Capo

Modena Thermal Jacket

Some people are brave about the cold. Sometimes it's a bravery born of foolishness or naïveté, but seeing people training with naked knees in 40-something weather or a short-sleeve jersey with one layer underneath fills us with both envy and pity.

While we've gotten braver about venturing into adverse weather, our bodies have become more sensitive to the weather. In our youth, when we owned a single jersey and two base layers, we wore that jersey from 50° down to 30° -- one base layer from 50° to 40° and two from 40° to 30°. Now we micromanage.

The Capo Modena is for those who find themselves dreading the cold air leaking through the jersey front and for those who find themselves going on rides where they never take off their wind vest. In both instances, it's for riders who would like a little more protection.

The reason the Capo Modena jacket is spot-on for those conditions is that it’s a hybrid of sorts. There is a Windtex front panel combined with Winter Quattro for the other panels. The Windtex Diadema is a medium-weight, dual-layer membrane that's windproof, waterproof, and insulating. The waterproof is only so valuable, as the seams aren't sealed and the remainder of the garment isn't, but at least nothing will be getting through the chest as you ride into a drizzling rain. The Winter Quattro fabric is a warm, fleecy fabric that's smooth on the outside.

We see this jacket being good anywhere from the low 50s to the mid 30s, depending on comfort level, base layers, and exertion -- riding slow with a light base layer in the low 50s, but racing with a light base layer in the mid 30s. Riding in a light rain but don't like wearing a full-on rain jacket? This could work there as well.

The Capo Modena Jacket has a two-way zipper. It has a lockable pull when flipped down so the zipper stays put. When it's in the "open" position, you can grab the collar and open the jersey without putting a gloved hand on the zipper pull. The bottom zipper can help with temperature regulation as the temperature or effort level or gradient rises. There's a 5cm collar that's made from the Windtex Diadema -- windproof on the outside for warmth, with the fleecy inside for comfort. There are three back pockets. There's a Capo Silicone Gel Waist Gripper at the bottom. The cuffs are Super Roubaix fleece.