There's a nip in the air the past few days, an indicator of the gradual transition of seasons from summer to cyclocross. With perfect timing Craft have announced a new range of baselayers for cyclists, now handily separated into three categories designed for use in different weather conditions.
First up is the Stay Cool range, with garments designed to help athletes keep cool in warm weather. More relevant, as we head towards autumn, are the Be Active and Stay Warm ranges, tailored for "fair to cold" and "like, properly cold" conditions respectively.
The Be Active range looks about right for changeable weather, and is claimed to be "a versatile baselayer collection that creates an optimal microclimate for endurance in fair and cold conditions."
Made of "highly functional fabrics that offer moisture transport and body-temperature management at the highest level," these garments sound intimidatingly competent. There is a risk they will give the rest of your wardrobe an inferiority complex. You're probably best keeping them well away from your Rapha kit to avoid handbags.
The "Keep warm" winter range meanwhile offers garments in two fabrics, "warm" and "warm circular knit", with the latter presumably being seamless for added comfort. Both fabrics are designed to keep you warm, but not too warm, while exercising in sub-zero temperatures - which is particularly useful for cyclists when you factor in wind chill.
Craft garments come with pedigree to match their CV, having been tried and tested since the 1970s by Olympic and World-Championship level athletes. On a less exalted plane, we tested the Craft superlight mesh baselayer earlier this year and it is very nice.
If, like me you are intrigued at the idea of wearing your own microclimate, then stand by for a review in due course - we're hoping to get our hands on some of the baselayers soon for a proper test.
In the meantime, you can drop by the Craft website and trade in your ragged old sub-optimal microclimate for something a little more à la mode.
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