PEZ readers know that the Giro d’Italia is my favorite of the Grand Tours. Le Tour is the grandest and La Vuelta aka Spanish hillclimb championships is the most fun. But the Giro is the most beautiful. And then there’s the color of the Giro and the Maglia Rosa: pink. Capo Cycling‘s LTD Giro SC kit pays homage to the Giro with magenta and pink hues (two colors that are similar but actually different).
Capo LTD Giro SC Aero Jersey – $180
(Note: All prices are full retail and may not reflect any discounts being offered. Please visit the Capo website for current pricing.)
Per Capo:
- Designed in USA, made in Italy.
- Leggero fabric front
- Aerodynamic raw edge sleeves
- Carbon micro fiber back
- Low profile collar
- Three rear pockets
- Full-length YKK® zipper with lockable slider
- 86% Polyamide, 14% Elastane
- Designed in USA, made in Italy
This is definitely not a jersey if you don’t feel confident wearing pink. #realmenwearpink. The main body of the jersey is magenta and the sleeves, collar, and rear pockets are pink.
Capo doesn’t spec weight, but definitely race weight
Construction of the Capo LTD Giro SC Aero Jersey is what you would expect for a race jersey:
- The front is two panels connected by a full-length zipper
- 2 side panels (that actually extend a little to the upper back)
- 2 mesh underarm panels
- A rear panel (with gripper at the hem, as well as on the side panels)
- Set-in, raw cut sleeves (the ribbing is supposed to reduce drag but I have not way to measure or confirm this)
- Low race collar
- Three rear pockets (of course!) but no secure zipper pocket
The Capo logo is part of a dot pattern on the jersey (both front and back)
Mesh underarm for ventilation. Ribbed sleeve for speed #aero.
Size-wise, I went with SMALL and that fit me (5’8″, 130 pounds, ectomorph) well. Which is to say a form fitting race fit with compression I could feel but wasn’t too tight/constricting.
Form fitting … even with my skinny arms
How do you know it’s a race jersey? Low collar … check. Long, raw cut sleeves (plus ribbed) … check.
Capo LTD Giro SC Race Bib Shorts – $250
Per Capo:
The SC Race Bib Short delivers comfort and high performance on the most difficult days.
- Ultra-high gauge Race microfiber
- 7cm Race Grip leg bands
- Single-piece elastic braces
- All-way stretch micro fiber mesh bib upper
- Anatomic CS EIT® insert
- 59% Polyamide, 20% Polyester, 21% Elastane
- Made in Italy
The Capo LTD Giro SC Race Bib Shorts are “straightforward” from a construction standpoint:
- I counted 8 panels in the shorts part (the school of thought being that more panels allow the stretch material to better conform for your body shape, which equates to greater comfort)
- Plus 2 wide leg gripper sections (magenta to match the jersey) with a silicone pattern on the inside for grip
- A stretch mesh bib back (to aid with wicking away moisture) with a seamed finish
- Raw cut, lay flat bib straps
Capo’s take on the tried-and-true Y-back bib
7 cm wide leg grippers
Of course, the most important part of a pair of bib shorts is the pad. Capo chose to source the pad for the LTD Giro SC Race Bib Shorts from Elastic Interface (EIT), a company that provides high quality pads to a lot of different manufacturers. It’s a multi-thickness, multi-density pad with a center channel to improve blood flow and reduce numbness.
A pad by another name … is a chamois
Because inquiring minds will want to know
The Capo LTD Giro SC Race Bib Shorts in size SMALL fit me (5’8″, 130 pounds, ectomorph) like the jersey — comfortably firm compression. The wide leg gripper panels spread the compression over a larger area than a gripper strip, which results in #marginalgains comfort. And the raw cut, lay flat bib straps are another nod to comfort.
Accessorizing
If you want to go Full Monty Capo, PEZ also got:
Capo Super Corsa Aero Socks – $60
The foot part of these socks is much like most other cycling socks: open mesh weave instep for breathability and moisture wicking with a lightly padded toe and heel. But the upper (from the ankle up) is a “solid” ribbed lycra, which is the #aero part of the socks. #marginalgains
Open mesh weave foot and (inset) ribbed upper
If Ed is looking down from heaven, I know he would approve of the sock color but not the height
Capo Super Corsa Aero SF Gloves – $45
I’m not a gloves guy, but if I wanted to ride with gloves these would be gloves I would wear. The padding and material is very thin/light so they have a “barely there” feel. The ribbing on the back is what makes the gloves #aero. But not going to make any claims about watts saved or that they will make you go any faster.
Capo Cycling Cap – $20
I wear a skull cap under my helmet, but the Capo Cycling Cap is a classic cycling cap for those of y’all that like to wear one under your helmet. It can also comes in handy during a coffee stop or post-ride to cover up helmet hair. Or you can just wear it as a casual fare hat off the bike.
Ready for the Giro!
My maglia rosa
My first ride in the Capo LTD Giro kit was the Sunday HHC ride (not quite 40 miles). Temps in the mid 70s(F). Light wind. With a baselayer, I was more than comfortable. For me, the compression of the LTD Giro SC Aero Jersey was exactly how I like it — firm enough to feel it but not squeezing too tight, which allows for easy freedom of movement. Speaking of squeezing, the leg gripper sections on the Capo LTD Giro SC Race Bib Shorts did just that to keep them from creeping up when pedaling but without the dreaded sausage casing effect. The bib straps didn’t dig into my shoulders and did what they were supposed to do: hold the pad firmly in place. Speaking of pads, I’ve had enough experience riding in different bibs with EIT pads and the Capo LTD Giro SC Race Bib Shorts didn’t disappoint in that department. The EIT pad wasn’t too thick and provided the firm cushioning I prefer that works in concert with a race saddle.
What I can’t say is that the Capo LTD Giro SC Aero Jersey and Race Bib Shorts made me any more aero/faster on what is always a fast and furious ride where I do my best to hang in and hang on (at least until I can’t). But I looked good (priorities, y’know) and the kit drew lots of compliments. Just a single data point, but my riding experiences in lots of different kit tell me that I’d be more than good riding in the Capo LTD Giro kit for longer distances and in hotter/humid weather. In other words, perfect kit for Lowcountry riding as summer approaches. And perfect for riding in May to celebrate the Giro! Molto bene!
#realmenwearpink
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