Winter Cycling - Wool Jersey

I am going to be bike commuting for the first time through winter this year and I am starting to get my winter clothing all figured out. I have heard good things about wearing wool but never heard anything about a wool jersey. Would something like this be a good investment? It is on sale and I am thinking of picking one up:

http://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10551&productId=1038264

I am going to be bike commuting for the first time through winter this year and I am starting to get my winter clothing all figured out. I have heard good things about wearing wool but never heard anything about a wool jersey. Would something like this be a good investment? It is on sale and I am thinking of picking one up:

http://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10551&productId=1038264

"FABRIC: 68% Acrylic/28.5% Wool/3.5% Spandex" :twitchy:

Real wool: http://www.kucharikclothing.com/-c-21_26.html?osCsid=59820df25b0e4ddd3f861cf703c7db8a

"FABRIC: 68% Acrylic/28.5% Wool/3.5% Spandex" :twitchy:

Real wool: http://www.kucharikclothing.com/-c-21_26.html?osCsid=59820df25b0e4ddd3f861cf703c7db8a

I have a pearl izumi wool/acrylic blend jersey and its awesome. Nothing wrong with acrylic.

I've had good luck with 100% Merino wool jerseys. All the benefits of wool and washable.

Here are some sources:

http://www.earthwindandrider.com/

http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/

http://www.rapha.cc/

http://www.joneswares.com/content/JONESwares/1002

I've had good luck with 100% Merino wool jerseys. All the benefits of wool and washable.

Here are some sources:

http://www.earthwindandrider.com/

http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/

http://www.rapha.cc/

http://www.joneswares.com/content/JONESwares/1002

THANKS alaska joe ....... coming from the source .... bookmarked !

Try your goodwill type store first, real cheap.

I'm going to ask Santa for one of these:

http://www.oregoncyclewear.com/woolcyclingjersey.html

Two more sources I belatedly thought of:

http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/index.php

http://www.swobo.com/

I am going to be bike commuting for the first time through winter this year and I am starting to get my winter clothing all figured out. I have heard good things about wearing wool but never heard anything about a wool jersey. Would something like this be a good investment? It is on sale and I am thinking of picking one up:

http://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10551&productId=1038264

I like wool jerseys, especially Merino wool as it doesn't irritate my skin.

One thing to consider is, it doesn't have to be a 'Cycling' jersey. I have bough several very nice jerseys to ride in from E-bay and they were MUCH more affordable than buying a specific 'cycling' jersey.

Hope this helps you.

I like wool jerseys, especially Merino wool as it doesn't irritate my skin.

One thing to consider is, it doesn't have to be a 'Cycling' jersey. I have bough several very nice jerseys to ride in from E-bay and they were MUCH more affordable than buying a specific 'cycling' jersey.

Hope this helps you.

Thank you, as I live in a very small town, goodwill searching is very iffy at best, I will check ebay and see what I can find.

Wool provides insulation, even when wet. It loves to soak up water. For short fast rides it will be fine.

For long rides where your internal heat generation lessens,you would need more,

For sure check thrift stores. I bought a wool turtleneck (United Colors of Benneton made in Italy - wife was jealous) that I wore all winter - thing is awesome - cost $3. Best thing about wool, in my opinion is the lack of smell that you get. Have a modern Under Armor top that I also like a lot, but it smells to high heaven after 2 days of riding. It is now hanging on the door to put on after I get home and take off the wool everyday... Wool is key - riding $12 Army Surplus pants this fall/winter - so far, real good...

I am going to be bike commuting for the first time through winter this year and I am starting to get my winter clothing all figured out. I have heard good things about wearing wool but never heard anything about a wool jersey. Would something like this be a good investment? It is on sale and I am thinking of picking one up:

http://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10551&productId=1038264

You will probably need two or three different thickness insulation layers to wear under your cycling jacket. This would probably work well for the right conditions and the price is good. I say go for it. But you will probably want to go to the local thrift store and get a couple of cheap thicker wool sweaters for colder conditions.

I prefer to use a cheap polar fleece zip collared jacket for the insulation layer since I can zip the collar up around my neck to keep it warm. Get a few cheap wool and polar fleece things to experiment. Once you get a base layer you like and shell you like they pretty much stay the same. You can experiment to your hearts content with the insulation layers until you get what you need zeroed in for the conditions you will be riding in.

Wool is good. Next to your skin, merino or goat-hair cashmere are least-scratchy.

Polyester and acrylic don't hold as much water as wool. They will keep you warm. If you ride with other people, wash them often. They get stinkier than wool, fast.

For longer rides, I like polypropylene next to my skin under polyester to feel dryer. Water-clamminess bugs me. Wool really lets water accumulate. It's waay more hydrophilic. It's not just my false observation, because Heli-Hanson studied this and came out with a dual-fabric, hollow-core polypro underlayer, merino wool outerlayer jersey to specifically address this issue.

All in all, my best solution is to go with polypro next to your skin, something more hydrophilic away from your skin, and carry a back up kit, to change into, and feel instantly dry and warmer for 5 ish hour rides. Otherwise, for short rides, a little chill is exhilarating. For somewhat longer 2 hour rides, take a hot shower or bath to warm up when you are done. Or ride slow, and don't sweat as much.

I ride with a Ibex wool LS base layer and outer shell or Swobo SS wool jersey with or without wool arm warmers and maybe a light vest to stop the winds when it gets below 50.

The problem that happens to me is that I do sweat at my chest and top back. My commute is about an 1hr 35-40 minutes. Some days I'm a bit wet others less so.
I did try to use a thin wicking base layer to keep the sweat moving out but that didn't work.
Okay, so why do I use it? Simple, it feels nice and when wet it is a warm wet versus cold clammy wet. On long rides 3 hours plus or 50 miles plus I bring a change of base layer and socks, when its real cold another head cap. It works for
me and avoids the chill when we start riding after a break, plus takes lil room in a handlebar bag.

I recently bought this wool jersey. It's the warmest jersey I've got and is very soft and comfortable:

http://www.veltecsportsusa.com/default.aspx?tabid=412&itemno=1243

For the women in the forum... It's a SheBeest.

One more vote for wool! Sometimes I will wear two layers of wool: A thin layer of Merino works for a base layer and thicker wool works for mid layers.

I just got one of the long sleeve jerseys and it's wonderful.

its all about the vintage wool jerseys. god i love mine

Merino is best. According to temperature I wear hydrophilic poly base layer, (http://www.veloweb.ca/storypages/undies.html) then Merino/acrylic long sleeve layer, then a very good wool/poly jersey I've owned for over 20 years.

Blends tend to wear longer, but pure Merino is deluxe.

Try your goodwill type store first, real cheap.

I have tried this and what happens is that when I machine wash them they shrink and become felted.
Anyone have any suggestions......I have a new front load washer and the spin cycle is certainly faster than 90rpm :-0.........I don't feel like hand washing them..........I use mild soap and cold water.........and of course air dry them...
It is the machine washing that does them in........

Otherwise in many years of winter biking, backcountry skiing and winter camping wool is what works for me the best.......It doesn't stay as "dry" as other fabrics but when wet it still keeps me warmer than other fabrics-and eventually all fabrics wet out...........so for me, wool is the best fabric........YMMV

check out steepanddeep.com and tramdock.com and bonktown.com and chainlove.com (all from backcountry.com) for deals on merino wool, etc. I do not have any financial relationship with them other than as a frequent consumer :-)
just saw right now (it changes every 20 minutes or so) a steal for a 17.5 micron merino by Stoic for 30 bucks......... even with shipping charges this is an outrageous deal, IMHO.

Check out http://www.kucharikclothing.com/
oops someone beat me to it, doh.

I have tried this and what happens is that when I machine wash them they shrink and become felted.
Anyone have any suggestions......I have a new front load washer and the spin cycle is certainly faster than 90rpm :-0.........I don't feel like hand washing them..........I use mild soap and cold water.........and of course air dry them...
It is the machine washing that does them in........

Otherwise in many years of winter biking, backcountry skiing and winter camping wool is what works for me the best.......It doesn't stay as "dry" as other fabrics but when wet it still keeps me warmer than other fabrics-and eventually all fabrics wet out...........so for me, wool is the best fabric........YMMV

Is the wool from the goodwill store becomeing felted or the cycling wool merino sweaters?.
I always machine my Swobo and Ibex in Cold temp with woolite then machine dry them on Low temp for about 25 minutes. No problems with shrinkage that I could see and do it once a week or so.
The labels on Swobo & Ibex plus a few others DO ALLOW for low temp drying.
I do have 1 or 2 wool garments that say no dryer but you have to lay them out to dry or they will strech on a hangar.

Is the wool from the goodwill store becomeing felted or the cycling wool merino sweaters?.
I always machine my Swobo and Ibex in Cold temp with woolite then machine dry them on Low temp for about 25 minutes. No problems with shrinkage that I could see and do it once a week or so.
The labels on Swobo & Ibex plus a few others DO ALLOW for low temp drying.
I do have 1 or 2 wool garments that say no dryer but you have to lay them out to dry or they will strech on a hangar.

Good question: It is the goodwill wool garments that felt. I do not use the electric dryer...... The smartwool, ibex etc that gets machine washed does NOT felt.

I also have an old moth-eaten cashmere v-neck sweater that is a super cool weather riding garment. I look like a complete Fred, but I am comfy and warm in luxurious soft cashmere.

Joneswares, I'd suggest the zipped midweight T and if you'd like to keep the wind off your neck ask them to make the turtleneck portion about 2-3" longer.