Castelli Aero Race 5.1 jersey review
If you are looking for some extra speed an aero jersey is a good place to start. The Casteli Aero Race 5.1 jersey is claimed to be the most aerodynamic jersey the Italian brand has ever made

If you are after some extra speed and don't currently own an aero jersey, this is a great product.
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Aero
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Good Fit
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Very Light
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Pockets are spot on
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Nice colours
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Durable
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Even though Rapha is much more, £90 is still expensive for a jersey
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Castelli is considered to have been at the forefront of the aerodynamic clothing revolution, through its involvement with the Cervelo Test and Garmin teams. For 2016, the sixth iteration of its aero jersey, the Castelli Aero Race 5.1 jersey, is claimed to be slightly faster than the previous version with the main advancements coming in improved comfort and durability.
>>> Buyer's guide to summer cycling jerseys
Updated fabrics has also enabled Castelli to reduce the weight, with our size small hitting the scales an impressive 110g, placing it firmly in lightweight, climbing jersey territory. This added versatility is a good plus point with the lightness of the fabric and its breathability really coming to the fore on hot days. It is so light and breathable, that it starts to make the idea of a climbing jersey redundant.
The fit is pretty good (for reference I am 6'1 (185cm) and around 71kg, and a size small was optimal for me), but I certainly feel that competing products from Rapha and Assos are slightly more comfortable in terms of both fit and the texture of the fabrics against the skin. That said, I really have to stress this is marginal and I haven't felt discomfort when wearing this jersey on long hot rides. It should also be pointed out that the Castelli Aero Race 5.1 jersey is much less expensive than the Rapha Pro Team jersey.
Watch: How much faster are aero wheels?
Durability should be praised though. Despite being very thin and light, the Castelli Aero Race 5.1 jersey has stood up very well to repeated wash cycles.
>>> Buyer's guide to summer cycling clothing (video)
The three rear pockets work well and are an ideal depth. Castelli has included a "compression band" around the hem that does an excellent job of keeping the jersey in place and stops it riding up.
Overall, the Castelli Aero Race 5.1 jersey is a strong contender in the very competitive aero jersey market and feels considerably faster over a standard jersey - I even took a few downhill KOMs wearing it! I like the grey/white version, but it is also available in an attractive red version.
For more information, head over to Castelli Cafe.
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Oliver Bridgewood - no, Doctor Oliver Bridgewood - is a PhD Chemist who discovered a love of cycling. He enjoys racing time trials, hill climbs, road races and criteriums. During his time at Cycling Weekly, he worked predominantly within the tech team, also utilising his science background to produce insightful fitness articles, before moving to an entirely video-focused role heading up the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel, where his feature-length documentary 'Project 49' was his crowning glory.
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