Riding more on the road now so looking for something windproof or at least windproof on the front and suitable down to 5/6 degrees C with a base layer (any colder and I'll not be on the road). I'm currently using a base layer, think running fleece and waterproof cycling jacket but it's clammy and the top layer is flappy.
Usual office based MAMIL shape with longer than average body, relatively shorter arms.
Tried some Van Rysel stuff but the arms are a big issue as they're both long/get bunched up and very skinny.
I'm not massively bulky in the arm department just a bit of gym/ sailing strength. No problem with close fitting but it needs some give/stretch it that's the case, which the VR stuff lacked.
Suggestions for products gratefully received. Bonus points for not being dark colours or cat sick brown.
I'm using a thicker base layer - Polartec Powergrid (or similar) with a standard Perfetto for rides at those temps. I do start with a thin gilet over the top but the temps are normally a few degrees colder then. As it warms up, shed the gilet and if above 6 - 7°C, zips start to open... 🙃
I have one of these and it's plenty warm enough and very bright for this time of year
Endura xtract Roubaix
As is often recommended on here, Galibier make some very good stuff at sensible prices. I bought one of these https://www.galibier.cc/product/mistral-5-foul-weather-cycling-jacket/ last winter and it was brilliant.
Re: Galibier jerseys
I, too, was interested in a Mistral but when I looked at their sizing charts, it appeared their target market is very "square" people ie with a waist approximately the same length as their back length.
Which may work for the OP, but I'm a long piece of string comparatively so I ruled them out. At least they had good sizing charts to check and the price seemed very reasonable!
I've got a Castelli perfetto convertible jacket and it's brilliant. Couple of vents at the sides that can be opened up if it gets a bit warm, and can whip the lower sleeves off too for a short sleeved t-shirt/gilet thing. Available in bright colours too.
Just picked up an Endura pro sl 3 season jacket at 65% off using the sale codes. Has a windproof fabric with a separate thin polar tech alpha gilet and great sleeve and chest vents. Makes tuning the layers/ venting to the conditions very easy.
Variety of base layers I can interchange, right up to a thin gridded fleece.
I've also got a pertex-alike Tog24 running windproof that is quite snug fit or an Endura thing that's really roady snug with a windproof front and jersey rear that's great at preventing sweat build up.
There's a number of very good deals on DHB jackets on the Evans website. I now have two of these jackets, one for a number of years and its been very good. While it could be argued they are not worth the RRP, they are definitely worth the sale price.
Bought an Endura Pro SL 3 season jacket in the recent sale. Comes with detachable PrimaLoft gilet - windproof panels, zips on forearms and large chest zips to vent. Impressed with it so far. Have an XL I need to return if any good to you - black though! Will sell for what I paid rather than the £210 is supposedly cost new
Rapha have a winter sale on at the moment, some decent prices for their Core range (the entry level kit but excellent, in fact often better value than the high end stuff).
Core Long Sleeve Thermal jersey can be had for £55 (half price) in some of the less popular colours. Likewise with the Core Winter Jacket, £100 instead of £150 in certain colours.
Second the suggestions above about a good base layer as well. Some of the walking ones from the likes of Millets work perfectly well for cycling and are about a tenth the price of cycling specific ones.
I recently bought the green DHB Aeron 3.0 jacket mentioned above together with the Bloc gilet for when it gets chilly and they work very well together.
The jacket is slim fitting but quite stretchy so not restrictive. As said the quality is decent but I wouldn't have paid £220 for it.
Thanks all. I'm good on a selection of base layers from various sources as they also go under wetsuits/dry suits so have a mix of cycling and watersports ones that are used interchangeably.
@rascal - thanks for the offer on the Endura one but 100% determined to avoid black for winter gear.
A position reinforced by having nearly been T-boned by some Muppet pulling off their drive the other week. I won't give the inept and aggressive drivers any excuses. Of course on this occasion my bike was orange, my top was bright red (fashion disaster I know!) and it was clear daylight. 🙄
I love the look of Rapha stuff but anything my size is really subdued colours. Even a vibrant blue seems to be out of the question for being in stock.
Got to find some bib longs as well as my Gore 3/4 are notably thin. January might hurt a bit.
Admin today tomorrow so will be checking out the options a bit better. 🙂
I have a castelli perfetto ros
and castelli alpha ros with a layer of insulation
The temperature guides on Castells website are pretty accurate.
Their size guides are not. I'm large in most things and XXL in castelli.
They were both massively discounted from RRP.
Every time I've been out in either they have been brilliant. Waterproof enough, warm enough, not sweaty. They are several years old and show no signs of wear, but I won't ride them anywhere except on the road.
Another vote for the Rapha Core range here. For your requirements I’d go for the winter jacket. I picked one up half price during summer last year but have worn it a fair bit this winter. It has a windproof front so good for cooler days and is noticeably thicker/warmer than their winter jersey of which I have several (which is also not windproof, so requires a gilet to do that job if needed), I wear it with a summer base layer. Shop about as they are available from other sellers.
100% determined to avoid black for winter gear
I agree.
While I shouldn't *have* to, it does seem so odd that many riders wear black/tarmac grey/dark blue at present.....
That said, I'm not a fan of luminous yellow either.
I rate my Endura Pro SL, which they no longer make, not least because it came in this highly jazzy colourway. Say no to black kit:
Sadly no longer available, so this is moot, but I still think repping for colourful cold-weather kit is important.
Rapha long sleeve merino base layer and a proteam winter jersey has been very good and tested in wind and heavy rain. Size of the proteam kit is not friendly. I’m a medium in all Rapha kit but sized up to a large for the jersey after going to the shop.
the base layer is excellent, as is their matching merino buff. Their core range is better priced but I find the jersey pockets on my long sleeve jersey too high. It’s an old Festive500 jersey so perhaps new ones have improved. You really need something windproof in the weather at the moment, so a gilet on top of a Roubaix jersey is also an option.
Ihave a variety of Rapha tops, including the winter jacket mentioned above. All bought in good condition at sensible prices on ebay, though I've picked up other stuff of theirs in their sales or on Sportpursuit.
Agree with the subdued coulors being an issue, but I always ride with day bright flashing lights as well, and a bright orange helmet.
Ihave a variety of Rapha tops, including the winter jacket mentioned above. All bought in good condition at sensible prices on ebay, though I've picked up other stuff of theirs in their sales or on Sportpursuit.
Agree with the subdued coulors being an issue, but I always ride with day bright flashing lights as well, and a bright orange helmet.
You should try wearing bib shorts to avoid that being seen.
Castelli Perfetto RoS works very well for me for the conditions the OP describes. Mine is a bright orange but it's a few years old now, so dunno if they still do bright colours.
For me a thin HH base layer with a merino mix T shirt is all I need under it for 5 degrees ish. Like the OP I'm not likely to be out if it's much colder than that.
I've had a Gore Phantom type jacket, sometimes called something else, and they are often on special, especially at the moment with them pulling out. Found it to be really good as windproof, showerproof, and also easily adaptable as can unzip and also remove sleeves to make it a short sleeves gilet almost.
Wears really well and seems to last.
Also Castelli RoS here, a bright red one, with an inner zip up liner that is gilet shaped. Worn with a Rapha LS merino base it’s good to well below zero, though I don’t ride on the road if sub zero if I can avoid it.
Yesterday I wore a craft long sleeve base layer that has a gore wind stopper panel on the front and a Castelli trail jersey that’s nice and fleecy and other than the top of my arms getting a bit cool but soon warmed up again on a couple of down hills I was plenty warm enough in 3 degree temps.
For the Perfetto advocates is that the ROS2 / ROS3 jacket?
Also the comments on sizing is that from their body profiling thing on the website or just needing to upsize on your street clothes? It's putting me in XXL using their website tool. I would be an L/XL for a shirt on the high street.
I've used this for a few years: https://www.galibier.cc/product/mistral-pro-2-cycling-jacket/
Recommended. Unless it's very cold it's fine with a base layer and a buff, and it's water resistant.
For the Perfetto advocates is that the ROS2 / ROS3 jacket?
Also the comments on sizing is that from their body profiling thing on the website or just needing to upsize on your street clothes? It's putting me in XXL using their website tool. I would be an L/XL for a shirt on the high street.
I had the original Gabba, wore it out and bought another just before they updated the design/fabric. I also have a printed RoS version (pre 2 or 3), which is not as good, rebranded as Perfetto. It's more windproof but less stretchy as it's made of a laminate Infinium rather than woven. It also has 2 rear pockets instead of 3 (less gooder) and has a more relaxed fit than the original Gabba. I was out in it today in 3°C feels like -2°C with just a Polartec Power Grid base layer and had to open some zips. I wear an Extra Large though usually M/L in normal clothes dependent on fit. I don't rely on the 'R' bit of RoS and always have a Shakedry with me.
This the RoS one I have:
I have the ROS 2 version, as per this review
https://road.cc/content/review/castelli-alpha-ros-2-jacket-mens-281295
For the Perfetto advocates is that the ROS2 / ROS3 jacket?
Also the comments on sizing is that from their body profiling thing on the website or just needing to upsize on your street clothes? It's putting me in XXL using their website tool. I would be an L/XL for a shirt on the high street.
I think when I got mine there was just 'RoS', so no idea how similar it is to a 2 or 3.
Size wise I also ended up with a XXL, and I'm usually a medium or large in normal clothes. I did get to actually try it on in a shop.
Thanks for all the help. I went for the Galibier Mistral 5 and some new long bibs as well, all for less than a Castelli top would have cost and as much as the Castelli was tempting I've got some other bike expenses coming up so saving a few £££ helps.
Teeth gnashed slightly as I had to go for the black and yellow colour scheme on the top.
I've got plans to add one of those under Garmin daytime lights under my GPS so hopefully that will offset the ninja arms a bit. 😬
No idea what it's a clone of, given it's not available these days, but the PlanetX Magma is wonderful. Both as a full winter jacket down to at least 0C, or with the arms zipped off up to approx +14C.
I've got plans to add one of those under Garmin daytime lights under my GPS so hopefully that will offset the ninja arms a bit
i always used to hate that a lot of winter gear was black but I don't think it really matters much if you you are running front and rear flashing lights in day time (not much help in low but bright sun situations I guess but not sure a brightly coloured jacket is then either). I use a Raveman FR300 front (that my Garmin sits on top of), it's main flash mode is a nice pulse rather than strobe.
As for winter jackets, I've amassed a fair collection but not found the perfect one yet. Castelli/Assos ones are designed more for if you're doing training efforts so are very breathable (for the insultation they offer) but I find them generally too cold if just zone 2 pootling (and too tight a fit for a mid layer...). Recently bought a Velocio Alpha Zero as was rated down to -17c (which I knew was BS from reviews but I figure it must be warm enough for low intensity rides around 0c). It is but given it only has insultation on the front I'm pretty sure it's only warm because it's not very breathable, any modicum of effort on a hill and it's boil in the bag zip down time. Did a 50 mile road ride in it the other day in 3c temps (with a Lusso Deep Winter base layer) and had the zip down half way any time I wasn't descending. So it sort of works but I can't help thinking it's no better than just having a cheap low breathable shell over a decent base layer...
Stolen Goat winter jacket - an earlier version of something like this https://stolengoat.com/product/mens-mashup-25-alpine-everyday-jacket/
It's lasted over 10 years now and it's only now beginning to fade / stretch around the collar.
Galibier Mistral 5 and winter bib longs turned up this week and had their first ride in 1-2C temperatures today with a spot of wind chill on top (or should that be below?).
Given the comments above I went out with just a long sleeve base layer under them as I was expecting it to be fairly toasty and I wasn't disappointed.
I was taking it fairly easy as there were (1) some really slippy bits on the shadier areas and (2) some utter clowns on the roads. I was at the cooler end of acceptable temperatures.
Not 100% windproof but very much enough that it wasn't taking my breath away.
About £160 all in for the two and for the money I can't fault the combination.
Rapha merino base, long sleeve classic jersey and a wind blocker gilet. As soon as you’re out of the wind, you can pocket the gilet. Layers are always better for me. I have a wind locker jersey too, but never use it as it’s too hot when out of the wind and whilst you can open it, it’s still not as breathable as no wind blocker.
After a lot of research and a timely discount code I’ve bought a 7mesh Spruce jacket
i debated between the 300 and 200 wt fabric but decided the 200 was a bit more flexible in terms of temperature, hence the Spruce. I’ll use it with a Brynje Bennet mesh base layer on colder days.
not waterproof but I generally don’t ride when it’s lashing down and breath ability is the most inportant thing to me. I have a few bits of 7mesh clothing and the quality is excellent. Their customer service was good too; very prompt replies and good advice
just need the snow and ice to clear a bit so I can try it out!