Giordana Sahara: Someone Left the Heater On

Giordana Sahara, made in Italy, is designed to beat the heat.

The last two weeks at the Peloton Service Course in Ojai, Ca have been brutal. Typical July temps average 89 degrees. Child’s play. But this year, it’s been hotter, much hotter. We just finished a week straight of 100+ temperatures, including a day of 107 degrees and currently the testing schedule is just as hot. There are bikes that must be ridden, shoes that must be worn and components that must be shifted. So we’ve turned to Giordana, and its latest, the Sahara kit, to keep the tests rolling and our insides from frying.

peloton

The materials used in Giordana Sahara —a new weave featuring ceramic material covers the front and back, while ultra-light mesh makes up the sleeves, collar and a panel across the upper back— manage heat incredibly well, pulling sweat from the body to be evaporated on the jersey’s surface. Despite the wafer-thin construction and light touch against the skin, you don’t need to fear the sting of the sun under the ultra-light fabric. Giordana Sahara has UPF 35 in the front and UPF 50 in the rear. That white cotton T-shirt in your drawer has only a UPF of 6. The full zip uses a cam-lock for easy unzipping in the heat of battle. While many other jerseys use a similar zip, none un-zip as instantly with a quick yank on the collar.

At only 90 grams, Giordana Sahara is the lightest jersey the Italian company has ever made and among the lightest available. Incredibly simple construction helps keep the jersey this light. Trim material was kept to a minimum at the waist and the sleeves and collar are just turned mesh. There are no zippered security pockets or heavy silicon grippers.

The bibs, while following in the light and breathable footsteps of the jersey, acknowledge that some features, like a good insert, cannot be be skimped on in the name of weight. The Cirro S chamois requires no unsightly in- the-saddle adjustments and a cupped area up front gives the male wedding tackle some stability and breathing room. It’s called the Copa Mondiale— tongue firmly in cheek, we imagine. The thighs use Girodana’s 1on1 construction, referring to one seam and one panel per thigh, which allows Giordana to tune compression perfectly. The uppers and core are all about stability and breathability, wicking moisture quickly from the skin.

The FiT: Sahara is Italian, so it’s very form-fitting. Size up from an American race fit. It may feel tight and constricting standing in the dressing room, but hunch over and simulate the riding position and you’ll understand just how good Giordana fit is. [quote/]
$160 (jersey), $200 (bibshorts); giordanacycling.com