If you're looking for a winter cycling jacket that can handle everything from temperatures that drop below freezing, to bracing winds, and even more rain, you're in luck, because the Castelli Alpha RoS 2 Light Jacket is on sale for less than half price in Wiggle's January Sale! I'm lucky because it's on sale for more than half price at Wiggle's January sale.

I first reviewed this jacket in the winter of 2020/21, and since then it has been one of the few jackets I always pick up when the weather is nice. Despite not being as well equipped as the Alpha RoS 2, it has proven to be a more useful jacket.

The Alpha RoS 2 is also heavily discounted this week, but I will focus on the light jacket in this article as I think it is better suited for the winter riding many of us will be doing.

Castelli claims that they are best used in temperatures ranging from 7°C to 15°C. However, with a winter base layer underneath, I am most comfortable from below freezing to roughly 10C/50F. This is the perfect winter temperature range for me. Any colder than this and I will probably stay indoors to avoid the risk of ice. Any warmer than this and I'm in long-sleeved jersey territory, but I can extend the use of the Alpha RoS 2 Light by swapping it out for a short-sleeved baselayer.

The Alpha RoS 2 Light jacket's best feature, like its heavier siblings, is a dual-layer front panel with two zippers. The inner layer is the same material that Castelli uses for its summer jerseys, which provides additional protection from the elements while offering excellent moisture-wicking properties. The outer layer is made of Gore-Tex Infinium, a wonder material that is breathable, waterproof (though not completely impervious to downpours), and wind resistant. This outer material does an excellent job of staving off the chill of a cold January wind.

The only negative noted in my review is that the flap behind the neck zipper has a habit of jamming the zipper. It is not always easy to close the zipper while riding, although this can be easily overcome by using both hands.

Otherwise, my arms are long enough that almost any winter cycling glove will suit me. I have long arms, and while I am by no means a tenaciously long man, they are in proportion to my petite frame, and my wrists often get cold due to poorly designed jackets. If I choose gloves that overlap my wrists slightly, this is not the case. I wish the two-layer cuff on the heavier Alpha RoS 2 would allow me to overlap the glove in the middle of the two gloves, but I guess you can't have everything. [The three pockets on the back are large enough to hold all the essentials for a big winter ride, including a spare rain jacket, cell phone, keys, cash, and spares, and are low enough on the back to reach them even after a few hours of riding have taken their toll on flexibility.

Incredibly, the discount is available in all seven sizes and in some really great-looking colors, including black, hi-viz yellow, and gray. The red variant is a little more expensive, but still half the price at £139.99.

I know it's £126.00 for a jersey that will only be used half the year, but in my experience this jersey will stand the test of time and last through at least four winters (and still be fine). I'm not a used car salesman, so I don't feel comfortable telling you to "act now before you miss out," but if you're looking for a winter jacket that can handle safe winter riding, even potentially icy road surfaces, I would gladly recommend this jacket.