Castelli is one of the few cycling brands that has offered a bra for many years.
In the brand's words, the Rosso Corsa Bra is a "cycling bra, not a sports bra", designed with low-impact activities in mind and prioritising breathability.
It's light and very comfortable, although doesn't offer the most chest comfort and is more expensive than some of the best sports bras for cycling.
Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra specifications and details
At only 41g, the Rosso Corsa Bra is lightweight and minimalist. The chest panel is double-layered and unpadded, with moulded cups.
Flanked to the sides, underneath and up the front of the straps by mesh panels, it’s clear that breathability is a focus.
A single layer of the stretchy material is used for the back pieces and the back portion of the straps.
The bra is secured with a traditional double hook-and-eye bra fastening, with three options for chest circumference.
The elasticated underbust elastic is relatively narrow at 2cm.
The Rosso Corsa Bra is available in black or white, both with the red Castelli scorpion central on the front.
Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra performance
Unlike some other sports bras I’ve tested, where I needed to size up, I found myself sizing down from a large to a medium with the Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra.
While the general fit around the ribcage and shoulders was good for the large suggested by Castelli’s sizing guide, there was extra material in the cups. A fuller bust would perhaps have been better suited to this size.
The size medium was a better fit, with the soft cups less crinkled, showing a better match for my chest. For reference, I’m a size 36B in traditional bras.
On the bike, the Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra proved to be supremely comfortable, to the point where I couldn’t really feel it. There was no digging in or restriction, just a nice level of support.
I do, however, say that from a place of being relatively small-chested. Not all of my riding pals – especially those who demand bigger cup sizes – would be happy with such a light level of support.
Castelli’s emphasis on breathability has paid off in the design of the Rosso Corsa Bra, with only the mesh panel under the cups being a little damp after taking all my layers off post-ride.
It hadn’t felt clammy at all and the quick-drying fabric had already dried by the time I’d had a quick shower.
The closure mechanism of the bra makes it really easy to get on and off. After all, wrestling to get a clammy crop-top style bra over your head after a ride is no fun.
The only negative I could find with the Rosso Corsa Bra concerned the cups.
Even after I sized down, these were still a little wrinkled, which gave a slightly odd profile under a thin cycling jersey. Riders looking for nipple coverage may be disappointed.
How we tested | sports bras
Our sports bras were tested over a range of road, gravel and mountain biking rides at different intensities.
Expert tester Katherine Moore measures a British size 36B in conventional bras, with sports bras selected for testing based on individual brand sizing guidelines and recommendations.
Bras on test
Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra bottom line
While it won’t be for everyone, the Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra has evidently been well-designed to deliver lightweight, breathable and easy-to-use support for riders who prefer the lighter touch.
Priced at £60, the bra is certainly not cheap, although it feels well made and should hopefully last for many rides.
