The Colomba Italian Tricolour cycling jersey is made from Sportwool fabric which consists of 52% Merino wool and 48% Polyester.  What is Merino wool I hear you ask?

http://colomba.cc/index.php

Originally from Spain, now mainly from Australia and the U.S.A. Merino are commonly known to have the softest wool of any sheep. 

In fact so valuable is the wool, that before the end of the 18^th Century exporting Merino from Spain would have been punishable by death.   So how come it ended up in a top end cycling jersey? 

Colomba were looking to recreate the classical wool look without losing any of the modern advantages of breathability, comfort and performance.  This appearance is supposed to allow you to climb off the bike and not feel like a cyclist. 

Well I am a cyclist, and I was asked to put this jersey through its paces during late October and November.  I duly obliged, so let’s take a closer look at the jersey.

Features

Embroidered "COLOMBA" logo on chest.

Embroidered arm with dove logo.

Back lined front zip with an extra smooth motion and rubber grip for easy adjustment on the move.

Three large rear pockets, shaped for easy access and deep enough for carrying essentials such as your OS map, waterproof and snacks.

Water resistant valuables pocket with looped zip for easy access.

The cut is close fitting but not tight fitting for maximum balance of comfort and performance. 

Long cut arms and back for extra comfort on the bike and casual look off the bike. 

Sportwool™ fabric provides superior comfort and performance.

Available in long and short sleeves.

The logo is classy and really stands out on the chest, although the stitching on the logo on the arm was not perfect, it did not detract from the jersey itself.  The back pocket’s were ideal and certainly kept the more temperate climates at bay.  Usually my mobile phone is damp (put it in a bag I know) but not in the Colomba jersey.  The zip was smooth and the rubber grip did a perfect job.  The close fit still allowed you to feel sleek, but it was certainly not a racing jersey, enabling you to relax on the bike.

Unfortunately relaxing is difficult when faced with rain, wind and cold air.  I have to say that whilst wearing the Colomba jersey, I did not feel the cold even though I was only wearing a base layer underneath.   This meant that I did not have to wear bulky jackets on my daily commute.

This commute takes me on a ten minute ferry ride over the beautiful Tamar estuary right next to the naval dockyard.  I speak daily to other cyclists and asked their opinions on the jersey.  Without exception the response was approving.  Many felt that it was wasted on a bike and that I should just wear it as a leisure item (heathens) whilst others felt that this was the perfect mix between comfort and performance.

So after three weeks of really working the jersey hard what have I noticed?  The colours have remained bright throughout with only a slight run on the armpit area.  There was however, a tiny bit of shrinkage to the arms after a number of washes, but this was only minor.  All in all this jersey outperforms many other items of clothing which are aimed at the same market, but at a higher price.  I think Colomba will be a name to watch out for in the near future.