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Prompted by Benji’s Madison Roam Gilet review.
Has anyone come across a gilet/zipped top where the zip opens from the bottom/midway, or a has a zip that starts 6-8” down from the neck, or a .. .. 🤔
Reason for asking is I seem more vulnerable than most to upper chest colds from working hard pedalling uphill with the top of the zip open and then heading downhill and forgetting/struggling to pull the back zip up. Yeah I know, stop and zip it up, but .. ..
I find wearing a thin top underneath makes no difference. My last chest cold almost scuppered a C2C ride. Fortunately, starting an antibiotic course 24hrs beforehand was enough to get me through.
Grateful for suggestions 🙂
deleted I thought I understood what you wanted but after a re-read actually don’t 😀
Infections are from bacteria or viruses. What you are wearing will make no difference
Rapha's Core windproof gilet gives you the option of unzipping from top or bottom, MAAP has a similar thing too, I'm sure there are others as well. I have the Rapha one and it's nice being able to quickly open it for climbs, for example, then close it for descents one-handed, no taking both hands off the bars
However, like TJ, I'm skeptical that it'll make any difference at all to chest infections beyond providing some sort of placebo-type psychological reassurance.
A double zip so you can undo from bottom and/or top and/or additional fasteners (poppers or button/loop etc) to stop the flapping of an undone zip and moderate the airflow. Is what I think is meant. I quite like the double zip so can undo from top and bottom a little or lot.
Infections are from bacteria or viruses. What you are wearing will make no difference
Infections are from bacteria and viruses plus the environment they encounter. Our airways are constantly being bombarded with potential pathogens but that doesn't guarantee we'll get ill, most of the time a healthy individual won't. There is some evidence that exposure to cold air can affect the effectiveness of these 'defences' in the upper airway.
Also we aren't necessarily talking about an actual infection, it's more likely in my view to be just bronchial inflammation that feels a bit like one, and while it's a bit of a stretch that protecting a relatively small area of skin will help, as an asthmatic, I find that wearing a buff around the face and neck during cold weather reduces these kinds of symptoms.
To OP - how about a thin buff? 🙂 That way you can wear what you want below it. Side suggestion - do you wear quite tight-fitting stuff around your chest? Could it be slightly compromising your ability to fully clear your upper airway during exercise?
Mouth breathing you do not filter the air so much. A buff over your mouth will provide a bit of filtration and warming of the air if its cold..
I’d be looking at diet / hygiene / asthma as to why getting colds etc , not clothing
I can't tolerate the buff over the mouth, it wets out too quickly, but I find even around the neck it does help reduce bronchial tightening in cold weather - and that in turn is better for me in terms of inflammation/hacking cough afterwards. We're all different in terms of our physical responses, and the mechanisms in the upper airway can be sensitive to disruption in some of us.
Cheers
@BadlyWiredDog I’ll have a look at the Rapha and MAAP options and, yes, any double ended zip should work as well, certainly it’s easier to pull a zip down on the go.
I will try a buff around my neck. I tried a buff over my mouth but it felt very uncomfortable, though it kept the flies out!
Understand some of the scepticism to the root cause of the illnesses, though I know my immune system is a bit compromised. It’s just I’ve suffered the same upper chest/throat infection so many times over the years where I've repeatedly become hot and sweaty on mtb/road climbs and overcooled my upper chest on the descents. It’s never been a problem in winter, just the warmer months.
I quite like the test of a stiff climb, though I’ve not mastered breathing through my nose when the going gets tough.
Hmmm, best wait for a Rapha or MAAP sale!
One of the reviews on the Rapha website says the tight waist means it's not easy to pull the lower zip down 🤔
Hmmm, best wait for a Rapha or MAAP sale!
One of the reviews on the Rapha website says the tight waist means it's not easy to pull the lower zip down
Rapha quite often crops up on Sport Pursuit or in their outlet section at around 50% of RRP. I find the Rapha fits fine on the waist tbh, I guess it depends on your body shape. I actually find it a little snug across the chest area, probably because my shoulders are a little wider than average. Medium fits everywhere but is snug on the chest, but okay in a riding position - the zips goes up and down just fine. Large is roomier on my chest, but too loose elsewhere and the arm holes fit 'wrong'. I suspect if you're a normal cyclist sort of shape, the fit will be fine. If you're more, erm, tubular, maybe not.
Have you thought about a vest/T-shirt base layer with a windstopper fabric at the front?? I get on really well with mine.
Rapha merino buff is fabulous. Not the cheapest but I love the feel and insulation of mine. I also wear their long sleeved merino base layer and it is warm when cold and cools when warm.
Get your Vit D checked - I found out mine was incredible low recently, and feel tonnes better now I'm on some proper supplements - not from the NHS as locally not treated, but I was a fifth of the recommended amount. Paid for a NHS test and vitd supplements bought on-line.
Another advantage of a two way zipped gilet is easy access to that snack bar in your back pocket.
Perhaps look at the decathlon cycling string vest thing. Love mine, it wicks moisture away really well off chest and your back.
Other more expensive options are available,eg Albion
Castelli Espresso gilet is absolutely superb. Recently purchased to replace an old Aussie Grit one that finally fell apart. Quality YKK zip works smoothly from both ends. Excellent stretchy material gives great fit. Think I got mine from Merlin who had a good discount, otherwise it was hideously expensive.
A copy of La Monde stuffed down your front for the descent.
Not thought about Vitamin D, especially given the ☀️☀️ weather over the last month or two.
I have an ancient Groundeffect Baked Alaska cycling top, but I find it too hot at this time of year and it zips down from the top.
Definitely going to get a decent gilet with a bottom opening zip. Looking on Sportspursuit, they have 50% off Rapha Core, but none in bright 'car driver I'm here' yellow 🤔
Will also look at Castelli, not that I've ever owned thing that posh 😉
I have a Rapha insulated brevet gilet which is nice and toasty if needed and zips from both ends. The insulation is pretty much front only and it packs down nice and small to the size of a can of coke. Got it in a sale at some point a good number of yrs ago. It’s a really useful bit of kit in winter and morning/ evenings in the shoulder months.
Have you thought about a vest/T-shirt base layer with a windstopper fabric at the front?? I get on really well with mine.
Was going to suggest the same - agree that clothing won't prevent exposure to germs, but I have a couple of Craft Windstopper base layers and they are great. Merlin often have deals.
A buff round the neck also makes a huge difference to how I feel on the bike.
I think a Buff would make the most cost-effective, positive impact in your situation.
Just a quick heads up @nickingsley, Sport Pursuit now has Rapha stuff at around 50-60% of RRP including a couple of Core Gilet options at 39 quid - they also have some other Rapha Gilets, not sure which of them have double-ended zips, but if you're interested:
https://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/rapha-may25
the root cause of the illnesses, though I know my immune system is a bit compromised. It’s just I’ve suffered the same upper chest/throat infection so many times over the years
Have you talked to GP? Perhap asked for a blood test to look at your immune defences / response.
I say that married to someone with Common Variable Immunoglobulin Disorder, which led to endless chest infections and more before it was diagnoses.
Rapha's Core windproof gilet gives you the option of unzipping from top or bottom
I've never unzipped from the bottom up, but mine unzips itself as I ride along. Most rides every 10 miles.
Possibly I'm just the wrong shape, not being a lean racing snake.
It's a good bit of kit, when on sale and just very expensive rather than when it's astronomically priced.
It won't keep bacteria and viruses away and stop you getting colds.
I am trying a Buff, feels odd but will persist.
Good grief, I'm at best skinny, so using the Rapha sizing guide I ordered a Medium Rapha Core gilet from SP but it is far too tight and the bottom is automatically starting to undo before the 1st pint.
Large ordered.
Altura airstream has a two way zip (and doesn't break the bank). Plus is in yellow, packs tiny and has reflective bits
The Rapha Core gilet is a nice piece of kit, thin but effective with a good quality 2 way zip. I have now used it on a fair few long hilly rides and though the weather hasn’t been that cold recently (historically chest colds have been more of an early spring/late autumn issue for me) i’ve felt my chest is protected. Though the lower zip is up and down on most hills!