technical garment. Matt really rated its temperature regulation, and it has additional 3D mesh in the front panels to assist with wind chill. Castelli gives it a slightly higher temperature capacity, but Matt found it performed well down to single digits, plus it has some water repellency.

Another one to consider is the Santini Adapt Wool Jersey, which, as you've probably guessed, uses a combination of wool and synthetic fibres for extra insulation. Paul had his reservations about the price in 2020 when it was £155, but it's now £130. The temperature regulation works similarly well to the Constance Jersey, and it comes with some seriously chunky hems and grippers.

You don't need to spend even that much, though: I recently reviewed the Band of Climbers Empire Thermal Jersey which is just £115 and it really impressed me. It's a super-warm jersey that dissipates heat really well and doesn't clog up with perspiration on long climbs. It has a really tight performance fit and boasts many of the same material claims as the Constance, with four-way stretch and grippers that keep it in place perfectly. There is no protection from rain, so it's pretty much in line with the Constance.

Conclusion

There's no doubt that this is a lovely jersey to wear, but when you compare it with offerings in the same price range from other brands, it comes up slightly short on technical materials, and you could opt for something more versatile instead. The environmental credentials are great, though, and it's very well made.

Verdict

Smart-looking jersey but you might expect more versatility for the money