I’m going to try a TT and a duathlon in the next month or two, and already have clip-ons and a TT helmet. The next area I’d like to address is my race attire. Rather than go full out with a Tri Suit or skin suit which may not get much use, does anybody have recommendations for a tight fitting “aero” jersey? Convenience of having separate shorts, lower cost, and the extra usefulness I’ll get out of a jersey seem like it’d make it the best choice.
I have a Hincapie ‘race’ fit and PI ‘Elite’ jersey, but both flap around a bit at the shoulder blades and bunch up in the front. 6’1" 158lbs.
I do have a super thin UA compression shirt I wear under my jersey, and I could go with only that, but it’d be nice to have a not-so-loose pocket and zipper up front.
LG Mondo jersey. Chainlove/Real Cyclist has them, although size options are dwindling. I wear mine for TT’s and crits, it’s skinsuit tight all over including the neckline, arms and abdominal/chest areas.
Louis Garneau has done a lot of work on aerodynamic design of clothing. The jersies worn in the Tour had limisted forward facing seams and used snug fitting patterns. I’ve worn the consumer versions of their Elite Lazer Tech and my favorite, their Men’s Corsa Jersey. Those have a snug fit and are designed around an aero theme.
I like my Campagnolo Factory Team jersey. It’s seriously form fitting and is, for me, the perfect shape. Sizing is somewhat small compared to usual US sizing.
I wear a tight-fitting medium, and I’m 5’10’, 140lbs. It’s not super long in the body, but if your torso isn’t longer than normal it’ll be fine.
LG Mondo seems like what I want, 2011 clearance is a bit limited and not sure I want the blue/white combo.
Craft Elite Aero looks good, but I’m not sure I see an american online dealer.
Campy jersey isn’t for me. Not wanting italian branded stuff, and like the LG Elite Aero Tech it doesn’t seem to be a skin-tight/compression style fit.
Skins C400 Compression looks like a winner, but $240 for a jersey is silly money. I’m gonna be stabbing this thing with safety pins!
To the guys referencing the Castelli stuff, any first hand experience? Reviews were hit and miss, and I’m not really sure what the functional difference is between “aero race” and “body paint”.
I haven’t seen any of this stuff locally (SoCal), but I’m only familiar with roady/mtb type shops. I’m surprised more jersey’s aren’t tight fitting, it seems strange I have to go out of my way to find something like this.
x3 for the Castelli Aero Race, it’s a phenomenal jersey (as are the shorts). And it’s supposed to fit like a second skin, so it should be super-tight: beware of these “it runs small” comments. If you size up you might well lose the aero benefits. I usually use a medium jersey and fit a medium Aero Race just fine, but if you have any, uhm, “extra body padding” at all this kit will remind you all about it. I have a lean body type but have a somewhat built distance swimmer’s upper body, so I’m far from the skinny cycling pro body type.
x3 for the Castelli Aero Race, it’s a phenomenal jersey (as are the shorts). And it’s supposed to fit like a second skin, so it should be super-tight: beware of these “it runs small” comments. If you size up you might well lose the aero benefits. I usually use a medium jersey and fit a medium Aero Race just fine, but if you have any, uhm, “extra body padding” at all this kit will remind you all about it. I have a lean body type but have a somewhat built distance swimmer’s upper body, so I’m far from the skinny cycling pro body type.
Hehe…While far from overweight, I’m def not a skinny cycle type (6’1" 184) and when I tried on the large, the zipper kept popping open. I almost had ordered it online, glad I got it at the LBS. Probably could have gotten away with the XL but it was still pretty tight. The XXL is still skin tight though so I think it will be good…but of course, YMMV
The Castelli Aero Race from what I can tell is a full-zip jersey. Thus, it’s something that can be put on in T1 fairly quickly for a 1/2 or full ironman distance race. If I was racing these days, that’s what I would do. Wear, a good tri-short, and then either a swim skin or wetsuit over top of that for the swim, either of those come off, and then the Castelli top goes on for the bike and the run. Use a number belt for the number.
