The Castelli Espresso range was expanded this Autumn with the addition of a number of products perfect for the cooler months. Through the summer months, the Espresso kit was a popular range offering clean looks and a great range of colours as well as the expected high-performance we’ve all come to expect from the Italian clothing manufacturer.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been putting a few of the new Autumn Winter pieces through their paces. Read my thoughts below.
Castelli Espresso Bib Tights
An absolute essential for when the temperatures drop, the Bib Tights have been a great addition to my cycling wardrobe. The fit is excellent (for reference, all the kit I am wearing is a size Medium – I’m 5’11 and weigh 72kg) and it has a good feel when on. The Bib Tights feature the excellent Progetto X2 Air Seamless chamois pad which offers great comfort for a day in the saddle. The material used is Thermoflex which is warm and insulating and has been pleasant to use on the early Autumn rides that have been between 8° and 16°C. They are also available in 3 colours – Black, Dark Grey and Belgian Blue for those that like to be a little different.
Castelli Espresso Thermal Jersey
This is a big change for me. I’ve nearly always used a Perfetto long sleeve jacket when out riding so going to the Thermal Jersey I was a little dubious as to how it would perform due to being used to the WindStopper material of the Perfetto. I need not have worried however. The jersey has been plenty warm enough with a base-layer underneath and when the temperature has warmed up, it doesn’t feel overly hot. The fit is excellent and with a full length zip temperature regulation can be achieved.
The rear features 3 pockets which are deep enough to securely hold my mobile phone, pump and a few gels. There are small reflective tabs for when the light levels start dropping and the elastic silicone gripper prevents the jersey from riding up. Again, like the rest of the Espresso range, colours are a plenty, but the Deep Bourdeaux is my personal favourite.
Castelli Espresso Vest
Castelli give a temperature range of 12-18°C for the Thermal Jersey, so when the needle on the thermometer has gone below this I have paired it up with the Espresso Vest. To me, this is the icing on the cake of the range and extends the capabilities of the Jersey. It is a very packable item which fits perfectly in the pocket so is perfect to always carry with you.
The front features a windproof material, whereas the back and sides are more breathable. Amazingly many gilets do not have pockets, but like the Jersey, the Espresso Vest has 3 back pockets for carrying spares if you are wearing it all day and makes access to food on the go easy. It also features a double-zip so again, temperature regulation is easy, being able to zip it up and down from both the top and bottom – a real bonus.
Overall Impressions
The Castelli Espresso Autumn Winter range is certainly a great way to brighten up your wardrobe in the darker months. Not only does it look great with it’s classic styling and colour options, but the performance matches it too. For when their is no threat of rain, the 3 items I’ve been using are now my go-to products and I’ve covered a good few hundred miles in the past weeks wearing it. If the rain does start to fall, there is also the Espresso Air Jacket which completes the excellent line-up. I’d fully recommend the range to anyone looking for
Shop the full Castelli Espresso range here
