rms13

I'm shopping around for a new jersey. I would prefer long sleeve to give me sun protection but it gets up into the 100's where I live over the summer (and even this week!). Obviously when it's really hot I'm not going on a long ride in the middle of the day but still want something with long sleeves that breathes and wicks really well....and hopefully costs under $50

FLvector

Another option is Sol Skin arm protectors

RIRview

Instead of a long sleeve jersey, I use my short sleeve jerseys with these:

Sun Sleeves - Pearl Izumi

EnsitMike

OP: I use the cannondale equivalent. They even have "cooling technology." A coating that once wet, cools. It is pretty extreme if you douse your arms with your bottle as well.

Long Tom

If I can find another electric yellow long-sleeve cotton shirt, I'll probably go that way again this summer. Big fan of cotton if its hot and I'm efforting.

Shimagnolo

Nashbar Ray UPF Jersey - Long Sleeve Cycling Jerseys

Carbonfiberboy 

I also use PI sun sleeves. The poor thing about sun sleeves is that they need wind to cool. The good thing is that you can just roll them down on slow climbs. Here in the PNW we put on sun block under our arm and leg warmers.

TrojanHorse

I think mine are craft but they're called "arm coolers" and if you spritz a little water on them, they get freezing cold. I'm not so convinced when they're not wet but hey.

beerbaron2002

Just get a plain whit or whatever colour under armor shirt.

For some reason when people wear racing jerseys on road and commuter rides it always reminds me of teenagers sticking a giant wing on a honda civic. Or a power ranger outfit.

rms13

Arm sleeves? Shows how much I know, I didn't even know that was an option.

beerbaron,

I need an actual jersey of some kind so I have a back pocket for my phone and keys. I used to think the racing kit look was ******y but I have found the light. I never where it when I am commuting to work but when I go on a longer and more spirited ride for fun and exercise I like to get kitted up now. As I said it gets very hot and I find a thin layer of moisture lycra to be the most comfortable thing in the weather and I also don't stop for coffee or lunch on my rides. I used to do gym shorts and an under armor type base layer but my keys and phone are so heavy the pockets come down and slap my leg while I'm riding. I have a seat bag but it's full with spare tube, tire iron and co2 and I don't want anymore luggage on my bike when I'm riding

roadandmountain

Great thread!

I had this very question, and ran into some of the same suggestions above. I'm not totally onboard with the sleeves rec: just another pair of small items to lose? Also, the sleeves cost as much or more than inexpensive long sleeved cycling jerseys.

The nashbar jerseys are in limited sizes.

Check out ebay for long sleeve cycling jerseys: quite a few sellers at or near wholesale prices.

One note of caution: light colored jerseys don't do a very good job of providing uv protection, although they're better than nothing.

It's advisable to avoid riding between 10:30 AM and 4 PM when UV levels are highest.

fstshrk

+1

These work but they do get hot on a 100+ degree day. I end up soaking them with water mid-ride sometimes.

therhodeo

It's either not very hot or not very humid where you're from. You couldn't pay me to go in the summer here in cotton.

Shimagnolo

I have two long sleeved *white* jerseys I bought from Nashbar several years back.
I've worn them for summer rides that started at dawn and ended after sunset.
I've *never* had a sunburn through them, and only got a slight tan.

Long Tom

It gets plenty hot here at times, but you are correct: I am and always have been a low-humidity guy. How I roll.

In lower-humidity situations I love cotton on a hot day. It's like having A/C. And, I've yet to meet a synthetic fabric that isn't at least a little scratchy-feeling in the heat.

I'm a big fan of the modern technical fabrics, don't get me wrong.

aubiecat

<<< I use these with satisfaction. In the last three weeks I have done two standard centuries and one metric century wearing these. They work very well at keeping the sun off your arms and keeping them cool at the same time.

milkbaby

I'm another vote for a short sleeve jersey with arm sleeves. The benefit of the arm sleeves is that they are skin tight and cool excellently when you squirt water on them (and you are moving or there is wind).

fietsbob

Patagonia silk weight LS tee for sun protection over your arms , and what ever fanboy jersey you already own , over it.

antimonysarah

I don't like sunsleeves -- the ones the right size for my lower arms cut into my upper arm, and a lot of women's jerseys have these stupid cap sleeves so I'd still get a gap. But lots of people love them.

Boure makes a well-liked long-sleeve jersey (that is IIRC made by Voler for them). See Sun Protection Cycling Clothing - Bouré Bicycle Clothing for both their sunsleeves (very clearly the same Voler ones I tried) and their jersey. The one I just bought myself isn't that one, it's from Terry, but it's also very definitely womens' specific both in cut and in having a bit of pink trim.

Gatorfreak

I also use sun sleeves. Instead of the $30 ones that others have mentioned, I went with ones that were $5 on ebay. I've had them for a year now and they've been great. I'll pay for quality shorts but these things are just a tube of material.

rpenmanparker 

Sorry, but as a Houstonian I say the less clothing and more sun screen the better in weather reaching the 90s and 100s. Maybe in Arizona you can wear sleeves and wet them to stay cool, but not where the humidity is above 50% when the temperature is that high. There is not enough evaporation to cool you. The more I take off the better I feel. Yes I commit the ultimate sin of wearing sleeveless jerseys! And sometimes, Heaven forbid, no socks! I even keep one pair of shoes that is a little smaller for those occasions. Guess what, it works. I just don't think that folks who advocate base layers and long sleeves in the summer are talking about the same summer as I am.

rpenmanparker 

I have commented on this before but WTH, why not again. Special, up-priced sun opaque clothing is not significantly better than regular clothing that has the same skin coverage. It is a rip off. I wear a regular short- or no-sleeve jersey all summer and regular fabric shorts. Even with 50 SPF sun screen liberally applied to my arms and legs, they color deeply from riding in the Houston sun. The fabric protected torso and upper legs take absolutely no color with no sunscreen applied to those areas. So the question is, how much better could the specially treated sun-opaque fabrics be than regular? No color is no color.

beerbaron2002

You could get a small bar bag as well, instead. I personally never cared for those pockets. But i dont like anything in any pocket. Could always just get a messenger bag. Mission workshop makes the best ones.

GuitarBob

Heh, that's hilarious. Sure, you might have a moment or two of thinking it's hot, but if you're getting away with wearing cotton, then it ain't getting real hot. Here (Tucson) it gets hot. Damned hot. And until monsoons hit in July, our humidity is super low -- think 6-8% -- and still I sweat if I'm drinking enough.

I prefer cotton, but not on the bike, at least around here.

By the way, I lived in Corvallis for five years and in Eugene for two. Great part of the world, but mostly not hot

rms13

I have gotten away from cotton all together in my wardrobe (at least clothes that make direct contact with my skin). All performance moisture wicking, antimicrobial tech materials for underwear, socks, t shirts and base layers and cycling year round. With the right material I am cooler in 100 degree weather with a long sleeve base layer then I am with short sleeves. There are good materials that wick the moisture but still use it like air conditioning for your skin. I love science!