The Heritage short sleeve jersey from Royal Racing is an excellent jersey for the summer months. It’s baggy, long and well priced. Despite the Polygiene antibacterial treatment, however, it can still get a little whiffy after a sweaty ride.
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Made from a four-way stretch fabric, the Heritage jersey uses a tri-blend fabric that's moisture-wicking and anti-bacterial. The aim is to keep you fresh during big, hot rides and cut down on washing.
The size medium I went for fits exceptionally well. The hem is long enough to keep the top of my shorts comfortably covered. The sleeves fit pretty well too; they’re long and baggy, great for keeping the sun away from my pasty biceps.
Thanks to both this relaxed fit and the raglan sleeves, the Heritage jersey is perfectly comfortable, especially for long, warm days in the saddle.
Royal Racing uses a 'Polygiene' treatment that’s meant to prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria, with idea being that you then don’t need to wash it as often – therefore saving the environment that little bit.
However, it’s not incredibly effective. After particularly sweaty rides, the Heritage was a little smelly anyway. If you were that bothered about the environment, or as lazy as I can be sometimes, you might not be fussed about washing your jersey between rides anyway.
At £37 The Royal Racing Heritage jersey is a reasonably priced. It also fits brilliantly and is super comfortable for summer, and works well paired with a base layer too. While the anti-smell treatment isn't very effective, the Heritage is no more prone to stinks than any other top, so unless you're buying this specifically to save the icecaps, there's no real downside.