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$Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women\'s$

SUNBEAM FRONT

Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's

$79.50

(9)

Item # 819022

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The water-resistant Novara Conversion bike jacket converts to a vest in a flash, handling with ease everything from foggy mornings to sunny afternoons.

Polyester shell is lightweight, water resistant and breathable; resists winds up to 50mph
Durable Water Repellent finish causes water to bead up and roll off, fending off light rain showers and snow
The detachable sleeve piece doubles as a shrug and can be worn over bike jersey for light coverage; stows in zippered back pocket
Removable, low profile hood shields ears from wind and fits comfortably under your helmet
Mesh-lined back enhances airflow and wicks away moisture to keep you comfortable
Open handwarmer pockets keep your digits cozy when not riding
Seal in warmth with elastic stretch cuffs and 1-hand-adjustable drawcord hem; front zipper is protected by an internal stormflap
Single zippered chest pocket for easy access and storage of sunglasses and energy gel
Cut long in back for full coverage when you're in the riding position
Ample reflective piping increases visibility in low light
The women's Novara Conversion jacket features polyester fleece accentuating the collar for softness next to skin

Imported.

Item 819022

View all Novara products

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Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's

4.1

(based on 9 reviews)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Bright / visible (9)
Stylish (6)
Windproof (5)
Breathable (4)
Durable (3)

Cons

Not waterproof (4)

Best Uses

Road biking (7)
Commuting (5)
Casual wear (3)
Running (3)

- Chest Size:
- Feels too small
  
  Feels true to size
  
  78%
  (7 reviews)
  Feels too big
- Sleeve Length:
- Feels too short
  
  Feels true to length
  
  89%
  (8 reviews)
  Feels too long

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid cyclist (5), Casual/ recreational (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (7)

Reviewed by 9 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-9

May

2013

5.0

LOVE IT

By like2bike2

from Omaha, Nebraska - USA

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Bright / Visible
Windproof

Cons

Best Uses

Commuting
Road Biking

Comments about Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's:

Wear this every day to work - with sleeves in the am and without in the pm and truly find this a "go to" jacket. The price is right compared to other brands and very good quality. Have gotten chain grease on it and it came out in the wash just fine. I truly love this jacket.

Comment on this review

Mar

2013

5.0

I am in love with this jacket.

By italiam

from Duluth, Ga

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Bright / Visible
Stylish
Warm
Windproof

Cons

Not Waterproof

Best Uses

Cold Weather
Road Biking
Running

Comments about Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's:

This jacket is great, it looks elegant and I am visible on the road. This morning I started with the full jacket because it was early in the morning and a little cold and ended with just the vest. I could use a separate jacket in the same style but waterproofed for rainy days. This windbreaker is perfect as it is.

Comment on this review

Aug

2012

4.0

I love this jacket!

By karmey57

from Portland, OR

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Bright / Visible
Comfortable
Stylish
Versatile
Windproof

Cons

Best Uses

Commuting

Comments about Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's:

I love this jacket for its versatility: windbreaker or vest, for cloudy mornings or sunny days. I even wear the vest even in warm weather to make me more visible, and it's so cool and comfortable, I don't notice the extra layer. Good value, great jacket!

Comment on this review

Aug

2012

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Great in dry weather

By Fietsfanaat

from New York

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Bright / Visible
Folds into back pocket
Long Sleeves
Stylish

Cons

Not Waterproof
Runs a size small
Short waisted
Stains easily

Best Uses

Casual Wear
Commuting
Dry weather

Comments about Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's:

I bought this jacket for my daily bike commute, for its reflectivity, light weight, cool features, and water resistance.

Well, three out of four ain't bad. It's easily seen, makes a lightweight packet folded up into the back pocket (Novara: next time use a zipper pull that flips to the other side), and I keep finding more cool features - the elastic on the hood makes it fit tight over my bike helmet; there are inside pockets formed by the liners of the hand pockets, soft collar lining (Novara: next time put the zip-on hood on the outside, so you still feel the lining with the hood up).

Novara does not claim that it is waterproof - the tag mentions a "wind and water resistant front" (!) although the same material is used front, back and sleeves. But even the lightest of rain, it is as water resistant as a cotton t-shirt. I wore it twice in the rain and both times was soaked down to my last thread.

Re sizing, I'm 5'11" and wear a size 8 or 10; I got a large (one size up according to the size chart) and was delighted that it was the right width in the shoulders, chest and hips yet also has sleeves that are long enough even when reaching for the handlebars. The waist elastic hits me around the bottom rib and it's not long enough to cover my booty, especially when I'm bent over the handlebars and/or with hood on. The back length is less of a drawback now that I know better than to wear this in the rain again.

(Novara, how about making some tall sizes? Some not-so-tall women might like the extra coverage too).

In summary, it's a fun, light reflective jacket that REI should stop listing under rain gear.

Comment on this review

Jun

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Nice Jacket - not good in downpour

By Fred58

from New Baltimore

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Bright / Visible
Stylish

Cons

Not Waterproof

Best Uses

Casual Wear
Road Biking

Comments about Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's:

Really nice jacket with great features. Unfortunately the zippers that connect the sleeves do leak when it rains and you cannot wear the shrug portion while cycling because there is nothing to keep it in place, the wind just blows it back.

Comment on this review

May

2012

4.0

Beautiful Cycling Jacket, Not Waterproof

By Jenny P

from New York, NY

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Bright / Visible
Durable
Stylish
Warm
Windproof

Cons

Not Waterproof

Best Uses

Casual Wear
Cold Weather
Commuting
Mountain Biking
Road Biking
Running

Comments about Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's:

Very stylish cycling jacket- so glad I bought it! It's much warmer than it looks because it keeps the heat in and the wind out. I also love the fact that the sleeves and hood zip on and off and the back has a nice vent for air flow. However, I misread the description when I bought it, took it out for a spin in pouring rain and got soaked! It's water resistant, fine for light misty rain, but not actually waterproof. Ah well, I don't think anything could have protected me in that weather. Still a great purchase.

Comment on this review

May

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Not for hour glass figures or long torso

By Sprite

from Mn

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Bright / Visible

Cons

Baggy midsection
Tight in the hips
Too short

Best Uses

Mountain Biking
Road Biking
Running

Comments about Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's:

I really wanted to like this jacket but in the end I returned it for a different brand. The sleeves were nice and long, loved the dayglow designs, the color was perfect. The sleeves detached cleanly and easily and went back on just as smooth. The issue I had was in the rest of the fit.

The hips were way too tight which forced me to get the next size up and because of this I ended up with about 10 inches of extra fabric in the mid section. I thought This would be an issue I could live with but the I went biking and when I leaned over the jacket would scoot off my hips and rest on my wast which left my back exposed, not good for a rainy day...

Maybe you will have better luck, but if you have a long torso (or are tall) I would recommend trying it in the store before buying.

Comment on this review

Apr

2012

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great jacket

By rainrider

from Ashland OR

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Bright / Visible
Durable

Cons

Zipper Puckers

Best Uses

Commuting
Road Biking

Comments about Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's:

I'm 5'1, 130# and 62 years old.
I commute 10 miles to work in the winter if it's not raining and ride on the weekends for 25 miles a day. I bought this jacket because of the hip size. I don't fit in the cute young cyclist jackets. This jacket, Medium, is plenty big to fit over a coat for winter riding, or over a jersey in warmer weather. It doesn't blow up around your shoulders, so I can usually see in my mirror. The unzipping for a vest is easy. There is no chest pocket, though the write-up says there is....I was hoping to put my phone there. The back pocket is large, but is difficult to unzip. I added a little tab so that's no longer a problem.
There are pockets on either side that have no way to close....good to put your gloves in while at coffee and lose on the way home. I would say the only downside is that the front zipper gets caught easily in the material if you're not careful when zipping up.

Comment on this review

Dec

2011

(9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Wonderful jacket

By exercisejunkie

from Sussex County, NJ

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Bright / Visible
Durable
Stylish
Warm
Windproof

Cons

Best Uses

Road Biking

Comments about Novara Conversion Bike Jacket - Women's:

I road bike between 3000-4000miles a year. Needed a bright jacket for obvious reasons that is well ventilated. The conversion jacket is just about perfect. It allows you to configure it to suit your needs as the day progresses(temps warm). Because I am petite, I had to go up one size to adjust for the proportion problems petites face with regular sizing. Still not a problem and gives me plenty of room to have layers underneath. Because it is so well ventilated there isn't any parachuting of the material around the torso. The arms have extra material but lay flat when moving because the air in the sleeves gets sucked out through the ventilated back of the jacket. This has taken the place of my beloved winter riding jacket that has a windproof front and totally ventilated back (because it is black and blends in with shadows) The worst I can say about this jacket is that even in the winter(temps in the 30's)you can still get moist in the arms if you push too hard. However one of my goals in cold weather riding is not to be that aggressive since you don't want to get drenched in sweat and then deal with the aftermath. Get the jacket, you'll be very pleased.