George

I just got back and Wal-Mart has wicking T- shirts on sale from 8$ to $12.

megaman

Actually, when I got mine a couple of weeks ago $8 for regular sizes was their regular price. I like those shirts. Target also sells the same exact thing. Not sure of the price.

Artkansas 

I don't understand wicking. It seems to me that wicking defeats the purpose of sweating.

The heat removal that happens when you sweat occurs when the sweat evaporates, thus cooling the skin it was touching. It takes a certain amount of energy to convert the sweat from liquid to gas. That energy comes from the heat of your skin. When it's removed you are cooled.

Does anyone have an explanation of why wicking is better?

Louis

Uh...when the material wicks away the sweat, the skin thinks it HAS evaporated, and you feel cool. No?

boilermaker1

Art---Wicking shirts allow businessmen to turn simple clothing into "gear". Thus they prey on the penchant of people to be "into" things rather than simply doing things.

daredevil

Got a brand name? Is it in the underwear section?

WillisB

I just got some wicking shirts last week. Huge difference in comfort. My cotton tees would always be drenched and not give me good cooling. The wicking tees pull the sweat away from my body and provide more surface area for evaporation resulting in more rapid cooling, dryer shirts, and much greater comfort.

George

"Starter", is the name and I found them in the mens section. I bought the dark gray and white for $12.88. They had cheaper ones, but I like the color of the ones I bought.

maddmaxx 

The theory behind the "wicking" fabrics (good ones, not cheap knockoffs) is that the inner surface is much finer than the outer surface in pore structure. Look at the two sides and you will see this, the outer surface looks corse.

The inner surface absorbs sweat from the skin and the change in structure causes the sweat to move to the outer surface quickly. This allows the sweat to evaporate on the outer surface as quickly as possible while keeping the inner surface relatively dry and able to absorb more sweat. (as different from wet and heavy) The shirt cools and makes you feel cooler as well as dryer.

To test this, stop during a heavy ride for a minute or so. (take a drink break or something) As usual in warm weather, you will suddenly be soaked, perhaps your glasses will fog over. Now start riding again and it will feel like the air conditioner has been turned up. That's the shirt evaporating all that accumulated sweat into the wind stream.

Your right, sweating cools the body, but in periods of high humidity (as when surrounded by wet clothes) the sweat has nowhere to evaporate to. Thats the problem "wicking" fabrics solve.

sknhgy 

I have both the Walmart $7 short sleeved shirts and one Underarmor $30 long sleeved shirt. Like MadMaxx said, you can stop with these shirts on when you are all cranked up and you will still be comfortable. I wore the long sleeved shirt on an all-day ride when the temp topped out over 100 degrees and I was comfortable - and protected from the sun - which is the reason I bought the expensive shirt.
One thing I noticed about the cheap shirts is that they seem to hold bacteria even after being washed. I get an offensive body odor when I wear them and that is the only time that happens. Someone told me certain synthetic shirts will do this.

Terrierman

Cotton shirts hold on to moisture and stay damp. Less evaporation = less cooling. Wicking shirts are made from synthetics and do not hold on to the moisture and dry quickly and easily. More evaporation = more cooling. Try the wicking shirts and see for yourself, they really do work.

maddmaxx 

Some good wicking jerseys should not be run through a Dryer. It somehow damages the fabric.

The preceding message is an unconfirmed rumor that I have no facts to back up. I do however hang mine to dry. We now return you to the more factual portion of the Forum.

waffenschmidt

Along these lines, some of my wicking T-shirts say not to use fabric softener on them. Must interfere with the wicking action.

bpisciot

The Macy's in my area (Kansas City) carries and has on sale for $11.23 a brand of wicking shirt called Exceed RapiDry. I bought a bunch because they seemed like decent quality for the price. Much cheaper than the "sale" Nike's at Dick's (which typically run about $25).

FL_MarkD

I use the shirts from Target, several different styles sold under the C9 brand (champion). Prices seem to run from 9.99 to 14.99. I have a few that I wear regularly and they have lasted about a year without issues.

Mark

cyclezealot

Actual cycling jerseys can be found for less than 30 dollars on sale at REI. I'd miss the jersey pockets. Plus T shirts flap about and I just don't think the material is the same as those made specifically for cycling. You don't like the hi viz color that helps motorists to see you, cycling jerseys can come in basic colors / basic styles.

maddmaxx 

Most of us however are dedicated Fred's......

cyclezealot

Being a fred is ok. Just choose hi viz colors; even if it is a t shirt. Hi viz colors might ward off those neglectful drivers.

Digital Gee

Yup... Me too.

maddmaxx 

Hi Viz White?

wrafl

I hand wash my wicking shirts and wicking headband/bandana and let it dry under the sun. It doesn't seem to lose it's wicking properties if you take that approach, IMHO.

maddmaxx 

Would we be banned in many states because we believe in wicking?

Digital Gee

See, that's the beauty of having a white bike. I like the solid bright red and bright blue wicking tee shirts from Target. Although there's a slight speed penalty using colored shirts, Ruby Roubaix is so fast (being white) that I don't really notice it.

As for pockets, I don't need 'em. I prefer to stuff things into my bike bag, leaving it unzipped, of course, so that I can scatter my possessions hither and yon. Especially yon.

BSLeVan

I've been to "yon". You can find lots of interesting things there like button, odd socks, keys galore, nuts without bolts, the occasional pair of glasses, piles of pennies, fewer nickles and even fewer dimes and quarters, funny little rubber things that must be part of something, but no one knows what, etc.

HopedaleHills

Is "yon" the same place as "somewhere around here"?