Castelli has a long-established reputation for innovation in the history of cycling, introducing a number of now everyday items, including the first Lycra bib short. Often the first choice for the road rider looking for premium performance cycling clothing, Castelli new kit releases are always eagerly anticipated, and their latest collection is no different. Landed at Sigma Sports and ready for your perusal, we have picked out some of the key pieces you should look out for on the road this summer.
Premio Bib Short
A bib short is often a good barometer of a brand's attention to detail. Often unglamorous and always essential, this is an item of clothing that you depend on to do its duty. Castelli was the first brand to construct bib shorts out of Lycra. It's no surprise then that they have created something special with the Premio Bib Short.
Just trickling over the 200-gram mark by a single digit, the Premio is designed to be the most comfortable short out there. Ideally suited for that long and hard day in the saddle, the Forza fabric provides a compression fit, whilst reduced seaming improves next to skin feel.
The bonded flat ergonomic bib straps add extra comfort, and the short is furnished with a pro-level Progetto X2 Air seat pad, the result, a performance short for dawn to dusk escapades.
Vela Vest
With Castelli's spectacular popularity in recent years stemming largely from the technical breakthrough that is the Gabba Jersey, the Castelli Vela Vest is set to cause a real stir thanks to its innovative take on the classic gilet.
Taking a cue from a world without wheels, the Castelli Vela Vest implements the wonder fabric that drives yachts to victory in the Americas Cup. Waterproof and windproof, this Dyneema sailcloth fabric covers the front portion of the vest and has the material property of being extremely strong.
Used in bulletproof vests as well as rock climbing ropes, these white core yarns have an incredible tensile strength, whilst remaining noteworthy for their extreme pliability, allowing them to be woven in this garment to provide incredible durability in a super-lightweight 65-gram net package.
Breathability is covered with the water repellent DWR coated stretch woven inserts. This is a highly protective, impressively light, and supremely packable choice for riding and racing in fast changing, mild climates. Vela itself the Italian word for sail, this external, packable layer is set to ensure that you can brave the tempestuous weather without worry and continue to steer your course.
Sanremo 3.2 Short Sleeve Speedsuit
Famed for performance clothing, it would be foolish for Castelli not to go all out in the pursuit of raw speed against the clock. With this in mind, the latest generation of the Castelli Sanremo 3.2 Short Sleeve Speedsuit has been created.
Lauded by WorldTour time trialists, this suit is now openly available to hard-core, dedicated enthusiasts, putting in the training and, critically, the times to make sure they're standing on the top step come the end of the day.
The product of 6 years of painstaking development, and with hours of wind tunnel testing behind it, this suit features Castelli's premium Velocity aero fabric which remains highly breathable and supremely slippery through the air.
Finished with a Progetto X2 Air seat pad for the very greatest level of comfort and protection, this Speedsuit is sure to have you gaining ground.
Aero Race Womens Short Sleeve Jersey
Aerodynamics have revolutionised cycling and forced us to re-conceive the way we ride. Introducing everyday aero jerseys into the men's pro-ranks back in 2007, this Italian racing brand has produced, for the first time ever, a women's specific aero optimised race-ready garment, the Castelli Aero Race Womens Short Sleeve Jersey.
Jumping in right at the deep end, this women's version skips the early iterations and offers up to date technical parity with the recently released men's Castelli Aero Race 5.1 Short Sleeve Jersey.
Benefitting from the aerodynamically optimised Velocity fabrics over the front and a compression band for an improved fit, this jersey offers the standard three pockets whilst weighing just 98 grams. Perfect for repeated use, this is sure to offer the woman rider that fast, polished, premium performance wear that will shave the seconds from their ride.
These just a few of our top picks from the new range, there's plenty more to discover in Castelli's spring and summer collection for 2017. Intrigued? Why not delve deeper into the collection.