Assos SS.capeepicXCJersey evo7

South Africa’s Cape Epic is the toughest off road stage race in the world. The difficulty makes it a great proving ground for all mtb gear. Assos teamed up with the race because it’s where gear goes to die a gruesome death. It is also why they celebrate the race with this SS.capeepicXCJersey_evo7. The name’s a mouthful, so just call it the Assos Cape Epic Jersey.

The jersey is relatively traditional by Assos standards, with a slim cut that is tailored by most standards but almost relaxed by theirs. It’s more of a “mille” fit in Assos terminology.

It still packs in plenty of great features. The full zipper has a dock at the bottom to prevent abrading whatever bottoms you’re wearing. The paneling has been created for a normal cross-country riding position, meaning that it will fit perfectly once you grab the bars. While the front might seem pretty standard, you can see the mesh fabric under the biceps. This is a light, stretchy fabric that allows for great moisture transpiration. It goes from the armpit in front back and around up to the shoulder blade. The shoulders have a heavier fabric that works great with hydration packs and helps anchor the tapered back panels so that overloaded pockets stay in place.

The pocket design is also very much mtb-specific. The left- and right-side pockets have gently tapered edges to make access easier, and they’re reinforced at the top by a wide reflective band, which matches the jersey aesthetic during the day and only lights up when a light is flashed on it.

The sleeve hems have a wide, stretchy band that helps hold the sleeves down for both sun protection and aerodynamics, but are loose enough that you won’t notice them. The same goes for the rear waist hem. The elastic here is to lock your jersey onto your shorts without you noticing.

The Assos SS.capepicXCJersey_evo7 covers you whether you’re riding an off road stage race, bashing about your local woods, or even riding on the road.