Spiro Men’s Full Zip Performance Bike Top

Review by Colin Dennis

Fully featured cycle top that’s safety minded and oh-so comfy to wear

You’ve got to take your hat (or should that be helmet?) off to some sports clothing companies. Here we are in the middle of the biggest explosion in British Cycling since the Victorian era where many fancy cycle tops cost well over a hundred quid, yet offer little more than a very expensive badge for the privilege. Then up-step, Spiro Clothing with their well thought out and immensely popular Men’s Full Zip Performance Bike Top.

So what’s so special about the Spiro Men’s Full Zip Bike Top?

Well, firstly it’s got all the right ingredients to keep today’s savvy cyclist happy and comfortable with enough money left over to buy your mid-ride coffee and cake – that should cover it, then. 

Most short sleeve cycle tops only come with a quarter-length zip opening; nothing wrong with this, of course, but if the weather’s really warm and you need to vent off as much as possible, it can be a little bit limiting as to just how much you can cool down – especially when climbing.

Spiro’s Full Zip Performance Bike Top (the name gives the game away) offers riders the flexibility of being able to fully vent, and show off your chiselled chest at the same time. Ok, so most of us won’t want to scare the public, but you get the idea, having the added flexibility to cool down or warm up is a great advantage on a bike.

Our test top came in a medium size, this proved to be ample, not too tight to feel restrictive, but on the same note, it’s not flapping around and slowing you down like a sail in the wind. With more panels than the X-Factor series, the fit is always going to be comfy; the more panels there are, the more the top will contour to your body – no matter what shape you are.

On the safety side, the Lime Green colour certainly stands out on a busy commuter road while the reflective side piping will come in handy now that the evenings are drawing in. I like these reflective elements to the top, it means that you’re not relying in some reflective sticker to peel off; the piping is very neatly built into the stitching of the top. There’s also a small reflective series of bars and Spiro logo on the front and lower back to back-up the full length piping.

Load carrying is taken care of by the obligatory three rear pockets, one of which is zipped for securing the family jewels or car keys and cash. I loaded up the pockets with my usual bunch of tools, tubes and energy bars and found that the pockets were just big enough to secure them tidily; any smaller and I think I’d be pushed to cram it all in. Then again, I do tend to carry too much stuff – better safe than sorry, I always say.

The Polyester fabric construction is on the whole of excellent quality, the stitching is certainly tough enough to withstand the repeated washing that all cycle apparel must endure, while the elasticated hem is just strong enough to ensure the top retains its shape under all conditions.

Although not as light as some stupidly expensive and trendy cycle tops, Spiro’s Full Zip Top works hard at wicking away moisture to ensure body temperature is maintained at a comfortable working level. There’s always the full length zip to fall back on if it gets really warm, remember?

Overall I think that Spiro’s Full Zip Bike Top for men is perhaps one of the best value cycle tops out there. It’s fully featured with enough zips and reflective whistles and bells to keep your everyday commuter and weekend sportive rider happy as a pig in ... well, you know – Lycra!