Does anyone own a Castelli Gabba? The reviews on Wiggle make it sound incredibly awesome, but the cost is... high. Essentially, the main question I have, if I were to shell out the cash for one, is whether to go for a short or long sleeved one, so thought I'd ask to see if anyone here has one, and if so, what sleeve length they have and why? I figure if I were to get a short sleeved one, I could always get arm warmers?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Castelli Gabba
(23 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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Oh, you used the magic words, Castelli and Gabba!
I've got a long-sleeve in fluro yellow, and make no mistake, it's bright! I've only worn it once so far but it is a very comfortable jersey, but then I've become a Castelli addict, much to my bank account's disgust.
Long or short-sleeve is a matter of personal choice. I'd love to splash out on (no pun intended) a short-sleeve at some point. If you go down that route, the preceived wisdom is to get Castelli's Nanoflex arm warmers. Pricey again, but then you'd have a very rain-proof combo. I've just picked up a Fawesome (Gabba in all but name) gilet/vest for those days where the chance of rain might be there but I don't want a full-on jacket or the long-sleeve jersey.
I haven't experienced any rain in the Gabba but from the reviews it's not something I'm worrying about. It's definitely got a high quality feel about it. I always wear a base layer all year round anyway.
I think the best recommendation (even bearing in mind what works for a pro isn't necessarily best for the rest of us) is that riders from teams not supplied by Castelli have bought their own Gabbas to wear in the early season races and covered up all the branding! And we're not just talking one or two riders.
My biggest problem now is what Castelli gear to put on for any given ride. My favourite up top at the moment is the Espresso Due jacket. I've only worn a base layer under it through the winter and it keeps me toasty without overheating.
Posted 10 years ago # -
They had a couple of short sleeve black ones in Ronde last time I looked.
I have a fluoro yellow long sleeve and have to say on the evidence of 5 rides it is terrific for fast "training" rides. Not a relaxed fit, though.
Folk i've seen with the short sleeve all seem to wear the nanoflex arm warmers with it, which makes me wonder why they don't just buy the long sleeve.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I've got a long sleeve.. They are good for fast riding and it is useful to have the fluoro colour. They are water resistant rather than waterproof and will get wet in any sort of prolonged rain. I would say that they alre worth having, but I wouldn't necessarily say they are better than similarly priced jackets and let's face it they are pricey.
Posted 10 years ago # -
The point of the Gabba is really to have a jersey that will stand up to inclement weather, rather than as a substitute for a jacket. At least for us mere mortals.
Don't forget though, that it's very much a professionals item for professional racers, for whom clothing choice is more of an essential than a convenience. A road racer is going to be spending hours in the saddle whilst having to remain competitive and the short sleeve with arm warmer combo is the most flexible for changing conditions.
You or I may well decide that we're just as well to go for the long sleeve version as we can always ease off the pace should we get too warm. Not really a luxury for the pro racer. Some "ordinary" riders may be going for the short/warmer option because the pros do, others may just enjoy that flexibility. Heck, if the funds would allow, I'd be rocking both versions!
Hope none of that came across as condescending - just sharing my thoughts :-)
In short, the Gabba is a fantastic jersey for this country especially and sometimes it will substitute for a jacket. Just don't expect it to be a replacement for one full time.
Oh, when buying, expect to by a size larger than you might with other brands. Everyone is right when they say Castelli's Italian sizing runs small. In most brands, I'll go for medium or even small for a comfortable fit, whereas all my Castelli speedsuits, jerseys and shorts are medium and are definitely race tight! Go a size up for a jacket though (e.g. if you are M in Castelli jerseys, go L for a jacket - it'll still be a close fit).
Posted 10 years ago # -
I'm planning on testing the Gabba properly, but meantime my go-to wardrobe for the cold weather has been almost all Castelli: Thermo Skully under the helmet, Espresso Due jacket over either an Under Armour Heatgear or One Ten LS base layer and Polare Due bib longs over either Castelli or Shutt VR bib shorts. Overshoes hide the fact I probably have Lidl or Aldi socks underneath in the colder months! I've yet to shell out for Castelli socks, depite my OCC (Obsessive Castelli Collecting) :-)
Posted 10 years ago # -
Clearly I'm not the intended demographic anyway, but why the need for a permanent marker?
Are professionals not allowed to wear Gabba clothing, yet want to wear it anyway?
Robert
Posted 10 years ago # -
Are professionals not allowed to wear Gabba clothing, yet want to wear it anyway?
If a professional sportsperson has an agreement with a clothing company which precludes them wearing clothing of a competing manufacturer, then they have to go to such extremes as blanking the logo of said competing manufacturer. Therefore, if they don't get sponsored by Castelli, they are not allowed to wear clothing with Castelli logos etc on.
Garmin therefore *can* wear Gabba tops without blanking the logo.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I wore the short sleeve + arm warmers continuously for the five days of LEL, over a mesh base layer. Worked brilliantly - although I was pretty ripe by the end...
They're water resistant, but when the rain finally penetrates through the seams work a bit like a wetsuit to keep you toasty warm. Completely windproof. I went for the short sleeve as for that much money I wanted as much flexibility as possible!
Posted 10 years ago # -
@ Roibeard
"Clearly I'm not the intended demographic anyway, but why the need for a permanent marker?
Are professionals not allowed to wear Gabba clothing, yet want to wear it anyway?" As mkns described it, that was what I was alluding to in my first post.
This blog article will give you some idea how popular the 'illicit' use of the Gabba has been amongst pro rides.
More Gabba fans on here than I would have realised.
I hadn't seen the 'Limited Edition' version before. Quite an amusing take on the situation! :-)
Posted 10 years ago # -
How much!!!
You could get a full tank of petrol for that!
Posted 10 years ago # -
:-D
Or a Rapha formal shirt. Gabba every time for me out of those 3 options!
Posted 10 years ago # -
Size-wise, I take a large jersey in most brands (except a "normal" Castelli top I got a few years ago which is XL, and neat with it); however, the Gabba in large is a good fit for me, probably largely because the material is very stretchy and designed to be tight.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I couldn't resist the lure of a Gabba short-sleeve on eBay in the end! So i now have the set: Long-sleeve, short-sleeve and Fawesome. If I ever add Nanoflex bibs and arm/leg warmers I'll have the whole kit. Someone stop me!
The jersey's very nice, feeling thicker (or rather slightly more 'rigid') in the sleeves than any other short=-sleeve Castelli shirt I have, due to the material used. It's a close fit as with any Castelli jersey in my size, but not so much in the sleeve so it will pay to make sure any arm warmers are a tight fit withut relying on the sleeve to help keep them in place. Thankfully my Endura Thermolite's already fit that bill.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Laughing at PS being XL anywhere.
Posted 10 years ago # -
In the land of Italian cyclists I'm clearly a giant amongst men. :)
Posted 10 years ago # -
Last century when I was a very occasional caddy on the Scottish pro golf tour, it was endemic that pros sponsored by one manufacturer had switched to some other company's clubs. Then when they all played with forged blades it was easy just to stick a strip of lead across the logo. Harder now as the pros have largely switched to the clubs the duffers use to hit it straight, with large sweet spot and cavity.
The Gabba phenomenon is the more normal filter down from pros to amateurs as we now all have some disposable income to blow on dear kit. I believe Marx nailed this as commodity fetishism. See also - all the gear and no idea.
However, castelli kit is very good. I have a nice pair of bib shorts cost little bit more than top of the range decathlon bib shorts, also good. However,one of the scorpions is coming off. I notice people at sportives like to check out your logos. I should get that fixed. castelli also claim to have invented Lycra shorts to which there has not been a retro reaction (the way you get merino tops like you used to be able to get wool jerseys before silk then nylon).
I cannot take my hands off the bars and take a cape out of my back pocket and put it on so maybe I should get a Gabba for my birthday. I have quite puny arms and warmers tend to slip down like Nora Batty's tights. So should be long sleeve I am guessing.
Theory on dear kit is that it retains its quality over many many years. I have some well baggy EBC shorts, they don't disintegrate but they aren't exactly fetching. However, I bet I would hand wash in pure soap flakes an assos bib long bit of kit whereas I just chuck my stuff in the washing machine.
If I saw a castelli Gabba top in a sale I would definitely try it on. I tried on an FJD top in decathlon, they only had one, this was supposed to be what the team decathlon were sponsoring in the tour were wearing. It was clearly made of gossamer.
In this long and slightly boring monologue it occurs to me that I focus on the leg department and indeed trying to find a breathable waterproof. Tops I go for a laff with team tunnocks or team marmite. Or ones I have won in EBC competitions or leckies price Icebreaker. Time I bought a Gabba.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Is there a Ramones fan at Castelli?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Gabba Gabba Hey!
Apparently they had a focus group / Cyclehack of pro cyclists and a dude called Gabriel (surname TLDR) came up with water resistant short sleeve top and arm warmers idea.Which they then innovatised into existence and the rest is history
Posted 10 years ago # -
note on castelli website they also do a Gabba convertible where the sleeves zip off just above the elbow
Posted 10 years ago # -
gembo's short version is probably more interesting (and just as correct) than the full story but it goes like this:
The Cervelo TestTeam was set up by the delightfully named Gerard Vroomen, co-counder of Cervelo bikes, for 2010 to be both a full-blown UCI pro team as well as a development outfit for new products. Whilst on the team, Norwegian Gabriel Rasch came up with the idea of a rain-proof jersey to reduce the need for flappy race capes.
The irony of it all of course is that Rasch left what was by then Garmin-Cervelo and no longer gets to wear the gear he inspired (at least not without a marker pen!). He currently rides for Sky.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@ gembo
"note on castelli website they also do a Gabba convertible where the sleeves zip off just above the elbow "
I think I can resist that one. My bank account certainly can!
That was available in the USA last year but this is the first year it's been on sale here.
Posted 10 years ago # -
On the cheap v bank-crumbling choice, I'd like to think I'm neither a snob or reverse snob with clothing. As I say, there may well be Lidl/Aldi socks under the pricey stuff and I often wear some very basic (and too short!) non-bib shorts from Canada's Mountain Equipment Co-Op under and Endura baggy/Endura-made ERC trousers for town riding.
I've got lots of older jersey, including 5 from Lidl. I wear them less now for a couple of reasons: 1) Moisture wicking is all but non-existent and the fit is too casual for the road bike, especially as they only go down to medium and their sizing is generous.
I can't say I've worn any of my Castelli gear nearly enough to say it is bomb-proof but the construction and quality of material suggests it will stay in shape far longer than cheaper options. I have old shorts from cheaper brands where the padding is still 'ok' (though never was as good as the Castellis) but where the lycra has lost it's give and is a bit on the baggy side. Ok for undershorts but never to see the light of day uncovered in public again*! I'm confident the Castelli gear will fare better and for longer. Besides, I won't be wearing it to the shops and back :-)
* Which reminds me of a guy at my first job. I'm slim built but he was positively skinny, and the keen cyclists among us always had to force straight faces when he'd turn up in the morning with lycra shorts hanging loose off his posterior, bless him!
Posted 10 years ago #
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