This ultra-soft, lightweight, and highly technical jersey has the fit and features to go the distance. Wild Rye serves all outdoor-loving women—from beginners to pros to après enthusiasts—regardless of age, background, size, or skill level.
I received a Gem Distance Jersey (size 10 in Purple Haze color) from Wild Rye, and here is a short review:
I’ve been an avid cyclist for over 30 years now. Although I spend most of my time on a full-suspension, squishy mountain bike, I still love time on skinny tires. Like many, I’m seeing the fun found on gravel backroads. Here in Fruita, Colorado, there are endless dirt roads to explore, with only cows to encounter. Oh, and the random Bullsnake to keep you on your toes.
I’m familiar with the Wild Rye line-up of mountain bike shorts that look great and hold up amazingly well to the rigors of the trail. I was interested in test-riding their new Gem Distance jersey. The first thing I noticed was that the packaging is made from recycled materials, and, in fact, the Gem jersey is made from 88% recycled polyester. I appreciate that Wild Rye considers the environment in its manufacturing and distribution. Their website hosts a resale platform so that used gear doesn’t die in a landfill but instead finds new life with new owners. As a consumer, that level of thoughtfulness matters to me.
I tested the Gem jersey while training for my first big gravel event in Fruita. The jersey has the standard three rear pockets with the addition of a side zip pocket that is especially useful when the riding gets rough, and your items want to bounce out of confinement.
The pull for the zipper is oversized with grippy ends for ease of use when wearing cycling gloves. Although the pockets are roomy, the jersey is slim, so overstuffing the pockets is not very flattering, as the jersey can get pulled taut. I like the fact that the jersey is full-zip, and the collar covers the back of my neck.
I also like that the jersey has a silicone band to hold it in place. The Purple Haze color uses contrasting pink for the silicone band. Although I want to ride hard, I still like pretty feminine touches like that. The jersey sleeves are slightly longer than a standard short sleeve, which is excellent for a little extra sun protection. I don’t know if the jersey is intended to be extra cooling, but I did sense a feeling of cooling on the hot days I rode in it. The cooling could be due to the mesh panels or the quick-drying fabric–either way, I did get a sense of cooling.
The best part of the Gem jersey is that it is soft as heck! Honestly, you barely feel it against your body. There is no binding, no itchy label on the back of the neck, nothing trying to ride up or creep out of place—just super soft fabric.
The Purple Haze color is classy and straightforward. Functional and stylish, I recommend this jersey for pavement, gravel, the Strade Bianche of Tuscany even! or for endless gravel adventuring in Fruita, Colorado.
Specs
- Deliberately placed mesh for extra breathability
- Three back pockets for snacks and water bottles
- One zippered hip pocket
- Full zippered front
- Reflective wild rye logo on the back
- Silicone backing to hold back hem in place
- Jersey: 88% polyester, 12% spandex; Mesh: 83% bio nylon, 17% spandex
- Slim fit
Click here to buy the Gem Distance Jersey
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