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https://www.julesthreads.com/ |
High-End Fashion and Function at an Affordable Price
The review of this kit comes with a back story. In June I was just wrapping up my Saturday morning ride with some friends. In the distance we saw a single rider heading in the opposite direction. As she approached, I immediately admired her kit and looked to see if I knew the rider. As we passed I heard, “Hi Sheri!” But for the life of me, I had no idea who it was. Three days later I found out it was a friend who had moved to Florida but was in town visiting. I mentioned to her that I really liked her kit, and she turned me on to Jules Threads.
In March of this year, Julie Pitts launched her cycling apparel company with a Spring/Summer collection. It is a small line of jerseys, bibs, shorts and some accessories. From the moment I opened my shipment, it was evident the apparel was designed by a cyclist. It was easy to spot attention to the littlest of details. I came to find out that she raced (road and crits) and is currently racing mountain bikes on an all-female team.
Get ready for compliments
When Julie offered to send me a kit to test, she asked which design. I went online and loved them all. They are not your “girlie girl” designs, but rather bright, rich colors and creative patterns that exude confidence and strength with a feminine flare.
She ended up sending me the Dots kit shown above. I wasn’t prepared for all the compliments I received every time I wore it. And I “rocked the dots” A LOT for testing purposes. Men and women alike complimented me on the kit, so I knew it was a hit. But it wasn’t just about looking good, the kit was extremely comfortable.
Century-tested chamois
Any time I get a new pair of bibs or shorts, I first test them on a short ride, 20-25 miles, to make sure the chamois is comfortable. After only a few rides, I was confident these shorts would hold up to a 100-
mile ride to Wisconsin and back. Sure enough, the chamois didn’t let me down. The pad is made with carbon fiber thermoplastic properties that regulates body temperature and absorbs vibrations when riding. All of that fancy tech wouldn’t matter if the chamois weren’t comfortable. It is, without question.
The bib design itself hits all the marks, too. The black straps are lightweight mesh in Italian Antigua fabric with wicking elastic fabric as well. Being black, there is no unsightly white fabric showing if your jersey hikes up when in the drops. The bibs come up high enough on the sides to provide nice clean lines, while the front and back provide plenty of coverage and support.
I was thrilled at the length of the inseam. As I’ve complained about on some other bib reviews, with my 6-foot frame I almost always need another inch in the legs. But these bibs were the perfect length. Jules Threads uses the latest in Italian power Lycra compression fabrics, so there was also just the right amount of compression to keep me going through my century ride. In addition, the wide leg cuff had silicon grippers to keep them in place, and comfortable.
A jersey that’s stylin’ – with high performance
The Dots jersey is not only extremely stylish, the attention to details, fit and performance make it a winner, too. All the fabrics are made in Italy. The main body of the jersey is a lightweight perforated polyester fabric specifically designed for breatheability. This is an open weave, highly wicking Italian stretch fabric. The side panels and sleeves have a 4-way stretch and are also made of highly breathable fabric with wicking properties to keep you cool and dry. The jersey sleeves are cut slightly longer than average, with just enough grip on the cuff to keep it in place. I never felt constricted, even when I reached for the drops or the aero bars.
There’s no shortage of storage, with three rear pockets plus a small water-proof zippered side pocket to securely store keys or money. Both the 
pockets and back zipper feature reflective piping for added visibility up to 160 meters.
A full-front zip jersey makes it easier when wearing bibs and nature calls. The one-finger-action quick-pull (Camlock) zipper locks in place in the down position and opens easily in the middle position. I found it to work smoothly and easily when needing more ventilation. There’s also a zipper garage at the collar for added comfort and to prevent chaffing.
Bottom Line
This cycling apparel company started life with a small line of gear, but all the pieces are winners. Offering high quality, unique designs and great performance garments at an affordable price make the Jules Threads kit one of my favorites. I see a very bright future for this woman-owned company and can’t wait to see their Fall/Winter collection, debuting in late September. I liked the Dots test kit so much that I bought myself the Stripes kit as well. It’s not that I need another kit, but I wanted another kit that so ably combines style and performance.
August 2017
These are beautiful! But as a cycling 60 yr old, close fitting clothing is seeming less and less comfortable and modest to me. I understand fit vs performance, but for those of us who don’t do centuries and 400Ks but still want performance clothes, could someone please design clothing for us? And not all of us are 60! There’s a market for less form fitting clothes! PS. Yes, I can buy XLs, but who wants a jersey that hangs to their knees?!
Some jersey manufacturers offer road bike jerseys with a racing fit (close fitting) and club fit (looser). Most jerseys made for mountain bikers fit even more loosely than a club fit roadie jersey but, alas, very few have rear pockets.
Hi Jay, Totally understand some people (no matter what age or gender) like looser fitting jerseys. If you like the look of Jules Threads, I suggest you contact them and ask for the length of the XL or 2XL jersey and any other measurements you want. That way you can see if it’s going to be too big on you.
Jay, you can wear merino wool t-shirts, like Ibex and Icebreaker brand. They are loose and you can get the ultra thin ones for summer riding. They keep you warm when wet, cool when dry. Warm in the cold. They move wetness away from you. Breathe great. And they look like regular shirts, not jerseys. Heavier layers and layering them are great for winter weather. I ride all centuries with wool t-shirts. I still wear cycling pants though (but they are Ibex wool). But you could throw a pair of loose shorts on top of them, like those MUSA shorts Rivendell Bike Works makes, or just some cotton sweat shorts. Did you know that in France during the golden age of Randonneuring that the riders wore regular shorts over cycling shorts due to modesty issues?