Review: Adidas Adistar CD.Zero3

Although better known for their footwear and athletic apparel, Adidas has had an association with the sport of cycling since 1949. More recently, the brand launched the Adistar range of high-performance cycling apparel designed for comfort and aerodynamic efficiency.

The Adistar CD.Zero3 cycling kit has a snug fit with covered zips, and trailing edge seams and hems for reduced wind resistance. The styling is classic with understated black featuring red accents in the form of the iconic Adidas three stripes on the sleeves and a small Adidas logo on the chest and left leg.

Jersey

The Adistar jersey comprises of a variety of materials across the different panels to provide breathability. The rear features the expected three pockets with the addition of a moisture resistant zipper pocket along the side left-hand pocket. It’s a nice touch for securely stashing important items like a key or smartphone and it houses an iPhone 6 comfortably without the cover (and a little more of a squeeze with the cover on). Alongside the pocket panel are two reflective strips to provide better visibility when on the road, particularly in low light or darkness. Being predominantly black this is a smart addition, but for the visibility conscious daytime riding may still be a worry. For my tastes though there’s just something about the simplicity of black with subtle accents that appeals.

The elasticated cuffs on the sleeves are seamless and snug fitting, even on my skinny cycling arms. The relatively wide and firm waist band is also elasticated with rubber stoppers to keep the jersey in place. The full zip up front is neatly tucked away to keep everything aero and doesn’t hurt to keep up the look of the kit.

Bib

The bib shorts follow the aero approach of the jersey with minimal visible seams, purposefully placed out of the path of wind. The material used in the panelling is firm and feels thicker than most lycra shorts, yet not too hot. The test pair felt a half size too big which meant the legs and leg cuffs did not fit quite as snugly as I’d want. Nor did it allow for any benefit from the compression properties of the “Carvico Revolutional Energy” material Adidas use.

The Comp HP chamois was comfortable on the bike and said to provide comfort for up to six-hour efforts. Although not pushing quite that far, I can attest to the comfort on rides in the three to four-hour range. My only gripe was an awkward “bunching” in the front of the chamois when off the bike – I won’t go into graphic detail and suspect this was exaggerated by incorrect sizing.

The super light, seamless bib straps most impressed me for their comfort. Thanks to their slim construction these are hardly noticeable on or off the bike and appear invisible beneath the jersey.

Verdict

The Adistar CD.Zero3 cycling kit is impressively comfortable and great looking. The good fit and overall attention to detail provided the high quality feel you would expect from a brand like Adidas and from kit in this price range. The snug fit may not flatter all riders, as it is undeniably tailored more to high performance (lean) athletes. If you are in the market for high-performance, high-quality kit Adistar CD.Zero3 offers good value relative to others in the premium cycling apparel space.

The Adistar Short Sleeve Jersey retails for R1,499 while the Adistar CD.Zero3 bib shorts are R1,999.