My Personal Experience with Q36.5: A Journey of Trust and Innovation.

Q36.5, founded in 2013 by Luigi Bergamo, is an Italian cycling apparel brand rooted in rigorous research and innovation. The name "Q36.5" combines "Quarere," meaning "research" in Latin, with 36.5ºC, the optimal body temperature for athletes.

My journey with Q36.5 began in October 2014, just a year after the brand’s inception. I was introduced to the brand by none other than Luigi Bergamo himself. The very next day, I had the chance to test the kit while riding the legendary Passo dello Stelvio, a famous mountain pass in Italy.

The conditions were challenging, with temperatures dropping to zero degrees at the top and snowbanks lining the road. As I suited up in what seemed like light, almost flimsy clothing, I was doubtful that the kit would perform in such extreme conditions. The idea of descending at high speeds in freezing temperatures had me nervous, to say the least.

However, once I hit the descent at 80 kph, my doubts melted away. From the freezing cold at the top to 15 degrees at the bottom, the thermo-regulation was nothing short of incredible. Despite the drastic temperature change, I remained comfortable throughout the entire ride, feeling neither too hot nor too cold. The performance of the kit exceeded all expectations, and it was in that moment that I knew Q36.5 had something special.

Since that day, Q36.5 has become my go-to kit for winter riding and travel. The brand’s dedication to innovation and thermoregulation technology has made me a loyal customer and friend, and I continue to trust their gear in even the most challenging conditions.

Luigi, leveraging decades of experience in the cycling industry, established Q36.5 as a research-driven entity rather than just a commercial brand. The company's mission centers on maintaining a cyclist's core body temperature at 36.5ºC across varying conditions, leading to the development of award-winning fabrics and technologies in their Bolzano laboratory.

The kit is rigorously tested and designed to be lightweight and durable, I still have items that are years old and still perform in the most testing conditions.

It feels like the brand has entered a new phase, thanks in part to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and the addition of Tom Piddcock. There’a been a significant increase of DM’s from the fashion driven “cool kids” asking about my experience with the brand.