Castelli

I was looking for a jacket that would keep me warm in the 30s and 40s (F.) and this one is more than up to the task. Even with a minimal base layer, it has kept me comfy down to near-freezing temps. I imagine I could wear it into the 20s were I inclined to ride in such cold. Wind protection is excellent. It gets plenty warm when the mercury rises to 50 but even then dropping the zipper a bit helps a lot. My wife even says it looks good on me!

I've tried a handful of different gloves at different price points and this is a solid mid-range glove for mild winter conditions. My fingers run cold and I find them comfortable down to about the low 40s. It uses a neoprene-like material which is reasonably weatherproof and provides light insulation, but doesn't have a separate insulating layer. It uses a two piece sandwich construction so the seams fall kind of awkwardly at your finger tips and between your fingers where they touch (as opposed to the 3+ piece construction that higher-end gloves have). It also uses some sort of layer bonded directly to the fabric for touch-screen compatibility which is less durable than conductive fabric used in higher end gloves. That said, it's a solid glove for the price and performs reasonably well, but don't expect premium construction and materials.

First ride today with new vest. 56-63 degrees, sunny, windy, with aero jersey and arm warmers on underneath. Ordered L, eventhough Castelli aero jersey is XL. Fit is good without too much wind flap. I'm 6'2", 171lbs, 39 1/2" chest. In a perfect world, a vest between and M and L would be perfect for no wind flap. I think a M would be too tight and restrictive. Oversized zipper like all Castelli gear, with ability to unzip from bottom. As stated in description, the vest does allow some airflow from the front for wicking without sacrificing comfort. Three pockets in back hold plenty. Orange color not the brightest orange, but provides some visiblity. Not the cheapest vest, but BTD had 30% off sale.

New favorite winter training jacket. Handles wide range in temperature and training efforts. Zippered side vents are awesome for climbing. Not a wet weather jacket but is uber-functional otherwise. I bought couple more once I saw how well they function. Zippers seem very durable.