PARENTINI MOSSA: SLAYING THE GABBA

I’ve always been a big fan of the roundel. Although I lack any artistic capability I like design and I’ve always liked the circular representation of a national flag. Bradley Wiggins sported the UK RAF roundel on his Rapha designed kit and it adds a distinctive bit of design flair. The Parentini Mossa has a roundel on the sleeve in the colours of the Italian flag as used by their Air Force. It has the added benefit that, in roundel form, I can pretend that it’s actually representing the Welsh flag as well.

It’s inevitable that a lot of this review will be a comparison. The Mossa is , on the face of it, a competitor of the Castelli Gabba and the Gabba is a yardstick. It is the thing against which all other foul weather gear is measured. It was introduced a number of years ago to the Castelli supplied members of the pro peloton and proved to be an instant success. Indeed such was that success that other non Castelli riders started to adopt it as well. Of course, they couldn’t wear Castelli, or at least appear to be wearing the brand, due to their own sponsorship commitments so out came the black marker pens. There’s a great photo of Johan Van Summeren in his branded Gabba riding alongside BMC’s Philipe Gilbert in his blacked out version. Black marker pens. In the  high tech world of pro cycling a low tech approach to staying comfortable. Who knows, they may even have had to buy it themselves.

And it is. As long as you understand what it is and why it works. Castelli rate their products on a 5 “dot” scale. They claim that the Gabba is 100% windproof but only 80% waterproof and breathable. Insulation is rated at 40%. In practice the truth is probably a little different. It will stave off even heavy rain for a decent length of time. It will absolutely keep the wind off. When the water eventually gets in it remains windproof and the moisture within (be that your own sweat or what’s seeped through) is an effective insulator. I’m surprised that Castelli rate it as a mere 40% for insulation. It’s definitely better than that. Though, perhaps, they are being honest about its thermal properties overall. Once you’re wet you stay warm. Until you stop at the Cafe for cake and take it off. Then you hang it on the back of your chair. Sink the latte, eat the coffee cake. Put it back on. Nasty. A good friend of mine had some experience of this the other day. She hung it on the back of a chair to dry off when she got home. A few hours later, it’s still wet and there’s a puddle on the floor. Stick it in the airing cupboard and it dries out a little quicker. The truth is that most of this is as Castelli intended but the lore of the Gabba seems to have distorted the truth of its shortcomings. In the cold light of day it’s not the second coming that it never really claimed to be……….

Enter the Mossa. It’s a very different animal altogether though, superficially, it appears to be the same. It has the same minimal approach, similar race fit, similar rear reflectives, no fleecy insulation and some fleece in the collar. Imitation and flattery? Or something else? There are a number of Mossa variants, moreso than the Gabba. The Mossa makes up a large part of Parentini’s winter range.  This review is of the long sleeve jacket version. There’s a short sleeve version of the same jacket. There’s also a more substantial winter version called the Mossa.2. I may be able to add a review of that in due course. There’s also a jersey range with a slightly different base construction.

Let’s start here. The Mossa is breathable, 100% waterproof and windproof. It’s made of a material called Windtex manufactured by Vagotex in Italy. This particular variant is the Windtex Storm Shield fabric, a stretchy membrane which allows moisture to escape but doesn’t allow any in. But, hang on a second, there’s no taped seams. Surely it cannot be 100% waterproof? That’s a fair point and one which Parentini address in their literature. In their view taped seams means a stiffer section of fabric which sits away from the skin and cannot carry out its transportation duties. The fabric here is lined with a water repellent treatment and Parentini claim that no water will find its way in. I have to say, I once wore a Gore Xenon with taped seams and it never sat right. The Rapha Pro Team Soft-shell had taped seams as well and I found it less water resistant than the Gabba. So the absence of taped seams on a jacket of this type is no big issue to me. I can see its place in the less form fitting rain jackets, but I understand what Parentini were trying to achieve.

The Mossa is designed to operate at its optimum performance level when the rider is wearing a base layer. It uses the moisture that you produce to heat you up. The transportation of moisture away from the membrane happens at a slower pace than in other products (such as Windstopper) and, as such, thermal regulation is achieved on a more consistent basis. You can, where conditions permit, wear it without a base layer but it would have to be relatively warm to consider doing that.

Parentini supplied me with a jacket and base layer to sample and review. Bear that in mind. I didn’t pay for it. I’ve been very positive about kit that I’ve paid for with my own money, indeed that was one of the reasons for starting to write a blog in the first place. So, in writing this review, I want to be transparent and honest in relation to those points. They’ve asked me to be brutally honest and write whatever I want. And, I have assured them, that I will. So, that’s out of the way…….

The sample supplied to me is an orange jacket in large. The jacket also comes in a fluro yellow, black or blue. If I’d have chosen a version it would have been the orange one. It’s a great colour for being seen. It’s a size smaller than I would have bought in any Castelli gear. Indeed, it’s actually my normal size in everyday clothing. It’s nice to be able to buy something Italian in something that doesn’t scream fatty on the label to you every time you put it on. It’s designed to be tight but the fabric is around 4 times more elastic than other windstopper type materials. It fits. Just about. But that’s pretty much the point. You don’t want it to be baggy because that just creates pockets of air that will leave you cold and fail to transport moisture away from the skin. If you buy the Mossa in the wrong size it’s simply not going to work as well as intended. But the size chart is pretty much spot on and doesn’t require you to guess quite as much as with other manufacturers.

I’ve partnered it with a long sleeved (Parentini) pesante carbon base layer. When the base layer arrived it was the most amazing thing. As I removed it from the packaging it looked like it would fit my youngest child. He’s 3. It really was very tiny indeed. But it fitted perfectly. I’ve honestly never seen stretch like it. And once it was on it was just a lovely thing to feel next to the skin. It’s interesting. I have a Helly Hansen lifa base layer. It’s form fitting. I like it and it works but I can’t help thinking it’s a bit limiting in terms of movement. It’s a bit tight on the shoulders and on the inside of the elbow. I’m never wholly comfortable in it but it works well enough. Yet this base layer from Parentini which would fit on the chest of the Helly Hansen fits me perfectly. In fact I’d go as far to say that it fits me better than any base layer I’ve ever tried on. It’s made of a material called Dryarn which wicks moisture quickly away from the skin. It has perforated underarms which assist with those particularly sweaty bits. That’s important because, as noted above, the Mossa require your own moisture to work at its optimum levels. It’s also very thin and, when combined with the Mossa over the top, doesn’t give you the feeling of being constricted in any way.

And what of the fit of the Mossa. Well, as stated, race fit. Very much so. Have a look at the model on the home page. You’ll see that there’s no bagginess at all. And that’s particularly the case in relation to the sleeves. I’ve been doing a bit of swimming recently and have developed a few more muscles. My top half is a bit more muscular than in the past but it fits well because of its elasticity. The bottom half of my torso is still showing some post Christmas excess but it still fits very well overall. I’m fairly confident that, providing you choose the correct size, it will fit very well on most body types such is its elasticity. It comes up quite short at the front but that’s a deliberate design as well. There’s absolutely no bulging out when sitting on the bike. I hate that. There are so many jackets that appear to fit well but then bulge out when you adopt race position. The Mossa does not do that at all. The term second skin is overused but particularly applicable here. But it never feels constricting or tight, just, well, right. It really does feel like a storm shield.

The rest is pretty standard fare really. A nice fleece lined collar. A really excellent zip which you can easily move with even heavy gloves. There’s not a storm “flap” over the zip but the material either side of the zip is slightly raised and elongated and fits over the zip when in use. So, in practice, it’s as good as the storm flap on the Castelli Gabba or Alpha. There are three deep pockets on the rear and, as you can see in the photos below, a good decent set of reflective bits of material. There’s an elongated tail which will prevent road spray from entering places where you really don’t want it to enter.

There’s no separate waterproof pocket because, well, the pockets themselves are and that is a slight issue. Perhaps my only real negative issue with the Mossa overall. There are no drain holes. If the water gets into the pocket it will stay in so it’s probably best to put your accessories in something such as a sandwich bag. In practice this is generally a good idea anyway. Moisture can have as much an effect on your iPhone as dropping it in the toilet. And, in practice, when in the race position, it’s unusual for even torrential rain to run down your back and into the pocket. The elastic fit means that the pockets are effectively closed when sitting on the bike so it’s really not much of a problem anyway. The overall quality is excellent. It feels premium and hard wearing. The seams are closely stitched and the quality of the stitching is excellent. There are no hard edges or anything else which might rub uncomfortably against the skin.

The cuffs are nice as well. They’re a nice snug fit and feel very soft next to the skin. They’re not made from the same material, it seems, as the main jacket but are clearly coated with the same water repellent treatment. In practical use they are not quite as waterproof as the main jacket but water runs off them very effectively. The whole overall effect is one of real lightness. I’d recommend a lightweight pair of gloves to partner the jacket with to maintain this overall feel. When I did this test I used some Dura De Feet gloves and the cuff fitted neatly underneath the cuffs of the Mossa with little fuss.

So, does it work?

Before I moved out into the real world I started with a simple test. I put on the jacket and base layer and stuck my arm in the sink which I’d filled with cold water. Bent my arm and let it rest there for a few minutes. Then I repeated with the other arm. After a few minutes immersion I took the jacket off and surveyed the base layer for any sign of water ingress. There was none. That’s particularly impressive and shows that the membrane and waterproof coating are doing their job properly. It also demonstrates that the seams are performing extremely well. When the arm is bent and submerged the seams are being stretched slightly due to articulation. This means that the lack of any ingress during that period of immersion is a good test of how the jacket might perform in real world conditions. But it’s not a complete test. I’ve been down this road before. Some jackets appear good in isolated home test but perform poorly out on the road. The only test worth considering is a ride in the rain. Let’s get out there. So, far I’ve been able to test it on one ride in variable conditions and another in bright but cool conditions. The temperatures on both rides varied between 7 and 10 degrees. I haven’t yet tested it in a monsoon. I am sure there will be one along soon and I will update the review accordingly.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve cycled in the wet. It’s not a pleasant experience. I don’t know who first encapsulated the quote “There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing” but, in most cases, that’s entirely true. If you choose to be out in the nasty stuff then choosing what you wear will make your experience immeasurably better. I’ve tried lots of stuff in the wet and my experiences are elsewhere on this blog. I’ve never really found that there’s one piece of kit that can work in all conditions. The best rain jacket I’ve found is the Madison Apex. The best versatile jersey is the Castelli Alpha. DHB are producing kit at such reasonable prices that you can just have several pieces of stuff which will work but a degree of planning is needed before you go out.

The Mossa is a truly versatile piece. Its raison d’être is its waterproofing. You choose it if it’s raining or if the threat of rain is ever present. But you don’t have to wear it in the rain. It just works particularly well in those conditions. You can wear it, Parentini say, in sub zero temperatures up to 15 degrees. As stated earlier, at the very top end of temperatures, its better that you ditch the base layer or, at least, go with a very lightweight or short sleeve one, as the jacket may be a little hot overall.

On both test runs I cycled at a decent pace, faster than a commute, slower than a club ride. The ride was undulating and with decent climbs and descents. I wore the (supplied) base layer and a pair of bib knickers on my bottom half. I cannot possibly vouch, at the time of writing, for performance in sub zero conditions. We haven’t had any and, looking at the forecasting models, it looks like we won’t have some for some time yet. In properly sub zero conditions, which I generally experience early in the mornings on my commute, I would probably choose the Mossa.2 because of its increased warmth. But that would only be the case if I knew that the home commute would be similarly cold. If the diurnal temps were extreme (a sub zero ride in and a middle temp ride home) then I’d opt for the Mossa. That’s particularly the case if there is any threat of rain. Remember that this review is about my experience. As I’ve got older I’ve run a little colder. In years gone by I could easily have seen me using the Mossa at zero. Now? Probably around 4-5 degrees C and above.

How does it perform? It does what it says on the tin. It keeps rain out. It breathes. It keeps you warm and, crucially, temperate. It’s very breathable indeed, not once did I feel that overly warm feeling that you can get with some jackets. It’s not witchcraft. Parentini worked very hard to identify the best possible material with which to construct the Mossa. But the material is only one part of it. The combination of that material with the general overall fit is what makes the Mossa a particularly effective piece of kit. It’s properly waterproof, even in driving rain. There will, inevitably, be some moisture inside. And that moisture is important because it’s allowing the Mossa to carry out its thermal regulating duties. When I removed the jacket and checked the base layer at the end of the ride the moisture was in the places that I’d expect to see it, chest, back, and a bit on the arms. That was the case in relation to both the wet and dry rides. That means that the transfer system is being unaffected by the presence of moisture on the outside of the jacket. Indeed, the rain just runs of it, never soaks in, never gets anything other than slightly moist.

The Mossa was excellent in keeping me temperate. A true Goldilocks jacket. Whether I was descending or ascending, riding tempo or small recovery, I just felt exactly the same. Whenever I found myself in a cross or head wind I couldn’t feel any penetration at all. Whenever it rained nothing found its way in. The neck gets a particular shout out here. It’s very snug but not uncomfortably so. It maximises protection and makes sure that water can’t make its way in. It’s quite high as well which really assists in that shield like protection.  In the conditions in which it’s intended to be worn it worked perfectly. I felt dry, sufficiently warm and, above all, protected from the elements.

So, the all important question. The price. It’s sold in the UK at more or less the same price EU wide. Around 200 euros. At the time of writing that’s more or less £160. Indeed the UK RRP is slightly less at £155.  In the UK if you want get hold of one it’s a case of contacting the manufacturer at sales@zettadistribution.com in order to find your local dealer. I’ll try and post the dealer list at the bottom of this blog in due course. Parentini are not a mail order company. They don’t want to build a big internet presence. They believe in their dealer network. That’s very nice to see nowadays. That’s a decent outlay for a jacket. But it’s certainly in the ball park of what you’d expect to pay for the alternatives. And, in my view, those alternatives are not nearly so versatile.

Incidentally, I should add, there are a number of other things that are special about the Mossa, or, more properly, how Parentini market it. It can be personalised for any club rider. So you can order it in your club colours and customise in other ways such as the addition of a zipped pocket. That’s a pretty good USP as well.

Would I buy one with my own money? Absolutely. Indeed, I’m not quite sure I really need my (excellent) rain jacket anymore. This feels better, feels more temperate, more protected, and more useful. In the world of wet weather gear you need to make a choice. Do you opt for the best thing since sliced bread? Or do you make the intelligent left field choice? Skewed perception. The truth is that the Mossa is everything that everyone always claimed the Gabba to be. That the Gabba was never those things is not the Gabba’s fault. That the Mossa is is a testament to Parentini’s efforts to make something very special. While I’m not intending to go out in Storm Frank to test the absolutely worst the British weather has to offer, simply because it looks bloody dangerous, it won’t be long before the next low pressure system swings our way. Commuter bike out, mudguards on, Mossa donned. Once more unto the breach………….

Lees het volledig review op roubaixcycling.cc