Originally Posted by
AdamDZ
Regarding Merino Wool. I've been using Australian Merino Wool shirts, layers and sweaters daily for my commute and they're awesome. I can get away without washing it for 2-3 weeks and it never smells. But that's 45 minutes one way, easy riding.
On my first overnight trip last weekend I wore the Merino shirt. It was in the 70s, dry and breezy. After all day it was so soaked in sweat that large spots of salt started forming. They dried into disgusting, sticky stains. It still didn't smell but I was weird to the touch, I couldn't wear it. And despite the dry, breezy weather the shirt remained wet on me most of the time. It definitely takes longer to dry than synthetic. I don't even want to think how it'd look like in typical NY Summer weather: 90F/90%.
So for touring I'm back to synthetic shirts, the loose type, not jerseys (I don't like them too close to the skin on long rides). I can change them even during the day, wash them in any bathroom and they'll dry in no time. They also remain dry on you most of the time.
Wash your armpits whenever you can and you should be OK, that's the major source of the smell. Also, shaving your armpits (cutting short actually to avoid skin irritation that's caused by close shaving) will help with the smell too and make them easier wash or wipe with WetOnes.
Interesting observations. I am a proponent of merino wool and polypropylene as wool's cheaper substitute for mild to cool/cold riding. But, aghast as everyone might be about this, I think cotton remains a very good choice for hot weather. It's no good at all when the temps drop, say below 20 dec C and it gets wet, but this cooling attribute seems to be what makes it work in hot weather, at least for me.
It could be a bit of a chore changing to wool in the late afternoon and evening, but that scenario should be rare. Another negative is that it does take quite some to dry in cool ambient temps. By the same token, I know of artifical fabrcis that take equally as long to dry.
I don't have a particular preference for artificial fibres when touring in warm to hot weather. Some are downright clammy. However, I do like microfibre as an artificial fabric because of its wind resistance and ease of washing and drying -- hence I will take either full trousers or zip-off ones on tour to wear both on the bike and casually, and I think a few brands of cycling-specific wind-proof jackets are made of it.