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On Test: Castelli Free bib short and Superleggera jersey, April 16, 2008
All class from Castelli
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Castelli has a fine tradition for making high performance and stylish cycling clothing which usually fit into the upper echelon of the price scale. According to Paul Verkuylen, the Free Bib short and Superleggera jersey are no exception to any of these rules but they just might be worth the cost.
Freewheeling away
At US$229 a pair, many may think twice about handing over their hard earned cash for something that could seemingly be had for around half the price, but the Castelli Free bib shorts do have several advantages that many cheaper options won't.
When you first put these bibs on, you instantly notice that the shoulder straps have a much different fit from typical bibs. Castelli consciously moves as much material as possible away from the front of the stomach and upper torso area; instead of traveling vertically from the waist to the middle of the shoulder, the straps curve from the outside of the hips and around your chest. According to Castelli, leaving more of the chest uncovered makes the shorts feel less restrictive and cooler in warm conditions.
This technique was certainly effective in practice: the reduced material around the stomach made the Free bib especially comfortable (and arguably aided our breathing as we desperately hung on to last wheel) and cooler in the Australian summer, especially when riding with the jersey zip completely open. Adding to the airy feel are the unique wetsuit-like bands at the leg openings that kept the shorts from riding up without the need for usual grippers.
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According to Castelli, the ComfortTemp® material in the triple layer chamois is able to maintain a constant 37°C (98°F), meaning a cooler feel and a slightly less hospitable environment for harmful bacteria growth, at least in theory.
Be that as it may, the chamois was still comfortable on even the roughest roads although there are no cobbles to ride in Sydney so those living in northern Europe may need to experiment with these. The chamois is also thinner than usual so wearing the Free bib feels less like a giant nappy and more like a comfortable pair of slacks. It also doesn't hurt that Castelli's Italian designers have arguably nailed the Free bib's multi-tone look, too. As anyone who has ever spent a few hundred dollars on a pair of jeans can attest (come on, you know who you are), sometimes it not just all about function.
All in all we were impressed by these bibs and could easily understand why they are more expensive than many others on the market. For those of you who spend almost as many hours on your bike as you do at work, a pair of these would make those long days in the saddle a little more bearable.
Lighten up
We don't often think about the weight of our cycling clothing but it can't be ignored that the matching Castelli Superleggera jersey is the lightest jersey we have ever seen. At just 70g (!!!) it was hard to believe that we even had one on.
The Superleggera is designed to not only be light but also aero, meaning it's a tight fit with no loose material if sized correctly. In fact, we actually thought our test jersey was way too small at first, but after a fitting (and a phone call to check that the right size was in fact sent), we found that it was actually alright. Just make sure you try it on first and keep in mind that the skintight fit offers no apologies for the less-than-perfectly toned (and we don't care what anyone says; black isn't that slimming!).
We certainly had concerns about durability from such a lightweight material but it held up well through two solid months of testing and countless washings. However, one small consequence of the airy and stretchy construction is that the jersey sagged noticeably when the rear pockets were loaded. A heavier duty elastic might resolve this issue but a more effective option could be to use a non-stretch rear panel similar to what Assos does with its SS.13.
Not surprisingly, the Superleggera fabric was a boon in hot weather and as a side benefit, it barely absorbs any water (heck, water actually beads up on its surface) so it doesn't feel heavy when you dump water on yourself on the hottest of days. Castelli augments the built-in air conditioning with strips of gauzelike material that run around the neck, underarms and down the entire length of the jersey on each side. A half-length front zip adds even more ventilation although we would have preferred a full-length version.
The jersey's understated appearance is bound to suit most people's tastes (as long as you like black, red or white) but even without heaps of flashy graphics it's definitely more of a racing style jersey than one for mellow rides with your mates. Likewise with the Free bib short, but that's not to say you can't at least look fast, even if you're just cruising along.
Castelli Free bib shorts
Pros: Great fit, good chamois, stylish
Cons: None to think of
Price: US$229.99
Cyclingnews rating: 
Castelli Superleggera jersey
Pros: Lightweight, cool, tasteful colour schemes
Cons: Won't suit everyone's taste in fit (or fitness level)
Price: US$134.99
Cyclingnews rating: 
More info: www.castelli-us.com
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Paul Henderson-Kelly/Cyclingnews.com
- Castelli's new Free bib shorts take a decidedly different approach in bib strap positioning.
- The multi-panel construction is perfectly tailored for a snug fit in the cycling position.
- The multi-tone look is understated yet sharp at the same time.
- The Castelli Superleggera jersey weighs an astonishing 70g.
- The super lightweight fabric and skintight fit , however, might not suit everyone.
- Strips of airy mesh material loop around the neck and arms…
- …as well as down each side for more ventilation.
- The half-length zip was useful but we'd prefer a full-length one.
- Loading up the rear pockets produced a bit of unwanted sag.
