Castelli Alpha

bendertherobot

Just to confirm that the jersey and jacket size the same.

the 12% code at PBK is VC12NEW

nibby

Top man BTR.

Final question. Do I get the Alpha Jacket or put a bit more towards the Rapha pro softshell

already got the Alpha jersey so thinking the rps might be a bit better in the wet??

Thoughts?

Cheers

bendertherobot

The Rapha Pro Softshell isn't really very warm. Indeed, the Alpha jersey, with the same base layer, would be warmer. What the Rapha is is better in the wet. To a point.

Interesting review of it in the wet here:
http://www.thewashingmachinepost.net/ca ... eview.html

I've not been caught in the wet in the Alpha. I use it for cold. So I can't comment on how good it would be. But, at the end of the day, it's Gore Windstopper so it will hold out for a while, ingress will happen from the seams.

I'd say, personally, if I were caught in a snowstorm I'd want the Alpha. A sleet storm at 5 degrees? Ditto.

Anything above that and I'd want the Rapha. If it were raining when I went out, I'd take the Rapha.

nibby

Good one, first thought on buying was for the very cold long days so will stick with the Alpha Jacket. I've got a rain jacket if needed and the jersey has worked so well although I could probably get away with that with extra layers for the price of the Jacket it's a nice option/backup.

bendertherobot

As a piece, regardless of how good the Rapha is, at £142 odd the Alpha Jacket is a steal

northpole

bendertherobot wrote:

As a piece, regardless of how good the Rapha is, at £142 odd the Alpha Jacket is a steal

That's got me - now guilty of stealing! Will be interesting to see how it compares to my trusty old 851's! Thanks for the heads up.

Peter

rocket1

If you are registered with Quidco you can also get £5.76 cash back making it an even bigger steal.

northpole

I'm not buying another one just yet!!

Peter

sloppyschleckonds

bendertherobot wrote:

As a piece, regardless of how good the Rapha is, at £142 odd the Alpha Jacket is a steal

Are we talking the original PTJ, the recent version or the latest model?

bendertherobot

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

As a piece, regardless of how good the Rapha is, at £142 odd the Alpha Jacket is a steal

Are we talking the original PTJ, the recent version or the latest model?

Any of them really. Though the Alpha only really should be compared to the Pro Team Jacket (not softshell).

Gaz777

Well this thread has convinced me to get an Alpha.... Can anyone offer advice on sizing? I'm 6'2", 95kg, 40" chest. I don't have any castelli tops to compare to, but I wear castelli bibs in XL and they're a perfect fit. I use castelli arm and leg warmers, and they're size L. Any insights welcome!

northpole

I'm 6'1"; 90kg; 36" waist (should be less!!); 42" chest. I bought an XL.

Just received mine y'day and tried it on over a thick T-shirt. My goodness, the sizing feels race cut (or turkey etc has blown my 90kg out of the water!!).

I suspect I may be able to get away with two merino base layers but defo not more than that. I'm not big boned so the arms are fine; length of arms is good; length of jacket feels a bit short compared with other jackets and quite a tight fit around waist and torso.

My recommendation would be to start with XL and see if that works. Otherwise XXL may be an option for you, especially if you have a long back (I don't).

Peter

bendertherobot

XL should be fine. It is like shrink wrapping but should be. It's, of course, better on the bike.

Northpole, Id be surprised if you ever needed two base layers on the jacket. It's very warm, trust me!

morph

I would say XL as well - very similar size to you. Great bit of kit.

Oddly enough in the Gabba 2 I've got a Large. It's a bit on the tight side, but the XL was too baggy in the body. Think there may have been some inconsistency in the sizing of Gabbas as I seem to be different in that to everything else.

Gaz777

That's great, thanks guys. I'll have a look about for the place which has an XL in the colour I want. I think probikekit were the cheapest when I looked yesterday (especially with the discount code) but I wanted lime and they haven't got it.

Bendertherobot- that's great news, is it genuinely warm enough with just a base layer?! I don't disbelieve you, it's just that it'll be a big step up from my current set up in that case! Currently when it's around 0, or dipping just below, I have a base, a jersey and a windproof jacket on. I'd say that's fine for two hours but by the third hour the cold has started to seep through and I'm cold (and my core is cold to the touch) when I get home. If the alpha can keep me warmer than that with just a merino layer on, I'll be well chuffed!

bendertherobot

What's your current jacket?

Gaz777

At the weekend, the garmin said my average temperature for the ride was -1, with a coldest temp of -4 (this is only for a short period passing a reservoir though, and you can feel the chill come off the water). I was wearing a baa baa merino base, roubaix lined long sleeve jersey and an altura night vision windstopper (not the waterproof jacket). I'd love to be able to swap that lot for the base and the alpha!

morph

Gaz - boxing day I was out on steady ride at around 2-3 degrees with a fairly cold wind.
Wearing Sorpasso windstopper bibtights, craft active extreme LS base (thin but reasonably warm), Alpha jersey, neoprene shoe covers, thin long gloves and a castelli headband to keep wind off the ears.

Pace was steady and it was drizzling for the last hour or so. No problems with feeling cold at all, but would have cooled down if I stopped riding. Had a gilet in my pocket just in case, but never used it. Would probably take the gilet in future in case I had to stop or rain got heavier but very, very happy with the alpha. If it dropped to freezing and still riding steady I'd probably put a warmer baselayer on, but that's it.

morph

Also have a Rapha hardshell for really steady/biblical commute style riding. But I'd have been dripping inside after 2-3 hours of steady riding.

Gaz777

That sounds pretty similar to what I'd wear; I have the windstopper bibs, and would be wearing a similar set up to the rest of your clothes once the alpha arrives. Maybe I should get a base with a windstopper front to help out. I'm feeling a little chillier at the moment as my pace is quite a bit slower than usual, as I'm having to be careful of ice on a lot of the routes I use.

bendertherobot

Yeah, just for comparison, I did a ride in about 2 degrees on Sunday. Sorpasso tights, Alpha JERSEY, Craft base layer and Northwave Arctic Commuter. Absolutely toasty.

The Alpha jersey is good for low temps, much lower than Castelli claim. The JACKET should be easily good enough to -5 or so.

I've used an Assos Bonka at those sorts of temps and, for me, the Alpha Jacket feels warmer.

bendertherobot

By the way, I did some pics a while back so, here we go:

JERSEY

bendertherobot

JACKET

Gaz777

Thanks mate, you've picked up on a point I missed, Morph said jersey and I want the jacket! I'll get the jacket now and think about adding a jersey too.

Castelli cafe have a lime XL jacket for £175; is that about the best price at the moment?

One extra question; if the XL jacket is a good fit, would you take the same size jersey?

This is a great thread, really helpful. Appreciate all the replies, and especially bender... It's been your review and comments that have convinced me to get the alpha!

bendertherobot

Yep. They size the same. Arguably the jacket might feel smaller as the back is windstopper rather than Jersey but they are the same size. All I would say is that, for the next few weeks weather wise a Jersey should be enough.

morph

When trying them on I preferred the colour of the Jacket (red), but thought about it and realised the Jersey would be far more versatile and get used a lot more so I went for that (same colours as Bender). If I was rich I'd have 2 Jerseys and a jacket

Gaz777

Cheers guys, I'll order both then I can try both out for myself

bondurant

Hello

5 foot 10, 38 inch chest and 75kg. Medium or large would you say?

Thank you

bendertherobot

Large

bondurant

Cheers