At 700 we appreciate products that set themselves apart. There is a glut of 'cycling clothing' on the market and 95% of it is essentially the same with construction from polyester. Certain ranges are so large simply because brands have to continually create products that fit certain specific niches and rather than spend time and money investing in research and fabric technology they continue to 'refine' old products and tech. Many are simply printing a different design every year in order to keep you buying
Enter Q36.5.
A new company but founded by a man with over 2 decades at the forefront of cycle clothing technology, Q36.5 have set about creating a compact range of highly versatile and functional clothing that serves a purpose in varying conditions, removing the need for multiple models of garments unless they see a performance benefit. Simple range. Complex products.
The Summer Jersey L1 Lady is part of the Q36.5 Essential range. Developed over a 4 year cycle with continuous refinement and tweaking in order to maximise the performance of each item. Thus, not only is the clothing at the cutting edge of cycle clothing design but it isn't out of date within a season.
Unlike supermarkets, Q36.5 use the term Essential to describe their range of cycling clothing pieces that not only represent purity and essentialism of design but also in reference to the deliberately compact range of garments. The Essential range has only 1 jersey, 1 bib-short, 1 gilet model for example. These pieces are designed to function, not in a specific, narrow range of circumstances, but rather to offer optimum performance in a broad range of conditions be that over the course of a single ride (climbing and descending for example), in variable weather conditions or over numerous seasons. As such, they are ideal for the changeable UK climate that can so often throw up questions over kit selection before a ride.
If you have read the background to the company you will appreciate the Q36.5 approach to maintaining the optimal operating temperature of the human body. This focus means that Q36.5 jerseys and clothing are far more versatile than most of the other competing brands on the market. The Short Sleeve Jersey L1 Lady for example, is designed to perform perfectly in temperature ranges of between 15 and 40oC.
Constructed from a proprietary UniqueFabricL1 - an extremely light, woven microfibre fabric the jersey is immediately recognisable by its feel which is almost rough and ‘crispy’ to the touch. Despite this, it is exceptionally soft on the skin. The unique woven structure that creates this texture also increases the surface area which in turn allows for more efficient wicking of moisture from the skin. Polyestermide wrapped elastane filaments protect the latter from surface contact and thus ensure great longevity and the ability of the jersey to maintain its elasticity to give a great fit season after season.
For the 2017 season Q36.5 have introduced silver thread into the construction (something experimented with in a handful of products in the previous season's range) as a further fine-tuning of the fabric’s original design purpose. The natural properties of this material are carefully exploited in a performance-wear context. When the intensity of the ride increases, while climbing for example, the body emits an excess of heat and moisture with must be dealt with through conduction, evaporation and convection. The use of the silver thread increases thermal conductivity - the ability to distribute heat quickly and evenly across its surface. Evaporation itself is then accelerated by silver’s high level of conduction in a humid environment. In addition to the thermal properties, silver's anti-static dissipative effects also improve micro-circulation and its anti-bacterial qualities ensure better hygiene and less perspiration odours.
This versatility stems in part from extensive Regional Sweat Rate (RSR) body mapping, whereby the rate of perspiration in different areas of the body is studied to help develop Q36.5’s unique fabrics and patterns. As such, the L1 Lady summer jersey is breathable to varying degrees throughout its construction. This not only leads to optimised wicking for cooling purposes but also results in varying densities of fabric that results in lighter weight clothing. The Q36.5 L1 Lady Summer Jersey offers extra comfort thanks to the slightly thicker and softer fabric which, while in no way comprising breathability, pulls the moisture away from the body far more efficiently than the paper-thin fabrics used in other true lightweight jerseys. This offers significantly greater protection to the body while riding long descents immediately after arduous climbs.
Like much of the performance cycling clothing market, Q36.5 clothing is designed and cut to be worn in the cycling position. Q36.5 have taken this concept a little further than most however and have developed a range of Ergogenic patterns. Such clothing is designed so that the panels and fabrics are tuned to support the muscle groups, they have a snug but unrestrictive fit which supports a balanced position to reduce fatigue.
In an ever more competitive arena where marginal gains are now a commonplace goal, aerodynamics are a key element, not only of bike and helmet design, but of clothing as well. If you take a close look at the Q36.5 Short Sleeve Jersey L1 Lady you will notice that there are no front-facing seams on the jersey. A completely new design, the L1 Lady Jersey features kimono-style sleeves which help reduce the number of seams and in combination with a pre-shaped, close-fitting cut, increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the jersey.
The minimal look of the jersey 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 L1 Lady Jersey is close and conformable without ever being restrictive. You may initially be deterred when trying on the jersey but we beg you to persist! Once you have worn it on the bike you will understand the fit even more. 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.
Like all Q36.5 clothing and despite the low weight and often low fibre denities used in the fabrics, the Short Sleeve Jersey L1 Lady has an SPF factor of 50+.