Castelli Alpha

gweeds

Sigma have the jacket in their sale, down to £142.50 which is a steal - laurel/black only

http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Castel ... -AW14/40RZ

cookeeemonster

Wore my alpha jersey for the first time today with SS merino baselayer at 4 degrees and a tailwind

Was too hot so stopped after 15 minutes to undo the inner jacket thing...was still a bit warm but okish...rapha jersey would've been better

But supposed to be 11 degrees on way home but raining so will be interesting to see how that works out.

Will need to wear it a handful of times before I make my mind up but could be too late in the season for that...

tijs_a

I doubt between the Castelli Jacket and Jersey. I already have the gabba shortsleeve, but when its too windy its too cold. I would like to use it in the 3 - 8 celsius degree range. What should i take? I think the jacket will be good, but maybe it's too warm and less versatile.

bendertherobot

This time of year, jersey.

the_cyclist_of_catan

FWIW, my experiences with the Alpha jacket have improved with a better base layer. Currently using a HH Warm under the Alpha, and although it's still a bit chilly below 5 degrees, it's not been too warm (even when climbing hard) until the temperature hits double figures.

Not sure how waterproof it really is, though, as any DWR mine had has all vanished; raindrops are soaking into the top layer straight away. Roll on the technology that creates a DURABLE durable water repellant.

robbo2011

Out of interest, how many times has it been washed? Do you use detergent when you wash it? I hand rinse mine in water after each ride, have worn it about 10 times so far and it is still still perfectly water resistant.

richiegwy

I have been riding with the jersey and short sleeve merino a couple of times in temps down to 5 and its a little chilly to start with but fine after a while.

Monty Zoncolan

I did around 55 miles over 3 hours last week in the Alpha jersey. Temps were around 4 to 6 degrees C with occasional light wind. I had a long sleeved base layer underneath and it was just right when on the move. My body heat was enough to stay at the right temperature and I started to cool down noticeably when I stopped.

Generally the fit is excellent and the waterproofing on mine still works well after half a dozen washes at 30 degrees. I would like to get the jacket for cooler/slightly easier paced rides in due course.

the_cyclist_of_catan

robbo2011 wrote:

Out of interest, how many times has it been washed? Do you use detergent when you wash it? I hand rinse mine in water after each ride, have worn it about 10 times so far and it is still still perfectly water resistant.

Unfortunately detergent was involved in the first wash

gotwood25

I use detergent on each wash, no issues what so ever.

gweeds

Non bio might be ok. Bio is a disaster waiting to happen with sportswear

DavidfromWarboys

Just ordered my jacket, on the cheap, from Castelli Café. Not the colour I would have preferred, it will be red. Obviously, I would have preferred black because it is so visible for all that winter riding in the dark ....... but black is the coolest ................ but red will be good for £100 :-)

blablablacksheep

Got the alpha Jersey today.

First initial impressions are good.
Typical high quality castelli gear, flat seams, fit is excellent. Went for xl as I'm a heffer by castelli standards being 6ft 76kg!

The arms aren't very tight which great and the body hugs well.
Windproofing wise. It works.

I'm going to do a few long rides and try it out especially the "just baselayor" and Jersey combo and see how it holds up.
Think this could be the go to British dry weather top. Then gabba for chance of rain days.

DavidfromWarboys

Bugger! I'm 6ft2 and 80 kg and also went for the xl - hope I don't have to return it :-(

apreading

DavidfromWarboys wrote:

Bugger! I'm 6ft2 and 80 kg and also went for the xl - hope I don't have to return it :-(

Hopefully you will be all right, at 85Kgs the XL was almost OK.

robbo2011

blablablacksheep wrote:

Think this could be the go to British dry weather top. Then gabba for chance of rain days.

The Alpha jersey works great in the wet. If you have the Alpha Jersey, you don't need the Gabba as well.

bendertherobot

Yep. As I said earlier in the thread. It's very good in the wet. It does give in, in the end, but very good. You wouldn't want to start OUT in it perhaps, or stand up in it. But if you're on the go it does very well.

handful

DavidfromWarboys wrote:

Bugger! I'm 6ft2 and 80 kg and also went for the xl - hope I don't have to return it :-(

I've just bought one from Evans, in xl and it does me perfectly. I'm 6ft and 83kgs. I think yours will be fine. I have long (gorilla) arms and the xl fit me well.

DavidfromWarboys

DavidfromWarboys wrote:

Bugger! I'm 6ft2 and 80 kg and also went for the xl - hope I don't have to return it :-(

Ok, so it's not that tight with a Rapha base layer under it (think I'm slightly disappointed with that actually!). Easily get at elast one other layer under it should the need arise. Arms are a really good length, back nice and long, front seems a bit on the short side but sure it will be ok in riding position.

As others have said before, it does n't seem like a jacket that is going to keep the extreme cold out, but we'll find out on a 2 hour ride tomorrow.

Happy, and the red looks great!!!!

indyp

I doubt you'll feel the cold with the jacket if temps are above 5 ish, I'd even try it on its own if so. I wore the jersey without a baselayer for first time yesterday and worked great in temps around 8-9, although wind chill was a factor on top of Black Mountains.

bendertherobot

I wore the jersey sans base layer this morning, lush. I also wore it with some Castelli Lightness gloves. It's about 6 degrees and they work well. I was amazed at just how seamlessly they fitted with the Alpha.

DavidfromWarboys

so ..... the jacket is a brilliant bit of kit :-) went today and did 45 miles, it was 7 dC apparently but the cold wind was strong and made it feel a lot colder. I changed from mits to full sealskinz after 10 mins and the only thing I was short on for the whole ride was my over shoes. Just had a Rapha Merino wool base layer under the jacket (and they are n't that thick, certainly not as thick as the excellent DHB ones I have). Never felt cold under the jacket at all, cool all the way whether going up hill or flying down them. Really consistent. Sure I would not have been as warm in my Assos 851. Very happy with my purchase and now ........ really like the red!!!!!

northpole

I wore my Rapha pro jacket this morning, following a spin on Thursday evening wearing my alpha jacket. I think I am right on the limit for the alpha now - another couple of celsius increase and mine will be packed away unless there are exceptional days. The pro jacket isn't as warm but was perfect today with a rapha long sleeve base layer on. It's that time of year when the story could easily go the other way!

Peter

the_cyclist_of_catan

I've been getting on a bit better with my Alpha. A decent base layer helps - the Aldi merino shirts are too thin to keep me warm in the winter while at the same time getting too hot when I warmed up. Secondly, I restored the water repellence by rinsing, rinsing and rinsing again (plus a wash with pure soap, followed by another double-rinse). Those modern detergents had obviously not rinsed out properly the first time and were making a big contribution to the jacket wetting-through.

bendertherobot

Wore my jersey today at just above freezing. HH base layer. Excellent.

My jacket's for sale in the classifieds (new frame fund). Want to get the red one next year

DavidfromWarboys

......likewise, 1dC here for my 10 mile run into work. Wore my red ;-) Castelli Alpha with a dhb long(-ish) sleeved merino base layer and a cheap dhb cycling jersey and was at a good temperature all the way. Only minor issue, that bloody dhb not-so-long sleeve jersey, kept pulling the sleeves of the jacket up!!

Did n't have this problem on Saturday when I wore a short sleeved base layer.

Monty Zoncolan

Is anywhere selling the jacket (not the jersey) for a decent price at the moment?

foggymike

Bike discount - £142-145 depending on the day (exchange rate). Free postage and free returns if you need to. Sport pursuit next best at £150 plus £5 post and you pay for return postage if needed.

bendertherobot

Monty Zoncolan wrote:

Is anywhere selling the jacket (not the jersey) for a decent price at the moment?

Size?

Monty Zoncolan

Good point - medium.