Climb into the back of your wardrobe and pull out some winter kit from when you were younger. I dare you. It’s horrible. Offensive. Uncomfortable. And it didn’t work very well. You either rode wearing an expensive bin bag—wetter with sweat than you would be with rain—or you didn’t ride at all.
These days it couldn’t be more different. All of the major brands are making innovative, stylish and extremely functional attire for the hibernal season. Excuses are now out of fashion. There’s no such thing as bad weather anymore, only poor sartorial choices.
I’d been hearing good things about Sportful‘s Fiandre—no prizes for guessing, it’s Italian for “Flanders”—range for some time, so when the opportunity came to test it after Il Lombardia alongside some of the guys from Team Tinkoff, I cleared my schedule.
The Race of the Falling Leaves is the autumnal classic, the final monument of the season, a testament to the beauty and the challenge of riding in cold and wet conditions, the perfect backdrop to a review of some extreme threads. So naturally, when we met outside the hotel on the the banks of Lake Como, the sun was splitting the rocks and people were more concerned with their shades than their thermals.
Still, with a few chilly descents to deal with, the Fiandre No-Rain short sleeve jersey and its matching bibshorts were perfect. Good against showers and gusts, while still breathable enough for when the sun came out or the climbing got aggressive. Which it tends to do when you’re scaling Madonna del Ghisallo and the Colma di Surmano, desperately trying to keep pace with Ivan Basso, Roman Kreuziger and Sergio Paulinho, all three soft-pedalling and chewing the fat while we chewed our stems.
Heavy-duty items in the range had to wait a little longer for a proper testing, but after a couple of months worth of winter rides, they’ve now become firm favorites. I don’t want to ride in anything else.
The Extreme Neoshell Jacket is a marvel. Breathable and stretchy but completely waterproof. Cut to fit like a winter jersey, but warm enough to wear as a jacket even in the frostiest months. The chunky zipper and taped seams protect against drafts and soakage—and they look cool. Combined with the right kind of base layers or thermals, it could be the only top you need from autumn right up into the spring.
As a small aside, it’s worth trying this on while in your riding position because anyone who likes a snug fit might find their normal size a bit tight under the arms while standing. Once you’re riding, however, it’s like a glove and while offering an impressive level of protection, it feels light and unrestrictive.
The No-Rain bibtights don’t disappoint either, with plenty of features to keep you snug in the most inclement conditions. There’s an extra layer over the thighs and knees, which is always welcome when riding into piercing winter winds, and there’s even an extra rear flap for protection against wheel spray. Minimal stitching keeps things tight, and some reflective piping is a good idea for this time of year, when visibility can be low.
