Castelli Free Aero RC Bib Tights and Castelli Alpha Flight ROS Jacket Review

With this complete outfit (Free Aero RC tights and Alpha Flight ROS jacket), Castelli targets cyclists who train at rather high intensities or who do a significant amount of climbing, for winter but not cold temperatures, between approximately 4°C and 12°C (based on the feeling at the end of the test). For this temperature range, the hesitation is frequent between a winter jacket and a long-sleeved jersey combined with a sleeveless vest. Or even with the Perfetto ROS range, which has become a classic from the transalpine manufacturer, initially designed to cover all weather conditions. But for dry weather, with the set tested here, Castelli allows for better performance.

Text: Olivier Dulaurent – Photos: 3bikes.fr, Castelli

Difficulty finding the “right” winter clothing

For many cyclists who ride regularly in winter, Castelli is associated with clothing from the Gabba and Perfetto ranges. While these products have largely proven themselves for changing or uncertain weather conditions, as soon as the weather is dry, and although the Italian brand has revised its flagship products several times to make them more breathable with each new version, there is no miracle: with windproof and/or waterproof membranes, the breathability of the garment cannot reach that of a product without a membrane.

That being said, when it’s cool or even cold (between 4°C and 12°C, a deliberately wide range given its cold resistance), it’s sometimes difficult to ride “warm” without this famous membrane, which precisely prevents cold wind – accentuated by speed – from passing through clothing.

Based on this observation, and for the temperatures mentioned, it is sometimes difficult to dress as soon as you ride beyond your endurance zone: in a real winter jacket (with a membrane, therefore) you start sweating very quickly, while in a long-sleeved jersey the protection is insufficient. A good solution is to use a sleeveless vest over it, but depending on the moments or the intensity of the ride, there is sometimes a feeling of too much or too little that opening/closing the zip does not fully allow to manage.

Castelli solutions

It is in this context that the outfit tested here fits. It does not benefit from the Gabba/Perfetto lineage but promises to manage the temperatures often encountered in winter.

Specifically for the jacket (or jersey, as it is difficult in this case to give it a name as this garment falls between the two), a construction with an integrated vest was chosen first. Already developed by Castelli, this technique offers an additional thermal layer and also creates a space between the vest and the layer in contact with the outside air, to better retain heat.

Coming from the manufacturer Polartec with its Alpha fabric, which is both very light and warm, the material extends beyond the vest and covers the top of the back, the shoulders, and three-quarters of the length of the sleeves.

The outer fabric is made of a very thin material, without a membrane, which barely cuts the wind but does not hinder exchanges, both from the outside to the skin to “dry” during the ride, and of perspiration from the skin to the outside.

As for the tights, here again the different panels have been chosen so that each of them provides a solution: on the lower leg, to repel moisture from water splashes coming from the front wheel, then around the knee to ensure protection in a particularly exposed area. Conversely, the thighs, which rarely pose a problem with regard to cold, are in contact with a classic thermal fabric, both breathable and elastic for good ease of pedaling. The insert is the classic high-end but proven Castelli: the Progetto X2.

On the road

Donning the full outfit, the overall fit is excellent. For the jacket, it is both close to the body but without excess. This is a garment from the Rossa Corsa line, which usually means a very close-fitting cut, but the cut is not as tailored as for other products in the range, particularly at the sleeves. Here, it is probably the compromise between comfort and aero effect that has been prioritized. Also noteworthy is the very good idea of having placed the Polartec Alpha material on the sleeves, but only on three-quarters of the length, to avoid getting too hot during effort. In use, this will also be much appreciated.

The pockets, meanwhile, are deep and made of a rigid fabric which keeps them perfectly in place even when heavily loaded.

During the various rides, the feeling is very clear: the Alpha Flight ROS allows you to ride in a wide variety of temperatures and, above all, intensities, with this pleasant sensation of being able to do difficult sessions without overheating or cooling down afterwards due to excessive sweating.

If the temperature drops below 6/8°C, a sleeveless vest such as the Fly vest from the same brand further increases the versatility of the product. But you have to remember to open it as soon as the intensity increases to benefit precisely from the exchange effect between the skin and the outside that makes the jacket so effective in use. Thus, with this vest, the jacket remains comfortable down to about 4°C.

Castelli indicates a range between 6°C and 16°C for its Alpha Flight ROS jacket, which seems a little too wide towards the upper end of the range because above 12°C, the feeling of warmth is almost too high. Note that the jacket is designed to withstand light showers, but for the target temperatures and in uncertain weather, it is still preferable to carry a truly compactable waterproof jacket.

As for the Free Aero RC tights, they proved to be in unison with the jacket in terms of breathability and “ventilation” management: the cyclist clearly feels air on the thighs (especially at the beginning of the ride) then it seems to stabilize as if the thermal exchanges were balancing out. During rides lasting up to 5 hours, the cut proved perfectly comfortable, with no pressure points or irritation around the knee. The freedom of movement offered by the cut does not hinder the pedal stroke, as is sometimes observed with tights.

The straps themselves are thin and light, not causing any unnecessary bulk in that area.

The insert is very comfortable, even on long rides, with no issues of chafing or regular desire to ride out of the saddle. Note the amply sufficient leg length, even in the tested size (medium) for a tall cyclist (1m90).

In conclusion

Ignoring the price of the jacket (while the tights are more in the market average for a high-end product), the tested set is perfect for high-intensity training, even in winter unless temperatures approach zero (not everyone is geographically in the same boat). Both the jacket and the tights provide great satisfaction and each new dry weather ride with periods of high pace highlights the great performance of the set compared to other solutions (more or less warm winter jacket, jersey and vest together, and even Castelli Perfetto). The jacket especially is truly impressive!

It remains to be hoped that Castelli will continue its efforts to promote these products amidst a range that tends to become complicated to follow, with many references and facing products with a well-established image such as the Gabba and Perfetto. Fortunately, the product sheet on the Castelli website is well written, precise and honest about the possible use, as our test has shown.

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