Autumn / Winter LS Jersey

uptheswa

Looking a good all-round long sleeve jersey for cooler and possibly damp shortish ( 2 hours or less ) rides.

here is what I am looking

- lightweight
- stretchy
- good at keeping the wind out
- back pockets
- can wear in light showers without having to put on the rain jacket
- temperatures from about 10 or 12 down to 2 or 3 with suitable base layers
- available in colours other than black with decent visibilty
- up to around £100 full price or possible to get on sale at that price

which jersey do you recommend fits the bill or is the closest ?

bikes`n`guns

Castelli Perfetto. You might just get a sale one at slightly over the hundred. Awsome kit.

Ernesider

Castelli Alpha Winter Jacket (not the wind proof jersey) Is the best, by some distance, I have come across. Maybe more than you would like to pay, but when the weather gets cold worth the price. Chain Reaction with BC discount £140 - best I can see at a quick check ..!!!

angry_bird

Ernesider wrote:

Castelli Alpha Winter Jacket (not the wind proof jersey) Is the best, by some distance, I have come across. Maybe more than you would like to pay, but when the weather gets cold worth the price. Chain Reaction with BC discount £140 - best I can see at a quick check ..!!!

You see I'd say the jersey over the jacket at those temperatures, I'd find the jacket way too warm.

uptheswa

I would prefer the fit of a jersey to a jacket type garment.
I also run really hot. I would be afraid that these no rain type jerseys would be too warm, as I always like to wear a base layer ? Or do they control temperature just as well as a wind proof type jersey even with the extra proofing to be better in wet conditions ?

Ernesider

Angry Bird wrote:

Ernesider wrote:

Castelli Alpha Winter Jacket (not the wind proof jersey) Is the best, by some distance, I have come across. Maybe more than you would like to pay, but when the weather gets cold worth the price. Chain Reaction with BC discount £140 - best I can see at a quick check ..!!!

You see I'd say the jersey over the jacket at those temperatures, I'd find the jacket way too warm.

"Down to 2 or 3 *C "
Any days below 10*C I reach for the Alpha Jacket, but people are different ..!!
Also it is stretchy and fits very cosy and comfortable. For me at least, a brilliant
Piece of clothing....

angry_bird

Ernesider wrote:

Angry Bird wrote:

Ernesider wrote:

Castelli Alpha Winter Jacket (not the wind proof jersey) Is the best, by some distance, I have come across. Maybe more than you would like to pay, but when the weather gets cold worth the price. Chain Reaction with BC discount £140 - best I can see at a quick check ..!!!

You see I'd say the jersey over the jacket at those temperatures, I'd find the jacket way too warm.

"Down to 2 or 3 *C "
Any days below 10*C I reach for the Alpha Jacket, but people are different ..!!
Also it is stretchy and fits very cosy and comfortable. For me at least, a brilliant
Piece of clothing....

Exactly. It certainly is a brilliant bit of clothing but I don't touch mine until it's down to 2-3*C, anything above and it tends to be a bit too much. The jersey with either a LS or short sleeve base layer does me fine up to that point.

super_davo

The answers so far show how different everybody is...

I've got quite a range of winter jerseys and jackets, but if I could only have one it would be the Castelli Alpha Jersey (rather than the jacket mentioned so far). Primary reason being its got the widest temperature range of any jersey I own - I've used it from about 15 to 0 degrees. The base layer you use makes a massive difference, but zipping and unzipping the inner gilet makes a difference mid ride. It can cope with light showers without a cape. The fit on me is excellent - the stretchy back means you can get a really tight race fit if you want (which I have gone for, getting a small). You can pick one up for under £100 fairly easily.

The Alpha jacket is a lovely garment - I have one but I can't use it above about 5 degrees or I cook. It doesn't have the stretchy back of the jersey, so it just doesn't quite sit as well.

I also have a long sleeve Gabba - now known as the Perfetto - and I don't like it anywhere near as much as the Alpha. Reasons being that the fabric doesn't feel as nice on the skin - its got to be LS base layer for that. I find it doesn't have the massive temperature range of the Alpha, and despite its reputation I don't find it works as well in the rain.

If you want a more traditional thermal jersey with a fleece backed non-windproof fabric, I've seen decent deals on Sportful Bodyfit at Wiggle. Ale do a whole range of jerseys made from identical fabrics with various garish colours that are similar, should come in at around the £50 mark. I have a few jerseys like that and they have their place, I just prefer windproof fabrics for the ability to deal with unexpected weather changes on long rides.

mrb123

Alpha Jersey.

Only thing it lacks from your shortlist is reflective panels for visibility but some fairly bright colours are available.

mrb123

http://road.cc/content/review/226524-go ... eve-jersey
The Gore Windstopper stuff is also very good. Always beautifully made.

sloppyschleckonds

uptheswa wrote:

- temperatures from about 10 or 12 down to 2 or 3 with suitable base layers

You need a jacket for that temperature

stevie63

The Galibier Mistral fits the bill under your budget.

paulbnix

If you run hot then the Alpha jersey is the one to get - Evans had it for about £75 a couple on months ago.
I've also got the Castelli Trasparente and that is actually warmer than the Alpha when the weather is at the top of the jersey's temperature range - I think its because the windstopper material is thicker than the Alpha.

uptheswa

OK, looking at the replies the Alpha jersey seemed to fit the bill....but I checked it and it has a black back. Ive had a recent close encounter, the car driver maintained he couldnt see me as I was all in black, I was wearing a blue fronted jacket with black back and a flashing red light ! If the Alpha could be got in blue or red with some colour in the back especially in the bottom half it would be perfect I think.

super_davo

uptheswa wrote:

OK, looking at the replies the Alpha jersey seemed to fit the bill....but I checked it and it has a black back. Ive had a recent close encounter, the car driver maintained he couldnt see me as I was all in black, I was wearing a blue fronted jacket with black back and a flashing red light ! If the Alpha could be got in blue or red with some colour in the back especially in the bottom half it would be perfect I think.

You can get the Alpha jersey in red, Evans have a full range of sizes for £105;

https://www.evanscycles.com/castelli-al ... VZEALw_wcB

Merlin have a few sizes for £99

uptheswa

Ok, looked at the options mentioned and some alternatives but looks like a straight shootout between the alpha jersey and the l/s perfetto. Both just over £100 and limited colours but I have seen the red that I think is best.

Final two questions.

Which one is less warm and/or more breathable, as I tend to overheat easily.

Sizing..I'm 5'11'' and 13 stone with 40" chest and 34" waist and a bit of a pouch ! Assuming I will wear at least one base layer do you think I would be a L or Xl

matt_n-2

uptheswa wrote:

Ok, looked at the options mentioned and some alternatives but looks like a straight shootout between the alpha jersey and the l/s perfetto. Both just over £100 and limited colours but I have seen the red that I think is best.

Final two questions.

Which one is less warm and/or more breathable, as I tend to overheat easily.

Sizing..I'm 5'11'' and 13 stone with 40" chest and 34" waist and a bit of a pouch ! Assuming I will wear at least one base layer do you think I would be a L or Xl

I'm 6'1", just over 13st with a 41" chest and 34" waist, my XL Gabba 2 is a perfect fit with a base layer.

I've not used an Alpha, but my Gabba is pretty versatile, the wind block helps in the cooler temps and with a base layer I used it through winter last year, the side vents are good when it warms up a bit or you need to manage your temps.

I also have a Rapha winter jersey that I pair up with a base layer if the forecast is dry, this got me through the coldest of days last winter without the need for a jacket.

step83

stevie63 wrote:

The Galibier Mistral fits the bill under your budget.

Id agree on that, really rate it often just wear that an a base layer, its not listed as 100% water proof but its never given me any bother.

svetty

uptheswa wrote:

Looking a good all-round long sleeve jersey for cooler and possibly damp shortish ( 2 hours or less ) rides. ....

The key here is shorter rides I think. A 2 hour constant high effort ride is very different from a 6 hour steady paced one where you're far more likely to get cold. Hence he needs a Habu not a Bonka.....

uptheswa

Spot on Svetty

I realise now that everyone is different and while the same jersey may be perfect for one it may not be perfect for someone else. I guess its trial and error and we all end up with some garments that we just will not wear much.

I dont have time for long easy spins, tend to push on when I get out. Lots of steep ramps round here too so even if on an "easy" day theres plenty of oppertunity to get warmed up.

I do run hot, have a club full windtex jacket here never wear any more would only suit me when its below freezing. I have another jacket with windtex front and roubaix back but find even with a s/s thin base its very warm.
Thats why I was looking a jersey, bit of protection from wind and showers but not thick or hot, would rather err on the side of breathable than complete rain protection though.