Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Van Rysel RR 900 Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey

8
£39.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Delivers top-level race performance on a budget
Weight: 
129g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Van Rysel RR 900 Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey is a lightweight top with mesh panels, ideal for summer rides. It's a decent bit of kit, especially when you take into account the price tag.

  • Pros: Form-fitting race cut; price
  • Cons: Not the tidiest finish

The RR 900 jersey is part of Decathlon's new Van Rysel race range. It comes in a choice of eight colours to allow for plenty of colour coding to match your bike or other kit.

> Find your nearest Decathlon store here

> Buy this online here

The form-fitting cut sits close to the body without any bunching of the fabric and allows plenty of movement without really feeling restrictive around the chest or shoulders.

Van Rysel RR 900 Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey - riding.jpg

The rear is dropped nicely for plenty of coverage in the saddle, and above that you'll find three deep if quite narrow pockets, obviously designed with the racer in mind who is going to be carrying the bare minimum.

Van Rysel RR 900 Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey - back.jpg

The pockets are just large enough to take a large phone and you could probably get a tube, multi-tool and a small pump spread out between the three.

Van Rysel RR 900 Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey - pockets.jpg

There's an extra fourth pocket on the right hand side, ideal for an energy gel or anything else you might need to grab quickly, plus a valuables pocket on the outside of the middle pocket. A fair bit of storage then.

Van Rysel RR 900 Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey - pocket zipped.jpg

The main front panels and shoulders are made from a mesh fabric which is great for ventilation when riding on hot summer's day.

Van Rysel RR 900 Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey - chest.jpg

The rear and side panels use a close knit Lycra but it works well alongside the mesh to be reasonably breathable when riding hard. If the jersey does get overwhelmed on a long, tough climb it'll soon dry on the descent.

Other little details include a bit of reflectivity at the neck and the central pocket. It all adds up should you be riding during darkness.

Van Rysel RR 900 Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey - collar back.jpg

Something that Decathlon often delivers is value for money, and that doesn't change here with the RR 900 coming in at £39.99. Compare that with the similarly styled Altura Race jersey, which uses mesh panels. I criticised it for not having the neatest of finishes around the stitching, and while I could say the same for the RR 900, the Altura comes in at over double the price, £89.99.

> Buyer's Guide: 22 of the best summer cycling jerseys

I'm not saying that the Van Rysel is poor quality, it's just that when you look up close you can see the stitching isn't as good quality as you tend to find on more expensive jerseys, the Altura aside.

> Buyer's Guide: 8 of the cheapest summer cycling jerseys

Overall, the Van Rysel is a great race jersey for those who don't want to spend a fortune but still want to look like a serious rider.

Verdict

Delivers top-level race performance on a budget

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Van Rysel RR 900 Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Decathlon says, "If you're looking for a high-performance cycling jersey for racing in very warm weather, then this short-sleeved, lightweight Van Rysel top is ideal. Designed with an ergonomic, aerodynamic and close-fitting cut, this jersey will keep you cool and dry when out cycling on longer rides."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Decathlon lists:

BREATHABILITY

Mesh inserts for good perspiration wicking. Full-length zip

LIGHTWEIGHT

Only 133g in size L.

STABILITY

Ergonomic cut. Elasticated bands on the waist and arms. Tight-fitting.

POCKETS

4 pockets at the back (including 1 secured) + 1 side pocket.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Follow Decathlon's size guide and you should be fine.

I normally wear a medium in most jerseys and while the medium I tested did fit it was very close. The guide would place me in a large which would give me a little extra room around the chest.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

A 30 degree wash did the job without any issues.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

A close, form-fitting cut and lightweight fabric makes this a decent race jersey.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Breathable mesh fabric works really well on hot days.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

A little rough around the edges in places.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Very few race jerseys come close on price.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A lot of jersey for the money, and I can't really criticise the quality at under 40 quid.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

1 comments

Avatar
Yorky-M | 4 years ago
0 likes

Like the design and good price.

Latest Comments