Autumnal Cycle Clothing

Miles253

Hey guys

Im looking to get a few bits of versatile clothing for the inevitable autumn weather starting with a top layer. Ideally i would like a softshell type jacket or similar kind of wind/water resistant jersey to keep me riding in the autumn and early winter.

Is it worth owning a softshell and a resistant jersey or is one likely to be adequate? Looking to ride once a week besides commuting if the weather deteriorates.

Ive got around £150 to spent, with the top end of that being for something pretty damn versitile.

some of the bits ive looked at:

http://road.cc/content/review/72530-sportful-fiandre-norain-jacket
http://road.cc/content/review/122815-bontrager-rxl-180-softshell-jacket
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-gabba-2-long-sleeve-jersey/

obviously there are alot of other options so can i get some opinions?

flasher

If you're looking for versatile get yourself a gilet and arm warmers.

Miles253

Flasher wrote:

If you're looking for versatile get yourself a gilet and arm warmers.

Ive got a rain cape style gilet, quite light from Sportful and some good resistant arm warmers, but they are likely to be quite a low form of protection in the coming months surely.

Bozman

Flasher wrote:

If you're looking for versatile get yourself a gilet and arm warmers.

+1, all the way until winter.

bendertherobot

The Gabba is great, of course. But, not for those really cold days of Autumn.

Worth a real look is the DHB Windslam jersey, very very good indeed.

One of the best things would have been the Rapha Pro Team jacket. Probably all gone now.

Dippydog2

Can anyone point me to a gilet that has a mesh back. I only get cold in the front at the mo.

bendertherobot

Team Sky one.

Philly8mt

I go Castelli Fawesome (Gabba) vest, short sleeve jersey, base layer and sportful no rain arm warmers.

Seems to do the trick.

Miles253

Philly8mt wrote:

I go Castelli Fawesome (Gabba) vest, short sleeve jersey, base layer and sportful no rain arm warmers.

Seems to do the trick.

Does that work when the mercury dips?

dowtcha

I have the ss gabba and the sportful fiandre no rain jacket, both are excellent. The gabba with arm warmers and base layer got me to December and I switched to the sportful for two or three months and then back to the gabba. Nothing else got a look in last year and I don't plan on buying replacement's this year.

Dippydog2

bendertherobot wrote:

Team Sky one.

Perfect, apart from the logos.

meanredspider

If you can find an Assos AirJack, I still think it's the most versatile bit of kit I own - layer up underneath it from nothing to a merino base layer from 10C to freezing. The Gabba is good. I've never really got on with gilets - but then I run warm. Arm warmers are essential and cheap.

norvernrob

Dippydog2 wrote:

Can anyone point me to a gilet that has a mesh back. I only get cold in the front at the mo.

I've got the Sky one and it's very good, it weighs pretty much nothing too. I also got a Gore countdown AS vest
yesterday from Halfords for £22.50 down from £60, just checked and they've sold out now. Got a Gore jersey for £18 too.

It's worth keeping an eye on HotUKdeals as cycling stuff regularly pops up, that's where I saw the Gore stuff.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/clothin ... wn-as-vest

Philly8mt

Miles253 wrote:

Philly8mt wrote:

I go Castelli Fawesome (Gabba) vest, short sleeve jersey, base layer and sportful no rain arm warmers.

Seems to do the trick.

Does that work when the mercury dips?

It works for me ... It's three layers after all .... I'll also stick a Castelli head thingy around my neck for a little extra warmth sometimes.

If it gets cold cold I've got a Santini LS Jacket ... Only seen the light of day two or three times though tbf ...

stueys

Sky gillet is very good, I picked one up in the rapha sale to replace the sportful hot pack I had. Sky one is a better fit.

Rest of my autumnal kit is rapha merino arm and knee warmers, awesome until it gets cold enough for longs when I like the castelli ones. Rapha pro team jacket is a fantastic piece of kit with a rain coat in the back pocket. It's all you need until it goes less than 4C. At which point I tend to start finding the turbo a lot more appealing....

Everyone raves about the gabba, I tried it and didn't get on with it. Fit wasn't great for me and I tend to be a gillet, jersey, arm warmers until it's cold enough to go jacket. The gabba didn't really sit in either one of those camps for me.

Miles253

I suppose it varies from person to person, i like the freedom of arm warmers, and have never owned a softshell or anything heavier, ive survived fine so far but really wanna carry on club riding through the winter this year.

Stueys, is the sky gilet considerably thicker than the Hot Pack? As ive got the Hot Pack at the moment. I'm not keen on team kit but if i could find a gilet thats a bit thicker, that might help with the colder months, any recommendations?

What are peoples opinions on l/s jerseys too, obviously the arm warmer crowd seem to avoid them, but is there any real difference in warming ability.

EDIT: Assos airjack looks a good bit of kit, similar to the Sportful and Bontrager pieces i posted first, seems a good option too...

stueys

Miles253 wrote:

Stueys, is the sky gilet considerably thicker than the Hot Pack? As ive got the Hot Pack at the moment. I'm not keen on team kit but if i could find a gilet thats a bit thicker, that might help with the colder months, any recommendations?

Marginally thicker at the front but better vented at the back so not really. I got it as it's better fitted for me around the shoulders, hot pack rustles a lot when the pace picks up. Plus it was in the sale!

I've got one of these I use when it gets colder. This is a fair amount thicker http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-fawesome-vest/

robbo2011

Miles253 wrote:

EDIT: Assos airjack looks a good bit of kit, similar to the Sportful and Bontrager pieces i posted first, seems a good option too...

Assos Airjack is a good piece of kit but only for cold weather (<8degC). I would never use it in autumn, I think something a bit more lightweight would be better like gilet/arm warmers/windproof shell for descents.

In any case the Airjack has been discontinued for a couple of seasons so I am not sure you will find many about in the right size.

meanredspider

robbo2011 wrote:

Miles253 wrote:

EDIT: Assos airjack looks a good bit of kit, similar to the Sportful and Bontrager pieces i posted first, seems a good option too...

Assos Airjack is a good piece of kit but only for cold weather (<8degC). I would never use it in autumn, I think something a bit more lightweight would be better like gilet/arm warmers/windproof shell for descents.

In any case the Airjack has been discontinued for a couple of seasons so I am not sure you will find many about in the right size.

<8C IS my autumn.

There's still a few AirJacks about but harder to find. Recent factory outlet email for samples had a few.

luv2ride

Dowtcha wrote:

I have the ss gabba and the sportful fiandre no rain jacket, both are excellent. The gabba with arm warmers and base layer got me to December and I switched to the sportful for two or three months and then back to the gabba. Nothing else got a look in last year and I don't plan on buying replacement's this year.

^^This. The only thing to add might be a lightweight rain shell. I have an One Ten Pioggia jacket that rolls up into a rear pocket, just in case the rain is sustained en route.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -12-46563/

If a shorter route the Gabba and No Rain Fiandre softshell have been great with no separate shell.

blackpoolkev

Here's one I think is good value -http://www.cyclesurgery.com/mavic%20espoir%20thermo%20softshell%20jacket/mavic/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/50597

blackpoolkev

I have two softshell jerseys (Gore + Mavic) but only use them on cold winter days, they're too warm even for British autumn rides. I use the Gore Power for full-on cold and the Mavic Echappee when it's quite chilly. The Mavic may suit your needs and (I think) is quite stylish.http://www.cyclesurgery.com/mavic-echappee-windproof-jacket/windproof-jackets/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/45845?listing=true
Why not try some of the retro tops for chillier days, they tend to be a bit thicker/warmer than the flimsy tops that seem to be the norm nowadays. I have two Nalini/Banesto team tops that I find myself using a lot. E.G.- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Banesto-Campagnolo-Nalini-cycling-top-Excellent-condition-/171435880804?pt=UK_Cycling_Clothing&hash=item27ea5ff164

gabriel959

The Mavic Espoir and the Echappe are not jerseys but jackets so quite a bit thicker though, not really for temperatures from 15c to 8c or so.

Miles253

For the Autumnal months perhaps, as suggested a thicker gilet and arm warmers is a versatile and inexpensive way to go. Any recommendations for slightly thicket gilets that offer decent value? That Castelli one posted earlier isnt an awful price.

For days closer to December a softshell sounds like a good bet, not sure the Gabba really offers enough versatility for the money.

ctc

Try this one:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... oCQAfw_wcB

It's a thicker softshell material. I use it for commuting and it's done well so far. Pretty warm.

buzzwold

I just layer up under a L/s jersey and possibly a windstopper gilet on top. This keeps me going to around 5C. Below that I don't tend to get out much. However, am considering going the jacket route, as multiple layers can be pain.

paul_mck

Im liking the look of this at the minute, coupled with a light jacket over it. Been using my crappy decathlon base layer and jacket the last couple of days and its been great on the cold (ish) mornings.

http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/winter-b ... 01LSBLKLRG

I like the high neck and ability to pull it up over your face, saves bothering with a buff.

apreading

I can recommend this right now: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/hell ... lsrc=aw.ds

All the benfits of merino bit holds its shape better and slightly more wind resistant. Cheaper than the Rapha one too!

stueys

paul_mck wrote:

Im liking the look of this at the minute, coupled with a light jacket over it. Been using my crappy decathlon base layer and jacket the last couple of days and its been great on the cold (ish) mornings.

http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/winter-b ... 01LSBLKLRG

I like the high neck and ability to pull it up over your face, saves bothering with a buff.

Ive got one, its great, highly recommended.

paul_mck

Ah I chickened out and got the regular long sleeve one.

Miles253

Seems massively pricey for a base layer, could get a full jacket for a touch more!