B E N D E R's non sweary review site, roubaixcycling.cc (and general kit discussion)

mrb123

tenohfive wrote:

I'm after something that'll keep my core warm on long slow rides with slower riders (I hope said slower rider isn't reading this) when I'm not generating much body heat, but which I can ditch if I totally stuff up the layering or en route/back from a meeting point.

I keep hearing the Fawesome and newer Perfetto version talked about but how do they stack up vs. the Galibier Ultimate vest mentioned above? I've no doubt I'll find a place in my layering system for all/any mentioned, but I really am prioritising warmth right now as I can unzip to lose heat but can do sod all to generate it (in the context of the first paragraph.)

I've also got the left-field idea to look at a Primaloft filled gilet - it'll pack down small and I'll also get some use out of it for running/walking/round town use. Probably still come back to a Perfetto or equivalent vest at some point either way.

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/patagoni ... t-a1222194

I've got the jacket version of these which packs down fairly small and is hugely warm for the weight. Not sure I'd ever want to cycle in it though as I reckon I'd be sweating pints at the first sign of an uphill gradient. Maybe worth considering though if you really run cold.

Alex99

MrB123 wrote:

tenohfive wrote:

I'm after something that'll keep my core warm on long slow rides with slower riders (I hope said slower rider isn't reading this) when I'm not generating much body heat, but which I can ditch if I totally stuff up the layering or en route/back from a meeting point.

I keep hearing the Fawesome and newer Perfetto version talked about but how do they stack up vs. the Galibier Ultimate vest mentioned above? I've no doubt I'll find a place in my layering system for all/any mentioned, but I really am prioritising warmth right now as I can unzip to lose heat but can do sod all to generate it (in the context of the first paragraph.)

I've also got the left-field idea to look at a Primaloft filled gilet - it'll pack down small and I'll also get some use out of it for running/walking/round town use. Probably still come back to a Perfetto or equivalent vest at some point either way.

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/patagoni ... t-a1222194

I've got the jacket version of these which packs down fairly small and is hugely warm for the weight. Not sure I'd ever want to cycle in it though as I reckon I'd be sweating pints at the first sign of an uphill gradient. Maybe worth considering though if you really run cold.

Or https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/endura-m ... mbit%20LTD

Most general outdoors-ie clothing will likely be cut for broader types IME

Alex99

Alex99 wrote:

MrB123 wrote:

tenohfive wrote:

I'm after something that'll keep my core warm on long slow rides with slower riders (I hope said slower rider isn't reading this) when I'm not generating much body heat, but which I can ditch if I totally stuff up the layering or en route/back from a meeting point.

I keep hearing the Fawesome and newer Perfetto version talked about but how do they stack up vs. the Galibier Ultimate vest mentioned above? I've no doubt I'll find a place in my layering system for all/any mentioned, but I really am prioritising warmth right now as I can unzip to lose heat but can do sod all to generate it (in the context of the first paragraph.)

I've also got the left-field idea to look at a Primaloft filled gilet - it'll pack down small and I'll also get some use out of it for running/walking/round town use. Probably still come back to a Perfetto or equivalent vest at some point either way.

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/patagoni ... t-a1222194

I've got the jacket version of these which packs down fairly small and is hugely warm for the weight. Not sure I'd ever want to cycle in it though as I reckon I'd be sweating pints at the first sign of an uphill gradient. Maybe worth considering though if you really run cold.

Or https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/endura-m ... mbit%20LTD

Most general outdoors-ie clothing will likely be cut for broader types IME

Or...https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/vulpine- ... 2.157.html

superlightweight

I picked up a nalini gilet last year from sportpursuit and it's a brilliant piece of kit. The front is windtex with a fleecy backing and the rest is a softer thermal fabric. Its seriously warm with a nice high collar. I reckon it would fold enough to squeeze into a jersey pocket but its obviously not as packable as a regular lightweight gilet. Looks like there is a newer version available, pretty cheap at PBK https://www.probikekit.co.uk/sports-jac ... n=11327402

tenohfive

I really like the look of that Patagucci gilet - I'd use that a lot generally, and occasionally for on the bike. But the Perfetto (or Nalini) I can see getting used a lot when the temps are slightly warmer.
The Vulpine gilet actually looks pretty good but none anywhere obvious in my size, and the Endura gilet is just a bit too pricey.

Hmmmm. Food for thought. Thanks gents.

apreading

bendertherobot wrote:

Yes. Unless I've turned it 'off' via a simple press or via the app.

OK - I have finally made some progress in understanding how this light works! I tried everything I could think of - which with only one button isnt much...!

I am not quite sure what you mean by a simple press, because a quick press just toggles it between flash and steady mode. You have to do a long press to turn it off at all. After which is flashes green for a couple of seconds. But the app can still see it after this and if I try to connect, it will. If I go a distance away and start the app, it doesnt see it. I even tried pressing and holding for as long as ten seconds to no avail...

What I then stumbled across is that It appears that when you switch it off and leave it off for more than 5 minutes, the app then cant find it, until you move it a little bit, then it appears again. So it must eventually go to sleep and then there must be some kind of motion sensor in there which wakes the bluetooth up again on movement and goes to sleep again eventually if it stops moving.

So there is definitely something on the light broadcasting or listening for bluetooth after you turn it off, but not forever - which is good news. But there does seem to be some kind of motion sensor continually watching for movement - maybe that is what drains the battery slowly over time.

I give up anyway - I can live with it but it just means that if I havent used it for a couple of weeks I need to remember to charge before I do use it.

bendertherobot

I think there's been an update as mine used to toggle between flash, solid and sleep. The sleep simple press is now missing.

But, in relation to your other efforts, mine just doesn't behave like that. That said, there's another firmware update so we'll see what happens. Mine just turns off.

daniel_b

I'm pretty sure mine must behave in a similar way to AP's - if I don't use them for a while, and try too, invariably they are deed. Just need to get more disciplined in remembering to charge them beforehand, unless, as you say, the new firmware upgrade may make a change.

bendertherobot

Yep, updated the firmware and now they 'sleep' but are always scan able. I will send an email!

bendertherobot

https://roubaixcycling.cc/2017/02/11/it ... se-layers/ a review of Craft base layers for all seasons

pinno

That Craft Wool Comfort base layer is not available at Wiggle. It pushed my buttons. Do you know who stocks it BTR?

bendertherobot

I've been trying to find one. Let me see what I can find.......

pinno

Thanks mate.

Oh and BTW, bumped into a couple of Edinburgh RC cyclists in a Cafe in Dumfries on the way through. They were waxing lyrical about the DHB waterproof leggings than can fold up and be put in your back pocket.

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

That Craft Wool Comfort base layer is not available at Wiggle. It pushed my buttons. Do you know who stocks it BTR?

Has no one ever told you about Google?
http://www.victorandliberty.com/victor- ... ayer-p1038

letap73

Is this the one - not on special offer though?

http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p87326/Craft- ... ign=118327

bendertherobot

No, PB has the right link, and I've stuck that in the review. The second one there is a different mix, a bit more like the HH one I reviewed a while back.

pinno

PBlakeney wrote:

Pinno wrote:

That Craft Wool Comfort base layer is not available at Wiggle. It pushed my buttons. Do you know who stocks it BTR?

Has no one ever told you about Google?
http://www.victorandliberty.com/victor- ... ayer-p1038

Has anyone told you about the 'filter bubble'? If not, Google it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_bubble

Even if you clear your browsing history, it doesn't clear the anticipated personal preferences.
Naught naughty search engines. If you want to avoid it completely, use DuckDuckgo.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuckDuckGo

I should have used it but I thought perhaps BTR had some 'exclusive links'. :oops:

bendertherobot

You can get some of them direct from Craft:

http://craftsportswear.co.uk/index.php? ... ack/size-m

bendertherobot

This is what is coming:

Espresso 4
Castelli Potenza
Assos Habu
Assos Bonka
Assos tiburu
Rapha Cross jersey
Castelli Sorpasso
Funkier base layer
That's 4 weeks if I do 2 a week

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

PBlakeney wrote:

Pinno wrote:

That Craft Wool Comfort base layer is not available at Wiggle. It pushed my buttons. Do you know who stocks it BTR?

Has no one ever told you about Google?
http://www.victorandliberty.com/victor- ... ayer-p1038

Has anyone told you about the 'filter bubble'? If not, Google it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_bubble

Even if you clear your browsing history, it doesn't clear the anticipated personal preferences.

The algorithm must suit me fairly well then.
Not sure I'd want to know about your history and preferences either.

pinno

I can certainly give some feedback on the Espresso 4.

"The Castelli Espresso 4 with fleece lining and Gore Wind stopper outer layer is more than a piece of clothing, it's an art form. Tailored by 4 of the very best artisan Italian Taylor's in a secret, small secluded part of Sorrento, with a combined 500 years collective experience. It hugs the curves of your body like a warm duvet but breathes like the neck of Vesuvius on an active day.
I tested this ergonomic livery on a recent 50 mile ride through the mountains of West Galloway and as I plummeted down the Col De La Craig Caffy at a blistering pace of at least 20mph average, I noticed that I was kept at an optimum temperature. The Garment has intelligent fibres that respond to your body and tell you that you're not hungry or cold, that you are the ghost of Frederico Bahamontes, the spirit of Henri Laconte as you dance through the mists and murk of the Galloway Hills appearing like the flames of Nicki Lauda's unfortunate incident, dressed in the Rosso Corsa of this iconic winter garment. Guaranteed to turn heads (of the male bovine variety), guaranteed to make you go round corners piano piano in case you come off and wreck it due to the fact that it costs more than a small package holiday. I felt like I had ridden 2 miles flat out on a sunny day without breaking sweat but that was probably the hypnotic effect of pain killers and the latent effects of those intelligent nano fibres kicking in post ride. It made me realise that I should have gone half starkers and not worn anything else such was the exquisite sensation of having spent so much on a jacket, the placebo effect obliterated all doubts and any potential faults."

pblakeney

bendertherobot

Pinno wrote:

I can certainly give some feedback on the Espresso 4.

"The Castelli Espresso 4 with fleece lining and Gore Wind stopper outer layer is more than a piece of clothing, it's an art form. Tailored by 4 of the very best artisan Italian Taylor's in a secret, small secluded part of Sorrento, with a combined 500 years collective experience. It hugs the curves of your body like a warm duvet but breathes like the neck of Vesuvius on an active day.
I tested this ergonomic livery on a recent 50 mile ride through the mountains of West Galloway and as I plummeted down the Col De La Craig Caffy at a blistering pace of at least 20mph average, I noticed that I was kept at an optimum temperature. The Garment has intelligent fibres that respond to your body and tell you that you're not hungry or cold, that you are the ghost of Frederico Bahamontes, the spirit of Henri Laconte as you dance through the mists and murk of the Galloway Hills appearing like the flames of Nicki Lauda's unfortunate incident, dressed in the Rosso Corsa of this iconic winter garment. Guaranteed to turn heads (of the male bovine variety), guaranteed to make you go round corners piano piano in case you come off and wreck it due to the fact that it costs more than a small package holiday. I felt like I had ridden 2 miles flat out on a sunny day without breaking sweat but that was probably the hypnotic effect of pain killers and the latent effects of those intelligent nano fibres kicking in post ride. It made me realise that I should have gone half starkers and not worn anything else such was the exquisite sensation of having spent so much on a jacket, the placebo effect obliterated all doubts and any potential faults."

But compared to those whacky Swiss magicians at Assos, it does feel a little like something you'd find at Lidl. :P

letap73

In which case here is a review of the latest Assos garment with suitable hyperbole:

The Assos RS turbo Sturmpretzel is hand stitched by the last surviving pair of Selkman Indian children from fabrics woven on state-of-the-art monocoque carbon-fibre robotic looms from a blend of synthetic 127-ply nano-tube thread and jaguar gut, this jacket is guaranteed to command approving looks from around the peloton and lithe 23 year old waitresses alike. Waterproof to 30 atmospheres and yet fully breathable, this one-off outer-shell incorporates welded seam ventilated baffles extruded from certified northern Alaska tar-sands petrochemicals. In a nod to cycling history, the gold embossed zipper is hand-cast from the recycled Galmozzi frame, ridden to victory by Fausto Coppi in the 1959 Giro Italia. You won't be disappointed.

pinno

Most suitable hyperbole sir, most suitable. Apply for a job.

On the other hand, Aldi's winter jacket advertising plug notes from Bremen:

Ve gotz zose off cuts from ze bin at Barnardo's, mixed zem wiz a leedle bitz of recycled VW bumpers in a big pot and dyed zem red or black and sell zem in a triple pack for £1.99. Zose tight fisted Maggie Tatcher vorshippers vill buy anything.

bendertherobot

Sturmpretzel. Nailed it

grenw

bendertherobot wrote:

This is what is coming:

Assos Bonka
Assos tiburu

Possibly my worst and best purchases there in 2 lines.

The Bonka tights are just overkill for 99% of British winter days. The other 1% I'll be on the turbo (in my Craft mesh base layer...). Even though I got them on one of Wiggle's offers and on top of my Platinum discount they were still ferociously expensive. I've not worn them this year.

The Tiburu 3/4s though are just perfect and I'll wear them all the way through from October to April. Anything from 0 degrees to 15. No restriction of movement and even a silly Germanicly named piece of cloth over your bladder to stop you needing a waz every 5 minutes - Sturmpretzel!

chippyk

I love the way Wiggle need to offer finance on the Bonka rights.

bendertherobot

GrenW wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

This is what is coming:

Assos Bonka
Assos tiburu

Possibly my worst and best purchases there in 2 lines.

The Bonka tights are just overkill for 99% of British winter days. The other 1% I'll be on the turbo (in my Craft mesh base layer...). Even though I got them on one of Wiggle's offers and on top of my Platinum discount they were still ferociously expensive. I've not worn them this year.

The Tiburu 3/4s though are just perfect and I'll wear them all the way through from October to April. Anything from 0 degrees to 15. No restriction of movement and even a silly Germanicly named piece of cloth over your bladder to stop you needing a waz every 5 minutes - Sturmpretzel!

Sorry, should have added jackets. That said, you may still have a point there. The Bonka is probably overkill for the average UK winter. The Tiburu jersey is actually very good indeed. The Tiburu bibs ditto but I do wish they'd stayed with the higher stomach of the tk.607

bendertherobot

ChippyK wrote:

I love the way Wiggle need to offer finance on the Bonka rights.

The rights are probably quite expensive