Autumnal Cycle Clothing

Miles253
Miles253 Posts: 535
edited October 2014 in Road buying advice
Hey guys

Im looking to get a few bits of versatile clothing for the inevitable autumn weather starting with a top layer. Ideally i would like a softshell type jacket or similar kind of wind/water resistant jersey to keep me riding in the autumn and early winter.

Is it worth owning a softshell and a resistant jersey or is one likely to be adequate? Looking to ride once a week besides commuting if the weather deteriorates.

Ive got around £150 to spent, with the top end of that being for something pretty damn versitile.

some of the bits ive looked at:

http://road.cc/content/review/72530-sportful-fiandre-norain-jacket
http://road.cc/content/review/122815-bontrager-rxl-180-softshell-jacket
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-gabba-2-long-sleeve-jersey/

obviously there are alot of other options so can i get some opinions?
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Comments

  • flasher
    flasher Posts: 1,734
    If you're looking for versatile get yourself a gilet and arm warmers.
  • Miles253
    Miles253 Posts: 535
    Flasher wrote:
    If you're looking for versatile get yourself a gilet and arm warmers.

    Ive got a rain cape style gilet, quite light from Sportful and some good resistant arm warmers, but they are likely to be quite a low form of protection in the coming months surely.
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  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    Flasher wrote:
    If you're looking for versatile get yourself a gilet and arm warmers.

    +1, all the way until winter.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    The Gabba is great, of course. But, not for those really cold days of Autumn.

    Worth a real look is the DHB Windslam jersey, very very good indeed.

    One of the best things would have been the Rapha Pro Team jacket. Probably all gone now.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • Dippydog2
    Dippydog2 Posts: 291
    Can anyone point me to a gilet that has a mesh back. I only get cold in the front at the mo.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Team Sky one.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • Philly8mt
    Philly8mt Posts: 552
    I go Castelli Fawesome (Gabba) vest, short sleeve jersey, base layer and sportful no rain arm warmers.

    Seems to do the trick.
    Still thinking of something clever to say!
  • Miles253
    Miles253 Posts: 535
    Philly8mt wrote:
    I go Castelli Fawesome (Gabba) vest, short sleeve jersey, base layer and sportful no rain arm warmers.

    Seems to do the trick.

    Does that work when the mercury dips?
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  • dowtcha
    dowtcha Posts: 442
    I have the ss gabba and the sportful fiandre no rain jacket, both are excellent. The gabba with arm warmers and base layer got me to December and I switched to the sportful for two or three months and then back to the gabba. Nothing else got a look in last year and I don't plan on buying replacement's this year.
  • Dippydog2
    Dippydog2 Posts: 291
    Team Sky one.
    Perfect, apart from the logos. :(
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    If you can find an Assos AirJack, I still think it's the most versatile bit of kit I own - layer up underneath it from nothing to a merino base layer from 10C to freezing. The Gabba is good. I've never really got on with gilets - but then I run warm. Arm warmers are essential and cheap.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • norvernrob
    norvernrob Posts: 1,447
    Dippydog2 wrote:
    Can anyone point me to a gilet that has a mesh back. I only get cold in the front at the mo.

    I've got the Sky one and it's very good, it weighs pretty much nothing too. I also got a Gore countdown AS vest
    yesterday from Halfords for £22.50 down from £60, just checked and they've sold out now. Got a Gore jersey for £18 too.

    It's worth keeping an eye on HotUKdeals as cycling stuff regularly pops up, that's where I saw the Gore stuff.

    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/clothin ... wn-as-vest
  • Philly8mt
    Philly8mt Posts: 552
    Miles253 wrote:
    Philly8mt wrote:
    I go Castelli Fawesome (Gabba) vest, short sleeve jersey, base layer and sportful no rain arm warmers.

    Seems to do the trick.

    Does that work when the mercury dips?


    It works for me ... It's three layers after all :) .... I'll also stick a Castelli head thingy around my neck for a little extra warmth sometimes.

    If it gets cold cold I've got a Santini LS Jacket ... Only seen the light of day two or three times though tbf ...
    Still thinking of something clever to say!
  • stueys
    stueys Posts: 1,332
    Sky gillet is very good, I picked one up in the rapha sale to replace the sportful hot pack I had. Sky one is a better fit.

    Rest of my autumnal kit is rapha merino arm and knee warmers, awesome until it gets cold enough for longs when I like the castelli ones. Rapha pro team jacket is a fantastic piece of kit with a rain coat in the back pocket. It's all you need until it goes less than 4C. At which point I tend to start finding the turbo a lot more appealing....

    Everyone raves about the gabba, I tried it and didn't get on with it. Fit wasn't great for me and I tend to be a gillet, jersey, arm warmers until it's cold enough to go jacket. The gabba didn't really sit in either one of those camps for me.
  • Miles253
    Miles253 Posts: 535
    I suppose it varies from person to person, i like the freedom of arm warmers, and have never owned a softshell or anything heavier, ive survived fine so far but really wanna carry on club riding through the winter this year.

    Stueys, is the sky gilet considerably thicker than the Hot Pack? As ive got the Hot Pack at the moment. I'm not keen on team kit but if i could find a gilet thats a bit thicker, that might help with the colder months, any recommendations?

    What are peoples opinions on l/s jerseys too, obviously the arm warmer crowd seem to avoid them, but is there any real difference in warming ability.

    EDIT: Assos airjack looks a good bit of kit, similar to the Sportful and Bontrager pieces i posted first, seems a good option too...
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  • stueys
    stueys Posts: 1,332
    Miles253 wrote:

    Stueys, is the sky gilet considerably thicker than the Hot Pack? As ive got the Hot Pack at the moment. I'm not keen on team kit but if i could find a gilet thats a bit thicker, that might help with the colder months, any recommendations?

    Marginally thicker at the front but better vented at the back so not really. I got it as it's better fitted for me around the shoulders, hot pack rustles a lot when the pace picks up. Plus it was in the sale!

    I've got one of these I use when it gets colder. This is a fair amount thicker http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-fawesome-vest/
  • robbo2011
    robbo2011 Posts: 1,017
    Miles253 wrote:
    EDIT: Assos airjack looks a good bit of kit, similar to the Sportful and Bontrager pieces i posted first, seems a good option too...

    Assos Airjack is a good piece of kit but only for cold weather (<8degC). I would never use it in autumn, I think something a bit more lightweight would be better like gilet/arm warmers/windproof shell for descents.

    In any case the Airjack has been discontinued for a couple of seasons so I am not sure you will find many about in the right size.
  • robbo2011 wrote:
    Miles253 wrote:
    EDIT: Assos airjack looks a good bit of kit, similar to the Sportful and Bontrager pieces i posted first, seems a good option too...

    Assos Airjack is a good piece of kit but only for cold weather (<8degC). I would never use it in autumn, I think something a bit more lightweight would be better like gilet/arm warmers/windproof shell for descents.

    In any case the Airjack has been discontinued for a couple of seasons so I am not sure you will find many about in the right size.

    <8C IS my autumn.

    There's still a few AirJacks about but harder to find. Recent factory outlet email for samples had a few.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • luv2ride
    luv2ride Posts: 2,367
    Dowtcha wrote:
    I have the ss gabba and the sportful fiandre no rain jacket, both are excellent. The gabba with arm warmers and base layer got me to December and I switched to the sportful for two or three months and then back to the gabba. Nothing else got a look in last year and I don't plan on buying replacement's this year.

    ^^This. The only thing to add might be a lightweight rain shell. I have an One Ten Pioggia jacket that rolls up into a rear pocket, just in case the rain is sustained en route.

    http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -12-46563/

    If a shorter route the Gabba and No Rain Fiandre softshell have been great with no separate shell.
    Titus Silk Road Ti rigid 29er - Scott Solace 10 disc - Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 disc - Scott CR1 SL - Pinnacle Arkose X 650b - Pinnacle Arkose singlespeed - Specialized Singlecross...& an Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 string...
  • I have two softshell jerseys (Gore + Mavic) but only use them on cold winter days, they're too warm even for British autumn rides. I use the Gore Power for full-on cold and the Mavic Echappee when it's quite chilly. The Mavic may suit your needs and (I think) is quite stylish.http://www.cyclesurgery.com/mavic-echappee-windproof-jacket/windproof-jackets/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/45845?listing=true
    Why not try some of the retro tops for chillier days, they tend to be a bit thicker/warmer than the flimsy tops that seem to be the norm nowadays. I have two Nalini/Banesto team tops that I find myself using a lot. E.G.- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Banesto-Campagnolo-Nalini-cycling-top-Excellent-condition-/171435880804?pt=UK_Cycling_Clothing&hash=item27ea5ff164
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    The Mavic Espoir and the Echappe are not jerseys but jackets so quite a bit thicker though, not really for temperatures from 15c to 8c or so.
    x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
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  • For the Autumnal months perhaps, as suggested a thicker gilet and arm warmers is a versatile and inexpensive way to go. Any recommendations for slightly thicket gilets that offer decent value? That Castelli one posted earlier isnt an awful price.

    For days closer to December a softshell sounds like a good bet, not sure the Gabba really offers enough versatility for the money.
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  • ctc
    ctc Posts: 232
    Try this one:

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... oCQAfw_wcB

    It's a thicker softshell material. I use it for commuting and it's done well so far. Pretty warm.
  • I just layer up under a L/s jersey and possibly a windstopper gilet on top. This keeps me going to around 5C. Below that I don't tend to get out much. However, am considering going the jacket route, as multiple layers can be pain.
    Someone's just passed me again
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    Im liking the look of this at the minute, coupled with a light jacket over it. Been using my crappy decathlon base layer and jacket the last couple of days and its been great on the cold (ish) mornings.

    http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/winter-b ... 01LSBLKLRG

    I like the high neck and ability to pull it up over your face, saves bothering with a buff.
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    I can recommend this right now: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/hell ... lsrc=aw.ds

    All the benfits of merino bit holds its shape better and slightly more wind resistant. Cheaper than the Rapha one too!
  • stueys
    stueys Posts: 1,332
    paul_mck wrote:
    Im liking the look of this at the minute, coupled with a light jacket over it. Been using my crappy decathlon base layer and jacket the last couple of days and its been great on the cold (ish) mornings.

    http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/winter-b ... 01LSBLKLRG

    I like the high neck and ability to pull it up over your face, saves bothering with a buff.

    Ive got one, its great, highly recommended.
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    Ah I chickened out and got the regular long sleeve one.
  • Seems massively pricey for a base layer, could get a full jacket for a touch more!
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