When to Gabba ?

24

Comments

  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    Loose is bad embrace your inner mamil and go race fit its how its meant to work.
    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.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    also this morning I had a bacon & sausage sandwich, on white with brown sauce natch!

    It's the way forward people
    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.
  • itboffin wrote:
    also this morning I had a bacon & sausage sandwich, on white with brown sauce natch!

    It's the way forward people

    Do you have a Greggs? £2 for the roll plus a latte.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    itboffin wrote:
    also this morning I had a bacon & sausage sandwich, on white with brown sauce natch!

    It's the way forward people

    Do you have a Greggs? £2 for the roll plus a latte.

    er what? you seem to have mistaken me for a commoner no no old chap that not how it works, one has ones butler arrange one of Windshires finest piglet slaughtered for my snacking delight.

    one doesnt do chain food "outlets" oh no that would never do
    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.
  • Ah, right. No Greggs on your commute. Spiffing bad luck there old chap
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    Ah, right. No Greggs on your commute. Spiffing bad luck there old chap

    commute is 15 miles through the countryside only at the end do i start seeing the odd shop or petrol station
    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.
  • itboffin wrote:
    Ah, right. No Greggs on your commute. Spiffing bad luck there old chap

    commute is 15 miles through the countryside only at the end do i start seeing the odd shop or petrol station

    Pfft, mine is 20. It has a capital city at the end. We have all sorts to cater for all walks of life. I mean, I obviously stop at the Delicatessen but sometimes like to dine like the commoners.

    Mostly though, I have toast, in work. To annoy my colleagues with the wonderful, tempting smell.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,255
    When to Gabba?

    Not today! :P
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    Yeah its was really warm today windy and wet as hell but far too warm even for a simple long sleeved jersey
    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.
  • mlgt
    mlgt Posts: 366
    itboffin wrote:
    also this morning I had a bacon & sausage sandwich, on white with brown sauce natch!

    It's the way forward people

    I went to try out the harvester breakfast buffet as I didnt know they only start serving lunch after 12.

    I managed 2 each of bacon, eggs, hash browns, sausages, toast, mushrooms and beans washed down with 2 cups of tea.

    No doubt I should have gone for the XL (HAHA) :)
    N2 - SW1

    Canyon Endurace 9.0
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Just looked back at the last time I used my Gabba.

    Started off with light rain and it was 12 degrees or so.
    An hour later and it had got torrential. Road was flooded so spray coming up off the road. Stupidly I was only in my shorts - I hadn't taken my knee warmers.

    Rest of kit was thermal base, Gabba SS and Nanoflex Arms with mitts, and a cap under my helmet.

    I was fine setting off but after I was wet through I was starting to shiver. We had to find a cafe to warm up - and it took two coffees. Once the rain had stopped I was fine and it ended up being 15 degrees and sunny so I'd have taken the arms down if they weren't so secure.

    So for me at least - the Gabba is more Spring/Autumn than it is a winter jacket.
  • mlgt
    mlgt Posts: 366
    This morning was a perfect time to use the gabba. Armed with baselayer and nanoflex I was warm and dry in todays downpour. The journey time was only 40 mins but I was very dry and when I go into work, there was patches in where the rain had permeated.

    Chucked it on the radiator to dry and within 20 mins it had dried up as did the nanoflex. Had to wash my socks and stuff some paper towels in my shoes though :(

    Its about 12c with a nice 18-20 mph wind. So far I think its a great buy and with others if I was riding for over an hour then I would be wet. But not cold if you were wearing a thicker baselayer (until that gets wet :D )
    N2 - SW1

    Canyon Endurace 9.0
  • mlgt wrote:
    This morning was a perfect time to use the gabba. Armed with baselayer and nanoflex I was warm and dry in todays downpour. The journey time was only 40 mins but I was very dry and when I go into work, there was patches in where the rain had permeated.

    Chucked it on the radiator to dry and within 20 mins it had dried up as did the nanoflex. Had to wash my socks and stuff some paper towels in my shoes though :(

    Its about 12c with a nice 18-20 mph wind. So far I think its a great buy and with others if I was riding for over an hour then I would be wet. But not cold if you were wearing a thicker baselayer (until that gets wet :D )

    I still dont know what to make of it. My journey was 53 minutes today and it was on/off rain (some heavy, some light) plus the wind. My merino baselayer was soaked through when I got to work, no idea if all from sweat or rain or probably both.

    Still not convinced really. My rapha jerseys do the same thing (keep you warm when wet) and are more breathable...though they'll let the rain in straight away of course.

    Lets see if's its dry for the journey home (wont be happy if it's not - even though its forecast rain for the journey home too :) )
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    Really like mine but I did pray for rain today (and it came), was getting a little hot but it's still a good balance between my jersey and full winter windproofs.

    It's also stupidly bright yellow, I'm generally not a fan of the high vis look but goes well on the gabba.
  • mlgt
    mlgt Posts: 366
    Fair comments and I guess as others have said its water resistant, but not waterproof. I think for me the winds helped cool me down and I wasn't pacing it into work today due to more slippery conditions so it was a nice pottle in.

    The rapha jerseys are more heavier in a sense, so once they get wet it can get a bit umcomfortable? Compared to the gabba its more lightweight. I didn't fancy buying a rain jacket because of the boil in bag effect and I guess the gabba is a compromise.

    I can only report later in the months ahead to see how its fared. But I would say when it is colder I will be wearing a thicker base layer compared to the craft one I have currently.
    N2 - SW1

    Canyon Endurace 9.0
  • mlgt wrote:
    Fair comments and I guess as others have said its water resistant, but not waterproof. I think for me the winds helped cool me down and I wasn't pacing it into work today due to more slippery conditions so it was a nice pottle in.

    The rapha jerseys are more heavier in a sense, so once they get wet it can get a bit umcomfortable? Compared to the gabba its more lightweight. I didn't fancy buying a rain jacket because of the boil in bag effect and I guess the gabba is a compromise.

    I can only report later in the months ahead to see how its fared. But I would say when it is colder I will be wearing a thicker base layer compared to the craft one I have currently.

    I definately think the gabba is heavier than the rapha...but not weighed them :)

    Not worn the gabba without a baselayer though. Was going to today but it's a bit rubbery/wetsuity and so I stuck the baselayer on. Anyone ride one without a baselayer? You just get used to it?
  • It's actually really comfy without a base layer.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
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  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    I don't wear a base under my Gabba yet. It's fine.
    Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
    Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
    Sun - Cervelo R3
    Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX
  • mlgt
    mlgt Posts: 366
    I think on dryer days I would wear without a baselayer. But I would assume without a baselayer means more chance of having to wash it as your sweat gets trapped in the fabric. Which after a while can be a bit smelly? :D
    N2 - SW1

    Canyon Endurace 9.0
  • My sweat smells like Unicorn breath.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    mlgt wrote:
    I think on dryer days I would wear without a baselayer. But I would assume without a baselayer means more chance of having to wash it as your sweat gets trapped in the fabric. Which after a while can be a bit smelly? :D

    I wash it each day I wear it.
    Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
    Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
    Sun - Cervelo R3
    Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    People ride without baselayers?!!
    Craft mesh vest, always.
    Riding feels wrong without it.
  • vermin
    vermin Posts: 1,739
    People don't wash their clothes?!!
  • mlgt
    mlgt Posts: 366
    I wouldn't want to wash my gabba every day. How does it fare with that? Do you find the properties have changed since the first few washes?

    I would probably wash my gabba after a week or two (wearing clean baselayer everyday) and then tumbledry when possible.
    N2 - SW1

    Canyon Endurace 9.0
  • mlgt
    mlgt Posts: 366
    Just a rolling update. Its been a month since my purchase and I use it everyday now.
    I prefer it more than a baselayer/jersey. I do prefer the close fit and need to get a saddle bag at some point if I am doing longer rides on weekends.

    Its held up well. As before, its not waterproof, but resistant to a certain extent. Im glad I didn't get the long sleeve as there was days where it was warmer and I took the arm warmers off.

    I have yet to wash it, as I wear a baselayer with it at all times and will pair it with a merino baselayer this week.
    My only gripe is that it would be good with a zipped area on the back to protect items from the rain. But a simple sandwich bag sorts that problem out.

    Makes me question about the convertible gabba vs the Alpha now. But I have more sense than money. So wont be purchasing more items for this year (hehe...next year is only round the corner)
    N2 - SW1

    Canyon Endurace 9.0
  • mlgt wrote:

    My only gripe is that it would be good with a zipped area on the back to protect items from the rain. But a simple sandwich bag sorts that problem out.

    I find stuff in the pockets get damp with perspiration anyway - this seems to be a feature that's unique to my Gabba. Given the top of the pocket is open and the bottom has a huge drain hole, I'm not even sure why they made it of that material. Something more breathable would be better.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    Perhaps what we need is a convertible Alpha...!?!
  • I'm starting to come round to 'getting' the gabba. As in I've wore it 5 or 6 times now and the last couple have been good experiences. My arms were a bit cold this morning with the nanoflex arm warmers though - not sure they are as good as they could be - anyone else?

    My no-rain knee warmers are great though - highly recommended
  • vermin
    vermin Posts: 1,739
    My arms were a bit cold this morning with the nanoflex arm warmers though - not sure they are as good as they could be - anyone else?

    Have a look at the Gore or Shimano Windstopper ones. Not water resistant, but actually go better with gabba due to similar windproofing.
  • vermin wrote:
    My arms were a bit cold this morning with the nanoflex arm warmers though - not sure they are as good as they could be - anyone else?

    Have a look at the Gore or Shimano Windstopper ones. Not water resistant, but actually go better with gabba due to similar windproofing.

    Cheers. Not sure if it was just cos they were soaked through or not. Not sure why they aren't just made of gabba material as they're meant to go with the gabba :)