Merino friendly 'cross and winter range from Velocio

Image 1 of 12

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar

Velocio is a brand that works closely with athletes to develop their own clothing lines. For its autumn/winter 2015 range the brand has continued to work with European and British national cyclocross champion Helen Wyman.

Velocio's new winter kit range includes merino wool jerseys, insulating bib tights and overpants that are designed to take the worst the weather can throw at them.

Velocio Recon Wool long-sleeve jersey

Merino wool is an increasingly popular material for cold-weather cycling kit, and Velocio has included it in the Recon Wool Long Sleeve, available in both men's and women's cut.

Combining the well-known insulating and antimicrobial properties of merino with the stretch and fit properties of polyamide, the Recon jersey has a relaxed, almost casual style. Rear pockets are concealed under a flap, the colours are neutral, detailing is subtle and the fit is looser than the race-cut of the majority of the Velocio range.

There's plenty of storage incorporated into the jersey. In addition to the three rear concealed pockets, there are two more zipped pockets on the front. The collar sits nice and high, with a soft zip garage to prevent chafing.

The women's jersey comes in either black or a dusky matt teal shade, the men's in black – which appears slightly shinier in appearance than the teal. Sizing options are good, with the women's Velocio Recon Wool Jersey available in 2XS to XL (£129 / $219 / AU$241) and the men's available in XS to 2XL (£129 / $219 / AU$241).

Velocio Women's Zero Superfly bib tights

The Zero Superfly bib tights are packed with features, but there's one that has to be talked about first – the rear zip. Velocio has developed its own solution to the comfort break issue female riders face. A zip located at the back of the tights allows them to be pulled down without having to mess about with straps or take off jackets and helmets – particularly useful in winter! If you aren't convinced by the rear zip, we put it to the test in our review of the women's Superfly bib shorts.

Designed for cold, wet and windy conditions, the Zero Superfly bibs incorporate windproof and water-resistant Lycra panels into the back and seat, with insulating fleece lining that feels snug and cosy. We're also a fan of the flatlock stitching. The fit is athletic-cut and anatomically shaped to sit close to the body in the riding position.

We like the high waistband, and Velocio uses a bib strap configuration that crosses over at the back with a high mesh fabric front panel. Thin Lycra stirrups are designed to prevent the legs twisting or riding up while riding.

The Zero Superfly bib tights are available with a chamois pad (£165 / $279 / AU$307) or without (£153/ $259 / AU$285) and come in XXS to XL. We tried the medium which corresponds to a UK10-12.

Helen Wyman Signature Recon overpant

When multiple European and National cyclocross champion started working on a signature series with Velocio, one of her first product requests was an overpant that could deal with the cold, wet, muddy and downright hard conditions you encounter in the race discipline. The Helen Wyman Signature Recon Overpant is the result.

Available in both a men's and women's version, the features that make it ideal for cyclocross (Polartec Power Shield Pro windproof and water resistant front panels, DWR water-repellent coating and warm winter-weight Roubaix fabric) also make it a good choice for winter cycling and commuting in general.

Two particularly handy features are the zips that run the length of the leg from ankle to hip, and should straps that have a clip fastening.

The men's Recon Overpant is available in XS to 2XL (£153 / $259 / AU$ 285) and the women's in 2XS to XL (£153/ $259 / AU$285).