The stated aim of POC's Fondo line is to get back to the basic joy of cycling. The Fondo Splash Men's Jacket finds itself in the unenviable position of advocating for the love of the bike in conditions that most of us would, admittedly, rather not be caught in on two wheels. POC's solution? Pull the Fondo Splash out of your rear pocket, zip it on, and grin and bear it.

Sheltering under the Splash Jacket's four-way stretch, water-repellent carapace is a sight less punishing than if you were in barely there Lycra alone. The material is perforated with laser cut ventilation holes, which keep water out while allowing a degree of breathability. The jacket doesn't breathe like the jersey's you'll cover it with, of course, but it will help you stay dry when the skies open up just as you begin the "back" portion of your out-and-back 50 miler.

The jacket is finished with the kind of touches we've come to expect from the innovators at POC, including Lycra cuffs that extend coverage and maintain a close seal and a zippered rear pocket for goods you can't afford to be without while the Fondo Splash is obstructing access to jersey pockets. The drawstring hem helps ensure the jacket stays between your lower back and the weather, and a loop on the collar lets you hang it up so it dries quickly between uses. Finally, when the sun reappears, the Fondo Splash is light enough to stuff back into the jersey pocket from whence it came.