My TICCC t-shirt that’s now my go-to: A cycling t-shirt review from a non-cyclist
I’m a pretty active person. I run, I go to the gym, I hike. But one thing I’m not, is a cyclist.
Let me be clear, I don’t hate cycling. I love cycling. My bike was stolen and I live in the inner city; I’ve no intention of buying another just to see it swiped on CCTV – again.
So that means that for now, my cycling t-shirt is reserved for my non-cycling activities.
You might think this makes me a poor choice to be reviewing a cycling T shirt, but you’re wrong. An unlikely choice, sure. But TICCC cycling shirts are perfect for pretty much everything. And I’m going to prove it.
First impressions
The kind and generous Daphne from TICCC gifted me one of their technical t-shirts, and when we chatted, she recommended downsizing. This is because TICCC cycling t-shirts are unisex. In other words, they’re for absolutely everyone. Brownie points for inclusivity.
The only thing about this is that it doesn’t fit tightly like most women’s activewear does. Fine for those who find the figure-hugging style a little restrictive but can feel a little more masculine-looking on those who prefer a tighter fit.
Size chosen, design chosen, package secured. My first impression upon unboxing it was how cool the whole package was. Alongside the t-shirt came a little book all about TICC.
TICCC is an ethical and sustainable clothing brand and the shirt is made of recycled Italian polyester. It was soft to touch and quite thin. The little staccato splats of colour are super vibrant and there’s even a reflective ‘breakaway’ dot on the back for visibility.
I definitely didn’t own any activewear that looked like this, and I was even complimented on it at both parkrun and the gym. “Where’s it from?” they’d ask. “TICCC.” I’d say, pointing to the logo on the chest with no small amount of smugness.
Amaia Wilson Frade is a copywriter and translator from Southampton, England. A language fanatic who speaks Spanish, French and Italian and loves writing for purpose-driven brands. Her happy place is tucked away in her campervan in the countryside or by the sea, meditating and matching playlists to whatever she's reading as she waits for summer to roll back around.
Putting it to the test
First stop: parkrun.
Southampton’s parkrun can get HOT in warm weather. The sun beats down on you, unrelenting, and I usually wear a vest to keep as cool as possible. So I must admit I was a little wary about being more covered up, but I had no reason to be.
It was light as a feather, I didn’t feel like I was wearing more than usual. And it was so breathable that it kept me cool despite our southern morning sun.
My only gripe? I could occasionally feel it riding up as I ran. Could it be that it didn’t sit well on the leggings I was wearing underneath? Not sure. But all in all, I was happy with it.
Stop two: the gym.
I go to the gym to do various workout classes, weights, martial arts, dance. Whichever class I go to, this shirt serves its purpose. It stretches well so I don’t feel constrained when doing different exercises and it holds sweat effectively – a godsend for these classes which often feels like working out inside a special, torturous sort of sauna.
Stop three: hiking the Lake District.
I wore this to hike up Loughrigg Fell. We were pretty lucky with the weather – the sun was shining. But I also knew that once up the top, there could be some bitter winds. So I layered up with a sports bra underneath and a Gymshark jacket on top.
This worked really well. The shirt is thin and leaves enough room to layer under and over, and it didn’t feel bulky under the tight jacket. After a few hours of hiking I began to get hot so I took it off and tied it around my bag. By the time the winds came to whip me in the face and I put it back on, the sweat had dried and it felt like a brand-new shirt. (Don’t ask me how I smelt, I can’t answer that).
The shirt really was perfect for this. The weather changes constantly up and down fells and crags. It sheltered me from cold winds but kept me cool when the sun came out and threatened to melt me.
Honestly, all in all, it’s a great shirt. Cyclist or not. It works for the gym, running, and hiking – and it looks great. It’s rare to find high-performance gear that doesn’t scream serious athlete. The perfect top for one of those days where you’re squeezing in errands, meetings, and workouts with no time to change in between.
If you like high-performance activewear that looks a little more casual and doesn’t fit too tightly, give TICCC a try.
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Amaia Wilson Frade is a copywriter and translator from Southampton, England. A language fanatic who speaks Spanish, French and Italian and loves writing for purpose-driven brands. Her happy place is tucked away in her campervan in the countryside or by the sea, meditating and matching playlists to whatever she's reading as she waits for summer to roll back around.
