Winter Cycling - One windbreaker to rule them all?

So I'm looking for the ultimate windbreaker.

Currently, I use an older Polyester windbreaker by PI. It has some good points.

+ It's a cycling-specific fit (long in the back, arms positioned to reach the bars)
+ It is a little thicker in the front
+ It's vented in the back
+ It has a rear pocket
+ It folds up into the rear pocket and has straps to carry easily around the waist
+ It zips all the way down in the front
+ When it's zipped down in the front, it "puffs" as the air flows around my torso and out the back

I still see room for improvement however, mostly in the arms.

- My arms tend to clam up a bit
- It's not quite loose enough in the back to get in aero-bars with it on
- It never hurts to have pit-zips

If I were going to engineer a windbreaker, I would start with what I have and make some adjustments.

-> Add pit-zips
-> Put zippers on the forearm (top) or in the elbow (top)
-> Perhaps put a vent at the the triceps
-> Fit it for use in the aero-bars

Has anyone seen this ultimate windbreaker?

Would anyone like to argue that I am really looking for a vest?

If I were going to engineer a windbreaker, I would start with what I have and make some adjustments.

-> Add pit-zips
-> Put zippers on the forearm (top) or in the elbow (top)
-> Perhaps put a vent at the the triceps





Plenty out there with pit zips. A few with pit zips AND back vent (mine). But I've never seen a jacket of any kind with "tricep zips" or "elbow zips"...

Here's what I use- it's a bit more than a windbreaker, it's waterproof. But it's light, cut great for the bike, and vents really well:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19310

Warm arms are common with just about everything i have used including pit zips. One thing that works for this is to have a jacket with an adjustable velcro wrist.

Hot? push up the sleeves and cinch them up around the tri/biceps. At 15 mph, your arms will cool off fast. Then you can let them down, up as you need.

Hot? push up the sleeves and cinch them up around the tri/biceps. At 15 mph, your arms will cool off fast. Then you can let them down, up as you need.

Yea, the elastic at the wrist of mine is not loose enough for me to push them up, I've tried.

Honestly, I think I'm going to hack a zipper in there unless I can find one or get it custom made. (Or bring it to my syster at Christmas and have it done by an expert).

The elastic cuffs on my windbreaker are too tight to roll up, too, and it always got too hot. So I opened the pit zips all the way, and stuck my hands and arms out through the pit zips and then folded the sleeves back. It looked weird but it worked.

Yea, the elastic at the wrist of mine is not loose enough for me to push them up, I've tried.

Honestly, I think I'm going to hack a zipper in there unless I can find one or get it custom made. (Or bring it to my syster at Christmas and have it done by an expert).

How about one of those jackets with the zip-off sleeves? (you won't get pit zips then, however.)

Check out nautical clothing at www.landfallnavigation.com.
i purchased a windbreaker with velcro neck,waist and sleeves.
i put it to the test last week in 16 mile per hour winds...temperature was 43..no seepage anywhere.

I'm not sure whether what I have could be called a windbreaker, but here goes: It is bright yellow with Scotchlite reflectors. It is waterproof, is lined with Gortex stuff. The pitzips are waterproof and you can zip from both ends. The zipper at the front is waterproof, there are also velcro closure at the front. The fit is bike and it is extra long at the back with all the adjustable pulls. There is a zippered back vent. The pocket is inside. The jacket will not fit into it. All the seams are vulcanized and taped inside. Although it is made for bikers, I have observed many joggers use them too. It is made for Mountain Equipment Coop. They sell online.

I'm not sure whether what I have could be called a windbreaker, but here goes: It is bright yellow with Scotchlite reflectors. It is waterproof, is lined with Gortex stuff. The pitzips are waterproof and you can zip from both ends. The zipper at the front is waterproof, there are also velcro closure at the front. The fit is bike and it is extra long at the back with all the adjustable pulls. There is a zippered back vent. The pocket is inside. The jacket will not fit into it. All the seams are vulcanized and taped inside. Although it is made for bikers, I have observed many joggers use them too. It is made for Mountain Equipment Coop. They sell online.

Interesting. How much of the back zips away?

The zipper runs across the back horizontally. It also has a flap that runs across the length of the zipper preventing water from entering while it is open.

I've bought a number of other bike related items from MEC. They are not cheap, but they are well made and designed with cyclists in mind. They also have great waterproof booties you can put around your shoes to keep your feet dry. No web site really lets you explore like being ther but here it is.
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_main_cycling.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=668507