Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Pursuit Aero Jacket Women's

There is a certain peaceful atmosphere inherent in winter cycling that can lull us into a sort of trance. It can be easy to zone out, enjoy the scenery, and let your heart rate languish. Fortunately, we're also equipped with smart head units, zone alarms, and race minded kit like Pearl Izumi's P. R. O. Pursuit Aero Women's Jacket to help keep us focused on the job at hand. After all, spring is coming, and dedication to the training calendar from October through February can be the difference between placing on the podium and being pack fodder when the calendar rolls over into March. The jacket's low profile silhouette is built from two materials, Pearl's Softshell Lite and Direct Vent mesh underarm panels. The panels add a bit more lightweight breathability to Softshell Lite's already breathable membrane, but the latter is the jacket's real star. Softshell Lite blocks wind and is finished with a DWR treatment for water resistance that's equal to moderate precipitation. It also breathes and wicks, helping to keep you dry inside and out, which is imperative in a cold weather shell when internal moisture quickly becomes frigid clamminess. The panels are cut in a race appropriate fit and combined with bonded seams to further reduce flapping bulk. This construction process effectively extends the P. R. O. Pursuit Aero Jacket's seasonal range by making it eminently packable. It serves as an emergency shell in late fall and early spring because it stuffs down to fit in a jersey pocket, but it also accommodates thermal insulation to add weather resistance to warm layers. Finishing details like reflective trim, an elasticized gripper hem, and a full length draft flap further boost the jacket's low bulk functionality.