One of the brands we were excited to meet with at Interbike was Rosti USA. They are an Italian sportswear brand based in Brembate, Bergamo, Italy, and have been hand crafting top level apparel since 1979. They use Italian fabrics, Italian and Swiss pads, and all of their pieces are designed, printed, and hand sewn in their Brembate factory. While they are pretty well known in the European market, they are breaking into the North American market with their house designs and full custom kits for teams, organizations, and shops. And when I say custom, I really mean custom. We’ll talk more about that later on. They sent us home with the Energy Star and Black Winter kits, so look for those reviews coming soon.
We met with the head of their US division, Davide Pascucci, to learn more about what they have to offer. The highlight from the show was their Energy Star kit, one of their newest house designs showing off on of their custom kit options. It’s a sharp looking performance kit for the warmer temperatures of the year. The race cut jersey features a full length zipper with three pockets on the back, and an additional small zipper pocket on the center pocket panel. The graphics make it clear you are wearing a Rosti kit, with the Energy Star logo and Rosti Maglificio Sportivo script on the front and back, and Rosti down the side of the legs.
The front fabric takes some of the sting out of the wind, while remaining breathable and full of stretch. The back, side and underarm fabric offers more ventilation to help release heat. The arms and shoulders are a stretch fabric to keep a close fit and prevent bunching and flapping, even when the zipper is lowered. Compression bands with a light silicone backing around the arms and lower body of the jersey help keep everything in place. The front of the jersey is cut a little higher than others, which helps to reduce bunching and works with their AIR-1 Action Fabric zone on the front of the bibs. One additional touch are some flaps of fabric at the top and bottom of the zipper to add a layer of comfort between your skin and the metal zipper.
The matching AIR-1 bobs are a thirteen panel design with a ladder back bib strap. The wide, stretchy straps make for a comfortable fit, and the open ladder design helps with breathability. The bibs feature a bit of compression through the legs for support. The compression bands from the jersey follow onto the legs of the bibs. On the front, right below where the straps meet the shorts, Rosti includes their AIR-1 Action Fabric. This perforated fabric helps to promote airflow through the bibs and around the back of the shorts to keep you cool and fresh. To keep things comfortable on even the longest rides, Rosti opts for a ultra premium TMF-Bormio pad.
Along with the Energy Star, they also had their speed suit and the Black Winter kit on display. The speed suit takes many of the same features from the Energy Star kit, and combine the jersey and shorts into one piece. When fully unzipped, the the front opens up more than a traditional skin suit, and the jersey includes three pockets on the back. The panels of the fabric extend the full length of the kit, giving it a very form fitting feel, and provide new options for logos and designs.
The Black Winter kit blends a super roubaix fleece material from SITIP with a carbon weave material. The carbon material offers wind and water proofing, while still remaining breathable. The SITIP Blizzard and BeHot fabrics work together to create SITIP’s Heat Generation System. Not only does the fabric keep you warm, but it also works with your body to increase warmth by 1-2 degrees Celsius.
When I mentioned that they do custom kits, Rosti has teams around the world wearing them. They work with teams ranging from small clubs and events to professionals like the Androni Giocattoli Pro Continental Men’s team, the Servetto Footon UCI Women’s team, and track star Robert Förstemann. If you happened to catch Peter Sagan slipping on his European championship jersey, then you saw one of Rosti’s kits, as they are the sponsor of the UEC.
Regardless of the size of your team, shop, or organization, they can outfit your team with fully customizable options from head to toe. Every piece of fabric used can be customized on their kits, offering you the option to select custom colors, or place logos anywhere on the bibs or jersey. They also offer a range of fabrics from standard lycra to dimpled fabric, to the carbon weave mentioned earlier. Some are ornamental, while fabrics like the carbon weave offer a wind and water proof material. Zippers, pads, reflective touches, stitching styles, sleeve lengths, compression band sizes, everything can be customized. To add a special touch, names and flags can also be added. Rosti offers a full range of clothing for road, mountain, cyclocross, time trial, and triathlon, in men’s and women’s specific, and all the accessories you’ll need. Even with production based in Italy, turnaround time is usually less than 60 days, and minimums are eight pieces (four kits) or five skin suits. To learn more, check out their website, and reach out to Davide though the Rosti USA website with any questions on custom orders.
I’ve already gotten some time in wearing both kits, and both have impressed in a wide range of conditions. Stay tuned for the reviews of the Energy Star and Winter Black kits.
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
~Veggie Powered Athlete~
Location – Lancaster, PA
Current Testing Rigs – 2024 Van Dessel Arch65, 2019 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie, 2018 Van Dessel Motivus Maximus LTD, 2016 Van Dessel Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, 2015 Bianchi Sempre Pro, 1978 Trek TX900
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