Winter riding jacket options

[AB]

3 hours ago, Jbr said:

I recently pulled the trigger on some Vye stuff, as I only had one long sleeve cycling jacket and needed more :

- Thermo range is warm, not a lot of stock left though (not surprising at this price..) :

https://vye.co.za/collections/collection-mens/products/mens-thermal-hurricane-jacket

https://vye.co.za/collections/collection-mens/products/mens-hurricane-thermo-jacket-black 

https://vye.co.za/collections/collection-mens/products/mens-hurricane-thermo-jacket-navy

- Gilet :

https://vye.co.za/collections/collection-mens/products/mens-gilet-v-range-black

https://vye.co.za/collections/collection-mens/products/mens-gilet-v-range-olive

 

It's amazing value if you ask me, for the price of one Ciovita waterproof jacket I got 1 gilet, 1 jacket and one jersey, was pretty happy, can't believe they're not sold out yet.

 

I also have these :

https://ciovita.co.za/products/mens-vindex-cycling-jacket-gilet-lumo

Bit of a fail, I end up not wearing it most days when the rain surprises me, and when I do have it with me when it rains I just don't like so much the feel of the sleeves on my sweaty arms, so end up just riding with the "gilet" part. Also the fact that it's not supposed to be washed in the washing machine makes it a bit of a pain

https://ciovita.co.za/products/mens-apex-contego-gilet-2-0-rust

I like this one, I would pick that one over the long sleeves one any day. easier when you can chose which layer to keep on and which to take off.

Thanks for all the valuable info. Love the Vye stuff. How is the fit of the jacket size wise? Tshirt size vs jacket size? I might be able to squeeze into a small if it isn't a small fit.

Will just need to get a separate rain jacket...   

[TyronLab]

On 4/18/2023 at 11:53 AM, Headshot said:

Does anyone here ever ride in a fully waterproof riding jacket? I would imagine you are soon as wet as you would be if it wasn't waterproof just from the sweat? 

I actually researched this quite a bit when I was prepping for last year's Apocalypse-Level Transbaviaans. Good waterproof clothing has a breathability index too, which keeps you ventilated so you're not in a Woolies potato cooking bag.

I've had good success with Decathlon if you're like me and can't stomach "proper" cycling kit prices. I also got a Ciovita Videx jacket for transition and cold season rides. That, plus a normal cycling jersey, plus arm warmers, has kept me relatively comfortable all the way down to a (dry) -5C.

Throw the Decathlon rain jacket over that and I've been in a wet -5 and was snug as a pug in a rug.

Edited April 19, 2023 by TyronLab

[Jbr]

3 hours ago, AB said:

Thanks for all the valuable info. Love the Vye stuff. How is the fit of the jacket size wise? Tshirt size vs jacket size? I might be able to squeeze into a small if it isn't a small fit.

Will just need to get a separate rain jacket...   

The jacket, jersey and gilet are all size M and all fit me perfectly 🥰

[gerriemtb]

13 hours ago, TyronLab said:

Throw the Decathlon rain jacket over that and I've been in a wet -5 and was snug as a pug in a rug.

 

[Cardio Goth]

Assos are the gold standard - the MILLE GT Ultraz winter jacket is the warmest I've ever tried. I managed an 8 hour ride in mid-winter, mostly in the shade, where temps didn't go above -2c for the entire ride. I wore it with a thin baselayer and didn't feel any kind of discomfort on my upper body for the entire ride (my hands and face felt otherwise). That said, it's probably overkill for Cape Town, and it's ####ing expensive.

A really good option is the MAAP Force Pro LS - I bought it for not very much on sale, and it's excellent for rides between 5 and 10 degrees. A lot of the smaller brands like MAAP tend to refresh their lines every season, so you can find them on special at the end of the season.

[TyronLab]

1 hour ago, gerriemtb said:

 

 

See, same-same!

[Bub Marley]

South Africa in terms of weather is certainly slap bang in the middle. In terms of winter, well it gets cold here but certainly nowhere near as cold as European cities. So you need to really choose your gear wisely. There is nothing worse than overheating.

 

Im in Cape Town and what works for me is a light packable wind jacket. I used the Castelli Aria Windjacket (https://www.castelli-cycling.com/US/en/Men/Cycling/Top/Protection/ARIA-SHELL-JACKET/p/4520058_030) last year through winter and it worked for like 95% of the time. 

There were a few rides where i felt something warmer would’ve been nicer at the beginning but once you’ve warmed up that jacket gave me enough protection. Just couple that up with arm warmers, vest, knee warmers, gloves and you’re sorted. The reason I like this jersey is because I can pack it away in the back pocket if the weather gets warmer. If you get a proper thermal jacket, they’re not packable so you’re stuck with it for the whole ride.

 

I also found that majority of the time, my feet were the guilty party in terms of coldness. So I need to get some sort of toe warmer or something for this winter.

[ChrisF]

18 hours ago, Shebeen said:

cape town doesn't get real winter

 

Having done Swartberg pass with (very little) snow on the pass I concur ....

 

 

Double gloves.  Plastic inside your shoes.  Thermal layers, and many more layers of clothing ...

 

 

Starting Trans Augrabies in a very chilly 4 degrees, and getting to water point one in the low teens is an interesting situation.  Thankfully the organisers have a vehicle that brings back bags full of clothing to the event tent.

[The Ouzo]

1 hour ago, Bub Marley said:

South Africa in terms of weather is certainly slap bang in the middle. In terms of winter, well it gets cold here but certainly nowhere near as cold as European cities. So you need to really choose your gear wisely. There is nothing worse than overheating.

I feel like Gauteng gets an icy chill that get right down to the bones. I've not felt that anywhere before, even when skiing in the snow.

But the second problem comes about and that is the winter sun. So you very quickly can go from frost bite on your toes to over heating and needing to strip down to summer kit halfway through a ride.

[tinmug]

On 4/18/2023 at 12:06 PM, Shebeen said:

... but if you can get a mule to bring it over then happy days.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to swallow a cycling jacket?

 

😛

[Ozzie NL]

Gabba is the bench mark for winter jackets..... pricey and not that easy to get in SA

[splat]

34 minutes ago, Ozzie NL said:

Gabba is the bench mark for winter jackets..... pricey and not that easy to get in SA

I think that the Gabba has become the Perfetto. Or, the Gabba is now only short sleeved.

But ja, they aren't exactly giving them away.
https://www.castelli.co.za/collections/winter-2023-1st-arrivals

['Dale]

Useful goods here, Mense?

https://www.onedayonly.co.za

[Frosty]

On 4/19/2023 at 11:59 AM, The Ouzo said:

I feel like Gauteng gets an icy chill that get right down to the bones. I've not felt that anywhere before, even when skiing in the snow.

But the second problem comes about and that is the winter sun. So you very quickly can go from frost bite on your toes to over heating and needing to strip down to summer kit halfway through a ride.

My first time in Italy (for business) I left the hotel for a walk around the city centre... after a few minutes outside, this would best describe how I felt. Gauteng cold is nothing, compared to that morning.

 

 

[Vye Cycle Kit]

On 4/18/2023 at 1:47 PM, Jbr said:

They are almost too warm for todays condition. I tend to wear them only on reco rides, and even then I end up sweating a bit. But I think I'll love them once it gets cooler 😅

We've added a Hurricane Light jacket to our range. 

[Madone69]

Assos ijbonka 6....sorted