Engearment

The Outdoor Research Freewheel MTB Short Sleeve Jersey is a comfortable jersey that offers the perfect weight and fit.

Kate Agathon

I don’t often wear short sleeve jerseys when I mountain bike (it’s easier to just wear a long sleeve jersey rather than adding sun sleeves that often don’t stay in place), but I have been so enamored with Outdoor Research’s excellent Freewheel Mountain Bike collection, that I wanted to give it a try.

My initial impression is that it lives up to the collection in terms of overall quality, function and fit.

When I first tried it on, I was pleased with how well it draped on my body without being too loose or too tight.

The second thing I noticed was how comfortable the fabric felt. Unlike other mountain bike jerseys that offer breathability and UV sun protection, the fabric didn’t feel paper thin.

Also, I’m not a pattern person and I like to keep my mountain bike clothing low key, so I went with the solid black jersey with logos printed on the back and along the shirt sleeve.

Performance

I first wore it on blue bird day riding a trail slightly over 9,000 feet in elevation.

 

Riding uphill at high altitude with the sun bearing down can be punishing. Throughout the ride, I didn’t feel overly hot (even though I was wearing a solid black jersey) thanks to the jersey’s self-regulating Thermo-Regulating ActiveTemp™ treatment.

 

Constructed from a combination of recycled polyester, spandex and polyester, the jersey’s engineered stretch properties ensured that it didn’t feel restrictive or uncomfortable.

 

Key features include:

• UPF 30+ sun protection

• Bike-specific fit

• Drop tail hem

• Lightweight, breathable fabric

 

The well-constructed fabric is also apparently somewhat abrasion-resistant as well. I got caught on a tree branch on the descent and took a nice tumble near the end of a ride. The shirt held up without a scratch!

Final Thoughts

It is refreshing to see that Outdoor Research considers female riders of all sizes.

 

The Outdoor Research Women’s Freewheel MTB Short Sleeve Jersey is available in nine sizes (XS-4X),  and six colors that range from funky prints to color blocking.

 

Also, the Outdoor Research Women’s Freewheel MTB Short Sleeve Jersey comes with Outdoor Research’s Infinite Guarantee®, so you know your gear is guaranteed to perform throughout the lifetime of the product.

 

I am delighted with the Outdoor Research Women’s Freewheel MTB Short Sleeve Jersey. The overall fit, moisture-wicking performance, weight and softness of the jersey makes it a stand out piece in my mountain biking apparel.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbabies, Sansa and Benjen.

 

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing.

Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers. She and her fiancé, Paul, live in Summit County with their dogs, Benjen and Sansa.

Kate earned a BA in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving two terms on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.

The Dr. of Stoke has been part of the Engearment team since 2016.