Recommend me a bad weather Jersey/Jacket

robbo2011

It is pretty cold here in Switzerland this winter (around freezing for most rides) and I've been alternating my Alpha jacket with my old Assos Airjack. I have to say on dry, cold winter days, I think I prefer the Airjack as it is more breathable and maybe a little bit warmer because in the end you don't sweat as much. Water resistance aside, I don't think things have moved on that much.

For the fans of retro jackets they are still available at the factory outlet at a good price too.

germcevoy

Can 100% recommend Galobier. I have a Mistral 2 and can't complain about it. Keeps you dry in the wet and warm in the cold. I've used it down to 3 degrees with just a Merino base layer. Brilliant service too.

hsiaolc

Germcevoy wrote:

Can 100% recommend Galobier. I have a Mistral 2 and can't complain about it. Keeps you dry in the wet and warm in the cold. I've used it down to 3 degrees with just a Merino base layer. Brilliant service too.

I hate to be shallow but I think I am. I have been looking at their stuff and just can't get myself to buy any, because it looks so ugly? I am already ugly and I need all the help I can get!

If I have to choose this between http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-aeron-full- ... -softshell
and Mistral I will take DHB.

bendertherobot

http://www.probikekit.co.uk/sports-clot ... 63777.html

That's £97 with the code. Initial impressions are very good indeed. Windtex front arms etc, so water resistant, roubaix back. Seems decently warm.

jgsi

I think that over 30 brands of Jacket Jersey .
I'd buy the lot .. its like one a day for a month...

germcevoy

hsiaolc wrote:

Germcevoy wrote:

Can 100% recommend Galobier. I have a Mistral 2 and can't complain about it. Keeps you dry in the wet and warm in the cold. I've used it down to 3 degrees with just a Merino base layer. Brilliant service too.

I hate to be shallow but I think I am. I have been looking at their stuff and just can't get myself to buy any, because it looks so ugly? I am already ugly and I need all the help I can get!

If I have to choose this between http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-aeron-full- ... -softshell
and Mistral I will take DHB.

Some of the colours are iffy. A predominately black jacket with some red detailing is bearable for the £50 I paid. It's a superb garment.

hsiaolc

Ryan_W wrote:

hsiaolc wrote:

Anyway I just bought Rapha Pro Team soft shell jacket £150. We will see how that performs.

You'll love it mate! Have worn mine everyday since I purchased it couple of weeks back.

Works so well layered up as well as with just a base.

Rode twice with the Rapha Pro Team softshell.

I have to say I can't wait to go back to the Castelli Alpha. It is that much warmer and insulating. Get hot just unzip the front and its perfect.

Rapha I was cold constantly (with the same baselayer one as Alpha in one ride the next I went on deep winter baselayer) and at no time I wanted to zip down. If anything I feel I need to get moving at all times so I don't get colder.

I guess the Rapha softshell is more for warmer rides and the Alpha is really amazing for anything under 5C.

I think for the winder I will get myself one more Alpha.

As for the Rapha Softshell I don't believe its good if you need insulating rides. The Gabba2 is much better at insulation than the Rapha, maybe the Rapha softshell is too good at breathing? Not sure.

drwae

Are people using just the alpha jacket over a baselayer? I went out today, started around -2C and got up to around 0-1C by the end of it, base layer + adidas winter jersey + alpha jacket and still it was cold AF and my teeth were chattering and I was shivering until I got to some uphill parts

hsiaolc

drwae wrote:

Are people using just the alpha jacket over a baselayer? I went out today, started around -2C and got up to around 0-1C by the end of it, base layer + adidas winter jersey + alpha jacket and still it was cold AF and my teeth were chattering and I was shivering until I got to some uphill parts

Yes depending on temp I put on different baselayer.

If I know it will stay around 2C below morning and evening then I will wear Vulpine Hoy Deep winter merino base layer. Like today 1C in the morning and 6C evening I just wore Craft Extreme base layer. I am surprised you are shivering with a Alpha on with base layer and mid layer.

I just bought two more at Tredz. Now my deep winter top is taken care of!

drwae

hsiaolc wrote:

drwae wrote:

Are people using just the alpha jacket over a baselayer? I went out today, started around -2C and got up to around 0-1C by the end of it, base layer + adidas winter jersey + alpha jacket and still it was cold AF and my teeth were chattering and I was shivering until I got to some uphill parts

Yes depending on temp I put on different baselayer.

If I know it will stay around 2C below morning and evening then I will wear Vulpine Hoy Deep winter merino base layer. Like today 1C in the morning and 6C evening I just wore Craft Extreme base layer. I am surprised you are shivering with a Alpha on with base layer and mid layer.

I just bought two more at Tredz. Now my deep winter top is taken care of!

Will look up those base layers cheers
I'm just using something thin from under armour as base layer

micrographia

Its not just about base layers in those conditions, especially if you were still cold with all those layers on your torso. Everyone is different, but I have to wonder whether your legs and extremities were well insulated?

Did a long flat sub zero ride just before new year where we ended up covered in hoar frost. Perfectly comfortable in an alpha jacket and a long sleeve thermal base layer - but also warm gloves and knee-high winter socks, thick overshoes, a merino beanie and buff, and probably most importantly my sorpasso windstopper bib longs. No wind chill on the front of my legs and an extra layer over a lot of my body. Can't recommend them highly enough.

drwae

micrographia wrote:

Its not just about base layers in those conditions, especially if you were still cold with all those layers on your torso. Everyone is different, but I have to wonder whether your legs and extremities were well insulated?

Did a long flat sub zero ride just before new year where we ended up covered in hoar frost. Perfectly comfortable in an alpha jacket and a long sleeve thermal base layer - but also warm gloves and knee-high winter socks, thick overshoes, a merino beanie and buff, and probably most importantly my sorpasso windstopper bib longs. No wind chill on the front of my legs and an extra layer over a lot of my body. Can't recommend them highly enough.

Yesterday I absolutely FROZE wearing:
Top: under armour base layer, adidas winter jersey, castelli alpha jacket, castelli thermo neck thingy
Extremities: castelli estremo winter gloves, thermal socks, BBB heavy duty overshoes
Bottom: padded underwear, tights, waterproof overtrousers

I was so cold I couldn't switch gear because my fingers were too numb, couldn't feel my toes, got wet all through my bottom half in the rain, it was awful
:shock:

ryan_w-2

I think you have a circulation problem! Seriously, unless your clothes are all far too big for you and allowing too much cold air in?

bikes`n`guns

Bought a Perfetto LS to go with my convertible and tried it out today.

Still impressed. Bloody fantastic jacket and flouro yellow to boot.

daniel_b

Bikes`n`guns wrote:

Bought a Perfetto LS to go with my convertible and tried it out today.

Still impressed. Bloody fantastic jacket and flouro yellow to boot.

You know my feelings on the matter.

the_cyclist_of_catan

hsiaolc wrote:

I have to say I can't wait to go back to the Castelli Alpha. It is that much warmer and insulating. Get hot just unzip the front and its perfect.

That's the thing about the Alpha. It's really cold, wear a warm base layer. Not so cold? Wear a thinner base layer. Get a bit warm while wearing it? Open the zip 2". Get really warm? Open it 6"+.

I swear that it feels like it's got built-in aircon. With the zip just a little bit open it seems to channel the cooling air exactly where I want it.

I just wish I could justify buying another larger one. I've put on about 20lbs since I bout mine, and I worry that I'm going to burst some seams!

Still, another six weeks or so and it'll be too warm for the Alpha, and I'll go back to agonising about what LS is best for both wet & dry rides in the 8-16 degree range.

bikes`n`guns

Daniel B wrote:

Bikes`n`guns wrote:

Bought a Perfetto LS to go with my convertible and tried it out today.

Still impressed. Bloody fantastic jacket and flouro yellow to boot.

You know my feelings on the matter.

My first Flouro jacket ! everything is is pretty much black. As it should be obv !

hsiaolc

drwae wrote:

micrographia wrote:

Its not just about base layers in those conditions, especially if you were still cold with all those layers on your torso. Everyone is different, but I have to wonder whether your legs and extremities were well insulated?

Did a long flat sub zero ride just before new year where we ended up covered in hoar frost. Perfectly comfortable in an alpha jacket and a long sleeve thermal base layer - but also warm gloves and knee-high winter socks, thick overshoes, a merino beanie and buff, and probably most importantly my sorpasso windstopper bib longs. No wind chill on the front of my legs and an extra layer over a lot of my body. Can't recommend them highly enough.

Yesterday I absolutely FROZE wearing:
Top: under armour base layer, adidas winter jersey, castelli alpha jacket, castelli thermo neck thingy
Extremities: castelli estremo winter gloves, thermal socks, BBB heavy duty overshoes
Bottom: padded underwear, tights, waterproof overtrousers

I was so cold I couldn't switch gear because my fingers were too numb, couldn't feel my toes, got wet all through my bottom half in the rain, it was awful
:shock:

I wear also DHB Deep Winter Tights (they do make a huge difference compared to any other winter tights).

But I found a trick to keeping yourself warm. All these items we are wearing are insulating for the winter, but if you are already cold then it keeps the cold inside of you and unless you warm up quickly and you will stay cold for a while. Also if you have bad circulation then it can also be of a problem.

So before my ride I always put my shoe, gloves and hat infront of the heater. Make sure my room is also warm so when I start to wear all the tights and base layer it traps in the heat. Once I know the heat is trapped then I put on all the jackets and hats to make sure I feel hot before I step out.

Since I am the last one out the door I had to locked the door so my winter gloves stay off and on after I am out the door, so my hands start off cold.

The rest of me though stays very warm and keeps it warm for 10 minutes until I start to warm up myself. Once I am into the ride then I am warm enough to even warm my hands.

The feet though stays warm and then goes cold and I feel that I have some feet circulation issue as I am now older.

hsiaolc

hsiaolc wrote:

Ryan_W wrote:

hsiaolc wrote:

Anyway I just bought Rapha Pro Team soft shell jacket £150. We will see how that performs.

You'll love it mate! Have worn mine everyday since I purchased it couple of weeks back.

Works so well layered up as well as with just a base.

Rode twice with the Rapha Pro Team softshell.

I have to say I can't wait to go back to the Castelli Alpha. It is that much warmer and insulating. Get hot just unzip the front and its perfect.

Rapha I was cold constantly (with the same baselayer one as Alpha in one ride the next I went on deep winter baselayer) and at no time I wanted to zip down. If anything I feel I need to get moving at all times so I don't get colder.

I guess the Rapha softshell is more for warmer rides and the Alpha is really amazing for anything under 5C.

I think for the winder I will get myself one more Alpha.

As for the Rapha Softshell I don't believe its good if you need insulating rides. The Gabba2 is much better at insulation than the Rapha, maybe the Rapha softshell is too good at breathing? Not sure.

I have to correct myself. The Rapha feels much warmer than Gabba 2 on 10C ride. Rode both on 10C condtions on differnt days. With Rapha I didn't feel cold at all at 10C but I did with Gabba2.

During the ride I did feel hot with Rapha so I think it is good for even colder weather. With Gabba it was cold to start with and then it was perfect and you forget about cold or hot once you've heated up.

So Rapha is more insulating than Gabba2 unlike what I said before.

Rapha pro soft shell does something quite interesting than any other jackets I've had. Ride to work and it felt hot in the middle but towards the end the arms feel a bit cold and feels weird or wet. When I got to work and took the jacket off the places I felt cold had what it looks like pool of water (I persume sweat) formed and like a little tiny pool. Never seen anything like that on any jacket. Same thing happened on the way home. Again Pools of sweat in the jacket.

Gabba in the exact same conditions and to and back to work bone dry. But ofcourse I contribute that to not over heating like I was in Rapha.