Outdoor winter training on the bike can be a daunting and unpleasant prospect. The Norwegians, who know a thing or two about winter weather have a saying: “Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær!” which translates to “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes!” When you've got the proper kit in your locker it can be a whole lot more enjoyable than hours spent going nowhere as you watch the sweat puddle accumulate while you grind away on your indoor trainer.
Subjectivity
As with many things relating to our sport, how each of us responds and what we need to be comfortable within a set of weather conditions is highly subjective. Some people ride hot, some people ride cold. I was on a local group ride recently where the temp was around 10°C/50°F, we had just started a climb and I saw one of the others in the group spray his face and head with his water bottle! Meanwhile, I still had my long finger gloves, skull cap and neck gaiter on.
We have one chance to get our clothing for the ride right and then we're stuck with our choices for the duration. Cycling differs a bit from other sports here where you often times have the luxury of your jacket being on the sidelines, or better gloves (or dry gloves) in the ski lodge.
Imagine shoveling snow. You start with a hat, hoodie, jacket, gloves, pants, heavy socks and boots. Within 5-10 minutes you've broken a sweat and need to start peeling layers off to avoid overheating. At any point you can always go in and get whatever you need or get rid of whatever you don't need.
Unless you have the luxury of a follow car or a domestique to carry your clothing for you, you are like the rest of us amateur riders and need to get your kit choice right before leaving your house.
Our HistoryCento's owner began cycling many years ago in upstate New York where there are some of the longest, coldest and more inhospitable winters in the US. There weren't many options for cycling clothing and what there was, was almost certainly made of wool. Wool has some upsides, but it has far more downsides. It's bulky, it doesn't block wind, isn't water-resistant and doesn't wick moisture well. You had to layer up and wear enough layers to keep the cold at bay and pray there was no rain, otherwise you would eventually succumb to the moisture working its way toward your skin and you would get cold.
Fortunately, we live in the golden age of cycling technology. Clothing has never been more technically advanced, lighter and better looking than it is today.
SantiniSantini creates some of the best cycling apparel on the market. And unlike most other clothing brands, they make all of their clothing (save for small things like gloves and socks) in house. And yet, the Bergamo based manufacturer still remains somewhat unknown in the US despite a long and storied history of Grand Tour and Pro Team sponsorship dating back to the mid 60s, as well as currently being at the leading edge with some of the most technically advanced cycling kit on earth.
Their new Vega+ Winter Jacket is the latest in the evolution of the Vega Jacket that first appeared in 2020.
FitWhen you first put your jacket on, you will no doubt look at yourself in the mirror wearing it standing up straight. But this garment (along with all the highest quality cycling garments) is ultimately tailored for optimization in the tuck riding position.
This is a classic European cut jacket. Sizing that generally runs about a size smaller than typical US cuts. I’m 6’1”, 172 lbs, 32-inch waist and 39 inch chest, and I am wearing a size medium jacket with a size M/L Outwet LSM Long Sleeve Baselayer underneath.
The Materials
The Vega+ exterior is constructed from Polartec® Windbloc®. That name might not be as recognizable to some as Goretex. But not only is it lighter than Goretex, but it’s also more efficient at transferring moisture out and keeping heat in. It has a lower waterproof rating than Goretex (Polartec is rated at 10,000mm vs. Goretex’s 28,000mm), but it is more breathable, which will ultimately keep you comfortable for longer.
Polartec® Windbloc® has the following properties that make it ideal for a winter cycling jacket:
- Windproof
- Highly water-repellent
- Resilient 4 way stretch
- Breathable
- Highly durable against tears and abrasions
The interior is made from Polartec® Alpha® Direct fabric lining. It’s a furry feeling fabric with lots of pile for trapping a thin layer of heat to maintain warmth as well as feeling great next to your body.
What to wear your Vega+ with?This is a jacket that is designed to be worn as the outermost layer and paired with a top quality baselayer like the Outwet LST or Outwet LSM. Outwet makes the best baselayers that we’ve seen. Either of these can keep you comfortable in cold or even somewhat rainy conditions from 0°C and +10°C/32 to 50°F.
Layering Dos and Don'tsA jacket like the Vega+ is not designed (or cut) to be worn over a long sleeve jersey. A long sleeve jersey is meant to be its own outer layer for less severe temperatures than a jacket would warrant. Nor does it have the moisture transfer properties to be worn next to the skin that a baselayer does. When you sweat, it will stay on your skin and will not be transferred outward to evaporate without the proper baselayer garment to facilitate the transfer of moisture. And as a result, you will get cold.
I know some people wear a jersey underneath for additional pockets. If that is the case, I would recommend Santini’s Gravel Bib Tights. There are two back pockets and two hip pockets. Plenty of space to carry what you need.
If it's extremely cold out and you are concerned about needing more warmth than a single long sleeve baselayer and jacket provide, you can always double up on long sleeve baselayers underneath the jacket.
I would advise against wearing a thermal vest over the jacket, as they are both going to be windproof and the outer layer will block the moisture from being wicked outward.
The best jacket in the world can’t keep you warm enough if you're underdressed on your extremities, so make sure you have some highly water resistant and windproof gloves like these from Sealskinz.
And for me personally, I’m a big fan of the neck gaiter or balaclava. It can be a make-or-break item to maintain that last bit of warmth on the neck and face.
You will need to make adjustments accordingly if you run hot or cold. I find regulating my temperature to be an ongoing endeavor on a several hour long winter ride. What is comfortable at hour one may not still be working at hour four. On a climb, I often unzip my jacket all the way open to let heat escape while I’m generating more heat and zip it back up at the top for the descent to keep out the windchill. The Vega+ features a two-way zipper on the front to allow multiple options for heat regulation. This presents a third option--zipping the top down and the bottom up to meet in the middle so it is easier to zip fully closed before the descent.
Have you ever tried to zip your jacket with gloves while riding before you start going downhill? It’s not always easy.
I might also be taking my gloves on/off multiple times during a ride, depending on how warm I get.
Visibility
We cyclists are always concerned about visibility, aren’t we? You don’t get much more visible than the Granatina Pink colorway, and it’s amazingly eye-catching and pleasing to look at, and the extra visibility certainly doesn’t hurt. Personally, I believe that headlights and taillights are ultimately what we should rely on for being seen when daylight is waxing and waning. Keeping your clothing clean from road grime is a very legitimate concern (if you live in a rainy part of the world), in which case the black colorway would be recommended.
FEATURES:
- Suggested for temperatures from 0°C and +10°C/32° to 50°F
- Made of Polartec® Windbloc®
- Polartec® Alpha® Direct fabric inner lining
- Waterproof double-slider front zipper
- Waterproof zipper on chest
- Rain drainage holes on the back pockets
- Reflective high visibility details on the back
- Classic European fit
- Made in Italy by Santini