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TECH NEWS
80E_7231-instCastelli launches Gabba Pro Edition jersey
Castelli has launched a ‘Pro Edition’ of their windproof and water resistant Gabba jersey that’s available exclusively through Wiggle, the professional element being that the box includes a black marker pen. You what? Read on and it'll all make sense...
We must say that the inclusion of the marker pen is a touch of marketing genius, not-so-subtly pointing out that many professionals from teams not sponsored by Castelli have been wearing the Gabba with the logos blacked out in preference to their own team kit. Come on, that's quite funny in a taking the Mickey kind of a way. Well, we thought it was, anyway.
Last year’s Milan-San Remo, Ghent-Wevelgem, and Giro d’Italia, for example, were all affected by bad weather and the pelotons were packed with riders wearing Gabbas, lots with the logos covered up so as not to promote a rival brand. If a pro racer is wearing kit from a brand that doesn't sponsor their team, that’s a real coup for the brand involved, and Castelli haven't let the opportunity to publicise it pass.
When Castelli introduced the Gabba jersey – it was first used in the Belgian Cobbled Classics in 2009 – it was one of those ‘why did no one think of that before?’ products.
When we reviewed it on road.cc we said: “Windproof and highly water-resistant jersey for performance riders looking for an advantage in changeable conditions.”
Essentially, it’s a short sleeve, stretchy and close-fitting jersey made from a waterproof and breathable fabric. It’s really designed to be worn with Castelli’s water resistant Nanoflex arm warmers.
A Gabba and Nanoflex arm warmers won’t keep out the rain like a full-on waterproof jacket with taped seams but, on the other hand, they’re very breathable and won’t flap around and slow you down like a jacket can; they’re a more aero option. You can also keep the Gabba on all day, doing away with the faff of getting a jacket on and off while in the saddle, and your body temperature won’t be affected by putting on an extra waterproof layer.
The idea came from Cervélo Test Team (as was) rider Gabriel Rasch, hence the Gabba name.
Since Castelli launched the Gabba, many other brands have released jerseys that have clearly been heavily influenced, let’s say, by the design.
Castelli puts it more bluntly: “Some other brands have tried to copy it.”
The Gabba Pro Edition jersey is exactly the same as the regular Gabba jersey (£150, www.saddleback.co.uk). What’s different is that it comes in a neat box with a marker pen. Underneath the pen it says, "Pros know you can’t race without a real Gabba."
The lid of the box features "Real quotes from real pros," according to Castelli.
One of those quotes is, “Rain/wind/cold. I don’t give a s***. I got my Gabba jersey.”
The Gabba Pro Edition is priced at £150, like the regular version. Only 100 are available, and only from Wiggle.
Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.
Latest Comments
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It can be viewed in all its glory here, happy shopping!
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That sign is pretty clear!...
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What about all the computer misuse? Stop with the downloading already!
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19 comments
Also, Sharpies are far, far, far superior to anything Staedler do.
And yes, other companies have other garments that are similar, however, those companies garments aren't the garments that pro-cyclists reach to when they need a garment that does a better job than the garments their teams garment supplier does.
Garments.
Garments.
Deliberate overuse of the word...
Garments.
And yes, other companies have other garments that are similar, however, those companies garments aren't the garments that pro-cyclists reach to when they need a garment that does a better job than the garments their teams garment supplier does.
Garments.
Garments.
Deliberate overuse of the word...
Garments.
And yes, other companies have other garments that are similar, however, those companies garments aren't the garments that pro-cyclists reach to when they need a garment that does a better job than the garments their teams garment supplier does.
Garments.
Garments.
Deliberate overuse of the word...
Garments.
My wife bought me a Gabba, I'm constantly torn between taking something she spent good money on and wanting to keep it as new for as long as possible and the fact that it can do and almost seems to want to do the job in any condition and keep you going in the filthiest of conditions.
Fucking mega piece of gear, I also get nods of acknowledgement from, ahem, "serious roadies", when I ride in on my mountain bike.
Campagnolo's Textran jerseys like their Gironde work just like the Gabba (well except a black marker wouldn't get rid of that iconic logo). I also have their Atlantis light jacket that's wind & waterproof from the Textran--steady rain for 6 hours and I was completely dry underneath it with just a baselayer. It's also breathable so you don't stew in your own juices on climbs or with heavy exertion. Too bad they stopped making kit. RIP Campy.
As has been said by David Arthur above, Gore Bike Wear did the N2S short sleeve jersey YEARS before Castelli, i have 2 of them (one royal blue and one grey).
They were so far ahead of their time that no-one got it, a great jersey for early spring/late autumn which with arm warmers is a very versatile piece of kit.
They're also nigh on indestructible - they look as good now as they did when they were new.
Just goes to show how marketing can twist the facts!
And of course Sporful No Rain, although I believe Sportful are owned by Castelli so not sure that it really counts (cut is squarer though).
Don't Craft also do one these days?
All in all though, I love my Gabba, very handy kit and while others have also done it Castelli just got everything right.
I've worn mine solidly since October half term when I bought it, and it's been superb with a merino base layer in all weathers. Wouldn't be without it now.
If it's as good as my Cervo Rosso Ibrido http://www.cervorosso.com/index.php?section=shop&cmd=details&productId=124 it's easy to see why the Pros go for it!
You could look at the Capo Lombardia range
http://www.capocycling.com/apparel/mens-apparel/lombardia
Available from Nordic Life
http://www.nordiclifeuk.co.uk/products/cycling
I have the jersey, arm warmers and bibs and cannot fault them. The top fits me better than the Gabba.
I'm not connected with Nordic Life but can highly recommend them; they do some top stuff.
The pro version used by the Garmin Cervelo team has a towel lining to the neck so not totally pro. If you managed to buy this jersey when it first came out, it had the Castelli name in black lettering anyway. The white lettering adorned the jersey from the following year. Which ever version you get it is the best bit of kit I've bought since I took up cycling again.
seriously, who?
I just don't see any similar jerseys for sale, which surprises me as surely there must be?
Gore Bike Wear have done one for years, they actually did a Xenon AS Active gabba-style jersey before Castelli did the Gabba, Castelli are just much better at marketing
Vermarc also do one, and Craft have just launched one, which we feature in Tech Roundup today http://road.cc/content/news/115224-tech-roundup-fizik-van-nicholas-sabba...
Quick Step, Lotto and a few other teams either wear black Vermarc or Giordana Aquatex jerseys. The former introduced, as far as I'm aware, their jersey at the same time as the Gabba but Castelli marketed theirs better.
...and Cafe du Cycliste http://road.cc/content/review/86091-caf%C3%A9-du-cycliste-marie-josette-....
Also noticed that Rapha are working on something http://pages.rapha.cc/team/classic-stannard "Stannard wore: ... Prototype jersey for wet conditions (for release in AW14)".
As above, I suspect that the Gabba isn't so revolutionary as the Castelli marketing team would have you believe but they do seem to have conceived something that has equalled or bettered most things that came before it.
i have the Capo Lombardia, i bought it as i had a gabba but everyman and their dog ended up buying them (understandably), and i wanted to have something different so sold the gabba and got the capo
its just as good as the gabba and when on sale a decent price (think i paid £110)
a seriously decent alternative
Nice marketing angle
Brilliant bit of marketing, but surely you mean '...redact the logos'.