After one of the hottest summers Britain has experience in around 40 years, autumn is well and truly here in the northern hemisphere.
The nights are drawing in and soon we will be swapping out our summer wardrobe for winter bib tights and base layers.
Italian clothing brand Sportful has sent some of their highlights from this season's collection including a rain jacket with an insulated chest, reflective bib tights and a jacket you can take the lid off - sort of.
Sportful has a close working relationship with their professional sponsored teams Bora-Hansgrohe, Bahrain-Merida and Trek Drops.
The company says the likes of Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali have a direct input into many of the products, training in this season's collection throughout the winter of 2017 and providing vital development feedback before the collection hits retailers this autumn.
Scroll down to take a look at the highlights of the Sportful Autumn/Winter 2018 collection.
Sportful Fiandre Cabrio Jacket
Sportful's Fiandre collection celebrates the variable and often harsh weather associated with the heartland of cycling in Flanders - Fiandre is Italian for Flanders.
The Sportful Fiandre Cabrio jacket is similar to previous jackets from the company constructed from Gore Windstopper and NoRain fabrics.
However, the key feature on the Cabrio jacket is a removable rear panel, which offers protection in the wet or extreme cold but is completely removable via two zips if the conditions change and breathability is a priority.
Variants of Gore Windstopper fabric is strategically placed at the front, sleeves and back of the jacket to offer protection and breathability where it is needed.
The size medium sent weighs 438g and has the usual full-length zipper, three rear cargo pockets and a silicone gripper waistband.
A soft fleece lining, high collar and double cuff should help to keep you warm when the temperature drops.
Available in fluoro yellow, blue, black and orange (photographed).
- £200 / €229.90 / $349.99
- Buy the Sportful Fiandre Cabrio
Sportful Fiandre Strato Wind Jacket
Sportful first introduced the Strato jacket concept in their autumn/winter collection of last year.
A stretchy NoRain long sleeve jersey has a windproof front section attached to offer wind protection on the most exposed area of the upper body. Two ventilation zippers on the chest allow for further breathability as needed.
The combination of two garments into one offers a versatile piece which can be worn in the autumn and spring, optimised for temperatures 5-15 degrees Celsius and also doubles-up as a mid-layer for deep winter riding.
A similar solution could be replicated with a long sleeve thermal jersey and wind vest, however, the Sportful Fiandre Strato offers all of the protection of this combination with less of the bulk.
Available in black on black, fluoro yellow on black or orange on black. The size medium sent weight 399g.
- £150 / €169.90 / $239.99
- Buy the Sportful Fiandre Wind Jacket
Sportful Fiandre NoRain Pro bib tights
As the name suggests, the Sportful Fiandre NoRain Pro bib tights are one of several products from the collection to have been developed with Sportful's WorldTour professional riders, with Sportful claiming the bib tights have been tested in the 'most extreme conditions'.
While I can't vouch for the performance just yet, the Fiandre NoRain Pro bib tights do feature several obvious features I would expect from a pro-level bib tight.
The TC Pro pad features in a number of existing Sportful bib shorts and tights and is excellent, ankle zips are a must for winter tights and although heavy, the NoRain fabric with brushed fleece lining should help to keep you drier for longer and warmer.
Only available in black, a size large weighs 431g.
- £135 / €149.90 / $219.99
- Buy the Sportful Fiandre NoRain Pro bib tights
Sportful Fiandre NoRain Pro bib shorts
Used during the spring Classics, earlier versions of the Sportful Fiandre NoRain Pro bib shorts I have used have seriously impressed. Thermal NoRain fabric with brushed fleece lining keep the upper leg muscles and glutes warm when the air is cooler, as well as offering protection from wet weather.
Paired with knee warmers, or leg warmers, the shorts effectively double up as knickers or tights and are perfect for temperatures of 8-16 degrees Celsius that Sportful says the bib shorts are optimised for.
If you live in the UK or somewhere with a similar climate, you'll be using these bib shorts in the autumn, winter and spring, time and time again.
Lie flat bib straps, an aggressive and anatomic cut, plus the TC Pro seat pad combine to make a serious piece of kit, with performance to match.
A size large weighs 229g.
- £120 / €139.90 / $159.99
- Buy the Sportful Fiandre NoRain Pro bib shorts
Sportful BodyFit Pro Thermal Jersey
Continuing the pro level trend, the BodyFit Pro Thermal jersey is a brushed thermal fabric in an expected aggressive cut.
ThermoDrytec Plus shoulders and sleeves off enough stretch for plenty of arm sizes and a TDTxp body offers extra warmth on the torso, claims Sportful.
Available in black/grey, raspberry/yellow, black/red and blue/red (photographed).
- £90 / €99.90 / $149.99
- Buy the Sportful BodyFit Pro Thermal jersey.
Sportful BodyFit Pro bib tights
Similarly priced to the Fiandre NoRain Pro bib tights, the BodyFit Pro bib tights offers more breathability but less protection from rain and road spray.
The two different bib tights share a TC Pro seat pad and ankle zippers but lie flat bib straps and reflective bands around the lower leg on the BodyFit Pro bib tights differentiate the two aesthetically.
Available in black and with four different coloured reflective leg bands, the size large sent weighs 292g.
- £130 / €139.90 / $199.99
- Buy the Sportful BodyFit Pro bib tights
Sportful BodyFit Pro Windstopper Vest
Using Gore Windstopper material on the front of the vest, Sportful says the BodyFit Pro Windstopper vest offers protection from cool air on the front of the torso, as well as some water resistance.
The stretch fabric over the back of the jersey doesn't offer protection but does feature three cargo pockets and plenty of breathability.
Available in red, black, blue (photographed) and fluoro yellow.
The BodyFit Pro Windstopper Vest weighs 141g in a size medium.
- £110 / €119.90 / $149.99
- Buy the Sportful BodyFit Pro WindStopper vest
Sportful Attitude jacket
Constructed with a Gore Windstopper shell, the Sportful Attitude jacked is claimed to offer maximum wind protection, strong water resistance, as well as providing insulation and warmth.
Like the Sportful R&D Celsius summer jersey from earlier this year, the Sportful Attitude jacket features an 'inner 3D mesh structure' for added insulation on the chest.
While the R&D Celsius jersey was designed for mountain climbs and cooler descents, the Attitude jacket is focused on warmth and temperature regulation, optimised for temperatures from 5-15 degrees Celsius.
Available in a bright red (photographed) or a subtler black, the jacket weighs 304g.
- £175 / €189.90 / $269.99
- Buy the Sportful Attitude jacket
Sportful Moire Thermal Jersey
Moiré is the name given to the pattern of overlaid parallel lines that features on this namesake long sleeved jersey.
While the BodyFit Pro Thermal jersey is optimised for slightly cooler temperatures, the Moire Thermal jersey is for milder temperatures of 10-15 degrees Celsius.
The jersey has expected features of three cargo pockets, a full-length zipper and a silicone gripper waistband, alongside a double-layer mesh on the collar and cuffs.
Weighing 226g, the Moire Thermal jersey is available in grey (photographed), blue and raspberry.
- £90 / €89.90 / $129.99
- Buy the Sportful Moire Thermal jersey
Sportful Moire Vest
Matching aesthetically to the Moire Thermal jersey, the Sportful Moire Vest is a highly packable additional layer that offers some wind protection on the frontal area.
To the rear is a highly breathable mesh material with three cargo pockets offering additional storage.
The size medium sent weighs 114g.
- £85 / €89.90 / $99.99
Sportful Total Comfort bib tight
Sportful's Total Comfort bib tights are focused on comfort and insulation in all but sub-zero temperatures.
The Total Comfort seat pad is thicker than the TC Pro pad, which Sportful say lives up to its name.
The extra insulation results in a fairly heavy set of bib tights at 363g for a size large, 80g heavier than the BodyFit Pro bib tights.
A reflective dot pattern on the back of the calves is welcome for a pair of tights likely to be used in lower light conditions.Variable thickness material is used around the waist area to offer good breathability and doubles up as extra support in this area.
- £150 / €169.90 / $229.99
- Buy the Sportful Total Comfort bib tights
Sportful Sotto Zero gloves
Insulating Primaloft material combined with wind-resistant materials combine to make highly protective winter glove that offers protection 'Sotto Zero' or 'below zero' degrees Celsius.
Padding on the palm and for the ulnar nerve, silicone printed grip and touchscreen compatible fingertips are all welcome features.
The Sotto Zero gloves have a relatively low bulk for gloves with this level of protection and weigh 116g for the pair (size XL).
- £55 / €59.90 / $69.99
- Buy the Sportful Sotto Zero gloves
Sportful Neoprene All Weather bootie
Designed for temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, the Sportful Neoprene All Weather bootie offers water and wind protection and combines it with a level of insulation.
Reflective piping and accents are appreciated and a zipper to the rear will allow ease of pulling on over your shoes.
Size L/XL weighs 244g.
- £40 / €39.90 / $49.99
- Buy the Sportful Neoprene All Weather bootie