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

bendertherobot

Alex99 wrote:

Thinking about getting some dodgy weather bib shorts. Nanoflex are on the list of potentials, but what about the DHB Rain Defense kit? I think it's Windtex membrane rather than water repellent Roubaix type fabric. Has anyone used these and care to comment?

They all, eventually, get wet. Especially as they get older. How about thermal?

Alex99

bendertherobot wrote:

Alex99 wrote:

Thinking about getting some dodgy weather bib shorts. Nanoflex are on the list of potentials, but what about the DHB Rain Defense kit? I think it's Windtex membrane rather than water repellent Roubaix type fabric. Has anyone used these and care to comment?

They all, eventually, get wet. Especially as they get older. How about thermal?

Thermal pants?

bendertherobot

Shorts mun! Something like the Assos Tiburu etc. dhb do a reasonably priced one
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-asv-roubaix ... k-edition/

Alex99

bendertherobot wrote:

Shorts mun! Something like the Assos Tiburu etc. dhb do a reasonably priced one
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-asv-roubaix ... k-edition/

Ta. They look nice. Presumably they'd be functionally the same as a 10-20x washed pair of Nanoflex.

bendertherobot

Alex99 wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Shorts mun! Something like the Assos Tiburu etc. dhb do a reasonably priced one
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-asv-roubaix ... k-edition/

Ta. They look nice. Presumably they'd be functionally the same as a 10-20x washed pair of Nanoflex.

Exactly. The Stolen Goat weather proof ones might be worth a look.

apreading

Nanoflex have the inferior KISS seat pad dont they? Mine do so unless they changed it, I am not impressed. The progetto seatpad in the Free Aero shorts and Sorpasso is superb but the KISS pad is really poor for me and in the Nanoflex is mounted too far backwards so its not even in the right place. I have a couple of pairs because they serve a purpose but have bought and not yet ridden a pair of Sportful Fiandre LIGHT Norain Bibshorts which are sooo much more comfortable than the Nanoflex and not so hot. I have always overheated in my nanoflex. They seem to do both a light and warm version. Would get my vote and they aint expensive either.

bendertherobot

I always got on ok on the Kiss for commuting, but only for that. As you say, it's not very good apart from that. Did 50 in the Sorpasso today.

luv2ride

apreading wrote:

....have bought and not yet ridden a pair of Sportful Fiandre LIGHT Norain Bibshorts which are sooo much more comfortable than the Nanoflex and not so hot. I have always overheated in my nanoflex. They seem to do both a light and warm version. Would get my vote and they aint expensive either.

I agree. Sportful Fiandre lights are great. Very comfy and work well across a range of temps I found. Just can you wear a Castelli Perfetto SS with SPORTFUL shorts? Great combo. I dont mind mixing brands, but others may need to scream "NO"! :shock:

pinno

Who cares if it works? Castful... Sportelli...

bendertherobot

I know what he means mind, at least those two are the same company.

I want some Assos knee warmers to go with my Tiburu shorts. But they're rubbish, it seems. So I may have to get Castelli ones.....

pinno

Sportful and Castelli the same company? Interesting.

Anyway, the very thing:



Along with the lippy and the wig...

luv2ride

Luv2ride wrote:

apreading wrote:

....have bought and not yet ridden a pair of Sportful Fiandre LIGHT Norain Bibshorts which are sooo much more comfortable than the Nanoflex and not so hot. I have always overheated in my nanoflex. They seem to do both a light and warm version. Would get my vote and they aint expensive either.

I agree. Sportful Fiandre lights are great. Very comfy and work well across a range of temps I found. Just can you wear a Castelli Perfetto SS with SPORTFUL shorts? Great combo. I dont mind mixing brands, but others may need to scream "NO"! :shock:

The Sportful are certainly a firm favourite but used my Nanoflex bib nicks with the Kiss Air pad today, and had forgotten how comfy they were. Only a rapid 35 miles, but very windy with rain at the end, and they were perfect for me today.

May have finally fallen in love with the Alpha wind jersey now as well. Took a while (been promised breathability, windproofness and water resistance before, and always had to settle for any two out of the three) so I was wary of getting burnt again. Was quite terrific on the ride today, especially in the rain. Think this might be turning into a long term thing. 8)

apreading

Luv2ride wrote:

May have finally fallen in love with the Alpha wind jersey now as well. Took a while (been promised breathability, windproofness and water resistance before, and always had to settle for any two out of the three) so I was wary of getting burnt again. Was quite terrific on the ride today, especially in the rain. Think this might be turning into a long term thing. 8)

I have yet to try mine properly in the rain - thats not a bad thing, just that I have been lucky with the weather whenever I have worn it.

But for someone who runs insanely hot and struggles with overheating in just about anything that might keep the wind & rain out, the Alpha has already been a revelation. Its kept me so warm over the winter than I havent needed to wear any of my warmer jackets. But when I have got warm, I have spend a fair bit of time riding with it unzipped and its great that it doesnt flap around like a cape because it is held in place by the inner still being zipped up. When riding with the outer open though, you need to be wearing either a jersey with a neck on it (as opposed to a base layer with no neck at all) or a buff because the inner is cut very low and you would be cold otherwise. It has to be one of the two most versatile pieces of cycle-wear that I own though. The Alpha and the Fawesome cover an awful lot of bases.

bendertherobot

http://bit.ly/2lVGMhY

Sorpasso means overtake. I had no idea.

mrb123

bendertherobot wrote:

http://bit.ly/2lVGMhY

Sorpasso means overtake. I had no idea.

Nice review. From the inside out picture these look very similar to the Sportful R&D tights which have the same red fleecy lining. I would guess they're a very similar product (and the Sportfuls are currently under 70 quid on Wiggle!)

bendertherobot

MrB123 wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

http://bit.ly/2lVGMhY

Sorpasso means overtake. I had no idea.

Nice review. From the inside out picture these look very similar to the Sportful R&D tights which have the same red fleecy lining. I would guess they're a very similar product (and the Sportfuls are currently under 70 quid on Wiggle!)

I'd say it's highly likely given the descriptions given to the fabric. Also, Castelli tell me that the Sky versions have blue inside!

pinno

Received and fitted the Spesh shoe inserts green+++. My God they are high arches. Doesn't look like that in the pics. They may be actually too high but I shall find out soon(ish) given they are my summer shoes but I might just cover them up with overshoes and give them a wazz (as they say).
Doubt i'll be going on many 3 hr+ rides anyway in the near future given Ewan and Doris and whoever other acquaintances they have.

Looks like a very serious pad on those Sorpasso's. Having just bought a pair of Le Col's...

Damn you and this thread and your website Bender.

luv2ride

7 degrees and 30 mph winds today in the Potenza with a winter ls base layer. It was great. Learning to love the more relaxed fit too. Think I will get the Craft WS base though for when it's a really chilly wind. Now, long sleeve or short sleeve,..... decisions, decisions....

bendertherobot

It challenges our perceptions. I wonder how succesful it's been though? I don't think I'm quite ready for softshell trousers on the bike yet mind.

luv2ride

bendertherobot wrote:

It challenges our perceptions. I wonder how succesful it's been though? I don't think I'm quite ready for softshell trousers on the bike yet mind.

Read a few other reviews on it tonight, from American retailers. They seem to suggest a pro-fit version is on the cards for SS17. Also looked at some of the new Castelli kit on Sigma Sport's website. Apart from a base layer with a cool geometric pattern (http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Castel ... Layer/F9GX), nothing much took my fancy.

Alex99

Luv2ride wrote:

apreading wrote:

....have bought and not yet ridden a pair of Sportful Fiandre LIGHT Norain Bibshorts which are sooo much more comfortable than the Nanoflex and not so hot. I have always overheated in my nanoflex. They seem to do both a light and warm version. Would get my vote and they aint expensive either.

I agree. Sportful Fiandre lights are great. Very comfy and work well across a range of temps I found. Just can you wear a Castelli Perfetto SS with SPORTFUL shorts? Great combo. I dont mind mixing brands, but others may need to scream "NO"! :shock:

Thanks all. I've got a pair of the Sportful shorts on order. 8)

drwae

I'm sure it's been mentioned before but dhb aeron jersey gets my approval. Just got mine today and went for a quick 35km ride over lunch time and it kept me warm. yes short sleeves in February in Scotland. My garmin recorded the temperature at 4C and I was fine with the dhb short sleeve merino base layer and aeron jersey. I am someone who gets cold usually too.
the fit is very good too. small fits me well without excess material anywhere. the castelli perfetto 2 light (now returned) came up so short and made me look like a little lardy
Until the weather gets a bit warmer I will keep my castelli alpha jacket for the club rides as the speed is a lot less than solo and we stop frequently for people to catch up. but I may be reaching for the aeron jersey when going out on my own even in these temperatures

bendertherobot

drwae wrote:

I'm sure it's been mentioned before but dhb aeron jersey gets my approval. Just got mine today and went for a quick 35km ride over lunch time and it kept me warm. yes short sleeves in February in Scotland. My garmin recorded the temperature at 4C and I was fine with the dhb short sleeve merino base layer and aeron jersey. I am someone who gets cold usually too.
the fit is very good too. small fits me well without excess material anywhere. the castelli perfetto 2 light (now returned) came up so short and made me look like a little lardy
Until the weather gets a bit warmer I will keep my castelli alpha jacket for the club rides as the speed is a lot less than solo and we stop frequently for people to catch up. but I may be reaching for the aeron jersey when going out on my own even in these temperatures

I'll be reviewing the Assos tiburu shortly. I love the tiburu. I love the design, the material, the fit.

I just can't for the life of me figure out in what way it's different to the Aeron.

I've even been wearing the Aeron in torrential rain with the matching Gilet. It stays warm, then dries out.

bendertherobot

-2 this morning. I stepped out in the Assos Habu with Tiburu underneath. No base layer.

Walked to the garage, cold. Thought about returning to add a base layer. Got on the bike. Pedalled, warmed up.

The Tiburu is superb for spring, I adore it. I don't know that it's better than a £60 dhb but it just seems to be and I don't know why.

The Habu, with a base layer, is useable in a very limited range of conditions. But I do like it very much.

The Habu plus Tiburu is insane. The windproofing is remarkable and the warmth spot on. I don't know if Assos ever designed them to work together (they are part of the ALS system) but it's incredible how light they are and how effective.

dazz_ni45

Any recommendations on a winter jacket that is warmer that the Castelli Alpha Jacket? I tend to wear the alpha jacket with 1 or 2 baselayers depending on how cold it is, but on a few occasions on longer rides (3-4 hours +) I have gotten pretty cold so wondered what jacket might be warmer or am I better just wearing a thermal jersey under the alpha?

Something that can hold off a few heavy showers would be useful but I'm not expecting the weather proofing of a hardshell.

Would the Sportful R&D Zero be an improvement?

bendertherobot

The R&D (non light) looks to be a good bet IMO. The Espresso is probably a tad warmer as well. Other than that you're into Bonka territory, but there is an XL Fugujack on ebay at the moment?

dazz_ni45

bendertherobot wrote:

The R&D (non light) looks to be a good bet IMO. The Espresso is probably a tad warmer as well. Other than that you're into Bonka territory, but there is an XL Fugujack on ebay at the moment?

The Fugujack is tempting, but I'm probably a large in assos rather than XL. How do you size up with Assos jackets?

bendertherobot

dazz_ni45 wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

The R&D (non light) looks to be a good bet IMO. The Espresso is probably a tad warmer as well. Other than that you're into Bonka territory, but there is an XL Fugujack on ebay at the moment?

The Fugujack is tempting, but I'm probably a large in assos rather than XL. How do you size up with Assos jackets?

XL in the racier stuff, Bonka Cento, Airjack, Fugujack I'd imagine. The Habu is slightly (ever so) more relaxed and I could, possibly, get into a large.

bendertherobot

Fiandre No Rain jacket arrived. Will try it on later but it's suitably heavyweight. Wondering if too much for current/coming weather?

Tis this one:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sportful-fiandre-norain-jacket/

bendertherobot

bendertherobot wrote:

Fiandre No Rain jacket arrived. Will try it on later but it's suitably heavyweight. Wondering if too much for current/coming weather?

Tis this one:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sportful-fiandre-norain-jacket/

It's an awful lot, lighter back section aside, like the Lusso Max Repel and, honestly, I think I'd plump for that at RRP. Though, at the moment, this is cheaper. I may not keep it as I have too much of 'that sort of thing.'