Pearl Izumi Elite Pursuit Thermal long sleeve jersey

Pearl Izumi’s lightweight long sleeve jersey is just the right weight for shoulder season riding. It’s warm enough for crisp morning rides but won’t leave you sweltering when the sun comes out and temperatures start to rise. Pearl Izumi says it works best when temperatures hit 45-55 degrees. But I layered it with a vest and warm base layer and felt toasty warm even when the temperature dropped into the 40’s. Similarly, I went base-layer-less and didn’t overheat when things got warmer than 55 degrees. It’s a versatile fall and winter piece that provides some bang for the buck with its reasonable $115 price tag.

Lined with Pearl Izumi’s Elite thermal fleece material, the Elite Pursuit Thermal jersey feels soft and cozy against the skin and wicks moisture away to keep you warm and dry. The jersey has a forgiving tailored cut so it fits nicely, hugging all the right curves without feeling constricting or squeezing the wrong ones. The sleeves are a bit baggy and flap in the wind but they are also extremely long, which I love. This makes tucking the sleeves into our gloves a breeze so chilly air couldn’t sneak up the arms when riding.

Three full sized pockets on the back of the jersey easily fit extra gear like a warm pair of gloves, rain jacket, hat, and more in case your shoulder season rides turn into a full winter outings. The pockets are fairly sturdy and don’t sag with heavier items like a phone or wallet.

The back of the jersey is longer than the front providing additional protection from the elements when bent over in the riding position. The longer tail also has an elastic gripper so the jersey didn’t sneak up when I was riding hard, trying to outrun an unexpected rainstorm. The gripper and small details found throughout the jersey are reflective, adding a small slice of visibility in case you get caught out at twilight.

The Elite Thermal jersey is available in four colors including black, mint, yellow, and pink. I tested the mint option and was immediately drawn to the striped sleeve pattern design. It’s a sleek looking jersey that is versatile for a wide range of weather including moderate temperatures down to winter-like conditions.