Castelli Alpha

joey54321

Yes, I guess I was just looking for anecdotal evidence about how much people use each item of clothing.

Maybe I should just buy both

apreading

joey54321 wrote:

Maybe I should just buy both

Thats the right answer on all of these threads...!

micrographia

Yes buy both :-D

Jersey too warm for me once temps reach double figures, too cold in low single digits especially when stopped, but plenty of leeway with the double zip system and what else you are wearing. Jacket too warm unless its near freezing (or you're standing waiting for the Tour de Yorkshire somewhere high and exposed) - but then is superb.

Jersey gets worn a lot more than the jacket in UK conditions. It's not like you can take the jacket off and stash it if you start to get too warm either.

joey54321

Hmm, it seems like lots of people are saying the jersey is warmed than I expect it to be. I think I'll go with the jersey for now and see how it goes. I would have though with a decent LS base layer and the Fawesome Gilet over the top I'll be good down to pretty cold conditions.

luv2ride

joey54321 wrote:

Hmm, it seems like lots of people are saying the jersey is warmed than I expect it to be. I think I'll go with the jersey for now and see how it goes. I would have though with a decent LS base layer and the Fawesome Gilet over the top I'll be good down to pretty cold conditions.

Check out the Craft LS baselayers on SportsPursuit to go underneath the Alpha - I've got the "Concept" one (with mesh over the shoulders and armpits) and it works like a dream with the Alpha jersey - great combo. The base layers are £14.99, I think more than 50% off...

gaffer_slow

get the jacket. it is good for 0-10 depending on what is underneath. with just an Assos Bonka Winter Baselayer sub zero is very doable. Long Sleeved / Warmers + Fawesome for when the Alpha Jacket is a bit too much. Alpha Jersey would be too much overlap

apreading

Yeah - when its too warm for the Alpha, it will be warm enough for just the Fawesome. If you didnt have that then it might be different but as you already have it, the jersey is probably redundant.

joey54321

But would the Alpha jersey + Fawesome gilet = Alpha Jacket? I.e. am I gonna get some overlap either way? I tend not to ride if its much below 0 due to risk of ice.

apreading

No - I dont think the jersey is water resistant in the same way as the Jacket. You might get similar warmth from that combo but not the other characteristics.

joey54321

apreading wrote:

No - I dont think the jersey is water resistant in the same way as the Jacket. You might get similar warmth from that combo but not the other characteristics.

I thought they used the same DWR coating?

apreading

Maybe same coating but different material.

From: https://roubaixcycling.cc/2015/12/04/th ... ha-jersey/
"What about the Alpha jacket then? Should I buy that? Well, I’m a huge fan of that as well, but on that I would exercise some caution. Let’s talk about the difference first. It’s a full soft-shell so windstopper fabric replaces the rear roubaix of the jersey. The internal “gilet” is all round rather than only at the front. Finally, the sleeves are lined rather than being windstopper only. Net result? Warm at minus figures. Otherwise it’s pretty much the same overall."

I had forgotten - actually, its the jersey that I have. I have other really cold jackets so no need for the Alpha jacket. The jersey is really great but jersey + Fawesome wont go as cold as the jacket. Depends what you want really.

joey54321

I guess I want to feel like I always have the right kit for riding throughout the year. The Fawesome is great, and in spring/autumn I usually feel like i've gone out with the right setup (more because its so versatile), but it is somewhat limited as the temperature gets lower.

polska1979

I've got both the alpha jacket and jersey.

The jersey does get used more but it's not as waterproof as the jacket. In fact, only the front of the jersey is waterproof

The jacket is fantastic from November > February with a ls base. Then as soon as it's a bit warmer I go for the jersey and either ls or SS base layer. Sometimes I'll take a rain cape if it's a bit frosty in the morning and forecast to brighten up later on

joey54321

polska1979 wrote:

I've got both the alpha jacket and jersey.

The jersey does get used more but it's not as waterproof as the jacket. In fact, only the front of the jersey is waterproof

The jacket is fantastic from November > February with a ls base. Then as soon as it's a bit warmer I go for the jersey and either ls or SS base layer. Sometimes I'll take a rain cape if it's a bit frosty in the morning and forecast to brighten up later on

So if you had to give one up which would you keep?

the_rover

joey54321 wrote:

polska1979 wrote:

I've got both the alpha jacket and jersey.

The jersey does get used more but it's not as waterproof as the jacket. In fact, only the front of the jersey is waterproof

The jacket is fantastic from November > February with a ls base. Then as soon as it's a bit warmer I go for the jersey and either ls or SS base layer. Sometimes I'll take a rain cape if it's a bit frosty in the morning and forecast to brighten up later on

So if you had to give one up which would you keep?

I've got both and if I had to keep one then that would be the jersey. I run hot so it's got to be freezing, literally, to use the jacket. The jersey covers far more of the year.

indyp

The jersey is way more versatile than the jacket therefore will get more use. I had both, but moved the jacket on as I found it too warm for UK winter, especially if there's climbing involved. By layering up underneath the jersey can be used regularly throughout the winter. It's only let down when temps really drop by lack of insulation on the arms.

angry_bird

I really like the jacket anywhere from 5/6C to whatever the coldest we've had the past couple of winters has been? Probably -6/-7? In winter I ride a lot early in the morning when it's generally at its coldest and the jacket does the job with a short sleeve or sleeveless base layer, don't recall ever having warn anything else under it, happily climb for 20 minutes+ at a decent intensity in it and not feel like I'm overdressed.

If it's above 5/6 outside then it's probably too warm for jacket so I wear a gabba. In terms of use the gabba gets more, but if I didn't have the jacket then I'd be layering up like a loon under the gabba and still being cold. Can't comment on the alpha jersey though...

gaffer_slow

basically if you need both, buy both - they are both excellent.

If you have one of the "bases" covered, buy the other.

Clearly you have something for Alpha jersey type conditions.

joey54321

So i've ordered both to have a look at them, then somewhat hoping I can keep this conversation/deliberation going on long enough past the point where I can't return them and thus have to keep both, "oh what a shame!" I'll say.

bendertherobot

In our current climate the Jersey is usable 99% of the winter and the jacket way less than that. Depends, of course, where you live.

The jersey is versatile, warm, useful, comfortable. I'd encourage people to own it. It is, IMO, better than the Gabba in the wet too, regardless of what Castelli say.

joey54321

bendertherobot wrote:

In our current climate the Jersey is usable 99% of the winter and the jacket way less than that. Depends, of course, where you live.

The jersey is versatile, warm, useful, comfortable. I'd encourage people to own it. It is, IMO, better than the Gabba in the wet too, regardless of what Castelli say.

Do the arms not get cold in the winter with the jersey? That is my main 'fear' of just going with the jersey.

bendertherobot

joey54321 wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

In our current climate the Jersey is usable 99% of the winter and the jacket way less than that. Depends, of course, where you live.

The jersey is versatile, warm, useful, comfortable. I'd encourage people to own it. It is, IMO, better than the Gabba in the wet too, regardless of what Castelli say.

Do the arms not get cold in the winter with the jersey? That is my main 'fear' of just going with the jersey.

Not with a suitable base layer, no. But it depends what you mean by winter. Minus temps? A bit. Normal winter. No.

joey54321

bendertherobot wrote:

joey54321 wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

In our current climate the Jersey is usable 99% of the winter and the jacket way less than that. Depends, of course, where you live.

The jersey is versatile, warm, useful, comfortable. I'd encourage people to own it. It is, IMO, better than the Gabba in the wet too, regardless of what Castelli say.

Do the arms not get cold in the winter with the jersey? That is my main 'fear' of just going with the jersey.

Not with a suitable base layer, no. But it depends what you mean by winter. Minus temps? A bit. Normal winter. No.

Sounds good, I'll see if I can find some good reduced LS base layers and probably go down that option. I like the idea of having more flexibility rather than 1 mega insulated item, just to get more use out of each item.

I rarely ride in minus figures so that should be ok.

bendertherobot

You can even wear it without a base layer in mild temps. Obviously you then have the windstopper on skin, but that's ok.

gaffer_slow

request mods lock the thread : )

bendertherobot

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-alpha-ros-jacket/

New one

bendertherobot

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-alpha-ros-jersey/

And the jersey. Said to be better in the wet now. Interesting. Also, it appears to be part Alpha, part Perfetto.

kingstonian

So what do I go for, this or the Sportful Fiandre Extreme Neoshell ?

bendertherobot

Kingstonian wrote:

So what do I go for, this or the Sportful Fiandre Extreme Neoshell ?

I assume you mean the Alpha Jacket v the Neoshell? The latter is cheaper at the moment, of course.

But either are unlikely to be necessary before December. Whereas the Alpha jersey could be used now.

kingstonian

bendertherobot wrote:

Kingstonian wrote:

So what do I go for, this or the Sportful Fiandre Extreme Neoshell ?

I assume you mean the Alpha Jacket v the Neoshell? The latter is cheaper at the moment, of course.

But either are unlikely to be necessary before December. Whereas the Alpha jersey could be used now.

Yes, sorry, was looking at the jacket and not the jersey