Product test

Castelli jerseys and socks – it’s about to get colourful

30.8.2022

Translation: Katherine Martin

I’m a fan of brightly coloured bike clothing – and orange is one of my favourite colours. Even so, things are getting almost too gaudy for me. Norwegian curlers are to blame.

At the 2010 Winter Olympics, the Norwegian men’s curling team, led by the now-deceased Skip Thomas Ulsrud, took to the ice wearing brightly coloured trousers for the first time. In the run-up to the games, the outfitter had sent them the wrong kit by mistake. After a bit of searching, the athletes found an alternative: wildly patterned golf trousers in the Norwegian colours of red, white and blue. After some internal discussions, they wore them to compete, with success – Ulsrud and his squad took home the silver in the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

How a misunderstanding became a trademark

Life gave Ulsrud lemons, and he made lemonade. From that point onwards, he and his team would show up to tournaments wearing outlandish patterned trousers, always using red, white and blue as the base colours. The Norwegians and their colourful trousers became a household name in the sporting world.

The team also wore brightly coloured trousers at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.

Now, Castelli has brought out bike clothing with a pattern that reminds me all too strongly of the Norwegian curlers. Was this intention or coincidence?

Castelli Unlimited Sterrato jersey

When I tried out the Italian brand’s new «Unlimited Collection» for gravel bikes, I learned two things. Firstly, that the collection is a good fit for mountain bikers as well. And secondly, that every collection comes with at least one baggy style piece. The same applies to the medium-fit «Unlimited Sterrato» jersey. I think it’s a pity that the shirt isn’t skin tight. After all, I’m not big on the slacker look. What’s more, tight shirts feel like a second skin to me, which is much more pleasant for cycling. That’s obviously my subjective experience. For you, it might be the other way around.

Enough space for headphones and the like. — Would you look at all that colour.

The 155-gramme, lightweight shirt is made of a polyester-elastane mix, which allows for good moisture management. Other features of the «Unlimited Sterrato» jersey include the partially covered YKK Vislon zipper, three rear pockets and non-slip silicone elastic at the waist.

Cycling jerseys

Castelli Unltd Sterrato Jersey

Cycling jerseys

Castelli Unltd Sterrato Jersey

Cycling jerseys

CHF98.90

Castelli Unltd Sterrato Jersey

Cycling jerseys

Castelli Unltd Sterrato Jersey

Cycling jerseys

Castelli Unltd Sterrato Jersey

Cycling jerseys

CHF98.90

Castelli Unltd Sterrato Jersey

Castelli Unlimited 18 socks

Right, I’m about to contradict myself. Because as strongly as the brightly coloured shirt might remind me of the Norwegian curlers’ clown trousers, I do really like Castelli’s «Unlimited 18» socks. This is because I’m generally a fan of colourful bike socks. And they rile up all the cycling purists who’ll only get in the saddle if they’re wearing black or white socks.

Same colour, same pattern, different effect: unlike the shirt, I like the socks ...

...and their reinforced toe section. — Same colour, same pattern, different effect: unlike the shirt, I like the socks ...

The socks are made of yarn, which is treated with silver ions to combat the pong of sweaty feet. The ankle area of the sock is made of piqué knit material, the fabric that polo shirts are most commonly made from. It has a fine-grained structure which appears quilted, and feels cool and pleasantly dry against the skin. The heel and toe areas are reinforced to prevent the sock from wearing away too quickly. Incidentally, if all of this colour is hurting your eyes, there’s also a subtle grey/black version of the socks available.