Yet another master stroke from the Italian wizard Luigi Bergamo!
The Q36.5 Hybrid Que jersey is a garment that once again eliminates the need to have 2 pieces in your kit line-up and one which will cut down kit decision times.
The Q36.5 Hybrid Que goes a long way in eliminating the distinction between the two categories of winter jacket and winter jersey. This is achieved primarily through the use of the UFHybridShell material that they have developed in-house, used in combination with another proprietary fabric, UFL1. As with all their products, they have retained their design goal of ensuring optimal body temperature stabilisation and guarantee 3-season Body Temperature Stability.
UF HybridShell is a non-laminated double-woven fabric that is able to mimic qualities of a shell (laminated fabric with membrane) without many of the associated drawbacks such as limited breathability and long drying times, as well as performing the thermal functions of a fleece material.
The fabric is woven at right angles at such a high density that the finished fabric has technical values within range of materials that use membranes. For example it is twice as breathable as “Windstop” shell fabrics and over 20 times more wind resistant than typical fleece fabrics.
Q36.5 achieve this wind resistance through the density of the material and it is this novel approach that significantly increases the fabric’s versatility making it far more breathable than a shell and as a consequence, it performs better in high-intensity conditions where the rider achieves high body temperatures and significant levels of perspiration.
The inner side of the fabric is brushed to create a ribbed fleece pattern. The ribbed pattern enhances the thermal properties of the material by creating microclimates, much like hairs on the skin, and in combination with the Hollow fibre threads used for this inner side, further improve insulation, helping to keep the rider warm when the temperature falls or when descending after climbing.
To further refine the Hybrid Que jersey's functionality, the threads that are used for the UF HybridShell fabric are treated for water resistance before being woven. Unlike the majority of manufacturers who apply waterproofing treatments to the finished fabric (usually with the inclusion of a resin or coating that 'seals' the fabric), treating the threads before they are woven allows them to maintain their ‘natural’ structure and this is a key element in helping the fabric maintain a high level of breathability. If you have ever worked hard in a 'Windproof' shell jacket or a Gabba jersey, for example, you will have noted how quickly you heat up and how wet you get from perspiration.
You can immediately appreciate the advantages on long descents, where a sweat soaked base layer is able to quickly wick through the Hybrid Que long sleeve jersey and properly dry, an entirely novel sensation for riders used to the jackets currently available on the market. The improved drying times are again, thanks in part to the pre-treatment of the fibres.
While the UFHybridShell is employed in core heat zones and the areas most affected by wind chill (chest, upper back, upper arms and front of forearms), the fast drying UFL1 fabric (used in the shortsleeve L1 jersey) is employed in the back and underside of the forearms to better aid venting of excess heat when work load or temperature increase. It is the combination of these two fabrics that creates the versatility of the Hybrid Que Long Sleeve and also keeps the weight so low at around 200g.
The minimal look of the Hybrid Que is enhanced with another innovation in an often over looked area – the pockets. Rather than crudely sewing an extra layer of fabric over the back of the jersey to create 3 pockets as is traditional, Q36.5 have integrated the pockets into the design of the jersey leaving 3 subtle openings they dub ‘Invisible Pockets’. The addition of a 4th zippered pocket completes the package and – believe it or not - this design, aside from being far more aesthetically pleasing, offers a small but quantifiable aerodynamic advantage.
The fit of Hybrid Que long sleeve jersey is close and conformable without ever being restrictive. The proprietary fabrics used in Q36.5 clothing function optimally when the fit is snug against the body and it is an inherent design element of the brand. This closeness and pre-shape cut lends the ergogenic qualities that enable the fabrics to better support and stabilise the body, but this closeness is never at the expense of comfort and there is a notable freedom of movement when adopting the riding position.
The Q36.5 L1 Hybrid Que is a 'quiver-killer' when it comes to long sleeve options - particularly for UK riding - the ultimate of ultimates. It can be worn with the full range of baselayers, gilet and other jackets for 3-season versatility. The most versatile of versatile garments. New fabrics and construction techniques once again ensure that the product is unique functionally and tactically, a key element of the Q36.5 brand - nothing is ever a gimmick.
Available as a unisex piece in numerous colour-ways.