It turns out Florida decided to skip winter this year. We’re not sure who made the call to not participate in the month of December, but we know we weren’t consulted. And yes, we realize anyone reading this in Chicago or Denver is probably a bit jealous. But as you can imagine, this has made testing cold weather gear a bit of a challenge. The good news is that we got a very small taste of winter this weekend with lows in the 60s, so we had the opportunity to pull out some of the Pearl Izumi and Bontrager winter gear we had on hand for review. Although this was definitely far from a visit from Jack Frost. Check out the Current Reviews below to see what we thought.
Also, don’t forget this is your last chance to buy presents for the Holiday season. Make sure to check out our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. We picked out a few of our favorite things for the 2015 holiday season, all conveniently grouped by price range. Happy shopping!
For those who are new to AeroGeeks.com, one of our favorite ways to showcase our readers is our Readers’ Rides album on Facebook. You can check out our entire collection at http://on.fb.me/12jEqE3. If you would like to have your bike featured in our album, just tweet us at @AeroGeeks, Facebook message us, get us on Instagram, or email us at info@AeroGeeks.com. Don’t forget to also follow #agreadersrides on Instagram as well!
This Week’s Posts
Tuesday – Küat NV – Review
Wednesday – Specialized S-Works Women’s Prevail – Review
Thursday – TriRig Omega X – Review
Friday – Team ProBikeKit-Santini Jersey – Review
Current Reviews
POC Octal Aero
We rode the Octal Aero in 80° F and 60° F, and we can tell you that we much preferred the 60° ride. It definitely starts to warm up, and while you get air flow over your head, it’s not nearly at the levels of an Evade or Ballista. Then again, that’s the point. This is virtually a no-compromise aero road helmet—it’s all about speed, not ventilation.
Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Aero Long Sleeve Jersey
The Aero LS jersey did everything we asked of it as the temperatures started to drop. We wore it paired with a Bontrager B2 long sleeve base layer and never complained as the temps stayed in the low 60s combined with 18-20mph winds. The jersey does a good job of blocking the wind up front and in sleeves while still letting heat out the back. We never overheated, even as the sun started to rise.
Bontrager Race Thermal Bib
The Bontrager Race Thermal bibs are designed to take the edge off the cold – perfect for that cool autumn night or winter in South Florida. They kept our mid-section the perfect temperature. And much like the Aero LS, we never overheated.
Nathan Sports LightBender RX
We tested the original Nathan Sports LightBender last winter, but this week was our first chance with the new rechargeable RX. We appreciate that you now get the option to swap between Red, Green, and Blue. Considering that we are always looking for that visibility advantage in the dark, being able to choose from multiple colors on the bike is a big win for us. Depending on the conditions, one color may appear more visible than another.
Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal LTD Jersey
We had the chance to fit in two rides with the PI Elite Thermal LTD jersey over the last couple weeks. We’ve found the jersey to be the perfect option for temperatures in the low 60s. It kept us warm and comfortable throughout the whole ride, even when the winds crept up into the 20 mph range.
Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier Vest
The PI Elite Barrier Vest was the perfect companion to the Thermal LTD jersey this weekend. The vest added an extra layer of protection from cool wind gusts. We also loved the fact that the vest’s material and color provide extra visibility during those early morning hours before the sun comes up.
