Winter Cycling - Outside Magazine Gear of the year - opinions?

They chose the Patagonia Ready Mix as their Gear of the Year for Soft Shells.

You can find their review here. (http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/gear.tcl?gear=Patagonia-Ready-Mix&gear_id=374&action=showgear)

The product itself on the Patagonia website is here. (http://www.patagonia.com/za/PDC?OPTION=PRODUCT&merchant_rn=7385&ws=false&sku=84920)

The Outside reviewer mentions he wore it while cycling. Patagonia's ideal uses doesn't list cycling though. Does anyone have any experience with this jacket? Opinions?

Opinion, because I don't have a ready mix, but I was checking one out at a gear shop today.

I've been a Patagonia loyalist for about 20 years now- Patagonia has some of the nicest finishing touches and impeccable stitch quality of any of the outdoor gear out there. They are also a environmentally responsible company. And some of their gear is legendary.

The ready mix jacket is fairly stretchy, and very lightweight. It has sturdy reinforcements at the shoulders, and a hood that should fit over a cycling helmet. It is similar in cut and style to a high mountain storm shell, and is engineered for that environment. It probably posesses a high degree of weather shedding ability at the expense of its aerobic breathability. It may be overkill for cycling, but I have NO CLUE about the fabrics because Patagonia 'rebrands' textile mills proprietary fabrics with 'patagucci exclusive' names and nomenclature so it is difficult to do a side by side comparison.

If you are looking for a tough soft shell jacket you could also climb the Cerro de Torre in S.A. or do a 60 hour sufferfest on Alaska's Mount Hunter, the ready mix would be your jacket. It would work very well cycling in a blizzard.

Having watched and shopped patagonias product line for the last couple of decades, they are currently 'cycling lite' in their product representation. They wax and wane on putting out good gear for aerobic sports, right now they seem to be getting away from cycling gear except for their critical mass bags...

It may be overkill for cycling, but I have NO CLUE about the fabrics because Patagonia 'rebrands' textile mills proprietary fabrics with 'patagucci exclusive' names and nomenclature so it is difficult to do a side by side comparison.

If you are looking for a tough soft shell jacket you could also climb the Cerro de Torre in S.A. or do a 60 hour sufferfest on Alaska's Mount Hunter, the ready mix would be your jacket. It would work very well cycling in a blizzard.

Having watched and shopped patagonias product line for the last couple of decades, they are currently 'cycling lite' in their product representation. They wax and wane on putting out good gear for aerobic sports, right now they seem to be getting away from cycling gear except for their critical mass bags...

It being overkill is what I'm afraid of and why I'm asking about it. I thought it strange that they don't list cycling as an ideal use when Outside magazine specifically mentioned riding a bike while using it. I do want something I can wear when not riding, but not if it's going to be major overkill for when I am riding...

I think if you did a lot of other winter sports it would be an ideal jacket for you.

No other winter sports. Just general walking around when not on the bike. But I figure any jacket I wear when on the bike will work for me with some fleece and another layer or two under it.

Seems a little pricey to me...

I have several Layers for that price:

41.00 Under Armour ColdGear MOCK LONGSLEEVE (eBay NEW)
19.99 9.5 oz. High Visibility Sweatshirt 'Moisture-Wick' (Alertshirt.com)
35.00 VERY Old Marmot Ski Shell (tight against core/frabric lined)
49.00 (on sale) Performance illumiNITE Cycling Jacket

144.99 TOTAL This is the full Winter "Core" Coverage for myself. And put on in that order.