Camapagnolo Sportswear

A The first time I saw Italian Cycling Apparel was at Interbike 2006, the largest bicycle convention in the United States.  At Interbike the international bicycling industry show their latest product lines for the upcoming year.  The Italian Expo was where Campagnolo, Nalini, and other Italian manufacturers had their displays.  Campagnolo's section looked like a Designer Store with glass display cases featured Campagnolo record components and sleek looking black cycling jackets and jerseys that looked good enough to wear with designer jeans and Movado Watch.  We did not have a chance to try the clothing on but it left an impression on me.  I wondered if clothing that looked so fashionable would be made with fabrics that could handle sweat, venting and circulation, and be comfortable to wear.  

Beginning in 2001, Campagnolo began importing their cycling apparel to the United States in, but was not widely distributed.  The clothing is not for the bargain hunter - with a price tag less than Assos but slightly more than Castelli.  However, the product is worth the price.  The most notable difference in the apparel is a technical fabric called Textran™.  Textran™, developed by Campagnolo is a fairly lightweight frabric that offers optimum protection from harsher wind and rain conditions, but still retains high levels of breathability and maximum comfort.  We were lucky enough to get our hands on some of the 2007 Winter Clothing.  We found the jackets, jerseys, and tights to be superior to anything that we'd worn before in terms of fit, tailoring, and performance. 

The winter clothing made with Thermo Textran™ is extremely warm, but breathable at the same time, even on a windy and cold day/night with temperatures below 50 degrees.  At the same time, if you worked up a sweat, it still vented the heat from your body.  One 45 degree morning, I wore Campagnolo Shorts with fleece-lined leg warmers, base layer, and Thermo Textran™ long-sleeve jersey to do a 50 mile hilly ride.  By noon, the temperature the sun was out and temperature had risen to 65 degrees.  With 15 miles to go, I could feel how warm it was, but I wasn't stifled or overheated in the apparel because it circulates air, vents moisture, and absorbs wetness from sweat so well your body stays dry.  

The 2008 Spring/Summer apparel offers the same styling and performance.  The apparel epitomizes the concept of  inter-season clothing.  The clothing is made with A variety of high tech fabrics that allow the garments to keep you comfortable through a variety of weather conditions and temperatures.  Unlike other lower-end cycling clothing like Pearl Izumi, or Sugoi, for example, the fabrics used have a fit and feel that make you forget you are wearing them. 

Special care has been taken to promote proper skin health and to provide skin protection from the rigors of cycling.  The garment has panels that almost look like sheer webbing that is extremely breathable and vented and will work well in 90+ degree temperatures.  The fabric also offers UV protection, is antibacteria which is of the utmost importantance when you sweat, and contains ordor control elements.  Campagnolo clothing is made using two-way and multi-stretch technical Lycra fabrics that facilitate correct muscular compression, follow body movements easily and lightly and improve technical performance. 

The womens cycling bibs are more ergonomically designed with two straps in the back joining over the neck into a single strap in the center front of the chest, which makes the bibs more comfortable to wear.  The buckle is flat, non-evasive and unhooks easily so the shorts can be easily removed.  Most bib shorts have two straps and women have to pull up or unzip their jersey to get to the straps and slip them off the shoulders to pull down their shorts.  What a hassle!  The cycling shorts are also well-designed and come with a slightly wider flat waistband that incorporates a drawstring to tighten if you need it.  I thought the drawstring would be annoying but it did not get in the way or bother me on the first ride I wore it - a metric century with over 5,000 feet elevation gain.  Campagnolo has several types of Chamois, the clothing we tested used a performance chamois "AirPro Pad".  

Campagnolo has also created an assortment of gloves, legwarmers, armwarmers and shoe covers carefully designed to meet the needs of performance cyclists.  By using cutting-edge technology and futuristic styling, Campagnolo Cycling Apparel is developed for cyclists who want the ultimate sportswear solution. Protection, comfort and outstanding looks are the elements that characterize the collection.