Review: Pedal Mafia Core AMF1 Team Kit

There is nothing finer in the cycling world than when the behemoth that is Formula One crosses paths with cycling. From the cycling side, and using their established entry-level kit, Pedal Mafia has entered its third season of Formula One designs. Partnering with Aston Martin’s Formula One team, Pedal Mafia has taken lust worthy kit designs to a whole new level.

Ten years ago, a kit company caught our attention with flashy social media posts involving super bikes mounted atop super cars. Sprinkled in further were rare authentic race cars. At that, we knew we had found our kit company. Simplistic in design alongside thought-out garments, Pedal Mafia has produced standalone kits available at every price level. Not a ride goes by where some piece of kit produced by Pedal Mafia is omitted. 

Since our introduction to Pedal Mafia, the dressing room has always been draped with pro-level kits, typically called the PMCC (Pedal Mafia Cycling Club) line. We have been all in with the pro status since the start. In recent years, Pedal Mafia has offered a more cost approachable line referred to as the CORE line. It is this platform Pedal Mafia has tapped to produce their AMF1 kit.

Pedal Mafia’s kit features the AMR24 logo on the right shoulder strap of the CORE bibs.

For 2024, Aston Martin Formula One team featured drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Alonso, two-time F1 champion, is an avid cyclist. (We also watched him in person at the 2017 Indy 500.) Alonso continues to race into his forties, maintaining superstar fitness through offseason bike rides shared on social media, joining other world class drivers who road ride to stay fit. 

Considering this was likely the closest we would get to Formula One, we jumped at the chance to grab the Pedal Mafia CORE AMF1 team kit. After months of riding around, we still haven’t gotten closer to Formula One, but we can dream about using DRS along a flat straightaway.

Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team logos are all provided on the four pocket panel of the CORE jersey.

Pedal Mafia’s CORE line is moderately priced without losing style. Opting for the hyper black bib shorts, the detail is clearly out there. The flat shoulder straps feature AMR24 that could be mistaken for resembling the five-point harness in the Aston Martin cockpit. At the bottom of the left leg is the subtle Pedal Mafia insignia; the right leg features the Aston Martin logo atop the team’s title sponsor - Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia. On the back is the digi-spiral symbol used for Pedal Mafia’s CORE range.

Pedal Mafia is certainly appealing to a wider range of cyclists by using CORE. The AMF1 CORE bibs were quite comfortable, especially on longer outings over seventy miles. Several compliments were handed out, bonding one Formula One fan to another. Again, the designs are subtle and one would have to recognize the insignias and logos to realize it’s an Aston Martin Formula One kit. A sneaky detail is the return of the radio pocket at the lower back of the bibs. Per Pedal Mafia’s site, the pocket can be used for phone, vest, or nutrition storage. One area the CORE bibs differed from the pro level is compression. Perhaps due to appealing to more riders, the fit varies slightly. The 75% recycled warp knit lycra felt thicker than the PMCC bibs. The front sections of the bibs had a tendency to puff up while hammering on the pedals.

The AMF1 Team Kit would not be complete without the hyper black CORE socks, also available at Pedal Mafia.

To complement the bibs, we also received the CORE jersey. This was by far one of the most comfortable jerseys we have ever worn. The ultra breathable jersey is made from 85% recycled Italian materials. The design features numerics arranged across the front and back of the jersey. The four compartment back pocket is colored lime essence and features the Aston Martin logo as well as the title sponsor. The sleeves of the jersey are breathable mesh that come down comfortably to just above the elbow. If we could live in this jersey, we would.

The AMF1 team kit purchase was completed with their Hyper Black CORE socks. Pedal Mafia offers matching vests in both hyper black and lime essence, though we may have missed out on the vest purchase as they appeared to be sold out. 

Road cycling has always shared the same space as hypercar and Formula One. Both are about glamorous rigs and glitzy accessories. Once pulled out of the paddock, both pound the pavement with reckless abandonment to utilize every method for victory. Pedal Mafia has filled in the gap of those two worlds. The production of a Formula One kit shows Pedal Mafia’s roots and clout all in one. What started as a small, Perth, Australia-based business featuring slick posts of McLarens and Lamborghinis is now moving into their third season of Formula One cycling kits. Pedal Mafia’s partnership with Formula One teams sends fans in the right direction. Hopefully those old posts of superbikes atop Aston Martins come back to complete the circle.