Wool shorts

[johnnylean]

Has anyone every purchased wool shorts from vintage velos? If so what do you think and are they worth the $$? www.vintagevelos.com (http://www.vintagevelos.com)

Over and out

[cyccommute]

Has anyone every purchased wool shorts from vintage velos? If so what do you think and are they worth the $$? www.vintagevelos.com (http://www.vintagevelos.com)

Over and out

Having started with wool shorts, I probably wouldn't go back to them. They are slightly warmer but tended to be baggy and require more care in cleaning (even Smart wool ones are less robust than lycra when washing and drying). At $115, I'd stick with lycra and use a warmer tight.

[Cosmoline]

I'm pretty retro. I type letters on a 1932 Smith-Corona, wear 30's style logging boots, and shoot rifles older than my grandfather. But while wool is a fantastic bedding material with a lot of advantages, it SUCKS as a clothing material for anything but capes, socks and trenchcoats. It's a PINA to get clean and tends to develop a perma stink really quickly. Even the best of it can be a hairshirt on the skin. Modern wicking fabric and polartech fleece are much better for cold weather active wear.

[Bekologist]

don't listen to those guys.

Ibex wool shorts are absolutely fantastic. you can stay comfortable in temps 50-100+ f in wool shorts and a wool jersey. add a LS top or outer, some leg warmers, then a set of tights and more if it gets colder, but modern wool cycling clothing is some rightous stuff.

I have some old wool shorts (real leather chamois too) I still wear for the vintage look, and they are pretty subpar, just like we all remember.

The new, lycra infused ones are the bomb. they don't stink, they have great feel, fit fantastic, don't ride up..... i haven't tried the vintage velos ones, but wool rules for cycling clothes.

try some, i bet you'll like them.

once i started cycling in wool again, all the stinky lycra and paperthin synthetics literally got thrown away.

try some ibex shorts or their knickers for winter cycling, you'll be sold.

i'd bet the vintage velo shorts are pretty good too but haven't tried them.

[ekitel]

But while wool is a fantastic bedding material with a lot of advantages, it SUCKS as a clothing material for anything but capes, socks and trenchcoats. It's a PINA to get clean and tends to develop a perma stink really quickly. Even the best of it can be a hairshirt on the skin. Modern wicking fabric and polartech fleece are much better for cold weather active wear.

wool is very easy to get clean, resists stinkage, whereas modern (petro-chemical) fabrics get really stinky, fine merino is very comfortable next to the skin, obviously not as cool and comfortable as cotton, but the wicking and temperature regulation properties are fantastic. Wool employs a number of sophisticated micro and nano technologies that have evolved through millions of years of research and development.

[Cosmoline]

I'll have to give this new fangled wool a try. I'm still picturing army blankets.

[Snow_canuck]

Hey, when cycling over that frozen lake and you fall in. Wool will give you an extra 5 minutes before freezing to death.

[lasolasdesanjua]

go Ibex, they rule

[pgoat]

reviving this because I am considering a pair of the Vintage Velos wool shorts - anyone try them?

You don't have to sell me on wool - I own several wool jerseys and trainers and like them just fine, itchiness and all. Just never tried wool cycling shorts.

I don't mind a little itch, just wondering how they fit (baggy/saggy?) after multiple launderings - unlike my jerseys which I wash in cold water/gentle cycle, I'd be putting these in the usual warm wash - chamois, you know.....

I do have a pair of Ibex Knickers in a heavy herringbone wool with about 10% synthetics and they are absolutely amazing! They were a closeout and are way too big for me but I can't part with them. No longer available, or I'd buy ten more pairs (in two sizes down, that is).

I'll agree with all good things said about Smartwool for their socks and Icebreakers for very soft and fine winter baselayers (tops and leggings)

[CastIron]

go Ibex, they rule

Damn right. A whole type of wool. Still not my first choice for a scorcher, but they are very comfy and durable.

[fghhunter]

I've got wool shorts from jonesware.com and they're great, plus they come in 3 different inseam lengths. Their arm and leg warmers are nice too and everything is Merino and they'll custom fit for $10.

[nancy sv]

Another vote for Ibex! I'm wearing their wool shorts on our journey now and can't imagine ever going back to lycra.

[Bekologist]

Ibex has some wool bibshorts that look great. their knickers are iconic, truly the bees' knees.....i think the Ibex rep had bibknickers last time he stopped in, maybein their fall 2009 lineup?

if i didnt already have umpteen pair of Ibex shorts and knickers I'd have gotten the ibex bib shorts already.

http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/ProductDetail.php?GID=1245&VID=14854&Product=Arrivee-Bib-Shorts