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This has sort of been done recently but my question is slightly different.
I am looking to kit myself out with spring race kit. Last year I wore a clear gilet my race jersey and Roubaix arm warmer. We didn't have any really bad weather, on occasion it was a bit chilly. However the year before I did a 2/3/4 in 3 hours of driving rain in March. I nearly had to pull out as I was under dressed.
I was going to get myself some sort of gabba like top. however, my hands get cold and having seen the castelli nanoflex arm warmers I don't think they will be adequate.
Can someone recommend me some beefy arm warmers that have slightly more protection - What I think I want is something like a softshell arm warmer in a similar fabric to the gabba. It is really hard to tell on line what type of fabric people are using. A Roubaix fabric with a water repellent finish won't cut it.
I am trying to talk my wife round to buying me a gabba convertible for xmas but at nearly £200 it is a bit pricey.
My Nanoflex arm warmers are indeed a bit shit, they don't repel water at all (even before they were washed), the seam is also uncomfortable. I bought Sportful No Rain ones to replace them and they're definitely better but it sounds like you're after something that will keep your arms bone-dry in torrential rain? No sure if anything like that exists, I think I'd just spray some waterproofer on the Nanoflexs you have and see if that works.
Although good arm warmers can help with hand warmth what gloves are you actually using, surely that's what you should be addressing first?
I've got the Gore Windstopper - they've been with me for good three years, really good bit of kit. Even though they were slashed with brambles plenty of times the wind stopping membrane seems to be intact (it's white under the black outer shell, so easy to see in places...).
I wouldn't rely on them as my main barrier against chill when it's properly cold, but with an insulating long sleeve on top they're perfect.
I look at arm warmers as a base layer rather than an outer waterproof layer but also as something that I either expect to take off later in the ride or, if I'm commuting, wearing in the morning and not using on the way home.
Driving rain is going to get you wet and miserable no matter what you wear. Personally at that time of year I'd be taking a wide range of kit to the race and wear whatever's appropriate.
Sportful No Rain
Another vote for them here, they're good. However on a loooong ride in the light rain I would say wear a jacket unfortunately if its colder. The arm warmers when wet just dont keep you warm enough IMO. Even the sportful no rain which are warm.
IME these sorts of things don't cut it in proper rain. I used my Gabba on a long ride that was fairly cold and windy with persistent rain and it just didn't work half as well as a hard shell; I got rid of it after that and haven't really missed it. Fine for light and/or intermittent drizzle/showers, but not rain. I'd go with lower expectations of arm warmers (+1 for "Sportful Norains are nice") and pack something like a Gore Xenon AS jacket in a pocket when the weather's looking like it might throw anything more than drizzle.
YMMV.
Since all the above suggestions for hard shell jackets are unlikely to work for racing, back to the original question!
Rapha used to do softshell arm warmers, but I think they had fit issues (not stretchy enough), so recalled/discontinued them. Gore have wind stopper arm warmers, and Madison, Pearl Izumi, and Craft all claim to have arm warmers with windproof membrane, although I haven't tried any. The Etxeondo Softshell Jersey also comes with matching armwarmers, which I guess may be in the same fabric?
Also, I can recommend the Rapha Softshell base layer as a relatively cheap (if you look on eBay) alternative to the Gabba for racing. With a proper base layer under, it will do for pretty cold conditions and keeps the worst of the weather out, and you can wear your club jersey over the top with no problems. Lack of zip can be a problem if the sun comes out. I use it with Nanoflex armwarmers, which are indeed the weak link, and have been thinking about getting some of the Gores.
Since all the above suggestions for hard shell jackets are unlikely to work for racing…
Aha, I missed that 🙂 oops
What did people use in the past?
It's not like there have never been any wet spring races.
What did people use in the past?
A liberal application of MTFU it seems... 🙂
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FWIW, I've found the Sportful NoRain ones to be good. As long as I keep my core warm then these are usually good enough for me on arms and legs.
The gore ones look good. That is the kind of thing I'm after.
Since all the above suggestions for hard shell jackets are unlikely to work for racing, back to the original question!
😉
The gore ones look good so at least they exist. Seen some shimano ones too on ribble that have a membrane.
Since all the above suggestions for hard shell jackets are unlikely to work for racing, back to the original question!
😉
These are good beefy [url= http://www.tgstore.co.uk/universal-warmers-p-3989.html ]gore bike wear arm warmers[/url]. Made from Soft Shell WindStopper and are fabulous at this time of year!