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THE BEST SPRING AND FALL CYCLING KIT

Riding comfortably early and late in the year means you’ll need to wear some of the best spring and fall cycling kit. Here are my recommendations for you.

For many road cyclists, the season never ends.

Those of us enthusiasts who are truly committed won’t stop riding at the end of summer.  We’ll certainly ride outside in the fall.  Depending on where we live, some will ride the roads during the winter while others grind-it-out on the trainer or do some cross-training to stay in condition.

As soon as winter fades and signs of spring emerge we’ll come out of hibernation and get on the road again.

Spring and fall riding can include cool temps, wind, wet roads, less sunlight and sometimes a combination of these conditions on the same ride.  Riding earlier and later each of the last few years, I’ve realized that trying to save some money by layering up on top of my regular summer kit just doesn’t provide the comfort and performance I want to enjoy some of the best times of the year to be on the road.

Wearing kit specifically designed to work for you when you start your road riding season a month or two early in the spring or extend it another 2-3 months into the fall and can double the time you enjoy biking outside each year and add to the amount of high-value training you can do.

This post is about helping you decide on the best spring and fall cycling kit including everything jerseys and bibs to jackets, base layers, arm and leg warmers, socks and gloves.

If you are interested in summer jerseys and bibshorts, go here.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Click on any red statement below to go directly to that part of the post

Cut, fit and comfort are the key things to consider beyond looks and price when picking spring and fall kit

You need to pick a range of kit with different performance characteristics to work in different spring and fall conditions

Here are my recommendations for the best early and late season kit

WHAT MATTERS WHEN CHOOSING SPRING AND FALL CYCLING KIT

There are a handful of things that matter most when choosing kit for any season and several that are unique to the spring/fall, summer, and winter seasons.

Looks and price are obvious starting points at any time of year because these are go/no-go considerations for a lot of us. If you like what you think a jersey or jacket or pair of bibs will look like and you can afford it, you are usually good to move on to what else matters.  If not, it doesn’t matter what else that kit has going for it.  So let’s cover looks and price first.

In general, spring and cycling fall kit don’t have as wide a range of colors and styles as you’ll see in summer.  There does seem to be, however, more than enough to choose from that runs from a basic to a distinctive look.  You’ll generally want a highly visible kit as many drivers don’t expect to see riders out on the road in March or April and the low sun and shortened days in the fall will put you in low light situations at times.  I’d stay away from black, grey or white jerseys and jackets and choose bright or high visibility colors and any kit with reflective accents that announce your presence.  High-vis shoe covers and gloves will also help you stand out as they are constantly moving and signaling your plans.

Expect to pay a bit more to kit yourself up to ride in the spring and fall.  In part that’s because you’ll find yourself buying some combination of base layers, jackets, gloves or booties in addition to jerseys and bibs.  You’ll also find that you want clothes that perform well in these cooler and often windier seasons and you can’t get away with average performing kit that you might in the summer.  But, good performing kit for spring and fall isn’t generally more expensive than good performing summer kit.

Getting cycling clothing that has the right cut for your body is key to your comfort in any season.  At the most basic level, kit will run either standard or slim.

When I say slim I’m talking about the width at your hips and shoulders.  It’s much the same as when you talk about having narrow feet.  I don’t mean “small” which would be both your width and length.  Some of the best cyclists have a slim frame or narrow feet but are tall or have the same length as other riders who have a standard or wider body.

If I put on a medium, the size I wear, in bibs that are cut for slim frames like mine, it will fit fine.  If I were put on a medium bib with a standard cut, I’ll have some room in the chamois area and around the inside of my legs, something I’m not going to find fully comfortable out on the road.

Even if you add a few pounds when you aren’t riding as much volume as you do in the summer, the added weight usually finds its way to your butt, gut and love handles.  It doesn’t make your shoulders or hips any wider.  You might want to go up a size if you find you ride a good deal heavier before and after summer but I wouldn’t suggest you go from a slim to standard cut if the slim suits you better when you are fit.

Clothing makers usually have charts to help you find the size that fits your dimensions best and whether a kit’s cut is suited to your body width.  It normally doesn’t work to just drop down a size or half size on the kit you like if it is a standard cut and you are slim or vice versa.  It’s kind of like buying shoes.  If you have narrow feet and the shoes you like are only sold in a standard width, if you try on a smaller size to compensate for the extra width, you may find the shoes are too short and your toes get crowded in the front of the shoe.

Once you know your cut and size, fit comes into play.  While recreational cyclists will often be fine with relatively loose-fitting bike clothes, most enthusiasts want a closer “race-fit” that wraps your body in high-performance materials.

Differences between race-fit kit come down to:

  • how well it moves with you (stretch),
  • how well it supports your leg muscles as they do the work (compression),
  • how unaware your skin is of the kit’s seams as you rub against them,
  • how well the bib chamois conforms to your anatomy,
  • how well your legs are gripped but not strangled by your bibs,
  • how flat and your bib straps rest and stretch with you as you get out of the saddle,
  • how flat your jersey or jacket stays against your body as you move in and out of aero positions, and
  • how well the sleeve length conforms to your arm length for a long sleeve base layer, jersey or jacket.

With the right cut kit that ‘fits’ you well, comfort is the final consideration.  Here again, some things are common to being comfortable in every season, most notably your chamois and the wicking and breathability of the clothing layer closest to your skin.  Some of what matters most are quite different between summer and spring/fall kit.

Summer kit is mostly a question of whether and what kind of base layer to wear under very breathable, sweat removing, soft and stretchy jerseys and bibs.  If you are heading out on your summer ride very early or ending it late, you might also bring leg or arm warmers to cope with a 10-15F/5-8C temperature change.  You might also stuff a rain jacket or vest/gilet in your back pocket if a shower is possible.

For spring and fall road riding you still need kit that breathes and removes your sweat, but you also need additional capabilities built in to make you comfortable in these seasons.  Bib shorts or tights, for example, should have fleece-lined material to keep you warm in cooler temps.  When you ride on windy days, you’ll want the jerseys, jackets and even base layers with wind-resistant materials in their front torso and shoulder panels, and bibshorts and bib tights to have similar materials in your crotch, knee, and front leg areas.  Some jackets and bib tights have water-repellant materials or treatments that will protect you for a while when you are riding on wet roads or when it’s misting, drizzling or you get caught in a shower.

HOW I SELECTED THE KIT FOR THIS REVIEW

High-performance, higher-priced clothing tends to build in better performance, more functionality and more versatility to work in different conditions than lower cost kit.

That said, you can’t really choose a couple of jerseys and bib shorts to serve you across all the situations you’ll be riding in during the spring and fall.  Instead, you almost need a small wardrobe of kit of slightly different weights and materials to cover the range of temperature, wind and moisture conditions you’ll ride in during the spring and fall seasons.  That’s what I tried to pick to test for this review.

Since I couldn’t do a good job of comparing five brands of cycling clothing for the variety of different spring and fall weather (for example, jerseys for cool, wind-free days, jackets for colder, windy days, bib tights for drizzly weather, etc.), I picked a number of kit pieces to test that my research suggested could become part of a seasonal wardrobe I could recommend one to you.

Living in the northeastern US, these seasons cover temps that range from near freezing (35F/2C) to quite pleasantly refreshing (55F/13C), sometimes in the same day.  We’ll see wind-free days and on others winds that can blow steady up to 10mph/16kmph with gust up to twice that.  Especially in the spring, we’ll get our fair share of damp weather and unexpected showers, and plenty of low sun and low light conditions in the fall.  Sometimes I think I’d be better off skiing or sailing, two of my other favorite things to do those times of the year, were it not for their training benefits being limited mostly to wrist curls.

Not all this kit is high-priced, but some of it is.  It’s all fit for performance – not loose, low-budget, underperforming stuff.  Riding poor fitting clothes, beyond slowing you down, can be quite uncomfortable as they can trap the cold or won’t wick well or don’t move with you when it’s cool or damp or windy outside.  Not fun.  I want kit that will work well in the conditions we’re riding in and don’t want to put you or me through the ordeal of discovering that we’re wearing underperforming clothes when we’ve already committed to ride, enjoy our time on the road, and get a good workout in.

Working through the various kit reviews in much the same order I’d get dressed, here are my reviews.

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BASE LAYER

The Craft Active Extreme X Wind Baselayer (USD$54/£48/€58 market price; Merlin, Chain Reaction Cycles, Wiggle) is best down to the coldest temps.  It has a crew neck and uses the Gore Windstopper fabric in the front torso panels and across the front and back shoulders. That material is a little crinkly when you put it on and a little less stretchy but those things are soon forgotten when you get up and riding. If you are wearing a jersey or light jacket with a wind-resistant front panel, it’s somewhat redundant but I’ve found that there are quite a few jerseys and jackets that don’t have any wind resistance so this gives you that fail-safe if you find yourself out on a windy day.

Long Sleeve Fall Spring Base Layers

While the Craft fits snug, the Assos Skinfoil Spring/Fall Long-Sleeve Base Layer (USD$95/£60/€68; Competitive Cyclist) is a closer “skin” fit and is seamless around the torso.  It has some small ribbing woven into the fabric across the chest, back and shoulders which make my skin tingly when I first put it on. It’s a good feeling, kind of like my base layer telling me it’s “go time.” I imagine it’s there to keep some of the heat in while still wicking the sweat.  Regardless of the reason, it works

(I know, snug, crinkly, stretchy, and tingly are just the kind of high-tech terms you can’t get enough of.  If I had more descriptive ones, I’d use them!  I try to stay clear of the blizzard of tech gobble-dee-gook used by the apparel makers that make everything sound way cool but don’t pass through the hype filter for helpfulness.)

Both these base layers breathe and wick quite well.  The Assos is mostly (82%) polypropylene with the rest polyester while the Craft is all polyester with the wind-resistant panel woven over top of it in the torso.  The Craft has a vertical channel weave while the Assos is a very small diamond one.  Despite these material and weave differences, I didn’t find any difference in their wicking abilities – both first-rate.

Each works well under close-fitting jerseys and jackets and with thermal bibs that have quite a bit of mesh fabric coming up the back, the kind that most enthusiasts will wear this time of year.  They are as thin as a late spring or summer base layer.

With all that’s going for these two, I have two simple considerations when choosing between them – which one is clean and then what’s the temp and wind like outside.  The cooler and windier it is, the more likely I’ll wear the Craft.  If it’s a moderate spring or fall day with temps in the low-40s or higher and without much wind, I’ll go with the Assos.

If it’s in the 50F/10C range or you run hot down to 45F/7C and there’s little wind, an inexpensive mid-weight polyester short sleeve base layer is plenty.

The Endura Transrib Long Sleeve Baselayer (USD$55/£36/€40 MSRP/RRP; Tredz 10% off with code ITKTDZ10, Chain Reaction Cycles, Wiggle) is a looser fit alternative to the Craft and Assos.  In addition to its attractive price, I enjoyed the Transrib’s comfortable, moderately warm, and good wicking base layer.  It doesn’t fit skin tight like the Assos and wasn’t as warm as the Craft, but it’s a solid performer to have around as an extra base layer for cycling and other outdoor sports or just to wear around the house on a cool day.

The sleeves run nice and long on this base layer and the cut allows for plenty of unrestricted movement in and out of aero, upright and out-of-the-saddle positions.  It covers the lower part of your neck just up to your Adam’s Apple and has a breathable panel covering the nape of your neck. These same kinds of panels run the length of your sides up to your armpits.

The front, rear, and arm materials are more tightly woven but still have a lot of give.  The body of the Transrib has a roughly even mix of polypropylene and nylon with the bulk of the seams facing outside the base layer rather than resting against your torso and arms.  It breathes well and keeps me from overheating or getting sweaty even when I’m doing a max effort ride like high-intensity intervals or hill repeats.

BIB SHORTS

In this section and the next, I’ve reviewed a collection of bib shorts and bib tights that are each best suited to a different combination of temperature ranges, wind, or wet conditions during the spring and fall seasons.  Rather than getting a few pair that essentially perform well in the same conditions, I suggest you get two or three different bibs that perform best against the two or three types of different conditions you are likely to experience where you ride.

In my case, for example, we don’t get as much rain as riders in the UK and I don’t go out if I think it is going to be wet.  So I don’t have a need for water-resistant tights.  About half the time it’s pretty windy in the spring and fall but the other half, there’s almost no wind.  So I want at least one pair of bibs with some protection from the wind.  Finally, I’m also happy to get on the trainer when it gets much below 40F/4C so I’ll only need one pair of bib tights for those occasions when I do go out on days below those temps.  Instead, I’ll use two or three pairs of bib shorts in my normal kit rotation for warmer days.

Everyone has different tolerances to heat and cold and some of us run hot or cold ourselves compared to our cycling friends.  So knowing yourself is important too in figuring out what to get.  As a reference point, I’ve reviewed the kit in this post as someone who is probably slightly more tolerant to cold than what I see in my fellow riders and as one who doesn’t run particularly hot or cold compared to them.

The shorts in this section are all considered “thermal bibs”.  They have fleece type lining in parts or all of their panels and are designed to keep you warm in colder temps.  Using some embro cream instead of leg warmers, I found the thermal bib shorts I reviewed for this post warm and comfortable down to the 45F/7C range without much wind.

I’ll bring a pair of leg warmers if it is going to go below this temp or I’m likely to encounter some wind during the ride.  With those on, you can ride these bibs down below freezing temps.  They are that warm.  If I know it’s going to stay in the 45F/7C range or get cooler I’ll just go with a pair of bib tights like those in the next section.

Whether to deal with warmers at all is also a personal choice.  I’m not a fan of leg or arm warmers in part because I’ve never found them as comfortable around the knees, elbows, and grippers as bib tights or a long sleeve jersey and also because I hate carrying extra gear just “in case”.  If I’m starting a ride on a cool spring or fall morning that I know is going to warm up considerably or in mid-afternoon when you know it’s going to cool down a lot, yes, I’ll bring them.

Also, while I get the idea behind knickers – cover the knee tendons and ligaments that are sensitive to cold but don’t restrict the calf muscles that are less so – they’ve always seemed like an indecisive choice and a piece of kit that are hard to fit right.

But, hey, I get that everyone is different and that you may love knickers or carry arm and leg warmers for the ultimate flexibility they provide. So here are enough choices to suit whatever way you prefer to cover and uncover yourself for spring and fall riding.

Gore C7 Gore-Tex Infinium Bib Short+ ($190/£165 Competitive Cyclist, Tredz 10% off with code ITKTDZ10)

I tested Gore’s Oxygen thermal bib shorts a couple of years back and found them wind resistant, warm and comfortable but with a boxy cut, loose grippers, and an average chamois. They seemed a bit pieced together and not as well-executed as those from Assos, Castelli and others.

The Gore-Tex Infinium Bib Short+ couldn’t be more different from the earlier Gore bibs I reviewed.

First, they clearly are a stretch fit. From the 2.5″, 65mm tall grippers up through the lengthwise leg seams, around the inner thighs and up the lower back, they fit you like a comfortable, tailored glove.

Gore C7 Gore-Tex Infinium Bib Short+ cycling clothing

Adding to this warm embrace of a fit is a mesh base layer that’s sewn into the top of the bib shorts to create the feel and fit of a one-piece cycling suit. They keep every part of the shorts in place without the need for waist, back or love-handle cross elastic sections the way few bib shorts with straps I’ve worn ever have.

Mind you, I’ve have never had the need for or dared show up at a group ride wearing a one-piece suit. Those are for racers rather than mere mortal road cycling enthusiasts like me. But after loving the fit and comfort of this Gore one-piece-like bib short, and knowing that I’ll wear a jersey over top of it, I’d wear one-piece bib shorts like this one over those with even the best straps eight days a week.

Add to this a chamois pad that’s ample and thins nicely at the edges and 3/8″, 10mm wide, reflective taped seams running down the front of each leg and covering the gripper seams in the rear. It’s extremely well thought out and executed.

Oh yeah. About the Gore-Tex Infinium with Windstopper Technology (long-*ss-name) fabric. Of course, it’s part of the package too.

With that fabric, I feel I can wear these bibs fall, spring or summer, almost no matter the weather. The Windstopper part keeps them warm without the need for thermal or fleece lining down to the mid 40F range no matter the wind or weather. Below that, I’d probably put on some leg warmers.

While they are perhaps best suited for 50-65F/10-18C days regardless of the breeze or precipitation, I found myself quite comfortable wearing them when the temperature rose up to 75F/24C on a windy fall day. They breathe well enough to do that.

Had Buzz Lightyear had the chance to wear these, his famous catchphrase might have changed to something like: To Infinium and Beyond!

BIB TIGHTS

Castelli Sorpasso Bib Tights (USD$149/£165/€180; Competitive Cyclist, Merlin, Chain Reaction Cycles)

While I can and prefer to ride with the total freedom bib shorts provide on most spring and fall days, the Castelli Sorpasso bib tights are the reason I don’t hesitate to cover them if I’m going to do a recovery ride or am unsure just how cold a fall or spring ride it’s going to be.  I find they are nearly as comfortable as riding with shorts and a lot more comfortable than wearing leg warmers.

Are you thinking that I haven’t found a good pair of leg warmers yet?  Perhaps.  Certainly nothing as comfortable as these bib tights.  Or perhaps you are wondering if these are so loose from the knees down that they feel free to me?  Hardly.
castellli-sorpasso-tights-inside-and-out

No, what I love about these slim-cut bib tights starts with a great chamois pad that both cushions in the right spots and provides great coverage in colder temps and ends with uncannily aligned movement and compression from straps to stirrups.  (Well not actually stirrups; there aren’t any stirrups in bib tights of course.  I was just looking for a phrase that meant top to bottom without actually using that overused phrase.)

Tights are awfully hard to get right.  More than just integrating the cut, fit, and comfort of bib shorts with added material that runs the length of your legs, you’ve got to figure out how to give unrestricted range of motion so the front and sides of your knees to do their thing without having material bunch up or irritate the back of them.  You also need to have the leg material flare to make room for your calves yet also taper the bottoms to get a snug fit above your ankles.  And all of this with an equivalent amount of compression from quad to calf.

That’s hard enough to explain.  I can’t imagine how hard it is to pull off.  With material panels that widen as they angle to the outside of each knee, another piece on each leg that runs from your hamstring to just above your calf and a third that wraps the calf, the Sorpasso pulls of the combination of fit and comfort that moves with you, provides even compression, breathes, wicks and keeps you warm throughout these seasons.  It’s well thought out and executed, right down to the elastic closures at the bottom of the legs and the tab you can hold with one hand as you pull on the zipper with the other.

Yes, zippers.  I prefer them as you don’t have to worry about getting your foot through the narrow ankle opening at the bottom.  Zippers all do a good job of keeping the cold from getting in the tights from riding up your leg.

There are several models of Sorpasso bib tights to choose from. I wear the Sorpasso 2 which lacking wind or water-resistant materials as a moderate temp spring or fall bib. Castelli also makes a Sorpasso 2 Wind Bib Tights for real windy or near freezing day. The newest models are the Sorpasso RoS and Sorpasso RoS Wind, good for rain and wind yet still very breathable. They are a bit more expensive but not a whole lot different in design.

I’d make sure you take care to drain your main vein before heading out – the front panel is cut below your belly button but has non-elastic piping across the top that doesn’t make it easy to gain access without removing the straps.  The straps themselves are thin, work fine, but aren’t anything special.  The mesh back panel doesn’t even try to handle the job of wicking, delegating that to your base layer rather than trying to compete with it.  Makes sense

Their Sorpasso full retail price can be quite high but you can usually find them on sale at 2/3rds that price including at the stores with good customer satisfaction ratings like the ones I’ve provided links for above.

Santini Adapt Bib Tights ($265/€230 and available through Santini’s online store)

I seem to be quite comfortable wearing thermal, fleece-lined bib shorts down to about 40 degrees and putting on some embro or leg warmers only if it’s windy. Maybe it’s my bull-headed sense of manhood.

Santini’s Adapt Bib Tights were a welcome surprise. The Polartec fabric makes for breathable, full-leg protection without being as thick and stiff as many winter tights.

The wool-like material used in the wide upper back panel and the fleece used for the lower back panel that continues down either side of the amply-sized chamois pad made my back, inner thighs and privates quite comfortable. More simply said, things are warm and happy where it matters most.

Santini Adapt Bib Tights

While I wore the medium, the legs ran long for my 5’10” height. There are no zippers to synch down the tights just above the ankle and I had to pull the extra material up above my knees to keep the tights from puckering below my them. Even doing that and with no panel cuts around the knees, there was a bit of bunching behind them. While I found that irritating when first setting off on a ride, the suffering in my legs and lungs during a good workout usually made this (and all else) fade in comparison.

A reflective patch of diagonal pinstripes surrounding the Santini logo covers the lower legs of these bibs. I also liked the straps that do the job of keeping the seat in place while being light and unobtrusive. The straps stretch enough for easy pee access even with the bibs covering my stomach and the love handles.

Sportful Fiandre NoRain Bib Tights (USD$220/£150/€180; Competitive Cyclist, Chain Reaction, Wiggle)
Sportful doesn’t run as slim cut as Castelli, Santini and other classically Italian kit but it’s not quite a standard width either.  Somewhere in between the two.  It does size a little short.  If you are nearly 6 foot or 1.8 meters tall, as is Nate who tested these, you’ll likely want to go a size larger to get the length you need.  Switching from a medium to a large provided the right length while not being loose around his 32” waist.

As the name suggests, these bibs are designed for wet conditions, best shedding water in a mist, drizzle or even steady rain better than others we’ve tried.  They also come with a pull-out rain panel that runs across your butt that looks a little silly with the bright red vertical line highlighting your crack.

sportful-bib-tights-combo-photo

Sportful bib tights and its rear rain panel

However, as Nate found, the panel avoided that instant soggy feeling when he was caught in the rain without having put on his rear fender.  There’s also extra NoRain material added around the knees and thighs that don’t hinder (or highlight) your lower body functions or comfort.

These Sportful bib tights aren’t just for wet weather through.  They are breathable and all-around comfortable in dry spring and fall conditions too.  Key to their comfort is the bib’s first-rate chamois.  Its thickness varies, putting extra padding where it should be and avoiding it where it doesn’t provide any extra benefit.

A couple of things to point out that the experience of wearing these bibs many times in different conditions reveals.  First, pull the tight closing zipper away from your leg before you zip or unzip it unless you shave your legs year-round.  Second, the bib straps aren’t the softest so are best worn with a base layer, no matter how warm out.

That said, these have become a favorite of Nate’s, one that he wears from 50F/10C through winter’s sub-freezing temps and precipitation long after I’ve retreated to the trainer.

JERSEYS

The difference between a spring/fall jersey and a jacket seems to be in the eye of the beholder or perhaps the torso of the rider.  Personally, I consider a jersey to be a relatively thin layer worn over a short or long sleeve base layer.  A jacket, on the other hand, is made to be warmer and more weather resistant than a jersey and something I would wear over a jersey or a heavier base layer.

There doesn’t seem to be a common view on this, however.  Some clothing companies call what I would call a jersey a jacket and vice versa.  What I’ve done in this and the next section on jackets is to group them the way I just explained it rather than what companies call them.

Unless your body runs really cold, you should be able to stay warm and repel the wind in the spring and fall with the jerseys below down to somewhere between 40F/4C and 45F/7C.  On warmer days, go with a short sleeve base layer.  On cooler ones, use a long sleeve base layer like those I reviewed above.

Castelli Perfetto Light 2 and RoS Light Short Sleeve Jerseys (From USD$111/£99/€114 MSRP/RRP; Competitive Cyclist, Merlin, Chain Reaction Cycles, Tredz 10% off with code ITKTDZ10) The Perfetto comes in short and long sleeve models and a convertible jacket.  I bought and am reviewing the short sleeve one here for those warmer spring and fall days when it’s too cool to wear a summer jersey without a wind vest but too warm to put on a long sleeve jersey.

castelli-perfetto-light-shrot-sleeve-jerseyI like that the Perfetto comes in a range of bright and fluorescent front panels for the lower light conditions in these seasons.  They also make it in standard, more muted colors.

The price is quite reasonable compared to other spring/fall jerseys when you consider that you can usually find a 20% off Castelli sale of going several times a year.

The Perfetto has Gore fabrics built into the front and is very breathable out the back.  You should wear a base layer at the lower temperature range, however, as I found your back can get cool after sweating without the warmth of a base layer

While the Perfetto is comfortable and warm for me down to around 50F/10C even with a little wind, it also is comfortable into the low to mid-60s F, mid to high-teens C range without overheating.  I don’t like to cover my arms in this temperature range and prefer the close fit of the Perfetto jersey over the looser fit of a vest over a summer weight jersey.

If you are one that regulates your comfort with arm warmers and a vest that you put on or take off during a ride but want to eliminate that hassle, I’d suggest one of the long sleeve jerseys below rather than the long sleeve Perfetto.

As with other Castelli gear, the Perfetto is cut for slim riders.  Fit ones at that.  You might want to order your normal size and a size larger and see which one fits better.  If you ride in the spring a few pounds or kgs over your normal summer weight, definitely get it a size larger than normal.

Gore C5 Gore-Tex Infinium Jersey ($140/£100/€100 Competitive Cyclist, Tredz 10% off with code ITKTDZ10)

If you know the history and adoration among cyclists for Castelli’s iconic Gabba jerseys and jackets and their Perfetto successors, both made with Gore-Tex materials, you’ll appreciate the value of having a jersey that you can put on and be confident it will comfortably protect you when fickle spring or fall weather turns windy or rainy.

When you then look at the C5 Gore-Tex Infinium Jersey, you’ll recognize it’s designed to compete with the Castelli models.

After wearing the Gore jersey, however, I noticed some key differences that for me, make it more versatile.

Perhaps most importantly, the C5 Gore-Tex Infinium Jersey is cut fuller than the Castelli models. Better said, the C5 is cut right. Even when I’m in my best shape, and that’s certainly not the case in the Spring and usually not in the Fall, I’ve got very little room to breathe in my medium size Perfetto, the same size that fits me just fine on so-called Italian cut kit including other Castelli jerseys and jackets.

Gore C5 Gore-Tex Infinium Jersey

The C5 isn’t loose but it does offer room for the mesh base layer integrated into the C7 bib shorts. There’s also room to put a short or long sleeve base layer over top the mesh for cooler days or to make the short sleeve C5 comfy down into the low 40s if you want to use arm warmers.

Part of that extra room also comes around the neck. The scallop-shaped collar offers me a bit too much room unless I’m wearing a base layer with a taller neck than normal.

The C5 jersey sleeves are 1.5 inches longer and have superior grippers to the Perfetto. This lands them south of where my biceps would be if I had some, providing more arm coverage and warmth.

While they both have a silicone waistband, the Perfetto one wraps my entire waist while the C5 silicone stretches only across the back. Below it, the Perfetto’s tailpiece is a good deal longer and wider than the C5’s.

If you are using your Gore-Tex jersey in the rain, you’ll get far more coverage of your backside with the Perfetto. When the roads are dry and you don’t need it down, there’s less of it to store with the C5.

These fit and cut differences lead me to be more likely to pull out the C5 jersey for a ride on a cool, windy, dry day. I’ve got good options on how to layer underneath it. When it’s somewhere between 55F to 65F and with a chance of a shower, I’ll go with the Perfetto.

This jersey comes in neon yellow, red, and black.

JACKETS

Assos Mille GT Jacket Spring Fall ($189/£165/€187 from Competitive Cyclist, Chain Reaction Cycles, and Wiggle)

Nate reviewed this jacket. Here’s his take.

The Mille GT Jacket Spring Fall is somewhat different than others I’ve worn, insofar as it has windproof panels across only the chest, rather than completely windproof or not at all. I figured it might work nicely as a replacement for my usual approach in this temp range: an LS base layer, SS jersey, plus sleeveless wind vest (for mornings when 50 or below, but not usually in afternoons when warmer). Also, sometimes I opt for arm warmers and a sleeveless base layer instead of the LS base layer… but arm warmers have their own inconveniences, especially with biceps as non-existent as mine.

On my first ride, I opted to try the Mille GT Jacket as an LS jersey rather than a jacket and wore it with only a sleeveless (summer) base layer. This would have probably worked nicely but there was one problem- the windproof panels don’t extend quite far enough into the shoulder and armpit region, and thus those areas felt cold and drafty. So future rides I kept the SS jersey on and used it more like the light jacket for which it is marketed.

Overall, it’s a high-quality jacket, but whether or not it’s ideal (versus my traditional approach) comes down to expectations on temp changes over the course of a long ride (or full day in case of my AM/PM commutes). With this jacket, you’ve committed to both the arm cover (which you would otherwise get from an LS base layer) AND also the wind block (which you would otherwise get using a vest).

Depending on how you look at it, this jacket provides some flexibility on the arm cover (easier to take off than to carry extra base layer to swap) but takes it away on the wind-block (relative to a separate wind vest). First world problems obviously, but if you’re interested in just one piece of kit (i.e. you don’t like layering) and you don’t expect much temp change and want to lightly cover arms and provide a windbreak only at the chest, this is a perfect solution. It’s just not that hard to get the same solution with separate pieces of kit, IMO- so again, this is more of a niche solution like the knickers.

Certainly, this jacket can be a layer under other warmer pieces as the temps drop further… it’s not at all bulky (even the windproof part) and there is no excess material, so unlike the knickers (which one is unlikely to layer), this is still a very useful piece across a lower range of temps.

Again, this Mille GT Jacket fits me very well. The arm length and cuff diameter is great, it’s cut about 1″ shorter than I would like on the front at the waist, but it has good coverage across the back.

There are a couple of other design details that I appreciate.

  • It has one large central and two smaller side pockets, instead of 3 equal-sized pockets like most kit. This is nice if you’ve got a bulkier jacket which you want to shed and stash in the middle of a warming ride. The wider pocket gives you this flexibility without making you feel like you’re over-stuffing a standard pocket.
Assos Mille GT Jacket Spring Fall

The Assos jacket label prevents stretching or denting your jacket’s material when hung on a hook

  • I hang my jackets on hooks.  Other jackets tend to get stretched and malformed right below the neck-line by the weight of the jacket pulling on the “sharp” hook. This jacket has an extra plastic panel sewn in just the right spot to reinforce against hook stretch. Smart!

You can get the Mille GT Jacket in a range of front panel and sleeve colors including black, white, yellow, red, and blue.

Santini Vega Multi Jacket ($322 available at Santini’s online store)

Jackets are often singularly designed for either rain, wind resistance, as a long-sleeve jersey alternative or for winter warmth. The Vega doesn’t fit any of these descriptions yet approaches several of them at the same time.

Breathable was the one-word description that kept coming to mind as I wore this jacket in different cool weather situations. The Vega Multi Jacket’s Polartec fabric is not as impenetrable to wind as Gore-Tex, but it breathes just as well. It doesn’t totally block out the moisture the way a dedicated rain jacket would, but it breathes the way most don’t.

You’ll be warmer wearing the Vega than you would a long-sleeve jersey and cooler than with a winter jacket using the same base layer you’d normally wear under those. However, if you wear a lighter or heavier base layer, you can dial in the Vega for the conditions you are riding in a way you can’t with the others.

Santini Vega Multi Jacket Cycling Clothing

On warmer days, say 50F with no wind, I’ll wear a light, short sleeve base layer with this jacket. On cooler or windy days, I’ll put on a long-sleeve, heavier base layer or one with wind-stopping fabric across my torso under the Vega.

If I’m using these cooler months to seriously train rather than just get some extra miles in, my body is going to throw off enough heat that I need a breathable jacket. That’s what the Vega provided me.

Wearing a medium, I found the Vega a close, comfortable fit around my 5’10”, 146 lb body. The jacket’s arms were a bit short on the bike and the cuffs were loose around my wrists. While this did give me the option of tucking my gloves under the cuffs, I much prefer a jacket that has stretch cuffs to seal off any air coming in.

There’s a nice, 35mm wide baffle under the zipper and a form-fitting butt cover. Both of these help in wet weather. I did find the equally long Santini medal pendant a bit annoying on my chin when I got down in aero position.

Santini Vega Multi Jacket

I loved the visibility of the bright orange color, especially in the low light months. The pockets are also deeper than most which make room for an extra set of gloves I like to carry for variable conditions and the extra tube, tools, and food I’ll pack for some early season gravel rides. The center pocket also has a handy zip sleeve for keys and other valuables

The Vega Multi Jacket comes in orange with black highlights and black with orange highlights in both men’s and women’s sizes.

Castelli Alpha RoS Jacket (From USD$279/£290/€332; Competitive Cyclist, Merlin)

The Alpha is clearly a Castelli jacket made to be worn over a jersey or thermal base layer.  With its range of insulation and ventilation options at the throw of a couple of zippers, it best suits me at temps from 25F/-4C to 50F/10 though I’ve ridden it comfortably on days when it warms up above that range. (They also make a Light version.)  I’d expect you could take it out on colder days but I’d rather be on skis and indeed have worn it comfortably under a winter coat in far lower temps while out on the slopes.

castelli-alpha-jacket-front-and-insideIt has a robust Gore wind-breaking outer layer, something I’ve found quite nice when you are riding in crosswinds or into 10-15mph headwinds created either by Mother Nature or your own foolishness going downhill in near-freezing conditions.  And when I get caught out in cold rain or even a snow squall in the late fall or early winter, it was sure nice to have an outer layer that resists the precip as well as my ski parka but that still rides with the fit of a jersey.

Let’s just say I’m a pretty fearless male once I put the Alpha on.  Maybe that’s where the jacket’s name came from.

Interestingly, the Alpha weighs the lightest of all Castelli’s jackets for this temperature range yet it offers the most insulation and breathability in their line and is the only one with Gores’s top windproof fabric.  I’m not quite sure how they accomplish all of that but it sure works for me.  It’s got mesh and a covered vent across your upper back to let the heat out that direction and a separate zippered insulating inner layer that allows you to open the front of your wind-protecting outer layer without exposing the cold to your base layer.

This venting system keeps you from overheating and sweating if you are doing a hard turn or cranking it out going uphill. Castelli even thought to offset the zippers so there’s no interference between them.  It’s really quite ingenious.

Despite the Alpha’s colder weather rating, it’s still form-fittingly snug so you are best riding it with your elbows and back bent.  As with all Castelli kit, this one is cut for the slim riders among us.  I seldom wear it with anything thicker than a thermal base layer and the “fit like a glove” and breathable comfort gives me a similar feeling to riding in the summer despite the temp being half of what it is during that season.

While it lacks any reflective accents, I find the red version to be quite loud for daytime riding.  It comes in black and more muted steel blue and grey options, none of which will stand out like the red I favor.

While often on sale well below the MSRP/RRP, the Alpha is not cheap to start off with.  For me, its range and comfort and the likelihood I’ll wear it for a good number of years and many days each of those years has made it one of the best deals amongst all my spring and fall cycling kit.

Chances are you’ve heard and read a lot of great things about this jacket.  This is one case where the performance lives up to the hype, or where you can ignore the hype and just enjoy the performance and value.

ACCESSORIES

I haven’t done a comparative review of warmers, gloves, socks, booties and the like.  But, for those of you who may wonder what I use (and to pre-empt your questions with answers), here are the accessories I wear.

SOCKS – I have lousy circulation in my feet and hands, probably as a result of getting frostbite a few too many times while out skiing.  I use DeFeet Woolie Boolie Socks (Competitive Cyclist, Wiggle, Amazon)  which are half and half merino wool and nylon with a little bit of lycra mixed in.  They are so damn comfortable and warm, I wear them around the house instead of slippers in the winter and they fit fine into my summer cycling shoes.

woolie-boolie-and-booties

These keep my feet toast warm

BOOTIES – Staying with the keep it warm and visible theme, I use a pair of neon yellow Gore Overshoes (Competitive CyclistAmazon).  They are a great fit over top of my shoes, the under-shoe strap is pretty durable and they cinch up nicely up and easily.  With these and the Woolie Boolies, I can wear my summer shoes without my feet getting cold.

GLOVES – I use Craft Hybrid Weather Gloves (Competitive Cyclist, Amazon) for spring and fall days when it’s just a bit too cool to wear fingerless gloves.  They are warm but thin and have a nice wind-proof mitten cover you can pull out from a small zip pocket atop the glove if it starts getting cool.  I’ve got the fluoro yellow model but they also come in neon green, hot pink and basic black.  They are inexpensive and do the trick.

glove-options

Craft for cool days; Gore for cold ones

On the coldest or wet spring and fall days that I ride, I pull out my Gore-Tex Gloves (Competitive Cyclist, Wiggle).  They are very warm without being clammy or thick.  The top side has a Gore-Tex cover which deflects the wind, the inside is fleece and the underside is leather.  They’ve also got a nice cuff that covers my wrist and cinches up with Velcro.  The leather takes a bit of breaking in and there are probably warmer gloves out there but these work for me.  They do run small so might want to order a size up in addition to your normal size and return the pair that doesn’t fit after trying them both on.

LEG AND ARM WARMERS – I’ll admit to being a Castelli fanboy. Not because they send me kit to demo (they don’t) but because I love nearly every piece of Castelli I’ve ever worn. The cut works for me, the design is first-rate, the fit and comfort are great and their kit, while expensive, is usually on sale at a price that makes it a great value for the level of performance I get out of it and the number of times I wear it.

That said, I’ve tried Pearl Izumi and Gore leg warmers.  The former was really priced right but lost their shape and didn’t stay up after wearing them a dozen times one spring and the later just didn’t stretch well enough being made of the Windstopper fabric and it bunched up behind my knees.  Talk about wrecking your ride!

leg-and-arm-warmers

Once I learned about using embro cream – (Competitive Cyclist)  – I’ve pretty much limited the number of times I use leg warmers.

I do have a pair of Castelli Leg Warmers (Competitive CyclistChain Reaction CyclesTredz 10% off with code ITKTDZ10, Tweeks Cycles) for those days when I’m headed out on 3-hour or longer spring or fall rides and have no idea what the weather will be like on the way.

I’m even more unlikely to use arm warmers but do have a pair of …. wait for it…. yes, Castelli Arm Warmers (Competitive Cyclist, Chain Reaction Cycles).

* * * * *

Thank you for reading.  Please let me know what you think of anything I’ve written or ask any questions you might have in the comment section below.

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Thanks, and enjoy the ride!

101 comments

  • Great article as usual. We ride all year long here in the NW, gets dicey in the wet and cold but with the proper gear anything is possible. Appreciate the info on the bib tights, need to add a pair to the arsenal.

  • I ride with a club year round in the northern NY suburbs and CT. Many of us ride the roads down to about 30 F. Below that we’ll do dirt road rides and MTB rides down into the teens. Snow is not a deterrent on the dirt or in the woods if it’s packed. I wear a Castelli Espresso 3 that I bought at the end of last season. Wonderful jacket, even better than the Gore Phantom it replaced. For what used to be known as underwear, I wear Under Armour Cold Gear. It’s warm, has good compression and is usually less than cycling specific gear. I have Capo knickers and Descente tights that keep the wind off me. I use ski hats and gloves when it’s really cold. I want to give a shout out for knickers; I use them extensively in the shoulder seasons. I don’t want to worry about warmers sliding around. Thanks for your dedication and hard work Steve.

  • Enjoyed the article, I’m lucky enough to live in Sydney Australia where riding year round is pretty easy.

    Right now is coming out of summer so I’ll start to wear a few heavier weight jerseys. In Winter you can usually get by with arm warmers, full finger gloves, and a gillet for the coldest days.

  • Very informative article. I live here in NYC where we’ve had a winter where temps ranged from 25-60 degrees for highs.
    I am a winter rider. I am loathe to get get on a trainer and hammer out simulated miles while a fan blows warm air over me. But I’m tired of putting on up to 4 layers for my 15 mile commute when the temp drops down to 20 degrees.
    The Castelli Alpha jacket seems like a good alternative for those days when the temps start out cold in the morning then warm up when it’s time to head home. That coupled with the Sorpasso tights and a pait of new booties would solve my problem with varying daytime temps.

  • I will amend the old saying, “There is no bad weather, just bad clothing,” for our purposes as cyclists to “There are no bad days to ride, just not enough gear.” I’m sure we can fix all of our needs with Steve’s excellent reviews. New bibs would make things more comfortable, while new gloves and a riding jacket would extend the season.

  • Hello Steve,

    1) Fortunatelly where I live the winter is not too bad, but the summer can sometimes be very hot. The good thing is that you can keep riding outside the entire year.

    2) The kit would be from castelli – aero race bibs and aero jersey or a climber jersey

    Thanks!

  • Patrice Tremblay

    Hi Steve and big thanks for the informative content.
    1) We’ve had a pretty mild winter here in Montreal with lots of rain, so the streets are already “ice free”. As far as being clean, that’s another story… I usually start riding end of March/beginning of April, but it might be earlier this year, we’ll see. I usually stop in November, when snow starts hanging around…
    2) Any kit that is not too warm. I usually underdress and bring an extra layer, just in case.

    Thanks!

  • I’m fortunate enough to ride in the Pacific Northwest, where the outdoor cycling season is rarely put on hold for those of us dedicated enough to ride in the dark and drizzly winter.

    Unfortunately I haven’t been able to purchase proper winter cycling gear, so I’m liking forward to a good set of gloves and a water-resistant breathable jacket.

    Thank you for the awesome info, I always enjoy the reviews.

    Cheers!

  • a)
    I’m basically riding all year since the climate in Kyoto allows for it. During the winter it’s on the CX bike in fear of snow and ice. Real road riding would start around March until December.

    b)
    Warmer long sleeve base layers, merino wool socks, leg warmers or winter tights depending on temperatures, Belgian hats to cover my ears, a storable rain jacket (very important!), thicker gloves, a snood, shoe covers, toe heat packs. An insulated gilet would top it off since you loose all the heat upon descending. Building up heat and sweat climbing makes it mandatory to get that sweat away so the kit should be breathing up to a degree.

  • (A) I’m already getting outdoors on the weekends as Spring has arrived in Central China! But it is still nippy and if I want to ride year round, which I do, (B) what I really want is a waterproof, windproof jacket that can keep me warm. A good one of those will take up most of the voucher! It’s wet and windy here on the plains of China, so if there is any money left, I’d also love a pair of good shoe covers to keep my feet warm. I tried to buy a budget pair, but the zipper fell apart, so I’m going to take the wise choice and follow your advice on a better set.

    Like you said, layering up just isn’t cutting it so far and I end up uncomfortable when I should be having fun.

  • I really hope that I will be able to ride already at the end of this month, but if weather will not be favorable I’ll must postpone start of the season to April. My outside season normally ends in October.
    During those months any of cycling apparrarel would come in handy, as currently I don’t own a lot of cycling specific clothes. Most welcome will probably be arm and leg warmers, since than I’ll be able to supplement my short sleeve jersey and short bibs, which would allow me to cycle even in the slightly colder days.
    Other wish for me is to own very light and packable rain jacket, that brief rain showers won’t be able to make my rides uncomfortable.

  • I’m hoping to ride starting this week! The unbelievable snow we’ve had here in the Pacific Northwest (Vancouver, BC to be exact) is unprecedented! Weather forecasts still call for some flurries, but hopefully, they’re wrong! But if they’re right, I surely could use some thermal tights, and maybe that Craft Extreme base layer to cut some of the chill. Happy riding!

  • Lars Soderstrom

    Hi Steve,

    1) Fortunatelly where I live the winter is the best time of the year for bike riding, but the summer can sometimes be too humid and very hot.

    2) I would get bib shorts and jersey from castelli.

    Thanks for a great article!

  • I’m fortunate to ride all year in Northern California, although in late December and early January the morning rides are often just above or below 32F / 0C so I would get some thermal bib shorts as my summer bibs are just a little chilly in those conditions.

  • Hi Steve- I live in Iowa and winter can be pretty brutal. I hung up the road bike at the end of November although I got out for a few mountain bike rides in December, January and February. Winter kit is thermal tights, jacket and warm gloves and hat. Thermal booties are vital for winter riding as well. I hope to get the road bike out this weekend to start the road season. Thanks for your time and effort on the great articles.

  • Living in southern New England, I’ve been able to get rides in sporadically throughout the winter. So thankfully the outdoor riding never truly ends. My usual cutoff is 40 degrees (upper 30s if it’s sunny and not too windy). But if it’s too cold for my thermal wind-stopper jacket and tights, insulated gloves, and neoprene shoe covers, then I resort to the trainer.

  • Riding on the road currently seems a way off yet- I’m still yet to get back on the indoor trainer as it is! I had a big accident on Boxing day, resulting in a fractured pelvis. Being in Australia, I’ve missed the best season for riding, as I’m off the bike for 3 months! However, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and it looks like I’ll be allowed to get back on the bike at the end of this month (indoors at least). So, by the time I do get back outside, the weather will be considerably cooler. I’ve been eyeing off the Castelli Gabba jersey for quite some time now for it’s versatility, and a decent set of bib tights wouldn’t go astray either, though some 3/4 bibs may well do the job. Some good gloves and overshoes would seal the deal. My friends and I are very much looking forward to the day I’m back out with them!

  • I took my bike outside this weekend (-1C, no wind, sunshine yesterday – bliss!; -4C, 6+ m/s wind, sunshine today – still fun). Feels so good to get on the roads again. I’ll keep on riding outside until the winter returns – last year I managed until 31st of December, but I suspect some real cold and snowy winters are lurking around the corner as it has been quite soft for the last couple of years.

    I’m quite comfortable in Castelli Alpha jacket and Sorpasso tights in temperatures down to -5C, maybe even a tad colder. I’m planning to add better gloves (thinking mitts for those extra cold days) and maybe some tights with windstopper material.

  • Robert Stevenson

    I live in New York City and we have had an unusually mild winter. Just got a new Cannondale CAAD12 and have been able to get out quite a few times already. Plan to rack up the miles now through late October- early November. Need a rain jacket for the spring and base layers for late fall.

  • I live in the SF Bay Area where the riding is great all year, at least when our normal drought conditions prevail. But this winter the rain has been epic, so I’ve lost some riding days. I’ve also been training for a half marathon at the end of this month, which has cut into the cycling. I plan to up the mileage starting with an overnight trip in early April.

  • I live in Atlanta and we’ve already been having good riding weather for a month now. Will probably be riding until early November. What I really need is a jersey and pair of bib shorts that are well suited to the hot and humid summer weather. It gets kind of crazy here.

  • Spring is coming soon, so as soon as my nose gets clear, I wanna head out with the boys on the morning rides again. Thanks to the cyclecross bike I never stop riding even in winter, but before long I’ll be needing some new summer bibshorts.

  • Just getting back out on the road here in Dublin. The weather has been cold and rainy but the excuses are getting thin at this point. Unlike the excuses, I’m not getting thin and need to burn off some of the winter insulation. I couldn’t agree more about the Assos tiburu bib shorts. They are superb. I’m still using my Specialized tights and windstopper jacket at the moment but will hopefully be in shorts again soon.

  • Living in Northern California we got our share of rain and flooding. But I can’t be bothered to ride a trainer even once for several years. Been out in all conditions 3 days a week all winter. Looking to get a new long sleeve jersey for the spring and fall transition times.

  • I allready started outside and i will continue untill the snow gets here. I suffer from cold hands and feed due to blood circulation so everything that helps me insulate en keeps my blood running is welcome 😀

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