Castelli

The Castelli Prologo HD jersey is a highly breathable option for the warm weather.

Like most cycling jerseys these days, the Prologo is made from polyester but the Stratus fabric is a little unusual in that it's highly textured. It's a closed mesh and only the raised sections on the inner face actually touch your skin, the recessed bits being held off the surface slightly.

The Castelli S Rosso Corsa gloves are a neat, well-ventilated option for summer riding.

The Castelli Fedele is unusual in that it's thicker and warmer than most short-sleeve jerseys which makes it a useful option for spring, autumn and cool summer morning/evening rides.

The Fedele is made from Castelli's Thermoflex Lite fabric which is a brush-backed polyester. It's a mid-weight fabric, not far off the kind of thickness that you sometimes find on long-sleeve winter jerseys. It's in no way windproof – it's not that dense – but it's thick enough to provide considerably more insulation than a standard summer jersey.

'Pioggia' is the Italian word for 'rain' and that tells you what these overshoes are all about. They're made from a polyurethane-coated fabric that won't let water through. And when I say that it won't let water through, it really won't. I scrunched one of these up and left a pool or tap water in the fabric and it was still there a day later. Of course, that's not real-world testing but, believe me, water doesn't soak through here.

Yes, Castelli's Fluido bib tights are expensive but they're also incredibly good at keeping out the wind and also protecting you from rain and road spray. You'll be amazed at the performance, these are the best bit of clothing I've tested in ages.