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……

Spring in Lakeland

Well after  what has seemed like 2 lifetimes of winter we finally got a large dose of spring which  for the non committed cyclist means only one thing; A chance to start getting some miles in. So 170miles  in the last week and some serious climbing squeezed into my tight work schedule has resulted in some quality test time in all temperature ranges.

For those that are old enough do you remember those club man jackets we used to wear I think you could only get them in blue. basically they where an acrylic full zip jersey  with a nylon panel sewn to the front to stop the worst of the weather and a couple of pockets in the back. The principle was pretty good and they really used the available materials to their best..

Yes you got cold and wet and they sagged but they covered the principles

Well Castelli has refined the idea somewhat and amazingly at two different weights both with a very distinct lean..

So we have the Mortirolo WS jacket this features a warm waffled fleecy backed Windstopper X Fast  front, shoulders and sleeves for wind and rain protection (water beads off the fabric and for a light shower or road spary the jacket remains watertight however it’s not waterproof in heavy prolonged rain) the back is in Castellis own warmer fabric providing a snug fit and better ventilation. If the day or the pace starts warming up more than expected there are zippered vents on the chest to help in cooling, along with a full storm flap protected front zip.

Reflective detailing all round to help you be seen. 3 rear pockets, silicon grippers (to keep the jacket in place) and a soft high neck finish of the jacket.  I have found it ideal on grey days and early morning rides, just worn over a long-sleeved base layer (wooly long sleeve) for temps down to about 5-6 degrees, or up to about 12degrees c

When it gets a little warmer  Castelli have you covered with its Trasparente wind jersey. Ok and lets get one question over with before we start? Is this a heavy jersey or a light jacket?

Castelli call it a jersey, but I think of it as the last of my jackets and it has a chest pocket so that must make it a jacket? right?

So  A lighter weight slimmer cut altogether sexier garment it screams speed . I have to add here, I have the Motirolo in a discrete grey while the Trasparente wind jersey is in Bright red!! But the feel of these jackets, their  construction and materials from which they are cut means the Trasparente wind jersey will be out in the sun on fast rides the glint of light reflecting up from……actually from what?  nothing shines now, everything on a bike is black or carbon…. So all the more reason for this jacket, something bright and Italian.

The heavier warmer Mortirolo suits its Grey smart and dignified in the damp dirtiness of an english morning but still with some subtle red details to scream Italy here I come…

The Trasparente wind jersey (jacket) Is for days when its warm but never going to get hot, for bright windy cloudy days. Days that you may have gone out in gilet and arm warmers with a jersey and a base layer on oh and a cape in your pocket and then wondered why you werent quite as comfy as you should have been… It’s a dry spring early summer piece that unless your racing or subjected to big temperature changes should be in your wardrobe… And if that’s not enough it has a pocket on the chest ideal for the ubiquitous mobile phone a small feature but non the less, one that leaves the 3 rear pockets empty for food money pumps tubes capes etc, etc….

Constructed from Gore Windstopper X light stretch fabric again with Castellis warmer fabric on the back this is a great jersey but an even better jacket..

Trasparente

Depending on what your activity level is this will keep you comfy from 10-18 degrees with just a thin base layer on. Being practical never looked so good.

Next we will be talking about that real spring summer cross over piece the warmer and the gilet…