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Ive been spending a bit of time on the road recently. I ride in Snowdonia most days, but this weekend ive been cold.
I have xlip on mudguards that help with road spray, Most rides involve some decwnt elevation gain, with my shorter rides being 30-40miles with 3000ft of climbing.
Im finding im either sweating like a madman on the climbs or im freezing cold on the descents, or sometimes both.
I have a variery of what i thought were decent clothes but i was wondering what works well for others
Ian
In mixed temps you have to look at what roadies where, they know how to deal with changeable temps.
This time of year for me that’s 3/4 bibs (or shorts and knee warmers) on the bottom.
Up top I’m looking at base layers of a variety of thicknesses, arm warmers and gilets. Maybe a light weight jacket if it’s cooler.
A cap under the helmet helps take the chill off too.
Edit, zips are key, you want to be able to open up the front on climbs and zip back up on downs, a lot of MTB kit missed this key feature I find.
Arm warmers and a gilet.
I have an old dhb softshell that can have its sleeves removed thats nice if its cold cold at the start.
It's getting time to get the Gabba back on... that and Nanoflex arms,knees and shorts does me most of the autumn with varying base layers. Got chilly around North Wales recently... hailstorm yesterday on bike!
I had sleet at Pen y Pass and hail in llanberis. It rather took me by surprise!
Castelli Perfetto on top with an optional rain jacket in my pocket in case its cold / really wet. The Perfetto is very impressive in cool / damp weather on its own and has vents to open (plus the big zip) if you're overheating. This morning I wore it with a DHB Polartec Alpha Gillet over the top as it was 6/7C at the start of the ride at 7.45 this morning. The took the gillet off when I warmed up and put it back on when the temp dropped and it started raining.
I’m testing a fox flex air jacket from Biketreks https://uk.foxracing.com/flexair-neoshell®-water-jacket/26140.html?dwvar_26140_color=001&dwvar_26140_size=XS&cgid=mtb-mens-outerwear-jackets#start=1
Super crazy price but it is amazing. It’s got zips too but you don’t need them it sheds so much sweat. And I run very hot.
Mid season long sleeve jersey and a gilet up top and 3/4bibs on the bottom. Summer shoes and winter (not waterproof) socks.
Super crazy price but it is amazing.
Yep, very pricey eg compared with the Shake-dry jackets, which I bet breathe better...
The only reason I've not got a Shake Dry is I think wearing jet black in the rain on an overcast day in winter is a bit daft....
Castelli Perfetto on top with an optional rain jacket in my pocket in case its cold / really wet. The Perfetto is very impressive in cool / damp weather on its own and has vents to open (plus the big zip) if you’re overheating.
This.. I got a Gore Infinium version in a sale last year and it's proven to be the best bit of 'iffy' weather gear I've ever owned.
Yep, very pricey eg compared with the Shake-dry jackets, which I bet breathe better…
The only reason I’ve not got a Shake Dry is I think wearing jet black in the rain on an overcast day in winter is a bit daft….
My Shake-dry is a kind of denim blue colour and has highly reflective Gore logo's scattered across it. Also an awesome piece of kit.. apart from the slightly dangerous aspect of becoming overly fascinated watching rain beading off the sleeves as you ride along.! 😀
My Shake-dry is a kind of denim blue colour and has highly reflective Gore logo’s scattered across it
Yes someone just showed me that today at the cafe stop when I was ranting about black rain jackets. Reminds me of 80s faded denim wash jeans...
What I really want is an Assos Equipe RS rain jacket (with big reflective stripe down the back) made from Shake-dry fabric...
The wife has a superb Rapha Souplesse rain jacket with a huge white stripe running down the back - super visible in poor light. They don't do a men's version.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50444504163_da48f27751.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50444504163_da48f27751.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2jRBgCp ]Rapha Souplesse Rain Jacket[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Pretty sure the newer version with the stretchy panels comes with the panels in a variety of colours including dayglo yellow.?!
Which shake-dry are people recommending?
Which shake-dry are people recommending?
I think they are all very similar. I seem to recall that Raphas was one of the cheaper ones...
Throughout autumn/winter/spring you would think our cycling club was sponsored by Castelli, going by the amount of us that wear a Perfetto.
It really is the ideal bit of kit though. Its pretty much all I wear from now until March. I've got 3 of them!
It really is the ideal bit of kit though. Its pretty much all I wear from now until March. I’ve got 3 of them!
Yep gotta agree with this, I have the heavier Alpha RoS one with the Polartec 'waistcoat' as well for when it gets proper cold (have started a winter ride @ -9C in just that with a merino base layer under it and some windproof tights.!) and it's just as good but warmer. Have ridden it in absolute downpour conditions for a couple of hours as well and though it does wet-out after 20 minutes or so it was dry 15 minutes after the rain stopped..
What are you all wearing?
I'm wearing a very fetching onesie - do you want pics?
Yep gotta agree with this, I have the heavier Alpha RoS one with the Polartec ‘waistcoat’ as well for when it gets proper cold (have started a winter ride @ -9C in just that with a merino base layer under it and some windproof tights.!) and it’s just as good but warmer.
How does it size up compared with the standard RoS Perfetto? My top is pretty much skin tight, which is good, but not sure I could fit anything under it. I'd have to go up a size...