Castelli Alpha

letap73

amack wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

20% I meant

Someone has a 20% discount code? Anyone like to share?..........please

svy-hn8s-1cs8-gcyh

amack

letap73 wrote:

amack wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

20% I meant

Someone has a 20% discount code? Anyone like to share?..........please

svy-hn8s-1cs8-gcyh

Many thanks, now do I tell the wife or suffer the consequences!!

apreading

Ah - thought you had 20% off Castelli. Not mad on the Rapha stuff personally.

bendertherobot

9mm of rain for Wales in the next 192 hours. Likely to be half of that. I'm tempted to try the hardshell in the dry tomorrow. At least then we'll know how breathable it is!

meanredspider

bendertherobot wrote:

9mm of rain for Wales in the next 192 hours. Likely to be half of that. I'm tempted to try the hardshell in the dry tomorrow. At least then we'll know how breathable it is!

I think it's a bit misleading in the dry. In general water isn't keen to go from a point of less water to more water (unless it's a river to the sea). To me, breathability only makes sense when it's wet and I've found some of the most breathable materials, like eVent, wanting in these conditions - which kinda defeats the objective.

nibby

bendertherobot wrote:

9mm of rain for Wales in the next 192 hours. Likely to be half of that. I'm tempted to try the hardshell in the dry tomorrow. At least then we'll know how breathable it is!

All would be helpful. I'm planning to use it on easy(ish) commutes and when it's hammering it from the off on longer weekend rides when the pace might not be easy but don't want to look out of the window and decide to give it a miss because of the rain.

Do you normally run hot or cold?

Cheers

bendertherobot

In the middle really.

NaishTT

I'm trying to decide between the abba 2 and the Alpha jersey and its interesting to read the positive reports on the Alpha jersey doing so well in the wet (for a jersey) and being similar to the Gabba. Castelli themselves have the Gabba at 4/5 and the Aplha at 2/5...

I like the sound of the added temperature flexibility and insulation of the Alpha over the Gabba but really want a good degree of waterproofing as well. Any thoughts?

nibby

I would say from reading various threads/reports the Alpha is what you need.

Saying that I could still easily get away with my current base layer/jersey/armwarmers and gillet but the missus wants to buy me it from christmas so who am I to argue

apreading

I dont think the Alpha jersey will be as waterproof at the back - I think it is a warm nanoflex type back rather than the full windstopper that the Gabba has.

So if waterproofing is key then the Alpha jersey may not be the one. In which case you want Gabba or Alpha jacket... But then, they will be warmer so not as good for the seasons where the Alpha jersey would still work.

bendertherobot

So, the Hardshell. Very good. Today was probably a little too warm for it. But I had on only a base layer. Commute is 20 miles. Also had a big rucksack on (weekly provisions) so that's not helpful.

Steady light rain most of the way. Obviously zero ingress. Felt warm despite only having on a very thin merino layer.

Breathable? Well, it's not a summer jersey so no. But there were minimal damp spots just above the elbow and where I had three layers on (i.e. tummy, where coat, bibs and base layer overlap).

It certainly wasn't running wet inside. Neither was any bit of IT damp, just bits of me getting through to the base layer.

A fair test, but will be better when it's properly raining. Today was, in essence, a good day for the Alpha jersey!

nibby

Good stuff. I cant believe I'm saying this but I'm hoping it hammers it down on your commute soon

Keep the thread updated please all very helpful.

bendertherobot

I hope so too!

I have to say, someone said elsewhere, that you need different things for different things. That's correct in my view. You can get by with some things for other things.

For me the hardshell is a commuter jacket. A really expensive one. Or a foul club run jacket.

There's part of me that says, for a Sunday ride, if you have to select the hardshell you may be better indoors. But, for commuting, I tend not to give myself that choice.

For club runs I'd say that the Gabba, Alpha (x2) are more where it's at.

nibby

I agree that you need different things etc.

The wife has just bought me the Alpha jersey so job's a good un on that front but now when I have to start spending my own money I start to want all things to all men

I've had a Rapha Softshell jacket for around 9 yrs and although the Alpha jersey I'm sure will be good enough for lot's of my commutes it somehow feels wrong not to grab a jacket of some sort before heading out on the early morning commute, especially if leaving really early. For some reason I just want to grab a jacket!!

Different if I know I'm on a training ride or Sunday club ride when my default is a jersey/gillet but I suppose a jacket is my safety blanket for this time of year on my daily commute which can be over 20 miles each way, 4 days per week.

I'm generally taking it a lot easier on my rides into work and to have the safety of a jacket that I know will keep everything at bay appeals to me but at a cost. The Softshell has been great but it's not fully waterproof and I've lost count of the number of times I've arrived at work drenched and then still damp on the way home.

Half of me is saying, stop being tight and buy it. If it last's another 9 yrs then the other half is saying just buy something like a Squadra Jacket and use this with the Alpha, not going to be 100% waterproof but maybe enough to last me through this winter when I will start again next winter with the same problem

I'm always open to paying less but having researched cant really see anything else out there that is close unless you start looking at Mountain type of gear.

letap73

nibby wrote:

I'm always open to paying less but having researched cant really see anything else out there that is close unless you start looking at Mountain type of gear.

I did a google search on reviews for the Rapha Hardshell and whilst they were undoubtedly fantastic, it is very expensive and very bike specific. In the next few months I am hoping to use my bike more for the commute and in particularly wet weather I am going to be trying out my Mountain Equipment Firefox to see how it goes.

bendertherobot

My commute is pretty fast. Average 18mph or so over 20 miles. 650ft climbing.

No rain on the way home tonight. Again, very light spotting on my base layer where I'd sweated but I felt temperate and snug rather than cold and damp.

I'm not 100% sold on the cut of the hardshell. I think it's 95% there. It does slip upwards slightly, so I occasionally have to tug it back down. But it's pretty good. Obviously this is where hardshell loses out to soft-shell.

Another slight irritation was, given the lack of elasticity, when I put my (large) wallet in the pocket it pulled the jacket slightly tighter. Moved it to the middle pocket and all was fine.

I'm happy with it. It will cope with monsoons and, to be honest, if I use it for wet commutes it's paid for itself after 20 or so (£5 parking, £5 petrol).

I like it. It's NOT for today's weather. The Alpha jersey covers that. In fact I will probably wear the Alpha most of this week now. Mind, Wednesday might be a good day for the Hardshell.

I think that it's also pretty good the colder it gets. So, tonight was about 10 degrees. I think at 6 degrees or so in rain, cold, the hardshell really would come into its own.

I'll tell you what it sort of reminds me of. The Altura Night Vision. But massively more comfortable, better cut, breathable etc. I appreciate that jacket is much cheaper but, for me, it was always compromised.

nibby

Promising this. I'm the same sort of average and distance so it's very useful.

I'll try one on this week and get my size. I'm normally a M in ProTeam stuff I've tried on in the past although don't own any yet!!

I like your thinking about it paying for itself on the commute That's the way I justify new stuff to myself!!

and agree re the Altura NV - I have just given mine to a pal as it was uncomy and too hot for me.

Now just need to decide on the colour, that orange is growing on me although I will probably default to my normal black

ANYONE ELSE WITH A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE THAT WILL WORK IN THE SAME CONDITIONS NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP AND SAVE MY WALLET!!

or even better anyone with inside knowledge of the Rapha Sales tell me when

bendertherobot

Orange or chartreuse. You buy this one to be seen. I have the orange. And the lime in the alphas

nibby

Whats the sizing like?

bendertherobot

I'd say you'd be a M, possibly a S. It's the same size as what you normally wear in Rapha. If you have a Pro Team jersey you may want to size down. If you have the (old sizing) jacket then it should be the same.

src1

nibby wrote:

ANYONE ELSE WITH A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE THAT WILL WORK IN THE SAME CONDITIONS NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP AND SAVE MY WALLET!!

or even better anyone with inside knowledge of the Rapha Sales tell me when

Sorry, I haven't read the whole thread, but if you're after a shell waterproof, what about the Gore Oxygen 2? Quite a bit cheaper than the rapha, as waterproof as you can get and a good cut for fast road riding.

nibby

Thanks SRC1 yes I did look at this but lack of rear pockets was the problem.

I'm just going to be using a baselayer underneath so need rear pockets for stuff.

Looks like a great jacket otherwise.

bendertherobot

I had the old Oxygen. Very good as well. It's more a shell than a hardshell though. The Rapha one has more in common with a mountain jacket, a little thicker and warmer.

It's also not far off the price of the Gore given the current 20% code.

NaishTT

@Bendertherobot - have you had a chance to try out the Alpha jersey in the wet yet? How would you rate the oxygen or Xenon softshells against the Alpha jersey or the Gabba?

Unfortunately money won't stretch to buy a couple to cover all bases so I need to get it right. Any thoughts much appreciated!

bendertherobot

NaishTT wrote:

@Bendertherobot - have you had a chance to try out the Alpha jersey in the wet yet? How would you rate the oxygen or Xenon softshells against the Alpha jersey or the Gabba?

Unfortunately money won't stretch to buy a couple to cover all bases so I need to get it right. Any thoughts much appreciated!

I can report that I once tried a Xenon Softshell in driving rain. From memory it was excellent. It has taped seams at the shoulders which is something the Gabba should have. Some rain did get in but it was very very good. Not done the Oxygen in the rain but I'd expect similar.

It's better than the Alpha jersey in that respect because the back is also softshell. Though the back of the jersey is DWR treated.

If you can only have ONE, and Wiggle prices are currently fantastic, then the Xenon is a damn good all winter choice IMO.

NaishTT

Many thanks Bendertherobot. That's really useful.

The sensible head says that the Gore may well be a very good buy but even though I have plenty of other Gore kit somehow its not floating my boat. Maybe its the bright blue/neon combo which is putting me off and my curiosity over the Gabba. So I'm gravitating towards the Gabba, either the long sleeve or the convertible - a nice sale price would be very welcome on the latter as it is a lot more money at the moment :-) and no side ventilation by the look of it.

bendertherobot

Just bear in mind that the Xenon will be warmer than the Gabba. It will also hold water out a little longer. Eventually both will be wet. The Gabba will probably dry quicker.

It depends what you want it for. Weekend club fast runs? Gabba I'd say, perhaps with a gilet or lightweight rain jacket stuffed in. Deep winter runs, Xenon better for that, but there's better for true cold anyway.

Commuting I'd say the Xenon.

If you do an MTB'ing then the Gabba is pretty versatile for a number of seasons.

amack

Ok, so still haven't bought the Hardshell....yet,as I'm wondering if the Rain jacket and the Long sleeve jersey might be better, possibly get the Transfer gillet too (which is discounted atm). Just looking for something warmer than the Gabba and more waterproof then the Alpha - not sure it exists. So its the Hardshell over base layers or a Long sleeve jersey with the Rain jacket - anyone care to advise or have experience of the Rain jacket and Hardshell?

nibby

tbh - my thinking is there is no perfect do anything jacket, you just need either a couple of different top/jacket combos or decide if you really need a proper 100% rain jacket for i.e. long commutes or if you want an emergency to go over your jersey for higher tempo riding.

Some good insight on this thread but what works for one might not for another as everyone is different.

Another option is a race cape that are supposed to be just as 100% waterproof but breath's better, no pockets though.

Or if already got the Gabba/Alpha get a cheaper water resistant jacket to pull out if needed to take the worst.

Ideally we would all have 5 jackets and tops

It's a pity Rapha don't have a test option similar to the classics collection that if not 100% pleased can send it back no problem.

bendertherobot

Tbh, if you keep the tab and keep it clean they'll never know