Castelli Claudio Nanoflex Bibshorts

Continuing my look at shorts and more appropriate for the current weather we will look at the Castelli Claudio Nanoflex Bibshorts,

These use Castelli’s Nano Flex fabric, best described as a treated Roubaix giving the short some water resistance during showers and splashing through puddles and maybe more importantly never getting soaked when the heavens really open, allowing them to keep you warm and comfortable in a broader range of conditions than standard shorts.

Team the  Castelli Claudio Nanoflex Bibshorts with Castelli Nanoflex knee warmers and you have a lower half that can stay cosy in   the cold windy showers that April gives us while still being able to strip off if the sun does come out.

Check out this great review by competitive cyclist ( a big bike shop stateside)

Cycling weekly recently tested the Castelli Claudio Nanoflex Bibshorts and gave them 9/10

Here is there report in full;

“Regular readers will know we are fans of PTFE-coated Roubaix fabric here at CW, and the Claudio bibshort’s use Castelli’s Nano Flex variety. While not completely waterproof, it does allow water to bead off the surface for a reasonable amount of time- they will keep a fairly heavy20-minute shower at bay. Once the surface tensionhas been overcome and the fabric is waterlogged’ it retains the thermal capacity of a standard brushed back lycra fabric. The kiss 3 pad is a favourite , offering excellent comfort without bulk. And with a cool iron the surface treatment can be revitalised post washing.”

This test featured in Cycling Weekly Thursday April 19th 2012

So it seems we are all in agreement if the weather is changeable your best bet is the Castelli Claudio Nanoflex Bibshorts

Warmers

Ok so what do you wear its 12 degrees your going on a hard ride in changeable conditions, or maybe you doing a sportive with some big climbs? The trouble is the temperature difference between valleys and hills, Oh and In the UK just the fact a day can change so quickly then change again and again usually before you even leave the front door.

Luckily we have warmers and gilets previously always essential items managing to turn summer wear into 3 season comfort. But there has been a quiet revolution and warmers of old are now high tech.

A couple of years ago Castelli (a company with a history of innovation) bought us Nano Flex a treatment to material which renders it highly water-resistant while still allowing full stretch and breathability. In Castellis own words

“We take our thermal fleecy stretch Thermoflex fabric and coat it with millions of tiny silicone nanofilaments to create the most water-repellent fabric finish ever. Drops of water stay as spherical balls on top of the fabric or bounce off the fabric without leaving a trace.”

So now we have warm fleecy arm leg and knee warmers that are water-repellent team them up with your race kit and a gilet and you have a comfortable and transformable outfit than can be (in the case of arm-warmers ) rolled up and down as the pace/gradient steepens, or any of the items can be removed altogether and stored in a jersey pocket.

Castelli are even doing a Nano Flex Bib-short called Claudio for cross riders MTB’ers and anyone who might be riding in cool damp conditions but still wants to wear a short. And for the less Macho there is a full tight called the Pave.

It’s just getting harder and harder to think of an excuse these days……