Kit Connoisseur - Forum Archive

Sep 23, 2013 at 04:32 AM

Jules said:

Everyone loves Rapha, but is it really worth it? Is the Gabba jersey all that? Why do these gloves fit funny? Has anyone found a winter bootie that doesn't disintegrate within a month?

Compare jerseys, bibs, chamois and fashion thoughts.

Just got a Gabba short-sleeve for a cool wet 6hr ride yesterday. Damn. What a fine garment. It feels really nice on the skin and the cut fits better than my other Castelli jersey (which strings-up my arm pits such that I become that guy who says "shut-up arm pits!").

So it's like a very thin wet suit. It gets warm when you're climbing, but the zipper is excellent and so just let it fly open and you'll be cool. I was descending for 15 minutes in 55-60 degree foresty wetness and my core was toasty warm. And that's where this garment shines, it's got sleeves! My windproof vests have always been great for keep my core warm, but I get a little cold on the shoulder which is OK but it gets to me a little. Simply dropping a short sleeve onto the wind-proof jersey motif makes a wonder of a difference.

I'll report back once I've taken in a long ride at the next thermoclimactic coordinate --that is, around the 45-50 degree mark (ay, I'm in the Northwest, so it shall be wet as well).

Booties. I am going on my 3rd season with the Rapha neoprene booties. They are holding-up just fine (unlike their sorry ass gloves) but I am looking to find something with some top of ankle closure to keep-the-seep to a minimum.

Jules

Sep 23, 2013 at 01:06 PM

Gabba. It's all that.

mugwump

Sep 23, 2013 at 08:00 PM

normanzo said:

Booties. I am going on my 3rd season with the Rapha neoprene booties. They are holding-up just fine (unlike their sorry ass gloves) but I am looking to find something with some top of ankle closure to keep-the-seep to a minimum.

Norm,

I don't think a top of the ankle closure will work for long, no matter the design. My measure to limit seep is to run my tights/warmers over the top of them. It helps a bit.

Do tell about the 50-45 range for the Gabba. My guess is that if it's below 45 degrees, a rain jacket will probably work better--unless its cross.

mugwump

Sep 23, 2013 at 08:04 PM

BTW,

Kit Connoisseur visited InterBike.

Orange is everywhere. Poc Helmets and clothes, Giro Helmets and shoes. Lake and Northwave and a few others are also rocking orange shoes. Northwave even has a blue/orange fade model.

Fluo pink and yellow are coming back. Scored me some tall fluo yellow Elvis socks at the DeFeet booth.

Champ-Sys's new bells-and-whistles short sleeve jersey shares that superlight fabric you see on RadioShack's summer jersey from Craft.

Champ-Sys also has a sublimated eVent rain jacket.

Fix-It sticks has an orange ano' version of their tool Got one to test out.

Phil Maronilla

Sep 23, 2013 at 08:58 PM

Any one here have an opinion on the Giro Republic? Yea or Nay? It looks promising but I just find it hard to believe that a shoe can be both casual and serious. It looks cool though.

Unknown

Sep 26, 2013 at 01:49 AM

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Marc Bertucco

Sep 26, 2013 at 02:33 AM

Gwynna, I think that Patrick Grehan has a pair of winter shoes and would probably be able to note some Pros/Cons from first-hand experience.

Jules

Sep 26, 2013 at 03:07 AM

@Gwynna I'm with you on this one. I think people like the booties for the in-between weather; ie: when it's cold enough for boots most people are on the trainer.

mugwump

Sep 26, 2013 at 01:25 PM

Jules said:

@Gwynna I'm with you on this one. I think people like the booties for the in-between weather; ie: when it's cold enough for boots most people are on the trainer.

@Gwynna, there are some issues with winter shoes. First, fit. Swapping shoes back and forth, even when you're really careful, can be rough on the precise coordination of muscles when pedaling. Second, stiffness. Many winter shoes aren't as stiff as their better-ventilated brothers and sisters. Third, warmth. Most of the winter shoes I've come across (like Patrick's) I'm quite sure I'd overheat in except if it's around or below freezing. Even then, I might overheat.

Dan Reiners

Sep 26, 2013 at 01:38 PM

Phillip Maronilla said:

Any one here have an opinion on the Giro Republic? Yea or Nay? It looks promising but I just find it hard to believe that a shoe can be both casual and serious. It looks cool though.

those are some sweet shoes for your days when lycra and hi-vis yellow shoes just don't cut it.

Unknown

Sep 27, 2013 at 04:32 AM

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normanzo

Sep 27, 2013 at 05:10 AM

mugwump said:

normanzo said:

Booties. I am going on my 3rd season with the Rapha neoprene booties. They are holding-up just fine (unlike their sorry ass gloves) but I am looking to find something with some top of ankle closure to keep-the-seep to a minimum.

Norm,
I don't think a top of the ankle closure will work for long, no matter the design. My measure to limit seep is to run my tights/warmers over the top of them. It helps a bit.

Do tell about the 50-45 range for the Gabba. My guess is that if it's below 45 degrees, a rain jacket will probably work better--unless its cross.

Thx JP...

I'll let you know about the lower-temp performance of the Gabba. I'll probably use it in place of my wind block vest, since it's working -for me- just like my nice vest but with short sleeves so keeps my shoulders and upper arms warm. A base layer + regular short sleeve jersey + Gabba over that, and roubaix arm warmers should keep me warm down to 35 or so (as long as I'm motoring along nicely for most of the ride).

Alex Vaughan

Sep 27, 2013 at 03:51 PM

This is awesome:

https://instagram.com/p/exNaO0Fl7B/embed/

Marc Bertucco

Sep 27, 2013 at 04:49 PM

Related...if I hop back on the MTB for racing again next year, I'm definitely going long socks. I got a bad case of poison IV this year (probably from one of the many times I stepped off the trail to let faster folks pass me--no good deed...) and my sexy twiggy legs will never be the same.

Unknown

Sep 28, 2013 at 05:41 PM

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Marc Bertucco

Sep 28, 2013 at 06:03 PM

Hi Gwynna,

I'd be happy to chat away about my experiences, but full disclosure, it's probably the one discipline of cycling that I am least knowledgeable about.

I did a few MTB races this year, including one of the Campmor series which I enjoyed very much. "NeilX" on our club knows many of these courses very well and I relied on him for advice.

I will say that in generally the courses have outpaced my equipment (15-year old MTB, hard tail, 26-inch wheels, most people are rocking full suspension and/or 29-ers which allow you to ride/float more easily over rocks and roots) and my skill level. I'm really just a beginning mountain biker. I found the rocky, rooty stuff very frustrating.

All that said, there's plenty of opportunity for riding in the dirt during the summer and no reason why you couldn't race a pretty complete season off-road.

-Marc

Dan Reiners

Sep 29, 2013 at 04:11 PM

Marc

Take your dirty talk elsewhere; this thread is for Owens to fawn over Rapha and the rest of us to discuss proper sock length for different moods (I go 4" or longer when I feel pouty).

David Yang

Oct 07, 2013 at 07:13 PM

So...rain jackets...who's got a good one to recommend?

Phil Maronilla

Oct 07, 2013 at 08:18 PM

I've got your typical, PVC version, $20 from voler.com It's got mesh on the side and under the arms, but you still get soaking wet from perspiration. So I guess its not something I'd recommend. ;-)

mugwump

Oct 07, 2013 at 09:19 PM

Yang,

I have a Showers Pass Elite 2.0 jacket that's pretty good. Fairly light, seems decently breathable, stretches a little, has pit zips. I also have a Gore Alp-X jacket, the original version. It has a fold-out butt flap. The big issue I had with this jacket, and the reason I got the Showers Pass, was the only venting was next to the zipper--you open up the draft flap and there's a mesh panel running the length of the jacket alongside the zipper. I also tested out the Castelli Pocket Liner jacket. This is the same waterproof material as the Showers Pass, but a bit lighter, and no venting system and no pockets. I didn't get the full experience as I tested a medium and the small would have fit me properly, and could have gotten a feel for how well the stretch panels work.

Interestingly, in 2015 Champ-Sys will have a sublimated jacket that uses the same eVent fabric as the Showers Pass and Castelli.

Note that all waterproof/breathable jackets should be rinsed off with water after riding in them to make sure dirt doesn't clog the pores and that you should periodically, like every few years, spray on or wash in some new DWR (durable water repellent) coating. eVent also claims you can actually wash theirs fairly often.

combine one of these jackets with neoprene gloves and booties and the right layers underneath, and you should be able to go for hours in a cold rain. Also, pro tip is to avoid tights over shorts until it's too cold to wear shorts/warmers combo--tights inevitable start slipping when they're soaking wet.

ian ellis

Oct 08, 2013 at 02:32 AM

Sportful survival.

Anna Maria

Oct 09, 2013 at 03:26 PM

I love my Gore Oxygen jacket. I've spent many, many shitty hours in this jacket, and it's never let me down. And since women's Gore stuff is always a stripped down version of the men's stuff, maybe the mens oxygen jacket is even better! I also have a showers pass rain cap that is phenomenal for commuting....

Jeff Apruzzese

Oct 09, 2013 at 07:20 PM

@david. Right now im using the rapha classic wind jacket and its been great . Its water resistant and granted that i have only used it in light rain and nothing super heavy, it has done the job so far. Its also super light weight and i can shove it in a jersey pocket if i start to get warm or the rain lets up.

Jules

Oct 09, 2013 at 10:59 PM

Where is the Gabba love?

Jeff Owens

Oct 10, 2013 at 01:15 AM

I want the Gabba for extended rain riding, which I actually like with the proper equipment.

But for chilly NYC winter with wet drizzle and diverse from temps 45-10 degrees, the Rapha soft shell jacket is the single best piece of cycling clothing I own. It's really versatile and amazingly designed. Granted I got it for $150 not $325, but it's surprisingly water repellent and breathable. The Rapha hard shell seems overkill for me. Bc if its that awful out I'm probably not gonna ride for much over and hour anyway.

mugwump

Oct 10, 2013 at 01:51 AM

Jules said:

Where is the Gabba love?

Jules,

First, I love you. Second, I've got one on order, the short sleeve version.

Without having tested the Gabba, but having read about it and talked with the Castelli folks about it, I'm guessing that it is, as Owens speculates, not quite as versatile as a waterproof jacket. I'm thinking it can handle slow rides when it's around sixty, it can be for slow or fast rides from 55 into the high 40s, but once to mid 40s, I'm thinking it is for spirited riding only. Don't know if it can handle the longer lower-40s-high-30s rain rides I've been known to do in the colder months. I'm happy to be proven wrong and I'll be testing it out soon.

Jeff Owens

Oct 10, 2013 at 09:35 PM

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!

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