Italian clothing company Capo have released details of their 2013/14 road clothing lines, including a Lombardia fall/winter wet weather range, a Super Corsa Ceramica series for men and women, and updates to the Padrone line.
"Our European business is really pushing us for more rainwear and visibility," co-founder Gary Vasconi said. Read on for the full details.
Padrone
Now in its fourth season, the Padrone line gets visibility upgrades plus coldblack fabric that offers SPF50 protection and a claimed 20 percent heat reduction over similar black materials.
The US$299/£210 Padrone bib shorts use a 40-gauge Lycra, carbon yarn on the sides, and an 8cm compression band with mesh on back. The US$249/£165 Padrone jersey uses form-fitting polyester Lycra with a lazer-cut arm band.
Crucially, the new Padrone HiVis kit looks normal during the day but lights up with reflectivity from car headlights at night. Due to be available in November 2013, with US$349/£240 jackets and US$269/£180 vests as well, the clothing features reflective crystals that are ground up then bonded to a poly-nylon fabric.
"This is an absolute game-changer," Vasconi said of this new element, "and I believe we are the only ones using it right now. I got hit three months ago by a truck, commuting home when the driver just didn't see me. Anything we can do to get more visibility, we're going to do. The hardest thing is making clothing that is super technical and highly visible but still looks cool and is something that people want to wear."
Gary Vasconi uses his smartphone camera flash to light up the Padrone HiVis vest
Super Corsa Ceramica
The Ceramica 2014 line is part of Capo's Super Corsa collection. For colors, you can pick anything you like as long as it's fluorescent green or red.
On the US$169/£100 jersey, furrowed fabric lets moisture dip into little channels, away from the skin, and be pulled outside for evaporation. A ceramic-treated Lycra is used for durability in key spots on the US$219/£145 bib shorts, and Capo's Power Lycra is used for compression. Silicone bands handle gripper duties. The Ceramica line features a relatively small chamois with two foam densities and an interwoven carbon yarn.
The Ceramica kit in the more subdued red. Fluorescent green is also available
Capo's popular SC Donna women's line will be coming back next year, in fluoro yellow and with longer sleeves. The shorts have a high-gauge Lycra that's embossed with the same tech as the men's bibs but with a female-specific cut. All jerseys and bibs have reflective inserts on each side.
Lombardia fall/winter gear
The Capo Lombardia collection will start shipping in August, including foul-weather warmers, jerseys, jackets, bib shorts and boots.
"Castelli has done a great job with the Gabba series," Vasconi said of his competitor's wet weather gear. "We did this three to four years ago, perhaps a little ahead of the times. There are not a lot of people making this stuff. Watching the Giro this year you saw a lot of guys wearing non-logo clothing just to get some wet-weather protection in a high-performance piece."
Similar to Castelli's Gabba collection, Capo's Lombardia gear is made for foul weather
The Lombardia Super Corsa short sleeve jersey features a longer sleeve down to the elbow, reflective inserts, a longer collar and a thermal Roubaix fabric treated with WBR.
"In February I rode this in England for three hours in the mid-30s (1.5 degrees Celsius) and rain," Vasconi said. "With a fully windproof and waterproof membrane on the front, and stretchy Roubaix where you need it, this doesn't feel like a clammy rain jacket but it keeps you warm."
The Lombardia shorts have Roubaix fabric and an elastic interface chamois. The rain jacket uses the E3 Swiss textile for a piece that's super-light, waterproof and still "something you can race in", according to Vasconi.
The Lombardia gloves use fabric by OutDry, who was bought by Columbia Sportswear about a year ago. The material is a waterproof/windproof bladder that molds into the gloves. "Mountain Hardware was using the technology, then Columbia bought it," Vasconi said. "I ski in this glove, and when you ride you can still feel the bar and shifters."
Prices range from US$49/£35 for the Lombardia Roubaix arm warmers, through to US$159/£110 for the jersey and US$249/£200 for the jacket.
For more details check out capocycling.com.
