Wearing civilian gear under the jacket worked very well. I was very surprised by the effective wicking over a pure cotton shirt. There’d have been space for a jacket, but 10C argued against wearing it. Even attempting to maintain 20mph on a half-mile incline only produced limited moisture, which soon dissipated. Shirt and Reflex Commute Jacket were dry by the time I got home some ten minutes later. Wearing an office-dress-code jacket as a mid-layer proved uncomfortably bulky and a bit too warm even with the temperature around 4C. however, a cotton shirt and light wool pullover produced surprisingly pleasant results. I tend to over-heat quickly; undoing the grippy internal skirt offers some venting, as did loosening the cuffs.

 

Heavy rain runs off the jersey, with the inner skirt working effectively (as opposed to jackets that have a draw string hem) to keep run-off away from lower garments when off the bike or, when on the bike, away from the rump.

 

You would, of course, expect a waterproof jacket to protect from the rain. This is enhanced by the snug fit of the collar. I’d initially thought this was a tad tight, but, with zip pulled right up, it never felt uncomfortable. Even with it loosened a little there was no drip of water down my neck.

 

Reflectivity is great. You can’t ask for more. I’d have preferred the red model for better visibility on grey-days. The darker shades are undoubtedly trendier, but no one has ever described me as fashionable. At night and in low light, if this jacket cannot get you seen, we have a big problem!

 

The pockets suit a more upright commuting position and will take your wallet, keys etc. things don’t get in the way when riding over the hoods, either.