It might still be February, but spring is on the way – time to pack all the winter kit away, invest in sun cream and black iridium Jawbone lenses, stick the carbon wheels on and fill the water bottles with tropical fruit flavours. I’m not even going to entertain the possibility that it might snow next week, or that Arctic winds will be battering the south coast for most of March. It’s shorts weather from now on…
Up until this winter my cold weather riding kit was a bit of a hodgepodge, with jerseys of various thicknesses and arm lengths usually combined in assorted configurations depending on projected temperatures and wind conditions. I must also declare that I spent a couple of winters dressed in the decidedly non-pro Gore paclite jacket / black tights combination which, though at least warm, is possibly about as punter as it gets. Not least because, despite claims concerning breathability, as soon as you hit a hill at pace you rapidly start sweltering. The fact that you also tend to look like a twat, with the billowing jacket blown up like a balloon (either because of the ingress of air or the outward pressure of flab) and skinny black lycra legs poking out underneath like some sort of lolly from hell.
No, looking pro and riding hard in winter is all about softshells and / or decent jerseys. (It’s also about beards too…) My plan for the 2010 / 2011 winter season was to get hold of the much lauded RaphaSoftshell. This elegant, well-tailored offering is about the smartest piece of cycling clothing in production, and certainly the only item of such clothing that appears to excite non-cyclists as much as the dedicated peletonese. It’s the kind of jacket that encourages you to take up cycling just so you can wear it every Sunday…
It’s also very expensive. Which is why I ended up buying something else…
Since discovering Craft a few months back, I’ve been really impressed with their range of kit. Quite a bit more tech looking than Rapha, and as such not quite so easily transferrable to post-ride pub wear, but then again – how often do I end up in the pub after a long winter ride? The quality is really impressive, and the cut is perfect when in the on bike position.
The jacket is warm whilst not being bulky, and decently windproof. Sleeves are long, the fit is slim and it feels a world away from more old school baggier winter jackets. I’ve worn it in the rain, and it took a while for the water to penetrate. I wouldn’t rely on it during a downpour, but I think it would do pretty well during prolonged drizzle, and I would certainly prefer it to a full-on waterproof unless the latter was really necessary. Full marks.
The Craft jacket was delivered in record time by the guys at Always Riding, who also supplied a very smart grey merino wool buff in grey. This has been a welcome addition to most of my recent rides. I’ve marginally overheated when riding at speed – it’s surprising the difference that the buff makes. It functions with the Craft jacket rather like a heat-loss regulator, preventing cold air entering at the neckline. I’ve not transformed it into a balaclava style affair yet – it hasn’t really been cold enough for that recently.
I picked up a new pair of overshoes too, also by Craft. Previous incarnations (Endura, Pearl Izumi and most recently Nike) had fallen apart more quickly that they really should have. The Craft ones though seem to be overbuilt in various areas, with heavy reinforcement around the toe and heel area. They are warm too, and I’m delighted with them so far.
I had intended to invest in a new pair of winter tights, but my trusty Endura ones are still going ok, and despite not featuring the most up-to-date windproofing and water resistance, the think roubaix fabric is still warm and comfortable enough for me.
I’m riding a 200km Audax on Wednesday and the forecast isn’t fantastic – should be a decent test for all the new kit…