Buyer’s Guide: High roller

$520, Assos.com

Assos cuts a small panel out of
the front of the Campionissimo’s chamois and lines it with a soft, brushed material. They call it the Kuku Penthouse, and it does exactly what you would presume.

It works, too. The T.Campionissimo bibs are incredibly comfortable, utilizing a woven fabric on the leg, unlike traditional spandex, which dramatically improves durability, compression, and wicking. Wide, thin, and incredibly stretchy bib straps, with a hidden sunglasses holder for those open-jersey days, hold everything in place.

$6,200, Colnago.com

Since the debut of its C40 20 years ago, Colnago’s C-series frames have been a combination of history and technology, equal parts memoir and textbook. The C60 combines state-of-the-art materials technology with an old-school flair. Geometry perfected by Ernesto Colnago has been retained, as has the classic lugged construction style; but a clever new bottom-bracket design and large, thin-walled carbon fiber tubes make the ride quality thoroughly modern.

$150, Demarchi.com

DeMarchi’s Classic gloves could have
 been torn from the hands of Coppi himself, made
 of supple, durable sheepskin, reinforced at the
 palm and perforated at the back of the hand for the utmost durability and breathability. The snap button closure — no Velcro here — is an audible reminder of cycling’s most romantic era.

$500, SidiSport.com

Sidi has created a cult of comfort, with devotees stretching across decades and dozens of models. Some riders simply won’t wear anything else, and for good reason. The Wire, Sidi’s top-tier road shoe, uses a supple upper and stiff, vented carbon sole, engineered with just the right amount of flex. The adjustable heel cup is the best in the business, holding the foot in place like a pillow-covered vice. The new cable-actuated Tecno 3 closure allows for quick and easy adjustments while retaining a low profile.