There are some pieces of technical cycling clothing that make the word "technical" feel wholly inadequate, and one find themselves looking for the NASA logo. The Assos Equipe RS Winter Jacket is such an item and like many of the topline Assos designs, it was designated with an internal nickname, in this case "johDah", though we have no idea why. After that key piece of info, the most important thing you need to know before learning more is that this incredible winter jacket was built in the aeroFit cut, the company's trimmest, speed-focused fit that’s tighter and more compressive than the racingFit. It may feel restrictive out of the riding position but feels like a second skin while riding. It’s specifically engineered for the serious year-round rider and pro athlete, as the watts they (you, right?) generate are what determine whether the textiles we’ve developed for this system become “activated.” Get it right and you’ll be rewarded with a winterproof second skin that breathes and flexes with your body, feeding it just the right amount of insulation to perfectly regulate your core temperature during cold races and multi-hour training rides- all high-output efforts in the harshest conditions.

Material and feature wise, the Equipe RS Winter Jacket has a library of impressive contributors, all of which are comprehensively listed below in the Details if you skim through this text. Project johDah began by developing a totally new line of softshells, each of which is lighter and more breathable than anything Assos had developed thus far. Known as SPHERE, this family of fabrics is the successor to the long-running and proven Stratagon, giving the design team varying thicknesses of membrane-equipped materials for waterproof protection and flexible comfort. Starting from the inside out, the front panel is made up of several ultrathin layers. The first resembles a short zippered mid layer, which protects your chest with targeted insulation. Next comes the 3L wind- and waterproof SHERE Light textile, which features a light thermal interior. To ensure you don’t overheat, they added Diffusor “valves” at the shoulders, which act like a set of air vents that draw in air from the outside and inject it between the jacket’s layers of fabric.

The team targeted the upper back and forearms with a robust 3L SPHERE Medium, which features a thicker more insulating fabric on the inside. The lower back panel is made using OSMOS Heavy, the most insulating of Assos brushed-back materials, while the jacket’s integrated face mask and built-in mid layer employ the lighter, more breathable OSMOS Light. Finally, the upper arms lean on a warp-knit 3L ZigZaggy Foam that wraps you in plush, wind-blocking insulation.

It’s important to note that the johDah is one part of a three-piece system. Wear it alone during most winter conditions, or pair it with your Thermobooster Mid Layer (AKA the Equipe RS Winter LS Mid Layer) for added insulation. For extra coverage in humid or extra-demanding weather, deploy your Alleycat Clima Capsule over the top. Either of these extra layers conveniently stow in the johDah’s Thermobooster Pod along the upper back panel. It otherwise holds the jetpack. Kidding, but you can see how detailed and specific this piece is. Frankly, it is so much tech it can be hard to fathom. Perhaps the best way to describe the Equipe RS Winter Jacket is say that this a hugely technical winter cycling jacket built for racing or race-level training for top-level cycling athletes who require optimized thermal properties, ideal breathability, protection, and features that fully complement and make the piece complete. If this you, you know it, and you now know what your dream jacket is.