What Is in Your Gravel Adventure Jersey Pockets?

What is In Your Gravel Adventure Jersey Pockets?
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post 'What is In Your Gravel Adventure Bar Bag?'—it had a great reception and led to another conversation in a similar vein—What to pack in your cycling jersey pockets for a long unsupported off-road endurance ride? This is my line-up of jersey pocket riding essentials for bikepacking and gravel adventures…

First, I recommend reading the 'What is In Your Gravel Adventure Bar Bag?' post before reading this one—because for me, the bar bag is the best place to store most of your essentials on an off-road adventure—as there is less chance of items flying out on bumpy trails.

So, what comes with me in my cycling jersey pockets is therefore a selection of easy-to-access essentials—ones that you might want to grab whilst riding, when you cannot stop to access your bar bag.



The Jersey — Sportful Super Giara Jersey

My gravel jersey of choice is the Sportful Super Giara Jersey. This cycling jersey was designed with gravel and off-road riding in mind. It is composed of a unique blend of marl and mesh fabrics, which gives it great thermal regelation properties and allows you to do long all-day rides in mixed temperatures without getting overheated or overcooled.

The jersey sleeves are also slightly longer than most—to help with protection from the elements and trailside debris. The pockets are deeper too, and feature one small zippered pocket—to keep your items securely housed. Finally, there are some nice reflective details in the design—a useful addition on sunrise and sunset rides.

Sportful Super Giara Jersey



The Nutrition — Outdoor Provisions Energy Bars

These are my new favourite range of energy bars for cycling. Outdoor Provisions is a Manchester-based outfit who make energy bars for adventure—natural food that tastes great, and you can happily eat all day long.

Unlike many 'sports nutrition' brands of energy bars, these are not excessively sweet or packed full of preservatives; they have a great texture, they are made from good natural ingredients, and most importantly they offer a varied range of classic but fabulous flavours—to add variety and help you keep your appetite.

My favourite is the Lake District inspired 'Choc Kendal Mint Cake'—it reminds me of family hikes as a youngster. The Yorkshire Dales inspired 'Parkin', Snowdonia inspired 'Bara Brith' and Peak District inspired 'Cherry Bakewell' are all scrumptious snacks as well.

Outdoor Provisions Energy Bars



The Phone Wallet — Rapha Rainproof Essentials Case (Large)

The Rapha Rainproof Essentials Case is stowed in the central (deeper) pocket of my Sportful Super Giara Jersey.  It holds my phone; as well as cash, cards, a spare chain quick-link, a few instant patches, and a house key.

The protective case is great for stopping sweat, dust, precipitation, and rear wheel spray damaging these valuables.

Rapha Rainproof Essentials Case




The Protective Layer — Gore Wear C5 Shakedry 1985 Jacket or Sportful Hot Pack Easy Light Vest

Finally, in the second side jersey pocket I always take a protective shielding layer. In the winter and transition season months this is normally the Gore Wear C5 Gore-Tex Shakedry® 1985 Jacket. In the summer months it is the Sportful Hot Pack Easy Light Vest.

These two layers are ludicrously light, but impressively protective. The Shakedry® Jacket will keep you dry and stave off windchill on fast descents and when unpleasant weather strikes. The Sportful Hot Pack is the ultimate packable gilet to give you that little bit of added insulation and protection you need for early morning starts or cool evening finishes in the summer months.

Gore Wear C5 Shakedry 1985 Jacket

Three items for three jersey pockets
(the small zippered one is for café stop cash)
What do you pack in your jersey pockets?
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