Castelli Autumn-Winter 2021 Collection Out Now!

Highlights from the key pieces in Castelli’s RoS range, including the features and fabrics that will keep you cycling through the cold, whatever the weather!

Road cyclists around the world rate Castelli's cool-weather options because the Italian brand’s apparel wraps up innovations that help us to stay dry, maintain an ideal core temperature and ride to the best of our abilities in an extremely stylish package.

As you’d expect from a brand known as a cycling institution, the Autumn/Winter 2021 collection features a thoughtful mixture of new pieces that solve a problem, classics re-worked to perform and look better than ever, and seasonal favourites that never grow old. Here’s our pick of this desirable bunch.

Introducing the Elite RoS Jacket

This new Castelli Elite RoS Jacket is designed to see you through from early autumn to the first frosts. While the days remain warm, the easy-slide YKK Vision zipper and wind gaiter at the waist can be left open for ventilation.

Once the thermometer starts to drop, these vents can be firmly shut, though they’ll always be there ready for your next Alpine adventure when the heart rate gets up. You’ll also be glad of the fleece-lined collar, toasty microfibre jersey lining and Polartec NeoShell 4-way stretch fabric, primed to protect you from the worst of the wind and rain.

Whatever the weather, the breathable fabric, performance fit and reinforced zipper flap and wrists will help you to zip along without unnecessary drag or sweat build-up, while reflective details on the lower back will ensure drivers can spot you if your ride runs long. Oversized rear pockets, meanwhile, will allow to you keep a pair of gloves – or an extra treat – handy.

First ever Perfetto/Gabba printed colourways

As Castelli’s best-selling jacket, the Perfetto RoS Long Sleeve needs little introduction. The perfect mixture of warmth and breathability, it’s made up of soft, water-resistant Catelli-exclusive Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper 205 fabric at the front and stretchy, breathable Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper 203 fabric at the back.

Taped shoulders and a covered zipper laugh in the face of all but the most torrential downpours, while a dropped tail reflects headlights and provides extra cover from road spray, especially when you’re getting out the saddle. Add in large pockets and zippered ventilation slots, and you have a quality cycling top.

Now, for the first time ever, Castelli is offering this superb jacket in a selection of striking new prints. The camouflage style Unlimited jackets, in base shades of Military Green, Bordeaux and Gray, will join the core line-up going forward. So, too, will ladies’ prints in Black/White and Silver Gray with Teal Blue Flowers.

The short-sleeved Castelli Gabba RoS will also adopt the new prints, so you can take your pick depending on the weather. Either way, the new designs will make you the best-dressed cyclist on the road as well as the most comfortable. 

The Alpha RoS 2 builds on a classic

Castelli re-vamped this jacket, in both male and female cuts, off the back of extensive rider testing to bring it even closer to perfection. First, the brand’s development geniuses put their minds to the problem of moisture management and the tricky balance between wind-protection and ventilation. They came up with a double-layer construction that separates the insulation layer from the wind and water barrier.

Now, you can completely open the outer layer of this jacket to allow moisture to escape during a long climb, without cold air hitting the skin, then shut it for dual warmth and protection against the elements as you descend to the next valley.

The second issue they looked to resolve was gapping or riding of the neck, waist and wrist openings while riding in different positions – for example, when tackling a monstrous col or lying flat to pick up maximum speed on the downhill that follows.

To that end, the Alpha RoS 2 incorporates a stretch layer at the waist with a silicone bead, which holds its position and seals out wind, however hard you bend, twist and roll. New double-layer cuffs that slot under and around your gloves will make drips rolling down over your hands a thing of the past, while a high, shaped neck hole performs the same office at the top of the jacket.

The final annoyance that Castelli’s boffins attempted to mitigate with the Alpha RoS 2 design was leaking seams in a heavy downpour. They did so by creating an outer shell from highly breathable yet wind and rain repellent Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper 150 fabric. They also seam-sealed the leak-susceptible shoulders, to prevent drips through the stitching, and concealed other seams to protect them from direct water flow contact.

The result? What Cyclingnews.com calls ‘a new benchmark in what a winter cycling jacket can achieve.’ In short, it’s an essential piece for the discerning rider who doesn’t want winter to get in their way. Or, if you’re not planning to cycle in -5˚ weather and you want a lighter jacket with a ventilated back and less padding, pick up the Alpha RoS 2 Light Jacket instead. 

The Sorpasso RoS range

Available in male and female cuts, the Sorpasso RoS Bibtight is designed to offer day-long comfort in temperatures down to freezing. Castelli has tried to live up to the Sorpasso title – one that means ‘overtaking’ – by making it faster, better and more comfortable than the brand’s previous bibtights.

The anatomic cut to the hips and knees means you’ll exude less energy when riding, while protection from the elements is offered through a combination of Nano Flex 3G fabric, for breathable water-resistance, and Nano Flex Xtra Dry fabric on the upper front, thighs and back to help defend against wind and spray. In terms of comfort, the Progetto X2 Air seamless seatpad and lie-flat elastic bib stripes will ensure that you’ll be given no cause to regret pulling it on by the end of the day.

The Sorpasso RoS Bibknicker offers the same features but in a three-quarter length design, so you needn’t worry about overheating in slightly warmer conditions. It will protect you down to 10˚c rather than 0˚c, but is also almost 20g lighter, so that you’ll save valuable energy on your longest rides.

Conversely, if you need apparel capable of coping with all but the coldest British weather, go for the Sorpasso RoS Wind Bibtight. Extra warmth is provided by adding upper front and thigh panels made of tough, windproof Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabric. This ostensibly small change allows the bibtight to cope with temperatures as low as -5˚.

Own the 'Rain or Shine' range

In other words, Castelli’s ‘Rain or Shine’ range pretty much has you covered for anything but gale-force winds or cloudbursts, and let’s face it, most of us would rather retreat to the nearest cyclist-friendly café in those conditions anyway.

If you’re keen to turn your fair-weather riding into a year-round training regime, explore the Castelli RoS collection now to stay on the road come rain or shine