daven1986

Why don't the pros use it?

Just throwing this out there. I love my wool jerseys, but was wondering what is there about them that makes them no good for pros. Is it just because it is harder to get advertising on them?

Daven

Machka 

Pros used to use wool.

Wool does require some extra care and it can be quite uncomfortable for some people.

hhnngg1

Because it's not that awesome. It's not bad, don't get me wrong, but it can chafe, itch, and unravel more easily in the laundry. Plus it is at risk of heat shrinkage in the wash. And lastly, not as aero.

ravenmore

I love my Icebreaker wool bibs. I use them mainly for commuting though as they don't stink after the ride in to work. It's definitely not the most hi-tech fabric out there though.

JustinNY

pros use what their sponsors tell them to use. If wool was vastly greater than lycra, it would be widely accepted as the material of choice for all apparel. But in reality, only some people find it marginally better.

kv501

Throw wool bibs in the washer, then the dryer, then then you'll have your answer.

qcpmsame 

Having worn wool jerseys and shorts in the 70's and the new fabric kit now, the wicking properties of the new fabrics is far superior to the wool's actions. Even a "tropical worsted" weave is heavy and can scratch. Nothing wrong with wool kit, it is pretty expensive in a lot of cases, but the new fabrics just perform better for me.

ravenmore

I never throw my lycra in the dryer either, and if you look at the care instructions for most cycling kits it recommends hang dry. I hang dry all my cycling clothing except for my socks. My wool bibs are no less durable in the wash than my lycra.

ravenmore

Actually wool does a better job wicking moisture away. I test this every morning on my commute. It's very muggy and warm here right now in the mornings. My wool bibs still feel dry when I get to work but my lycra jersey is soaked.

edit: actually on thinking about it, it doesn't mean that it is better at wicking moisture as much as how much moisture it can absorb before you feel it. Its so humid here in the mornings wicking moisture doesn't do any good as it doesn't evaporate.

Commodus

I'm confused by people saying wool can itch. A nice, modern merino jersey is much softer than nice cotton. Even my girlfriend, with skin so sensitive we have to buy special soaps and detergents, has no problem with the wool jerseys I've bought her.

WhyFi

They're buying ****ty wool.

pallen

I love wool, but when it starts hitting the upper 90s here, its just not as cool as the synthetic stuff. Even the thin wool is generally thicker than the poly stuff.

Also what pros use may have more to do with ability to print fancy graphics and how they look for the sponsors.

canam73

I'm lazy and machine wash my wool and then run it through the dryer on low all the time. I'm sure it won't last as long as if I hand washed and line dried it but it's holding up as well as my synthetic stuff. Granted, this is all modern pre-shrunk cycling specific stuff.

And no, I don't where wool all the time. But my favorite hot weather jerseys are a pair of Swobo 753 wool blends that I got on close out last year.

unterhausen

you simply couldn't have as much advertising on wool. Pretty simple. I'm glad I don't have to use wool shorts any more, but as far as jerseys go, I don't use my synthetic jerseys much at all.

bikerjp

This.

My wool base layer gets soaked when I ride but I don't feel it at all. It's comfortable and cool(ing). That said, I don't think I'd buy wool bibs. Better compression with lycra. Some bibs are mixed and I have considered them but I'm happy with my PI stuff and see no reason to change.

rdtompki

We don't have extreme riding conditions, but when it's cold (40F here) nothing beats wool arm and leg warmers. I'd wear a nice wool base layer in a heartbeat, but already have two Craft base layers and these are fine for our conditions.

If your washer & dryer are beating up your wool stuff buy some modern appliances. I wash all my cycling gear on "hand wash" and dry on "delicate"; I couldn't do any better hand washing.

rooftest

It's not as awesome as modern equivalents, that's why.

c0urt

some people are allergic to it

BikeWise1

Wool is, in many ways, a superior material for bike jerseys, and it isn't a petroleum product. However, in the jersey-as-rolling-billboard world we live in, easy-to-print plastic jerseys rule the day.

patentcad

Pros used to drive these:



Technology marches on.

Barrettscv 

Wool works well over a wide temperature range. If I have an all-day ride that will be cool at the start and warm in the afternoon, I'll use a medium weight wool jersey for best results.

downtube42

Pros aren't nostalgic, at least not when racing.

WHOOOSSHHH...

Wool just sound terrible..

ravenmore

If it isn't so awesome why did you ask the question in the first place?

nelson4568

id like to give it a try