If you have not been in a Mark's Work Wearhouse https://www2.marks.com/ recently, and especially if you have not gone in with the idea of purchasing cycling gear there, you might go and have another look.

I think the last time I was in a Mark's was probably 15 years ago, but then a cyclist from Saskatchewan (Viper, I think) mentioned in the Road Forum that he picked up a polypro base layer there in the 1980s which was still serving him well .... so I thought I would take a look.

Sure enough! They do have polypro base layers .... beautiful quality ones!! They've also got several different kinds of polypro socks (I bought two pair of polypro liner socks), and wool socks in various thicknesses, and wool battery socks, and whole array of gloves including full-fingered cycling gloves, and thick polar fleece vests .... all sorts of things which could be used when cycling in colder conditions.


I was quite surprised. For some reason I always thought of them as a place that sold jeans. Who knew they catered to cyclist too!

Their fleece, which I bought...ohh...18 years ago...is garbage. Never went back after that.

havn't been in there in a few years, but their stuff never seemed to be worse than anyone elses. decent stuff. maybe i'll have to swing by there again soon and check it out.

Excellent Machka I'm glad you rediscovered Marks Work Warehouse. They are an sleeper Outdoor supplier. I always go there for my black Deerskin driving gloves. They have the unlined type I'm looking for, that don't look to dressy or too silly.

Back before fleece were even a outdoor staple, my first fleece was a Mountain Gear Fleece. It was a pull over design with a 1/4 zip placket for around ~$40 (if I remember correctly). Soon after everyone had these fleeces. It was far from garbage and had served me well. It certainly owed me nothing and I can remember it being a godsend from the wool sweaters I use to wear for outdoor activities. I think the fleece you complaining about is the same fleece I had. I would probably be still using that fleece today as a beater unit if it still fit me

Even to this day although I'm a big The NorthFace, Patagonia....etc, Junkie. Functionally, I can't see their fleeces being really any worse that other nondescript brand as Goldfish stated.

I have the Mountain Gear fleece still and no other fleece has ever flattened/stiffened as that did.

I have one of those mountain gear 1/4 zips, my first and favourite fleece ever. Got it in sometime in the 80's and I still wear it to this day.

What do you expect for $40? Sure the mills have improved the material somewhat in the last 18 years, but it did what it was suppose to do for me, and as I said, owes me nothing

I just bought a wind/waterproof top layer at Mark's this evening. It's supposed to rain a few days next week, so I'm going to need it!