“A brand-new exclusive fabric technology makes the Gabba R functionally waterproof and highly breathable, while the close-to-body fit makes it the most aero jacket we’ve ever tested. By far. Whether your goal is to cross the finish line first or to remain warm, dry, and comfortable, the game has changed.” – Castelli Cycling
Origin Story
“Gabba. The word has entered the cycling lexicon as a generic term to describe the short-sleeve jacket for combating cool and often wet conditions. Gabba jackets are ubiquitous in any pro race when the riders need to keep warm and race hard. Even though every team calls their short-sleeve jacket a “Gabba,” there’s only one real Gabba.”
“In 2009, during the Brixia Tour, Castelli organized a focus group with Cervélo TestTeam riders to solicit input on how to enhance their clothing for racing in cold and wet conditions. Together we had identified an opportunity to gain a huge competitive advantage in foul weather through better clothing. Fortunately, the Cervélo TestTeam riders competing at that race were all from wet countries: three Britons, a Swiss, a Belgian, an Irishman, and Norwegian Gabriel Rasch. It was Rasch who brought up the need for a garment tailored for racing in the rain, one that wouldn’t impede speed with flapping fabric or cause overheating. Rasch wanted to be aero and to keep his core body warm, and he pointed out that the endless pursuit of total waterproofness was incongruous with racing in foul weather.”
“Castelli’s product team embarked on creating a short-sleeve jacket from a new stretchy, windproof, and water-resistant black fabric that was yet to be released. This endeavor birthed the perfect solution for cold and wet racing: aero thanks to the stretchy fabric, water protection, and breathability thanks to W.L. Gore’s membrane, and fit and no-nonsense functionality from Castelli’s focus on racing performance.”
“The new jacket made its debut at the 2010 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The following day, during Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne, which was held under the remnants of an Atlantic hurricane and saw only 26 finishers, the Cervélo TestTeam riders were animating the race. Juan Antonio Flecha was the first to inquire about purchasing “the all-black jacket,” and as many as a quarter of the Gabbas sold over the next three years found their way onto professional riders.”
“The spring of 2013 witnessed incessant rain in nearly every race, and by now, most professionals had bought their Gabbas and blacked out the red scorpion logos. However, it was during Milan–San Remo that the Gabba burst into the public consciousness with the indelible images of the peloton, much of which was clad in black jackets, riding through a snowstorm before the race was interrupted and the riders were bused to the warmer Ligurian coast.”
“The rest, as they say, is history. The Gabba became a staple for both pro racers and amateur cyclists. Castelli continued to refine the jacket, enhancing rain protection and adding more functional pockets and details. Many riders used their Gabbas for dry conditions, appreciating the wind protection and breathability that helped them maintain core warmth without overheating. But amid this success, there remained a persistent belief that more could be done …”
The Next Frontier
“After years of development, we have finally achieved a high-stretch, functionally waterproof, and highly breathable fabric that enables us to craft the ultimate race jacket — with the fit and aerodynamics of a speedsuit and the water protection of a rain cape. We proudly introduce the Gabba R. The “R” stands for Race.”
How It Works
“A brand-new fabric technology allows us to make a stretch-fit rain jacket that performs like never before. The electro-spun external membrane keeps essentially all rain out, so it fully replaces your traditional rain cape. The microporous air-permeable structure means you can keep it on longer after the rain stops or run it on a dry day. The almost vanishingly thin fabric allows you to layer underneath for the widest possible temperature range.”
Fabric Technology
There’s a lot going on in this fabric, so we’ll break down the component parts:
- The external membrane keeps the fabric light and breathable while avoiding an external textile layer that would hold moisture next to the membrane.
- Castelli-exclusive fabric with a microporous electro-spun hydrophilic polyurethane membrane has tiny pores that let a small amount of airflow through the membrane, allowing more moisture to escape than is possible with most polyurethane membranes.
- The fabric weighs just 125 g /m2 and stretches to at least double the original dimension in each direction.
- The inner fabric backing is 78% polyester / 22% elastane to maintain the extreme stretch while enhancing breathability.
- Castelli partnered with performance fabric innovation leader ITTTAI® to develop the exclusive fabric. ITTTAI’s expertise in membrane technology and lamination helped create a fabric that brings together levels of stretch, breathability, and water protection that simply weren’t achievable until now.
- The membrane and entire fabric are PFAS-free. This is notable because previous electro-spun polyurethane membranes had PFAS additives to aid in the production.
- The polyurethane membrane has been formulated to be more hydrophobic than standard polyurethane.
Aerodynamics
“Clearly, aerodynamics are paramount in creating a better race Gabba. Wind tunnel tests have demonstrated remarkable aerodynamic gains. Through two separate wind tunnel tests, augmented with tests on the road, we’ve seen that in some positions and speeds the Gabba R will actually be faster than a Sanremo BTW Speed Suit as used by the Soudal Quick-Step team. In a “normal” road position, the Gabba R tests about 1% faster at speeds from 37 to 50 km/h, while in an extremely aggressive low position, the Gabba R is merely about 1% slower than the Sanremo BTW suit.”
Comparing new and old Gabbas, the short-sleeve Gabba R tests 2.5% faster than the Gabba RoS 2, meaning that you’re saving 2 to 2.5 seconds per kilometer at 40 km/h. The long-sleeve Gabba R surpasses the Perfetto RoS 2 Jacket by 3.5% and the Slicker Pro rain jacket by 4.5%. The tests were conducted at speeds of 40 km/h and 50 km/h, as these jackets were specifically designed for aerodynamics at peak racing speeds.
See https://www.castelli-cycling.com/gabba-r for additional aerodynamic testing data
Rain Protection
“Since the inception of the original Gabba, the primary focus has been on keeping cyclists comfortable, warm, and fast while riding and racing, even in inclement weather. However, the new Gabba R takes this to another level by being “functionally waterproof,” meaning it effectively keeps you dry from the outside. Let’s delve deeper into this.”
“The fabric has a hydrostatic head rating of over 5,000 mm. While this may seem low compared to certain outdoor brands that strive to prevent any moisture ingress even under the pressure of a backpack or sitting on a wet surface, it is more than sufficient to repel even driving rain. Increasing waterproofness often comes at the expense of breathability, but in our testing, we’ve found that a rating of 5,000 mm strikes the right balance.”
“In another deliberate departure from convention, the Gabba R is not fully seam-taped. Seam taping on the Gabba R’s stretchy fabric would compromise its elasticity. Instead, we’ve minimized seams to essential areas: the top of the shoulders, armholes, back of sleeves, and back sides. These areas are shielded from driving rain, and the hydrophilic fabric effectively prevents water from entering during regular use. Regarding the seams exposed to rain while cycling, we’ve opted to tape the top of the shoulder while leaving the armhole untaped. We believe that preserving the stretch fit around the armhole, which offers advantages in terms of aerodynamics and comfort, outweighs the minimal water ingress that may occur. Feedback from our testers varied: some experienced no water ingress, while others reported an insignificant amount.”
The Fit
“Designed for WorldTour racing, the Gabba R features 100% stretch in every direction. Its close-to-body fit optimizes aerodynamics while maintaining comfort. In our testing, we’ve found that the close-to-body fit has the advantage that whatever moisture is formed inside the jacket during intense efforts tends to stay warmer since it’s held close to the body, causing less chill from moisture than what we experience with other jackets.”
“If a rider prefers a more relaxed fit, especially for use in very cold temperatures over thermal layers, we recommend going up a size, as Kasper Asgreen does for winter training in Denmark.”
On and Off
“Putting on the jacket, especially the long-sleeve version, requires some effort due to the stretching sleeves and snug forearm to prevent flapping in the wind. We do not recommend trying to put on the long-sleeve jacket while riding, especially trying to slide it over skin or clothes that are already damp from sweat or the first few minutes of a rain storm. If you’re racing and need to cover up, either put on the short-sleeve Gabba R or plan for a quick stop to pull it on.”
“Pulling the jacket off has been a consideration from the beginning. The short-sleeve jacket isn’t a problem; you’ll just peel it off. The long-sleeve jacket has an extra design detail: the lower sleeve is covered with an extra textile layer that slides more easily over a wet hand than the exposed membrane, which tends to stick. Just remove your thick gloves and peel the sleeves off from the top.”
Short and Long Sleeves
“The previous version of the Gabba was only a short-sleeve jacket, while the similar Perfetto Jacket was a cool-to-cold-weather jacket. However, it was racy enough to be Egan Bernal’s choice when he won the rainy 16th stage of the 2021 Giro d’Italia over Passo Giau, with the finish in Cortina.”
“The short-sleeve[KS3] Gabba R will be the go-to piece for racing in the rain in cool temperatures and high-intensity situations. The long-sleeve Gabba R can completely replace your rain cape and be the first choice for racing and training in cold conditions when rain is a threat. The long-sleeve Gabba R can completely replace your rain cape and be the first choice for racing and training in cold conditions when rain is a threat.”
Layering
“Alongside ensuring the Gabba R’s waterproof and aerodynamic qualities, a crucial aspect was its packability. It folds to fit in a jersey pocket — to make it into a pouch, simply fold the Gabba R into one of its own pockets.”
“The fabric’s thinness means that the Gabba R doesn’t offer substantial insulation on its own. However, riders can easily add insulation layers as required. Our testers have successfully ridden in 5°C with steady rain with only a long-sleeve base layer and a mid-weight jersey underneath.”
What about the Regular Gabba?
“Not everyone wants to wear such a form-fitting garment. Not everyone needs full rain protection. Not everyone wants that shiny rubberized finish on their jacket at the coffee stop. Not everyone wants to be limited to just the dark gray color. Not everyone wants to spend approximately €80 extra for the R version of the Gabba, especially when it needs extra care. For those people, the standard Gabba RoS 2 and Perfetto RoS 2 Jacket are still available in Castelli’s exclusive Gore Infinium Windstopper[KS4] fabric in various colors. And they will continue to be available through Winter 2024/2025.”
Any Color You Want as Long as It’s Gray
“The fabric color is given by the membrane, meaning that you see the natural color of the membrane. Making the Gabba R in other colors would require making other colors of the membrane by mixing the colorants directly into the polyurethane during the hydro-spinning process. Given the significant complexity of the chemistry involved in making a PFAS-free waterproof hydro-spun air-permeable membrane, we’re happy to be able to offer the gray color for now. Other colors will be available in the near future.”
Other Construction Details
“The Gabba R features a YKK® Vislon Aquaguard zipper, renowned for its smooth, waterproof sliding action. We’ve incorporated a double-zipper-pull design, allowing you to open the jacket from the bottom for venting or accessing your jersey pockets. At the neckline and waist, we’ve bonded the fabric to create an elastic closure effect, ensuring that it lies flat and provides enhanced comfort.”
“The back pockets are crafted from high-stretch material and feature drainage capabilities, preventing water retention. The pocket area on the back is lined with the pocket fabric because the membrane can become rather grippy when wet, and the exposed membrane makes it difficult to access the pockets. Before we added that layer, getting a phone in or out of the pockets was a frustrating experience, but with that thoughtful detail, it becomes as simple as using a jersey pocket.”
“The sleeve endings are raw cut to keep them thin so they can go inside your gloves, or, better yet, they can stretch over the outside of your gloves to create a complete seal with your gloves at the wrist. To aid in removing the jacket, we’ve added an extra textile layer on the forearms, making it easier to slide the sleeves over wet hands.”
“For increased visibility in low-light conditions, a reflective tab is positioned at the back. However, we recommend supplementing this with proper lights for optimal day and night visibility.”
Handle with Care
“The exposed membrane on the outside of the garment can be easily nicked, especially when fully stretched. Therefore, users should avoid sharp objects and refrain from attempting to puncture the fabric with their fingernails. Despite the need to exercise caution around sharp objects, fortunately, the jacket can be conveniently machine washed in cool or warm water (30°C–40°C) using a standard powder or liquid detergent. After washing, it should be hung to dry naturally; machine drying is not recommended.”
Video – Gabba R
Alternative Video Link for those reading via email subscription
Pricing
- Gabba R, €259,95 / $US 280 approx.
- Gabba R Jacket, €299,95 / $US 325 approx.
Learn more at the Castelli Cycling Website