Capo SC-12 Italia jersey and bib shorts review
Summer road cycling kit
GBP £225.00 RRP | USD $350.00 Skip to view dealsPublished:
For those who like longer sleeves and a race-cut fit, the Capo SC-12 Italia kit is a great-looking and great-performing option. Capo is a Californian company but its clothing is made in Italy; the SC-12 kit celebrates the land of Fausto Coppi with its Italia motif, and comes in black, red, pink, or white for the jersey and black or white for the bib shorts.
We appreciate the cut, fit, and construction of the SC-12 kit. In the jersey, we like the balance of the long, stretchy sleeves (which don’t bind or constrict), snug body in summer-weight material, and appropriate torso length (the hem sits at the top of the hips, not well down your behind).
In the bib shorts, we like the compression fit and the chamois, although it is a bit thicker than many high-performance models. We don’t particularly like the silicone leg grippers, though. While the bands make for a svelte look, they aren’t breathable. This could just be a matter of personal preference, though.
Capo SC-12 Italia jersey (US$150/£90)
Carbon is woven into the light, soft main body material of the SC-12 jersey, while silver is embedded in the breathable material under the arms. The shoulder/top arm panels are made from the silky, stretchy HydroDrop material that – combined with an elastic-free hem – makes for a comfortable, non-binding fit in the riding position.
One of our testers has somewhat broad shoulders, and many jerseys fit through the shoulders or at the waist. With the HydroDrop shoulders, the SC-12 jersey fits him well everywhere.
Those who like a race-cut jersey will appreciate where the jersey hem falls, but those who want a looser fit might find the pockets sit too high on the back.
Capo SC-12 Italia bib shorts (US$200/£135)
A 40-gauge compression Lycra is used on the main front and rear panels of the SC-12 bib shorts, with a lighter Lycra on the sublimated sides and cuffs. As with any good bib shorts, the straps aren’t noticeable at all when you’re riding.
The Capo SC-12 bib shorts use an Anatomic-DP Carbon chamois, which is a little thicker than most high-performance pads but is well positioned and comfortable.
Our main gripe with the SC-12 bib shorts sits with the silicone band grippers at the leg hems. They make for a svelte look but come at the cost of breathability.
Authors
Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
