Categories: Accessories and GearReverence

Reverence: Gilet

A properly-fitting gilet is an indispensable piece of kit

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who own a properly-fitting, lightweight gilet and those who don’t. Those who own one know this is an indispensable piece of kit.

The gilet is typically one of the last items that enters into a Cyclist’s wardrobe, long after arm warmers, knee warmers, and long sleeve jerseys have found their way into the kit bag. It’s just a vest, after all, and can’t possibly serve much purpose beyond Looking Pro, can it? It can, in fact.

A vest is an incredibly versatile unit that serves to stave off all kinds of Fuckness – be it from wind, rain, or cold. Furthermore, the sleeveless design makes it easy don or doff, and packs away nicely; a lightweight gilet can be folded flat (first in half, then in thirds) and slipped between the jersey and bibs, keeping the rear pockets clear and accessible for tools and food.

In short, the gilet is a Four-Season Fuckness Stopper that accompanies me year-round, one which I personally hold in higher regard than the long sleeve jersey:

In Winter it is an ideal insulation barrier, adding warmth to a long or short sleeve jersey, or bridging the gap between the two during Spring and Fall
In Spring and Fall, the wind-breaking capabilities make for a great rain barrier in (depending on your climate, Winter as well)
In Summer, its lightweight nature makes it the ideal garment to stave off the chill of an early morning start or to bring along for warmth on cold mountain descents

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Blah says:

Jan 5 2012 at 4:25 am

@mblume
A+1
DerHoggz says:

Jan 5 2012 at 6:04 am

@frank
Ah so that's why some of my comments have been disappearing, I was beginning to think I wan't welcome around these parts.

I would trust frank's advice on gear, the wool DeFeet warmers are golden. Does anyone know how well a mesh backed gilet stacks up against a full fabric one? Is it much noticeable, especially in colder weather?
Anjin-san says:

Jan 5 2012 at 6:39 am

@mblume
Ahh, Elle McPherson...
snoov says:

Jan 5 2012 at 6:51 am

I'm starting to panic regarding the size of the gear I've ordered and now I can't find the sizing chart!

I'm off to my buddy's tonight to try on his Castelli gear. I already have a sort of lightweight waterproof over jacket thing in large which is probably too large - it balloons up like the Michellin Man at 10 kph - it's designed to go over stuff though. Hope I'll get into the medium jersey, some are tight around my secondary guns. All my jerseys are medium except one which I just noticed was made in Italy, it's a large.
frank says:

Jan 5 2012 at 6:59 am

@snoov

Its in the first paragraph of each of the V-Kit's Gear pages. Maybe its not obvious enough because its in a link?
The Oracle says:

Jan 5 2012 at 7:04 am

Nothing keeps midwesterners warmer than arguing about the weather!

@Oli

@Ron
@frank
I'm with Ron and Frank, et al. Just because you don't think you need a gilet doesn't mean you don't. Give it a try, you might be surprised.
Further, the climactic reasons for needing one are just ridiculous - are you seriously suggesting your seasons turn so fast you're either way too cold for a gilet or suddenly you couldn't wear one without perishing from heat exhaustion? Don't make me laugh!

Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying. It sucks--autumn and spring are my favorite seasons. Around here, most years, they literally last for about two weeks. This is different than Minneapolis or even most of the rest of Wisconsin, where spring and autumn are actually definable seasons.

@frank

Yours is exactly the response I would expect from a native Minnesotan to a native Wisconsinite. You guys are always telling us how much tougher you are! I guess that's why they built all those heated underground tunnels at the U of M. And why is it that Minnesotans always bring up Elle MacPherson? Is there a shrine to her in Winona, or something? Given the evidence, I'm not sure she's the best person to look up to in terms of practical winter headgear:

Anyway, I did not deny that there would be some use for a gilet in the spring and fall in any climate. All I said is that I wouldn't use it enough to make it worthwhile.

FYI, the climate/geography of Minneapolis or SW Wisconsin is a lot different than SE Wisconsin. I grew up in LaCrosse. It is a LOT hillier over on that side of the state. If I still lived there, I would seriously consider buying a gilet.

For what it's worth, my winter kit (which is necessarily pretty extensive) does, by and large, match. Gloves, jacket, cap, helmet, Jawbones, shoes, etc., all go well together and pick up on color accents on the machine. Most days, I think I do look fabulous. But I'm sorry. I will NOT give up the balaclava, even if it looks bad; I like my ears. And, there is some evidence contrary to the assertion that it is not pro:

Here's the source for those photos (scroll to the bottom).
The Oracle says:

Jan 5 2012 at 7:09 am

@mblume

This thread is what I love about this "fuckwits" site. Article starts simple enough on a piece of gear but evolves into climate conditions around the globe/ proper heating of the body during exercise / Pro peloton faschion shots / faceless modelling of V-Kit by a Velominati / and mental pictures of Elle McPherson in only a baclava- I would guess she would have looked good despite any Rule Violations or microclimate paculiarity.

Well, I didn't find that, but I found this:
frank says:

Jan 5 2012 at 7:20 am

@DerHoggz
The mesh-backed ones are great, especially in warmer weather - but for that reason they're not as great in cold weather. I have an Assos one with a mesh back which is beautiful, but its doesn't fit as tightly as the full-fabric ones I have.

For good fit and use year-round, I prefer the full fabric ones over the mesh back, but I think it comes down to personal preference.
frank says:

Jan 5 2012 at 8:20 am

@The Oracle
Blame the MN-Wisconsin thing if you want, but I'm not in the slightest trying to disparage your state; I quite like it (my parents even live south of La Crosse, in Durand about half the year.) But I still call bullshit on the weather claim - not just for Wisconsin - but for anyone.

I will NOT give up the balaclava, even if it looks bad; I like my ears. And, there is some evidence contrary to the assertion that it is not pro:

Here's the source for those photos (scroll to the bottom).

*Sigh*

Just because a Pro does something doesn't mean it looks good. (Not every Pro looks good and relatively few Pros could be called a Velominatus.) All those guys - including Hinault - look complete crap in those things. I'm also not suggesting you stop wearing your balacalava. I'm suggesting it looks bad.

@The Oracle
You made that up! Right?
The Oracle says:

Jan 5 2012 at 9:03 am

@frank

Nothing personal. As you know, mixing it up with Minnesotans is a favorite Wisconsin past-time (and vice versa). I'll never miss a chance to poke fun, but rest assured, in case you missed my tone, I was only jesting.

I think, looking back on my posts, you will see that I actually agree that balaclavas look bad. Alas, as much as the Rules dictate otherwise, sometimes in pursuit of the V, there will come a time where you must don something that does not look absolutely fabulous, whether due to cost, weather, etc. I strive to meet the goals of casual deliberateness and looking fabulous with every ride, but I will give up those goals in a heartbeat if they stand in the way of pursuit of the passion. I've known too many dumb nordic skiers, mountain bikers, cross country skiers, and other winter sports enthusiasts who have dealt with varying degrees of frostbite, because the appropriate headgear or footwear didn't look good. I choose, like Hinault in the pic above, to sometimes don the ridiculous garment in order to allow me to appropriately focus on the task at hand--laying down some serious V. (I would note that, despite looking odd, Hinault is obviously dishing out the pain to the rest of the peloton in that picture--coincidence or no?)

As to my second post, nope, not shopped at all (I don't have that kind of skill). I found it here.