Review: Club Ride Apparel Switch Jersey

Oct 1, 2015
by David Arthur  
Founded in 2008 by Mike Herlinger in Sun Valley, Idaho, Club Ride Apparel’s range of mountain bike clothing manages to stand out in a market that is awash with copycat styles. Part of the company’s appeal is clothing that works from a technical and performance standpoint on the bike, but doesn’t look out of place if you wear it off the bike. Herlinger says inspiration came after late for a meeting as a consequence of having to dash home after a bike ride, and change out of this cycling kit into something that wouldn’t raise eyebrows in the restaurant. Why not create clothing that looks great and works well?

Club Ride Apparel


Club Ride Switch Jersey

The Switch jersey personifies Herlinger's approach to mountain bike clothing. It’s styled like a regular zip-neck polo shirt that you might have hanging in your wardrobe, but is constructed from "RideXDry," which is a lightweight blended fabric that wicks sweat and is quick drying. Its main ingredient is actually made from recycled plastic bottles. The fabric also boasts a UPF 20 treatment so you’re protected from the sun. Other useful details include a zip pocket with a media port, so you can listen to tunes, and a handful of reflective accents. It’s available in dark "shadow" gray or blue, in 6 sizes from XS to XXL. MSRP: $49.95 / £45.99
Club Ride Apparel


Club Ride Apparel
Styling is a lot more 'downtown' than 'trail ride'



Club Ride Apparel
Neat details, like a small zipped pocket for your phone or cash



Pinkbike's Take:
bigquotesI'll be honest, the Switch is the sort of jersey I would normally not wear when going mountain biking. But, I'm willing to have my preconceptions challenged. I've been wearing this jersey plenty over the summer months and have been pleasantly surprised with how well it works on the bike. The fabric is light, soft next to the skin, and the size small offered a good fit that provided just enough bagginess. There's no doubt that the Switch's styling works off the bike (no raised eyebrows in the coffee shop). On the bike, the styling is a bit more challenging, but I've actually grown to like it. I've found it ideal for rides to the office or meetings, where it doesn't look out of place. It also mops up sweat far better than wearing a cotton t-shirt, and saves having to get changed out of a technical riding top into something more casual. The Club Ride Apparel Switch jersey is a really nice alternative. - David Arthur


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39 Comments
  • 71 2
 "no eyebrows raised in the coffee shop"
I disagree, I enjoy the feeling of walking in there with knee pads, full face helmet, and dirt and blood all over me. I feel like badass mutherf*cker. The 3 days a year I ride park.
  • 21 2
 When everyone else is wearing their corporate yuppy uniform, this is one way to be noticed by the ladies. Ladies love dudes cover in blood and dirt.
  • 34 0
 Thats what we like to think.
  • 4 0
 And scars, they dig scars!
  • 63 0
 Why isn't that collar popped? Get in the f***ing zone chief.
  • 5 13
flag trezzanick (Oct 1, 2015 at 23:02) (Below Threshold)
 do I smell a new f*cking haircut reference?!

YEA MY COLLAS POPPED.. CUZ IM THE f*ckIN MAN AND EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW IT!
  • 2 0
 ha, brilliant, that genuinely made me f*cking lol
  • 29 1
 Neeeerrrrrrrddddddd!
  • 22 2
 Something your dad would wear
  • 14 1
 Is it cold outside?
  • 14 0
 No I'm just happy to see you
  • 7 0
 The weather does look nippy
  • 4 0
 Looks like this Jersey might have some STIFF competition
  • 13 1
 I'd wear this while listening to my Paul Simon LPs.
  • 1 0
 or maybe Jim Croce
  • 5 0
 this jersey is not my particular style but I definitely appreciate the idea of designs I can sneak into the office. Case in point: I'm sitting in the office right now and nobody's staring at my blue suede 5-10 spitfires; they're staring because I'm wearing shorts and haven't showered yet. Gotta work through front page of PB first, bitches!
  • 8 1
 A Polo shirt with a pocket. $50. Am I missing something?
  • 2 0
 Jeez, between this and the Nexus release we're getting shafted from all directions right now!
  • 1 0
 It's actually not a bad msrp. This might be the first time I'm defending a bike clothing price, ha!

Seriously, an under armor polo made of similar material with zero zippers msrp is about 60-50 bucks. Hell, they try to get $30-40 for a tshirt made out of the same stuff.

I actually need a new jersey and like the idea of it.
  • 2 1
 Walmart has cheaper and better techy work out shirts for 10$
  • 1 0
 I don't buy anything from Walmart. Anything. My wife worked there for 10 years. After the way they treated her i vowed to never shop there again.
  • 3 1
 @UtahBikeMike what about how they treat people in Asia when doing EVERYTHING we wear...
  • 1 0
 Everything we buy on the west coast is made somewhere in Asia. Try finding north american made cycling wear , good luck
  • 6 0
 Rrp of £46 or $50. That's pretty terrible for the brits!
  • 11 6
 If there ever was a piece of kit that captures the spirit of enduro this is it.
  • 1 1
 Um, no. Enduro is about adventure, not about a lopsided shirt that doesn't fit properly. If I was Club Ride, I'd be scrambling to get the pic from this article nuked from the net.
  • 3 1
 Like REI's jersey.... but not as good looking, no 1 year return option if it doesn't hold up and more expensive: www.rei.com/product/861962/novara-river-walk-bike-shirt-mens
  • 7 3
 fail
  • 4 1
 Looks dumb.
  • 1 0
 I'm generally a big fan of Club Ride apparel, but this looks like a bad golf shirt. Zero style, and the color is hideous.
  • 1 0
 Still say that is the definition of dorky looking shirt. wtf is the collar for?
  • 2 0
 what did i miss?
  • 1 1
 It's like a hi-vis orange safety vest... but for D Bags. I like it - get's rid of the need to assume unnecessarily!
  • 2 1
 Looks like crap who would want to wear this to ride.
  • 1 2
 Lots of good peformance golf shirts out there. Metal is back, where it in black. hipsters, not so much.
  • 1 2
 I like the idea but that's a poor example. It looks badly stitched and a bit puckered to me.
  • 1 1
 I don't like it
  • 1 1
 Looks christian.







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