If you needed a mid layer/winter jersey like this, whats the alternative/nearest thing without the mega non-affordable price tag?
If you needed a mid layer/winter jersey like this, whats the alternative/nearest thing without the mega non-affordable price tag?
A Perfetto jacket bought in the sales with extra layers - in theory the Alpha jacket above is for colder/harsher conditions, but you can achieve great results with a Perfetto and a selection of base layers. Perfetto is much more widely available and cheaper.
My short sleeve perfetto is probably my most worn cycling kit! It’s good for such a wide range of conditions, somehow coping with quite surprisingly warm windy days while also being enough with a base and jersey under it for really grim days.
and Merlin have long sleeve ones in all sizes at £110 (down from £250), so I’m off to buy another one. In bright orange.
They all look a bit 'roadie' sized.
What size do we buy if we're average proportioned human - 75kg/178cm
Sport Pursuit have the Alpha Flight version for £145 (I think it's a lighter weight version of the Alpha, I have one but use it as a jacket for 8-12c-ish riding but Z2/cafe pace rather than riding hard, the Castelli stated temp ranges are based on you actually training at a reasonable intensity not pootling about)
7Mesh Tantalus is a similar insulating mid/outer jersey but without the semi-separate waistcoat layer.
I think the Albion primaloft bodywarmer + jacket makes a bit more sense than the Flight as it's more versatile (assuming you can stash the reasonably packable bodywarmer)
If you needed a mid layer/winter jersey like this, whats the alternative/nearest thing without the mega non-affordable price tag?
The same thing at 50% off bought in the middle of summer.
I bought a perffeto then a alpha ros- an older version of this. Both 50% off. I'm large in most things and XXL in castelli.
They are both awesome bits of kit. The alpha ros has me happy down to 0C. I only wear them on the road as the thought of trashing them on bramble/ MTB is too much even bought on sale.
OK, so if I don't want the perfetto or any other roadie shaped gear, are their any other choices that are not as tight, or do they need that to work properly?
I'm not bothered about the image, I can get into roadie shaped clothes, I just don't want to.
The last Perfetto I bought was for normal shaped humans - more square than tubular. I was a bit disappointed as I'm more tubular than square and bought it mail order (as we called it in the olden days) same size as my other Perfettos.
For the OP's jersey, I'd buy a Perfetto or Galibier do one similar for fewer £'s. I'd then vary the base layer/gilet combo depending on how chilly things are.
The Alpha might be warm enough when it gets really cold but those days a few and far between in Cambs and you're better off with a more flexible, layered approach.