It’s not often we see companies offering finished bundles of jersey & bib shorts. Usually we see a jersey drop at one price, and then you have to fork out if you want the shorts to match. Often close to a £200 combination, when we saw the Madison Sportive combination now at £34.99 from £80, we absolutely had to check it out!
— HOW TO PACE A SPORTIVE – 8 TOP TIPS —
Classic style meets modern technology, this is a technical and high performance jersey ideal for training and racing. We have to say, straight from the bag we enjoyed the aesthetic of the kit. With the shorts coming in black below the jersey, you can’t go far wrong. And then a white/red or a black/blue/neon combination for the jersey. We much prefer the black option as the branding is more subtle and the jersey is more current, though the white wasn’t awful.
The Features:
The Sportive jersey boasts a super soft touch stretchy fabric that claims unrivalled wicking and stretch for maximum comfort and moisture transfer. We have to say, it’s not necessarily the best on the market, but it certainly out performed it’s new price point. The vented mesh side and under arm panels aid cooling. A 3/4 length invisible front zipper allows temperature control on those hot summer rides though we’d have preferred a full zipper for ease of use.
— HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CYCLING BASE ENDURANCE —
Three open pockets on the rear of the jersey for easy access to gels & bars and a zippered security pocket for valuables. The pockets held plenty of food & valuables out on the road, and this didn’t cause the jersey to stretch much at all. An elasticated silicone rear hem ensures the jersey stays firmly in place. Black reflective rear prints add an element of safety when riding in low light conditions
The Madison Sportive cycling bib shorts are great for warm weather riding with mesh panels on the waist, hips, back and over the shoulders to stop you from overheating. These sportive bib shorts are designed for all-day training rides and for racing with a custom made Madison 3G gel chamois pad to keep your sensitive areas comfortable and has anti-bacterial fabric. Silicon grippers on the legs keeps the bib shorts in place.
— WHY YOU NEED A NEW BIKE FIT —
Built from high quality Italian Lycra and pre-curved into a riding position these Madison Sportive bib shorts will keep you in the saddle for longer. Y-form leg binding with silicone gripper avoids irritation and keeps the shorts in place even on the longest of ride.
The Ride:
We tried a medium set of both kits and we have to say, we were impressed from the start. They fit well, quite snug though not too tight. The Madison Sportive kit did wick away sweat well, and lasted the full duration of the ride. The chammy pad is quite firm, though comfortable for a day in the saddle. Especially if you have some cream on.
After 160km in the black kit, and 102km in the white kit, we certainly weren’t disappointed. We couldn’t believe the value of the starter pack! In both colour options they’d match most bike/helmet & shoe combo, and certainly wouldn’t let you down.
We found at the end of a longer ride we had a slight bit of rash from the gripper on the leg. Though with marginally oversized quads, that was to be expected. And it hadn’t badly chaffed, it was more a heat rash from the sticky strip. The pockets had plenty of room for gels, food & valuables, although this made them droop low over the back, there was no sign of stretch at the end of the ride.
— SPORTIVE RIDING – IS THE FUTURE ELECTRIC —
Verdict:
If you’re looking for a high quality bib short & jersey combination, without breaking the bank, we’d definitely recommend the Madison Sportive combination. You won’t believe the value with a 56% reduction! And no matter whether you’re a top, every day rider or a casual weekend rider, you’ll be impressed.
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Performance - 93%93%
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Value - 99%99%
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Aesthetic - 92%92%
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Durability - 92%92%
