Flatlay: Rapha Lombardia Kit

This year marked my first successful Festive 500, despite having attempted it 6 times and coming tantalizing close in the past. So, what was the big difference between my previous attempts and this year? Planning. I knew what to wear no matter the weather, something that took me a few years to really get a good grasp of. Almost any ride will implode if you're freezing on descents, or soaked through in less than an hour. In each of my flatlay posts I'll explain the conditions I expected, and why I chose the piece of kit for the day item by item.


This kit was intended for a day hovering just above freezing, overcast, and little chance of sun. Rain was unlikely, but breezes on the tops and cold mist in the valleys did mean some extra warmth was essential. I planned for a steady pace over 120 kilometers with two major passes and plenty of intermediate climbs.

The Kit

Baselayer: Sportful Bodyfit Pro Long Sleeve

No matter the conditions, I start all of my kits with a baselayer. A baselayer adds a layer of functionality to any jersey that you can tailor for any situation. The Bodyfit Pro is a lightweight offering from Sportful that adds high performance moisture wicking and breathable warmth to a long sleeve jersey. The fit is like a second skin, but the quality and finish of the fabric makes it almost unnoticeable once you're on the road. Cold weather jerseys can be muggy on long climbs which necessitates a baselayer that won't overheat you and keep you dry for the descent. This baselayer excels under a jacket or thermal jersey, but also compliments a lighter long sleeve jersey.

Jersey: Rapha Lombardia

Style and substance define the Lombardia Jersey. It has a one of a kind look, even when compared to Rapha's other limited edition jerseys. The wooden buttons and embroidered detail can make any one feel like a king of the road from the golden age of cycling. This is especially important as looking cool is as essential as going fast. The fit is relaxed, without being baggy and ideal for a long steady day. The fabric is not windproof, but the wool and polyester blend contends well with cool weather and road spray. The high collar helps to keep a draft out, especially when paired with a decent neck warmer. Without a zipper it's not suited for a ride where conditions and pace will fluctuate so riding with finesse is essential.

Shorts: Rapha Core Bib Shorts

Rapha's Core Bib is just that, a core element of a cyclists wardrobe. The chamois is substantial, but not bulky and is well-suited for a long day in the saddle. The multi-panel construction doesn't offer a premier fit, but won't hinder your performance. The mid-weight fabric is ideal for cool weather especially if your wardrobe is limited to shorts and not knickers and tights.

Leg Warmers: Castelli Nanoflex

Castelli's Nanoflex offerings are my choice for their high degree of water resistance and cozy brushed fleece interior. The water resistant treatment provides a good degree of wind protection on the front of the leg for descents while the back panel keeps you from cooking on the climbs. With the proliferation of social media in cycling, you might feel your whole kit needs to be brand unified, but a set of black warmers for arms and legs will expand your wardrobe in the cold seasons without ruining your look. Rather than buying 4 pairs of a tights from different manufacturers, a single set of quality black legwarmers will serve you far better. Sportful's No-Rain series offer the same performance with a subtler logo.

The Accessories

Helmet: Catlike Whisper

This is my standard helmet choice. It's nothing particularly special, despite it's one of a kind honeycomb look. I choose it time after time because I know it's comfortable no matter how long I wear it. All that ventilation does mean a good hat or skull cap is key for keeping the wind off.

Hat: Rapha Festive 500 Winter Cap

Winter caps can be tough, too thick and you'll have sweat in your eyes like it's a summer day, too thin and you'll have a blinding frost headache. Rapha's cap is an ideal weight for true winter rides around freezing, but will be warm if you're expecting sunshine and blues skies. The ear and neck band provide essential coverage without an overly snug fit. The rainbow band provides a bit of flair to what is a utilitarian piece. The peak is modest and relatively soft so there's no pressure on your forehead even with a helmet over top,. The real benefit of this specific cap though was motivation. If I was going to own the cap; I'd better complete the challenge.

Glasses: Oakley Jawbreaker Splatterfade (Clear Lenses)

I've always been a fan of Oakley; I've spent at least two prize purses buying them in the past. There's an argument to be made against expensive shades, but for me there's no price too high to protect my eyes. A pair of glasses with easily interchangeable lenses is a must, and the Jawbreakers are certainly a paragon. I chose clear lenses as it was going to be a dark day and I wouldn't be needing sun protection, just something to keep my eyes from watering and any road debris or spray out.

Collar: Etxeondo

If you were an Alberto Contador fan, then you'll probably recognize this piece from his brother's clothing line. The wool collar can also double as an emergency beanie with a cinch top, but it's nice for keeping out the chill and is good as a face mask in the first 20 minutes to keep the cold air from hitting your lungs so hard. It's not tightly woven so it's not as warm as some fully synthetic options, but it does the job nicely when paired with a collared jersey.

Gloves: Planet X 365 Convertible Gloves

I've owned a lot of expensive gloves, but none of them have performed as admirably as this budget pair from the discount hub, Planet X. They have a brushed fleece interior for insulation and windproof and water resistant exterior. The weight is perfect for maintaining a loose grip on the bar, and the convertible mitt means that you can cope with the real biting cold at the end of the day. The mitt does make braking and shifting in the hoods more difficult, but I tend to commit to the drops and race home if it's that cold.

Overshoes: Rapha Reflective Oversocks

They're not waterproof, they're not particularly insulating, but they do what they say on the tin. The reflective band over the top is an essential piece for safety when the sun is going down early and the light is poor. I'm not interested in being a traffic cone, so I always go for subtle, but effective, choices. Moving reflective panels and lights are much more effective for safety around motorists than static fluorescent. When I'm not in need of a lot of warmth they're my go to overshoe.

Rubber Meets Road: Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Review

Since moving to Tucson durable tires have become a must for me; there's nothing I hate more than a flat during a good ride or a double flat leading to a long walk. My trusty Ultra-Sports had stood up to the Flagstaff winter, but were no match for the myriad of debris that lives on the roads of Tucson.
Continental sent us some nice Grand Prix 4 Season tires to test, so I pulled off my Gatorskins to give them a try. I was worried about switching to Four Seasons over the nearly indestructible Gatorskins, but was interested in a tire that is billed as a faster training option. They mounted easily enough and I got off to a good-start on them.

The first concern was that the test tire lacked the triple layer Poly-X-Breaker of the Gatorskin, but the 4 Season is actually a more robust and durable offering, with a double layer Vectran Belt and a Dura-Skin wrap over the sidewalls. The puncture resistance of these tires was phenomenal, and I found myself really trying to test them. I rode gravel, loose wood bridges, through some good size piles of glass, and of course plenty of small bits of metal. In 1,500 miles of riding I never had a puncture. I had one flat in the entirety of my time on the tires, when one of my tubes blew in the furnace like June weather. I normally replace my tires every 2,000 miles or when they wear flat, but after 1500 miles they still have visible mold lines. A long wearing tire can often let down on speed and handling, and these tires needed an appropriate test to dispell that dogma.

Luckily Tucson has some great race-pace group rides, like the infamous Shootout, to put tires to the test. I expected to suffer a little bit more because of rotating weight and more rolling resistance, but these tires upped the ante again. While they weigh in at 242 grams for a 700x23, one gram more than the Ultra Gatorskin, the real difference comes in rolling resistance. By no means do they roll as well as a Black-Chili Grand Prix 4000; however, there is a palpable increase in speed versus a Gatorskin. I was easily able to power up and roll along in the front group without a noticeable amount of drag unlike my normal training tires. The cornering and grip was also phenomenal for an all season tire; most tires in the same class are notoriously gummy and weak in corners. They stuck in the corners and descents almost as well as race tires, and the little bit of tread made them acceptable on a few dirt-road excursions

On the whole, the tires met and surpassed my expectations. The only flaw for me was that the ride of 700x23s was a little harsh, but 700x25 tires are available, so it's not a drawback at all. A platform with exceptional puncture resistance and rolling performance, that wears well is a rarity and a pleasure. I'll definitely be riding them as my training tire in the future, and as race tires in a pinch