Castelli Aero Race 5.1 jersey review

Castelli is considered to have been at the forefront of the aerodynamic clothing revolution, through its involvement with the Cervelo Test and Garmin teams. For 2016, the sixth iteration of its aero jersey, the Castelli Aero Race 5.1 jersey, is claimed to be slightly faster than the previous version with the main advancements coming in improved comfort and durability.

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Updated fabrics has also enabled Castelli to reduce the weight, with our size small hitting the scales an impressive 110g, placing it firmly in lightweight, climbing jersey territory. This added versatility is a good plus point with the lightness of the fabric and its breathability really coming to the fore on hot days. It is so light and breathable, that it starts to make the idea of a climbing jersey redundant.

The fit is pretty good (for reference I am 6'1 (185cm) and around 71kg, and a size small was optimal for me), but I certainly feel that competing products from Rapha and Assos are slightly more comfortable in terms of both fit and the texture of the fabrics against the skin. That said, I really have to stress this is marginal and I haven't felt discomfort when wearing this jersey on long hot rides. It should also be pointed out that the Castelli Aero Race 5.1 jersey is much less expensive than the Rapha Pro Team jersey.

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Durability should be praised though. Despite being very thin and light, the Castelli Aero Race 5.1 jersey has stood up very well to repeated wash cycles.

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The three rear pockets work well and are an ideal depth. Castelli has included a "compression band" around the hem that does an excellent job of keeping the jersey in place and stops it riding up.

Overall, the Castelli Aero Race 5.1 jersey is a strong contender in the very competitive aero jersey market and feels considerably faster over a standard jersey - I even took a few downhill KOMs wearing it! I like the grey/white version, but it is also available in an attractive red version.

For more information, head over to Castelli Cafe.