The CAPO Guide to Layering
The CAPO Guide to Layering
One forecast, five temperature bands, and the kit that handles each of them. Build a system once and stop guessing at the door.
Dress for the ride, not the forecast
It's Friday night and tomorrow is the long one. The forecast says 38°F at the start, 61°F by noon, wind out of the north. Numbers are easy to read; turning them into a kit choice is the hard part.
Good layering is a system. A base layer manages moisture next to skin, a jersey sets your core warmth, and an outer layer blocks wind or rain. Each piece carries a temperature range, so you can stack them to cover the whole ride and peel them off as it warms.
Every CAPO garment is designed in Colorado and made in Italy, and the temperature ratings below come straight from our product specs.
Top of the line. Anatomic patterns and our most advanced membranes, for hard efforts and riders who want the best protection per gram.
Shop G.S. →Race-inspired fit with high-gauge Italian fabrics. The backbone of most layering systems, from thermal tights to packable shells.
Shop Super Corsa →Classic European patterns with a more relaxed club fit. Comfort-first riding at a friendlier price.
Shop Corsa →Base layers work underneath every collection. Start there.
Pick your starting temperature
Use the temperature at the start of your ride. If it will climb more than 15°F, build for the cold end and choose layers you can pocket.
30–40°F
Frosty starts and wind chill on the descents. Trap warm air, block the wind, and keep sweat moving off your skin.
Start with the Merino Base Layer. Merino keeps insulating when damp and doesn't hold odor, which matters on four-hour winter rides. Over it, a windproof thermal jacket does the heavy lifting.
The G.S. Padrone Thermal Jacket is rated 30–50°F with a base layer. On the coldest mornings, add the G.S. Padrone Thermal Vest for extra core warmth. Pair them with Super Corsa Thermo Roubaix Bib Tights, then close the gaps with SC Winter Wind Gloves, the Winter Wind Bootie and a Thermo Roubaix Skull Cap under your helmet. Its windproof front panel blocks the chill on descents, and stretch fleece sides keep it snug without muffling traffic.
The jacket is built from eVent® DVstretch, a microporous Direct Venting fabric. It's effectively windproof (0.1 CFM air permeability), yet it moves sweat vapor out fast (18,000 g/m² breathability), so you stay warm without getting clammy. It stretches with you on the bike, and a DWR finish sheds light rain. Below the waist, Thermo Roubaix® bib tights use a brushed, hollow-core fabric that holds warm air against your skin.
Climbing hard? Drop the 5mm YKK® coil zipper a few inches instead of stopping to strip; the locking slider holds it right where you leave it. The jacket's water-resistant zippered pocket keeps your phone dry when the road gets wet.
40–50°F
The most versatile band, and the trickiest. Modular layers let you fine-tune as the morning warms.
A full thermal jacket runs hot here. Build warmth from the inside out instead: a base layer, then either a winter-weight jersey with a wind vest or a wind jacket you can unzip on the climbs.
Start with the SC S/S Base Layer or the Merino Base Layer. Over it, pair the Super Corsa Inverno Jersey, rated 40–60°F on its own, with the G.S. Padrone Wind Vest to block the wind on descents. Or swap both for the G.S. Padrone Leggero Wind Jacket. Either way, Super Corsa Thermo Roubaix Bib Knickers keep your knees warm, Thermo Roubaix LF Gloves keep your fingers working, and a Thermo Roubaix Neck Warmer seals the gap at your collar, or pulls up over nose and ears on a cold descent.
Thermo Roubaix DWR has a brushed interior and a smooth face treated to shed light rain, mist and snow, so the jersey can stand alone in mixed conditions. The Leggero puts a WindTex® Shield front (windproof and water-resistant) on the chest, sleeves and collar, with a Super Roubaix back that lets heat escape on climbs.
Starting closer to 40°F? Swap the knickers for Thermo Roubaix Bib Tights. If the afternoon will cross 50°F, the Inverno and vest combo is the easier pick: the vest packs into a pocket once it warms. In the Leggero, open the full-length zip to vent without stopping.
50–60°F
Tempo weather. Overheating is now as much of a problem as getting cold.
Swap the winter jersey for a mid-weight long sleeve and let warmers do the rest. They come off and go in a pocket as the day heats up.
The Super Corsa Long Sleeve Jersey is rated 40–60°F. Over it, the G.S. Padrone Wind Vest (45–65°F) blocks the wind on descents and packs away when you don't need it. Roubaix Arm and Knee Warmers turn bib shorts into a cool-morning kit, merino wool socks keep your toes comfortable, and a cotton cycling cap under your helmet takes the chill off a cool start.
The long sleeve pairs a brushed microfiber chest and back for warmth with open circular-knit sleeves that breathe. Underneath, the SC Sleeveless Base Layer's Leggero microfiber pulls sweat off your skin so the jersey can do its job.
Starting near 50°F? Swap in the SC S/S Base Layer for a little more coverage. As it warms, peel the arm warmers first, then the knee warmers, and keep the vest for the last descent.
60–75°F
Short sleeves season, with a chilly start. Add coverage in pieces you can remove without stopping.
Build around a short-sleeve jersey and bib shorts. Arm and knee warmers handle the first hour, and a wind vest or ultralight jacket lives in a rear pocket. A cotton cycling cap under your helmet takes the edge off a chilly start.
The G.S. Padrone Wind Vest is rated 45–65°F with a base layer. Roubaix Arm and Knee Warmers use left- and right-specific patterns so they stay put. The SC Compatto DWR Wind Jacket packs into its own pocket, and the cotton cap's brim keeps low morning sun out of your eyes.
The Compatto's DWR fabric blocks wind and resists moisture, and it's PFAS-free.
Mountain weather changes fast. The Compatto shell weighs next to nothing and blocks a surprise headwind or a passing shower.
75°F+
The goal shifts from insulation to cooling. Every gram and every seam should help sweat evaporate.
Deep summer calls for one airy layer. Skip the base layer, pull on the most breathable jersey you own, and let the wind do the cooling.
The Super Corsa Aria Jersey is our hot-weather jersey: Aria mesh front panels for maximum airflow, a Carbon microfiber back for UV protection and temperature control, and laser-cut, aero ribbed shoulders and sleeves. The Signature Jersey, with a Leggero open-grid front and mesh back, is a close second. Finish with Super Corsa Race Bib Shorts, Q-Skin Fade socks and SC Race SF Summer Gloves.
Leggero microfiber is ultra-light with rapid moisture transfer, and our SC jerseys carry SPF 50+ protection for long, exposed days. The Fade socks use Fulgar Q-Skin® yarn for breathability and odor control, and the summer gloves pair a mesh back with a soft, breathable palm.
Slow, steep climbs are where heat builds, because there's little airflow. Unzip early, keep drinking, and save your hardest efforts for the cooler morning hours.
The whole system at a glance
| Start temp | Base | Jersey | Outer | Legs | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30–40°F | Merino Base Layer | — | G.S. Padrone Thermal Jacket + Padrone Thermal Vest | SC Thermo Roubaix Bib Tights | Winter Wind Gloves & Bootie, Thermo Roubaix Skull Cap, merino socks |
| 40–50°F | SC S/S Base Layer or Merino Base Layer | SC Inverno Jersey | G.S. Padrone Wind Vest, or Leggero Wind Jacket in place of jersey + vest | SC Thermo Roubaix Bib Knickers | Thermo Roubaix gloves, neck warmer |
| 50–60°F | SC Sleeveless Base Layer | SC Long Sleeve Jersey | G.S. Padrone Wind Vest | Bib shorts + knee warmers | Arm warmers, merino wool socks, cotton cycling cap |
| 60–75°F | — | Short-sleeve jersey | Padrone Wind Vest or Compatto DWR Wind Jacket | Bib shorts + knee warmers | Arm warmers, cotton cycling cap |
| 75°F+ | — | Aria or Signature Jersey | None | SC Race Bib Shorts | SF Summer Gloves, Fade socks |
Rain in the forecast at any temperature? Pack the Super Corsa Compatto Rain Jacket. It's waterproof, windproof and folds into its own rear pocket.
Hands, feet and everything in between
Your core can be perfectly warm and the ride still miserable if your fingers go numb. Extremities lose heat first, and they are the cheapest place to gain comfort.
Arm and knee warmers turn a summer kit into a three-season kit. Thermo Roubaix gloves handle 45–65°F days; on colder rides, switch to the wind-blocking, fleece-lined SC Winter Wind Gloves, built for 30–50°F. The reflective SL Shoe Cover adds just enough warmth and real visibility; the fleece-lined Winter Wind Bootie takes over when it's truly cold.
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