The answer: not much, and quite a bit.
Castelli Quantum Radiation Jacket
Quantum Radiation JacketIn that reply I highlighted things such as wool clothing ($80 for the Bodyfit 260 L/S Crewe) and the Gore Balance Jacket (updated as the Balance III, $150). And a lot of what I said still applies. I still wear a lot of wool as a base layer and still like shells such as the Phantom. And things such as bike tights haven聮t changed that much聴聮s Therma-Fleece tights ($85) remain great cool-weather items and can be reinforced with any light long underwear layer worn beneath them.
One big change, in my mind, is the improvement in soft shell fabrics. A piece such as 聮s Synchro Jacket ($190) becomes a virtual one-stop shop for biking outerwear. It聮s waterproof, breathable, and has a light fleece lining for warmth. On cold winter days, you can toss it over a light base layer and ride away. 聮s One Jacket ($189), made with Schoeller fabric, is a little more breathable and is water-repellent rather than water-proof. But it has a terrific temperature range and shrugs off light rain or snow. I use its lighter, now-discontinued sibling, the Mistral (Hey, REI! Bring it back!), as a winter mountain-biking piece.
The other advance has been in true hard shells. A Portland, Oregon, company named , for instance, makes a bike-specific piece called the Elite 2.0 that uses eVent, a fabric that I think is as breathable as anything out there. The Elite 2.0 is $230, but is a long-term investment in excellent weather protection. Layer it over some Icebreaker or other wool, and you can venture out into the worst weather.
Or, give the economy a boost and buy a Quantum Radiation Jacket. A Gore Windstopper shell is layered over a proprietary insert that reflects 80 percent of your body heat back inside the jacket. A mere $400!
So, ride forth!
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