Castelli

Gabba RoS Black Out Jersey - Men's

There is more than one way in which transition seasons impact us as cyclists. First, there's the change of pace, with somber feelings hitting us when cold winds start whipping in the autumn, reminding us of the seasonality of our passion, followed with an air of positivity and upbeat tones that come when the first thaws begin in the spring. Secondly, there's the increased difficulty that comes with properly kitting out when near freezing mornings warm up to balmy afternoons, always peppered with a chance of weather. Years ago Castelli offered an answer to the latter, providing a jersey fine-tuned to fit flawlessly with arm warmers, making transitions through variable temperatures and weather all the easier. Castelli named that answer the Gabba, and with that, a legacy was born. This year Castelli graces us with the fourth iteration of the Gabba, providing a sleek silhouette paired with top-tier materials for comfort and more elemental protection than ever before — and took it a step further by offering the Gabba RoS Black Out Jersey with a sleek and stealthy aesthetic that's as timeless as its namesake.

To strike a balance between breathability and warmth in windy and wet conditions, Castelli crafts the Gabba RoS using GORE-TEX's newest Infinium fabrics. It begins with GORE-TEX Infinium 205 Warm, brushed waterproof fabric on the front-facing surfaces to slice through icy wind and shower, while still allowing perspiration to escape. This partners up with GORE's Infinium 203 Stretch lightweight synthetic on rear-facing surfaces, which provides a huge increase in breathability and stretch for a tailored fit that doesn't restrict, and ultimate moisture management that doesn't quit when you're putting in major efforts. This is then topped off with a durable water-repellent finish so that surprise rain showers don't leave you saturated.

Castelli continues to pay the same attention to fit as it does to function with the Gabba as it has in years before. The sleeves are forward-oriented and the chest features an abbreviated fit compared to similar offerings from other manufacturers. This will likely make the Gabba RoS feel tight across the chest while you're standing, but allows it to perfectly follow your body position once you're in the saddle. It sits close to your chest and stomach instead of hanging down, eliminating the hippo-reminiscent look that so many of us despise in kit designed for cold or inclement weather, without going so far as to restrict your movement. The Gabba is to traditional winter garb as the burgeoning trend of short bodied, double vent suit jackets with high, round armholes are to the boxy tents that passed for US men's wear in the 1990s.

According to Castelli, the Gabba RoS works best in temperatures ranging from 48 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit, but your comfort will ultimately depend on how hard you're riding and how you choose to layer.