Quick Spins – February 2, 2008 Edited by James Huang Got Tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech-heads. Capoforma winter clothing Capoforma's CSS Classic ED Jacket Need more pockets? …and yet another one here. The Tuscan Long Sleeve Jersey The red, white, and black colorblocked styling Carefully selected WindTex panel location The WindTex panels are easily spotted A high-cut back and broad straps We liked Capoforma's Euro Winter wool socks… …but were really stoked on the Retro Wool cycling cap. The early part of winter hit Colorado particularly hard yet again this year with brutal cold and whipping winds. Both traits are the bane of every cyclist's existence yet good clothing can go a long way towards making those conditions tolerable. US-based cycling apparel maker Capoforma may not be able to boast the rich heritage of some of its competition but its products suggest years of experience (and distinctly Euro-inspired style) nonetheless. Our winter test package included its CSS Classic ED bib tight and jacket, Tuscan long-sleeved jersey, Retro Wool cycling cap, and Euro Winter wool sock. The CSS Classic ED tights and jacket made for a potent combination as the mercury dipped below the freezing mark. Both boasted outstanding heat retention without a lot of bulk courtesy of their brushed SuperRoubaix fabrics and the windproof WindTex front panels effectively blocked chilly air. The jacket is cut notably trim but still allows room for a long-sleeved base layer or thin jersey if desired; thankfully we rarely felt the need anything more. The broad stretch cuffs and collar work exceptionally well as sealing drafts without being overly restrictive, and the cuffs' trim profile fits easily under gloves. Pockets abound on the CSS Classic ED jacket including three on the back (woo hoo!), a zippered one on the right chest, and even one more on the inside. Thoughtful details include a two-way front zipper with a full-length wind flap, a siliconized hem to keep the bottom of the jacket in place, and reflective piping throughout. The tights offered a particularly good fit around the hips and groin as compared to other windproof models we've tried in the past and the fit around the knees wasn't far behind. Part of this comes from the fact that Capoforma places the less stretchy WindTex panels where they're most useful (shins, knees, outer thighs) but omit them up around the upper and inner thigh and groin where the fit on these types of garments is usually most lacking. As you'd imagine, those unshielded sections are left a bit colder but it's a compromise we're willing to make to achieve the fit. Zippers around the ankles and lower abdomen area make for easier 'installation' if you will and siliconized ankle openings keep the bottoms from riding up. Not surprisingly, the CyTech-made stretch chamois was superb. If we have any complaints with the CSS Classic ED bib tights at all, it's the distinct lack of reflective materials. Nighttime riders beware. The Tuscan long-sleeved jersey is definitely more of a cool- rather than cold weather piece, at least when used on its own. There is no built-in wind protection but it does its intended job well nonetheless and it's easy enough to add a vest or jacket. The mid-weight 'Winter Quattro' fabric is decidedly luxurious feeling on the inside and reasonably warm. As we've come to expect from Capoforma, the cut is appropriately snug. The three rear pockets are aptly sized and placed while a siliconized hem keeps the bottom of the jersey where it should be. We should also mention that we found the bold red, white, and black colorblocked pattern especially fetching. The Euro Winter wool socks fit well and were pretty warm, but we were truly smitten with the Retro Wool winter cap. As with the Tuscan jersey there's no dedicated wind protection but the densely woven Wool Superwash blend was plenty toasty anyway, even with well-ventilated helmets, and the thin profile fits easily under most helmets. The short brim adds a little extra protection without overly impeding vision and the extended rear offers plenty of warmth for ears and the upper neck. It's also worth mentioning that the natural fiber content felt a little better against our skin than synthetics. Overall we continued to be pleased with Capoforma's lineup as it offers excellent cuts, intelligent design, and classic styling. It does tend to be a little more expensive than some of the competition, but in our experience the end result is still almost always a sure bet. Capoforma CSS Classic ED Bib Tight Price: US$199 Pros: Outstanding fit for windproof tights, excellent CyTech chamois, suitably warm without undue bulk Cons: Lack of reflective materials, unprotected groin and inner thigh areas Cyclingnews rating: Capoforma CSS Classic ED Jacket Price: US$199 Pros: Snug but not too-snug fit, excellent combination of WindTex and more breathable SuperRoubaix fabrics, draft-proof cuffs and collar, ample storage and reflective details Cons: None Cyclingnews rating: Capoforma Tuscan Long Sleeve Jersey Price: US$99 Pros: Luxurious-feeling and reasonably Winter Quattro fabric, good fit, bold Euro styling Cons: None Cyclingnews rating: Capoforma Retro Wool Cycling Cap Price: US$79 Pros: Classic styling, warm and silky Wool Superwash fabric, plenty of coverage Cons: Rather expensive Cyclingnews rating: Capoforma Euro Winter Wool Socks Price: US$16 Pros: Pretty warm yet still thin enough to fit in cycling shoes, high-cut cuff, reasonable cost Cons: Um… Cyclingnews rating: More info: www.uplandsg.com Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com Capoforma's CSS Classic ED Jacket is warm, fits well, and looks good. WindTex front panels block out the biting wind while retaining good breathability elsewhere. Unlike many jackets out there , the CSS Classic ED includes a full complement of rear pockets. Reflective piping throughout offers nighttime visibility. The WindTex panels offer excellent protection and also provide a unique look, too. A two-way zipper makes for easy adjustments as the temperature rises and falls. Need more pockets? There's another one here… …and yet another one here. The Tuscan Long Sleeve Jersey worked well on its own for cool, but not cold, rides. The red, white, and black colorblocked styling is hard to argue with (and hard to miss). Capoforma hasn't been around for that long but its styling is already easily recognizable. Three rear pockets offer amply storage. Carefully selected WindTex panel location makes for plenty of warmth and an excellent fit. The WindTex panels are easily spotted with their distinctive texture. A high-cut back and broad straps provide even more warmth. The CSS Classic ED bib tights include an excellent CyTech stretch chamois. Ankle zippers make for easier wearing. We liked Capoforma's Euro Winter wool socks… …but were really stoked on the Retro Wool cycling cap.