Ah, spring. With the weather improving and the temperature finally rising, you can finally pack away the turbo trainer and enjoy riding outside. But it’s not plain sailing.
The sun may appear, but it can also recede behind clouds. Harsh winds and spring showers can leave you cold, wet and wondering why you were so optimistic. I say this because I’ve been there, thinking all I need is a jersey, bib shorts, some arm warmers and maybe a gilet, when actually I needed to wear something more heavy-duty.
That’s why the Castelli Gabba is a spring essential. With its Gore-Tex Infinium fabric, it blocks out the wind and offers protection from light rain, while letting perspiration escape. The high neck also prevents any wind chill, and the racy cut means you’re not distracted by any flapping layers.
At £210, the jacket is a significant investment, but it currently has 50 per cent off at Sigma Sports. And with spring just around the corner, that’s opportune timing in my eyes.
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The Gabba has a bit of a legendary status in the world of cycling. Its origins extend back to 2009, with discussions between Castelli and pro riders.
Allegedly, pros wanted an alternative to conventional cycling rain jackets, which led to an uncomfortable ‘boil-in-the-bag’ sensation.
To avoid this sensation, Cervélo Test Team rider Gabriel Rasch had sewn short sleeves to his Castelli rain jacket, creating a hybrid upper for cycling in bad weather.
Soon after, Castelli created a prototype jacket based on Rasch’s homemade top, which it called the Gabba after his nickname. Using windproof and water-resistant but breathable fabric, it provided welcome protection against the elements.
It was first launched at the 2010 edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, where the Cervélo Test Team used the jacket for the first time.
Castelli’s brand manager, Steve Smith, has said he never saw riders respond to a new cycling garment quite like how they responded to the Gabba.
Fast-forward a few years and the Gabba had become contraband in the pro peloton, with cyclists defying team sponsors.
This was probably most evident at the 2013 edition of Milan–San Remo, which was neutralised after 112km because of cold snow blizzards and rain. Lots of riders were wearing an unmarked version of the Gabba in defiance of their kit sponsors.
Since then, the Gabba has had several updates. The fifth version, on sale at Sigma Sports, uses two Gore-Tex Infinium fabrics. The Infinium 205 Warm fabric across the front, shoulders and sleeves has a brushed inside and a water-resistant outside.
The Infinium 2023 on the back provides greater stretch and breathability to aid fit and let moisture escape.
This version of the jacket also has three rear pockets. The previous generation only had two, which I always found slightly frustrating. My belongings would often slip and slide in the two large openings.
The Gabba has been updated again since this fifth version. Released in April 2024, the Castelli R retains the same principle of the original – to provide a functionally waterproof, yet highly breathable upper – but it now uses a Japanese fabric, which makes it far more packable.
But for me, and my spring riding, the Gabba isn’t something I take on and off. Instead, it’s often the one layer I wear. So I’d still be content with the fifth version – especially for less than a hundred quid.
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