Every cyclist who is committed to a full summer season of performance knows that winter base miles are crucial, and while trainer time is beneficial, especially for finely calibrated interval work, nothing beats long steady rides on the bike. The body reacts better, utilizing all of the core and upper body musculature that you will need in season. Base miles also build strength and conditioning while keeping body weight manageable. Castelli builds a highly technical, full featured jacket that provides you with the essential protection, insulation, comfort and performance for those long, grinding hours in the cold and wet of winter: the Espresso 4 Jacket. Castelli bills the Espresso 4 as the jacket that improves your performance in July, with the caveat that it isn't designed to be aero, or for repeated high-effort intervals. BUt will deliver the comfort you need to spend anywhere from 2-6 hours on the bike, holding steady, moderate wattage as you turn the pedals over, facial expression set in stone, wishing it actually was July.

Full featured means just that. Long sleeves with extended stretch cuffs. Extended tail for rear protection. Soft double-layered collar to seal out drafts. A zippered chest pocket. Two front/side zips that allow for ventilation when required, and can double as storage if necessary. Jersey-style 3 rear pocket structure. Reflective piping around the full waist hem for safety. Incredible protection, warmth, and breathability from Gore's Windstopper X-Fast fabric. A full length YKK Vislon zipper with extended pull tab and neck protection. The cut is more generous so you can dress as you need to, and the shoulders have stretch inserts so when you hit the drops to churn against the freezing wind, you still get great coverage and a comfortable fit. You can bring a Swiss Army Knife or favorite bike multi-tool, but unless you really need training, leave the kitchen sink at home.

Besides the attention to detail and functionality, the heart of the Espresso 4 Jacket is the Windstopper® X-Fast fabric. Gore® has evolved many variant from the original Windstopper, but X-Fast is a softshell fabric with exceptional four-way stretch that doesn't compromise the incredible wind blocking or water repellent capabilities that Windstopper is renowned for. While X-Fast isn't the lightest fabric, when you need the best combination of protection and warmth without too much bulk, there is nothing better. It is perfect for the purpose of the Espresso 4. Castelli has added the expected waist elastic to hold the rear of the jacket down, and a new, innovative, Cross-Wrap lie-flat wrist closure that seals well, and integrates perfectly with most gloves so don't get infiltration at this key junction- and there is no strange bulk or doubling you have to mess around with.

The breathability of the Espresso 4 Jacket comes courtesy of the Gore material, and is perfect for long, steady efforts. The transfer rate of the membrane layer is more than capable of managing that heat and moisture, but when you have an extended climb or plan to through in a few intervals just to keep you focused and feeling productive, the front side zips offer ideal fast access for cool air and excess heat release to prevent you from overheating and building up too much moisture within the jacket. A good tip is open the zips before the big effort- don't wait until you start to overheat. Then close them after you settle in again, but don't wait until you get cold.

If you love to train and ride in the winter- whether you race or not, you should consider the qualities and features of the Espresso 4. It will be just as effective for long winter commutes that last over an hour, and the materials and craftsmanship will hold up to every day use. You may be able to tell- here at Excel we strongly endorse the Espresso 4. We all have slick, race-like winter jackets for those 45-90 minute, high intensity winter rides, but when you want to build your base, and keep comfortable and healthy as you stay out long, the steady excellence and features of the Espresso 4 Jacket are perfect.