Castelli Alpha

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Comments

  • designman
    designman Posts: 405
    Who is doing the best deal on the Castelli Alpha Jacket, looking to purchase one myself.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    designman wrote:
    Who is doing the best deal on the Castelli Alpha Jacket, looking to purchase one myself.

    I paid £180 at Evans with the code MEGA40. Pays to keep an eye out as stock seems to change v quickly.
  • Kevo27
    Kevo27 Posts: 95
    ProBikeKit have the Alpha in limited colours though for £156.99
    http://www.probikekit.co.uk/sports-clot ... 89261.html

    Quite like the green colour myself
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Kevo27 wrote:
    ProBikeKit have the Alpha in limited colours though for £156.99
    http://www.probikekit.co.uk/sports-clot ... 89261.html

    Quite like the green colour myself

    That's the jersey. Using the code at Wiggle does it for £139.

    The green is nice, I have that one. I have the lime in the Jacket.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Couldn't resist wearing my new Alpha on the ride home. Only 25 mins or so in relatively warm conditions, but first impressions are good. It's a great fit and very warm. Look forward to testing it this weekend.

    Suspect they will integrate that design into the Thermosuit for next year. Currently the Thermosuit + an AR + Flanders base layer vest is my winter 'Go To', but is not quite warm enough below -2/3. Big fan of the Speedsuit/Thermosuit design though. Such a good idea.
  • Kevo27
    Kevo27 Posts: 95
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Kevo27 wrote:
    ProBikeKit have the Alpha in limited colours though for £156.99
    http://www.probikekit.co.uk/sports-clot ... 89261.html

    Quite like the green colour myself

    That's the jersey. Using the code at Wiggle does it for £139.

    The green is nice, I have that one. I have the lime in the Jacket.

    Been on Wiggle, any difference between the Alpha and Alpha Wind, good saving that with the code (what code is that by the way :D ) Wiggle have the two mentioned but quite a difference in price?
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Jacket: http://www.castelli-cycling.com/Products/Men/Tops/Jackets/ALPHA-JACKET/p/451450214A

    Jersey: http://www.castelli-cycling.com/Products/Men/Tops/Jerseys/ALPHA-WIND-JERSEY-FZ/p/451451614A

    Jacket is warmer and more water resistant.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    I have to say Castelli don't really explain the difference that well. So, let's try.

    They are pretty similar overall but..............

    The jersey is windproof front, arms etc. It has a Roubaix like back and back of arms. The interior of the body and arms is NOT lined. The zip up internal base layer covers the front of the body only. It's warm but only really toasty with a base layer.

    The jacket is windproof (and therefore hugely water resistant) all the way round because both back and back of arms are also windstopper. The arms are lined with a material similar to the internal base layer. The internal base layer covers both the front and rear of you (in addition to the windstopper front and rear). You could wear this without a base layer if you wanted but, with one, it's massively warm. The most effectively warm jacket I've worn ever.

    Now, by comparison. This morning I wore the Rapha Pro Team. That's a good jacket. It's very warm. It warms up when you get faster. But, on a descent of a particularly long hill I could feel the cold trying to penetrate. This is normal.

    But, when you go down a hill with a warmed up Alpha jacket the opposite happens (or at least feels like it does). You can actually feel the warmth being amplified inside. I've no idea what psychology is at play here but it works.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • Philly8mt
    Philly8mt Posts: 552
    designman wrote:
    Who is doing the best deal on the Castelli Alpha Jacket, looking to purchase one myself.

    Bit of a long shot lol ....

    If you or your missus collect Tesco clubcard vouchers you can use "Clubcard Boost" to double the monetary value at Evans .... i.e £50 in vouchers/points becomes £100 ....

    Got to be worth a bash :D
    Still thinking of something clever to say!
  • Kevo27
    Kevo27 Posts: 95
    Pulled the trigger and got jacket for £146 delivered through Bikeinn, they have various sizes and colour is red an black if that doesn't bother you then quite a good deal.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    bendertherobot wrote:
    The most effectively warm jacket I've worn ever.
    .

    Have you tried the Managgia? It's too warm for me (I run hot anyway). I've had it about 3 years and worn it about 3 times when the weather is approaching minus double figures.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    meanredspider wrote:
    bendertherobot wrote:
    The most effectively warm jacket I've worn ever.
    .

    Have you tried the Managgia? It's too warm for me (I run hot anyway). I've had it about 3 years and worn it about 3 times when the weather is approaching minus double figures.

    Used to have the Espresso Due. It was certainly warm but very bulky. The Alpha avoids that. Indeed I think all jackets have come a long way (save for the 851, it was pretty advanced even then.)
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    My day to day winter jacket is a castelli mortirolo with a sportful hot pack over the top for dizzle, i see wiggle have them down to £115

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-mortir ... -jacket-1/

    I might need a second one at that price, damn you all :x
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    itboffin wrote:
    My day to day winter jacket is a castelli mortirolo with a sportful hot pack over the top for dizzle, i see wiggle have them down to £115

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-mortir ... -jacket-1/

    I might need a second one at that price, damn you all :x

    My God, you're tiny! :lol:
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    Morning all,
    Thanks for all the replies!
    So after 3 months of deliberating I have finally decided that I'm going to pull the trigger & get the jacket (a very very cold ride yesterday made the decision for me).

    Just before I order can someone advise me on the sizing? I have read through all the replies on this thread & im still not sure. I have a couple of castelli jerseys, a gabba in size large & the aero 5.0 in an xl. The latter is ok but I was plum between xl & l (large was just a tad too tight around the shoulders).
    The gabba in large is a perfect fit. It feels just right & is more than comfortable with a base layer beneath, yet doesn't feel too big if I wear it without a layer underneath.
    So the alpha, I definitely want the jacket but should I go for the large or xl?

    Would really appreciate any info & advice.

    Thanks again for all the replies already.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    I suspect large. My gabba was perfect on me at xl with a base layer. I have the alphas in xl. Buy both at Wiggle, use PayPal pay in 14 days and the wrong one will be back before you get charged
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • Dippydog3
    Dippydog3 Posts: 414
    Here is the Castelli sizing guide.
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-alpha- ... 5360662584

    Based on this I bought the XL and XXL as my chest is 106.
    Seems to me their sizing is spot on, as the XL is perfect, whereas I swam in the XXL.
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    bendertherobot wrote:
    I suspect large. My gabba was perfect on me at xl with a base layer. I have the alphas in xl. Buy both at Wiggle, use PayPal pay in 14 days and the wrong one will be back before you get charged


    Excellent idea! Just ordered both sizes :D
    Paid for express delivery so should be here by Tues!

    Thanks for all the help & advice fellas. Will post back with what size I keep & my review of it!
  • snakedoc
    snakedoc Posts: 200
    Just received my alpha jacket and jersey (managed to bag a deal from castelli café for them so ordered both!).
    Now the weather has warmed up so it may be not till the weekend that I get to try them out.

    Tried them on - really nice (close) fit - the Alpha jacket is certainly nicely fitted espec in comparison to my Espresso jacket (which is my go to commuter jacket when the temp is 4 degrees or less).

    After reading the comments in this thread, looking forward to seeing how they do.
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    My Alpha has arrived!!!
    Ordered both L & XL and its the large i'm keeping. Fit is perfect, although arms are definitely looser than the rest of it on me (but then my arm warmers for my gabba are medium whereas the gabba itself is a large).

    Jacket looks and feels very high quality (as you would expect from castelli) and just trying it on it felt warm.
    Cant wait to test it out this weekend.

    Thanks for all the help and advice, especially bendertherobot.
  • letap73
    letap73 Posts: 1,608
    It looks like the Castelli Alpha Jersey and jacket has gone on sale at Evans - jersey, £113 and the jacket, £162.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    At that price, for the Jersey, I might just get another.....
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • nibby
    nibby Posts: 246
    Had my jersey on for a weeks riding in the Lakes last week, early coldish starts, wet, sleet, hail (just when I was starting my climb up Wynrose Pass!! Cruel or what!!), warm. I think I had every type of weather apart from Sun!! and the jersey performed fantastically well.

    In fact I was going to buy a Rapha Jacket, might still but at the moment the jersey is saving me money :)

    With the right weight base layer underneath I cant see me needing anything else, bought a cheap Altura Vapour for if it's very wet when I start but if I'm into a ride an it starts raining the jersey is fine, lets water in eventually but I'm still warm and as long as I'm not out all day that works for me.

    Great bit of kit.
  • snakedoc
    snakedoc Posts: 200
    Used my Alpha Jersey today in temp of 4-7 degrees - perfect for me with only a mesh vest underneath. The ability to zip and unzip to regulate temperature whilst retaining the heat via the inner vest works brilliantly.

    Given Evans are doing £20 in vouchers (XMAS20) on any order over £100 it makes ordering another jersey a no brainer for me

    Was not as keen on the other colour, but given that I have a black one already, have gone for the other colour (as it may look better in the flesh)
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Yeah, it's a nice colour. In fact I have that colour as I commute a lot. So it's more visible. But also, like you, have just ordered another.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • richiegwy
    richiegwy Posts: 171
    snakedoc wrote:
    Used my Alpha Jersey today in temp of 4-7 degrees - perfect for me with only a mesh vest underneath. The ability to zip and unzip to regulate temperature whilst retaining the heat via the inner vest works brilliantly.

    Given Evans are doing £20 in vouchers (XMAS20) on any order over £100 it makes ordering another jersey a no brainer for me

    Was not as keen on the other colour, but given that I have a black one already, have gone for the other colour (as it may look better in the flesh)

    The code doesn't seem t be working.

    How would this compare to the Sportful R&D and jersey for warmth? I know it doesn't have the water resistance of the alpha
  • Dalb
    Dalb Posts: 6
    Just paid £142.55 for my Red Alpha in L at Probikekit (Add the 12% freely available discount code) making this nearly half price.Can't be bad eh? :D
  • nibby
    nibby Posts: 246
    That's a great price for the Jacket. I've currently got a jersey but for that price might also get the jacket to really cover all bases for the cold etc.

    Cant find the 12% code though?? any chance you can let me have it?

    Also Bender, does the Jacket run the same sizing wise as the jersey? I'm in the middle of a M and L for the jersey, went for the L in the end to give me more options for layering, same size for the jacket?

    Cheers
  • Dippydog3
    Dippydog3 Posts: 414
    :cry: I want to buy one of the yellow ones in XL. No one seems to have any stock!
  • gotwood25
    gotwood25 Posts: 314
    Just took the plunge with this thread being the deal breaker. Ordered from Castelli Cafe and clicked my £60 loyalty bonus so ended up with a pair of Body Paint shorts for a tenner. Total bargain!

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