It’s hard to ride your bike through cold, wet winter weather when water has hardened into ice on car windshields and snow covers the grass. Cold air, blistering wind and much smaller training rides can be excuses for staying indoors. For those cyclists who don’t want to find excuses during these unfavorable riding months, Castelli has designed the Alpha Rain or Shine 2 Jacket. This Castelli thermal jacket fits close to body but has enough flexibility to be worn over a Castelli base layer for those exceptionally cold days. It’s labeled as a jacket, but it fits more like a long sleeve race jersey. Castelli has cut the arms, chest, and shoulders to fit perfectly in the riding position. The design creates a cycling jacket that has no creases when leaned over the bike. The Alpha jacket is not for casual riders who are only looking for a warm jacket to do recreational, fun rides; this jacket is for the rider who wants warmth for cold weather, yet he needs ventilation to dry sweat, and aerodynamics to facilitate fast riding. The cycling jacket itself has two layers; insulating layer and the wind blocking layer. The insulating layer provides warmth, but the construction allows air to circulate so sweat evaporates and you stay dry as ride intensity increases. One of the last things you want to happen on a winter ride is to perspire and then have body moisture crystalize to make you dangerously cold. Whether you’re on a fast ride or riding up a mountain road, you will stay warm and dry in the Alpha Jacket. The three-layered outer Gore Windstopper 150 membrane blocks wind while pulling out body moisture and excessive heat. As you heat up, you can easily unzip the outer shell to let in just enough breeze to cool you down without feeling like you’re in the arctic. The thermal layer underneath insulates to below freezing temperatures while air circulates through the warm fabric so sweat evaporates. Raw-edge construction at both the waist and wrists creates a surface that fits well with gloves. The hem stays in place and the wrist material doesn’t bunch up. Silicone grippers at waistband keep the jacket in place as you ride. The collar is cut and made with a material that will ensure no cold wind enters at your neck. Three rear pockets provide plenty of space forstoring nutrition. Finally, secure your valuables in a zippered front pocket. For milder conditions try the Castelli Alpha RoS 2 Light Jacket.
