Suitable jacket for the Alps

matt-h

Hi,
im off to the Alps at the end of August but have been advised to get a decent jacket due to weather changes and the cold descents.
What do people recommend? I really don't want anything thats going to flap so was considering the Sportful No Rain Stretch jacket.

Matt

ugo.santalucia

All you need is one of those light waterproof coats, mostly for the wind on the descents. If the weather is bad, you can wear all the clothes you want and you'l still be freezing, so no point in getting a heavy jacket that you need to carry around.
I have a yellow DHB thing that goes in the back pocket and it's perfect

matt-h

Ok Ugo thats great.
Problem i have found is that the cheaper jackets are not race cut and flap.
I dont have to carry it. We have a service vehicle

Matt

shmooster

Gore windstopper maybe if you're less bothered about weight/size, but like Ugo I just carry a very small lightweight jacket which I keep permanently strapped under my stem so I don't forget it. Also get a pair of Audrey Hepburn like arm warmers, they're very light but make a big difference on a wet descent.

gabriel959

I used one of these when I went to the Pyrenees http://road.cc/content/review/71753-gor ... -20-jacket

Paid £90 for it.

meanredspider

The day I spent on Alpe D'Huez it was freezing (-3c) at 4:30am and 33c by early afternoon.

I wore a base layer, arm & leg warmers, a SS jersey, long-finger gloves with a lobster finger cover built-in, and a gilet (for descending) first thing in the morning.

As the day went on, I got rid of the warmers and base layer and swapped the gloves for mitts. I kept the gilet for descents.

There was at least one accident on the first descent where a woman lost the feeling in her fingers and couldn't brake and there were people receiving (medical) help for the effects of cold. Later in the day their were people suffering from dehydration and exhaustion getting IV drips.

Fortunately there was no rain but windproof is definitely the way to go. If you have support, maybe something like a Gabba jersey (with or without arm warmers) would be great to have. Layering, though, is most flexible and adaptable.

ugo.santalucia

In all cases, nothing works as well as a newspaper under the jersey

cc78

At the moment I always carry arm warmers and a gilet... I picked up this lightweight windbreaker from Decathlon a couple of months ago and it is great, packs up really small (I can fit it and the arm warmers in the same jersey pocket)

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/700-ultralig ... 03725.html

if it looks like raining (which unfortunately it does a lot here at the moment) then I also take a jacket; I have the older version of this Mavic Sprint H20

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fr/f ... -prod89544

Knee warmers are handy if it looks like a rubbish day, and shoe covers. I sometimes also carry a pair of long-fingered thin gloves that I put on over my mitts to keep hands warm on a descent.

As above a Gabba jersey may be useful but I've never worn one so wouldn't like to comment.

cc78

don't forget a cap as well, ideal for keeping the rain out your eyes when descending

dodgy

ugo.santalucia wrote:

In all cases, nothing works as well as a newspaper under the jersey

If all you want to do is pretend you're a pro.

cougie

I was descending the Stelvio when they had snow there in May. I just had a £10 Aldi packable jacket over my Castelli Nano Arms and Gabba jacket. Worked fine. Flapping isnt an issue.

Gloves are good and maybe a buff too. Both of those - you can stuff down your top if needed.

robbo2011

Any old shell will do, i use a cheapo DHB clear race jacket. Always take gloves and it's best to layer up rather than wear single heavier items because you can remove or add them as it warms up/gets colder

DeVlaeminck

If you have a support car then I'd just stick arm and leg warmers, warm gloves and any lightweight jacket in a bag in the car. Pretty much like the advice above really. I know it can get very cold even in August but equally I've been to the Alps three times for a week each time and never once needed anything other than a short sleeved race jersey, mitts and shorts.

mercia_man

robbo2011 wrote:

Any old shell will do, i use a cheapo DHB clear race jacket. Always take gloves and it's best to layer up rather than wear single heavier items because you can remove or add them as it warms up/gets colder

Those cheapo DHB clear race jackets are great. Mine has performed just as well as it's very similar Assos predecessor. It's wind proof, light rainproof and has a fairly slim cut although you do get a bit of flapping on the arms. I often take a gilet and arm warmers as well. Sometimes gloves and leg warmers. You can get really chilled on descents, even in summer.

schweiz

I use this....

It can be converted between a jacket and gilet by way of a zip that runs around the back of the jacket...

http://cervorosso.com/shop/performance- ... -doppio-20

If weight/bulk is an issue then something like this....

http://cervorosso.com/shop/performance- ... ain-jacket

15% off with code AP201312

matt-h

Thanks so much guys.
Great to also get some advice from those that live or have ridden the Alps.

Very disappointed no-one has insisted i buy a Rapha Pro Race Cape - they do look nice even if the price is out of my reach

Matt

bendertherobot

Buy a Rapha Race Cape. And take scissors. When it gets too hot you can snip off the arms at the cutting point.

And take some arm warmers for when, after you've cut them off, it gets cold again.

northpole

All of the above plus, if there's space available, I'd be tempted to throw a heavy-ish goretex jacket in the back of the support vehicle and hope never to need call on its service. My standard kit in the dolomites comprised mesh base layer, short sleeve jersey, arm warmers, gillet, mits and a rain jacket in the back pocket. We only got rained on once and I would have preferred to have had neoprene overshoes and a pair of gloves!

Peter