Tested, Again: Mons Royale Fall Riding Kit

In a Nutshell

The Mons Royale Tarn Merino Shift Wind Jersey and the Virage Pants are comfortable, high-performance bike pieces that really shine in shoulder season riding conditions.

Mons Royale Tarn Merino Shift Wind Jersey

• Size Tested: Medium
• Materials: Main: 52% Merino Wool 35% Recycled Polyester 13% Nylon / Front Panel: 100% Recycled Pertex® Quantum Ripstop
• Pockets and Features: Hidden lens wipe
• MSRP: $139.95 (currently on sale for $97.96)

Mons Royale Virage Pants

• Size Tested: Small
• Materials: 81% Recycled Polyester 14% Merino Wool 5% Elastane
• Closure: Velcro and button closure with zipper fly
• Pockets and Features: Hand pockets, zippered phone pocket
• MSRP: $189.95 (currently on sale for $132.96)

Intro

Mons Royale makes excellent, sustainable wool athletic apparel and ever since I got addicted to merino as the perfect next-to-skin layer (warm, lightweight, fast-wicking, never smelly) I’ve owned plenty of Mons pieces for skiing and biking. Cy Whitling already wrote about the men’s version of this kit but after wearing the Tarn Jersey and the Virage Pants on nearly every ride during these chilly autumnal months, I wanted to expand on his assessment.

Fit and Features

I tested the Tarn Jersey in a size medium (I’m 5’5” and 135 lb) and thought its drape and length were perfect for a riding layer. The fit of the jersey is relaxed instead of skin-tight and there’s room for a layer underneath, although the wind panel is a little too billowy to accommodate a slim-cut jacket on top. The jersey has an internal lens wipe, which is always a nice detail, especially since there’s a pretty good chance of catching mud to the face if you’re riding during shoulder season.

Mons Royale bottoms seem to trend slightly on the large side; I wear a size 28-29 or 6-8 in women’s pants, which means I am usually on the small-medium cusp if not a comfortable medium in women’s bike apparel, but I have Mons pants and shorts in a size small that fit great in the waist and thighs. They do come in XS for you folks who are actually petite.

The Virage Pants have a jogger cut and the inseam is pretty short on the size small; I have a lot of sock showing when I’m pedaling, which is on trend right now I suppose, but if you want full coverage or are taller than average you might need to look elsewhere. Mons Royale’s size charts don’t include inseam lengths, which is unfortunate.

Unlike the Virage Shorts, which I have also tested, the pants have hand pockets, which makes them more utilitarian. The zippered phone pocket on the right thigh is in a nice location and fits a range of phone sizes. The Virage Pants have a zipper fly and two button closure, along with a velcro panel for extra security. The waistband is stretchy in the rear and the pants have the perfect rise–neither belly-button-grazing nor crack-revealing.

Performance

The Virage Pants are wildly comfortable and don’t feel like any other bike pants that I’ve tried–the soft, light fabric makes them feel like, for lack of a better term, slacks. That casual feel means that I wear these pants constantly, not just to ride in but also for post-race hanging out, work shifts, and trail days.

According to Mons Royale, the fabric blend of recycled polyester (made from polyethylene terephthalate bottles), elastane, and merino means durability and stretchiness along with the anti-odor, temperature regulating properties of wool. Even though the fabric is minimalist, I haven’t ripped them despite wearing them on and off the bike for months–although I haven’t had any serious crashes in that time, I have battled blackberry brambles.

These pants weren’t designed to be warm or weatherproof (Mons Royale’s Momentum Pants fill that niche) but when paired with a merino chamois liner and knee pads, they still keep me very comfortable on a chilly day. They do soak through immediately when it’s wet or muddy, however, so be warned that this is not a do-everything winter pant.

On the other hand, I have been reaching for the Tarn Merino Shift Wind Jersey every day regardless of the elements, because this is a do-everything jersey. I didn’t initially think the chest panel of recycled Pertex® Quantum fabric would make that big a difference, but it has been a game-changer for fall riding. That fancy registered trademark nomenclature means the chest of the jersey has a super light but densely knit outer layer, treated for waterproofness, and without the plasticky feel of some lower-end wind shirts, and it’s backed with merino for warmth.

The Tarn Jersey eliminates the quandary of whether or not to start a chilly ride wearing a jacket, because it’s cozy when I’m not generating heat, but vents very effectively when I’m working hard.

The panel provides protection not only from wind but also from mud and moisture; splatter from puddles doesn’t soak into the front of the jersey, although with such a thin fabric on the back (the merino-polyester-nylon blend is only 140 grams per square meter) if you’re caught in a real soaker or charging through huge puddles the chest panel alone won’t save you.

All my trail rides from home end on a long descent, often near dark-thirty, which means I’m usually throwing on my just-in-case jacket before the final downhill so I don’t get chilled to the bone. The extra warmth and protection provided by the wind panel negates the need for that jacket most of the time though.

It’s not sufficient for days that are way below freezing, but the Tarn Jersey has changed how I layer for most autumn rides–I usually just wear it alone and manage warmth in my extremities with different buffs, gloves, and socks.

In Conclusion

The Mons Royale Virage Pants are comfortable, lightweight trail pants that I found myself wearing all the time off the bike. When it comes to fall riding, the Virage Pants are most suited to dry, cool weather, but the Mons Royale Tarn Jersey, with its simple weatherproof chest panel combined with the breathability of merino wool, is the star of the show in a range of autumnal conditions.