Let's talk wool
 

I just recently picked up 2 Sugoi wool jerseys (tag says 100% Merino Wool). I've never owned wool before.

What are the best temps to wear wool jerseys?
Can they be worn in the rain?
How often do I need to wash? (tag says cold, gentle cycle, inside out, tumble dry low)
What other care tips do you have? I want these suckers to last a long time!

Wool is the best in the rain, it stay warm even when soaked.

Wash in room temp water using regular shampoo in the bathtub.
To dry, lay on a dry towel, roll it up tight for a couple of hours, then remove and lay flat on a table in a warm place.
Wool is well worth the extra care it requires.

Wool rules.

It stays warm when wet, is antibacterial, and does not require as much cleaning as synthetics... on the downside Merino tends to make for a better base layer or works well on it's own in more temperature climates.

I own a Sugoi wool jersey. It is on the thick side, but is comfy in a wide range of temps. With arm warmers (if short-sleeved) mine are comfy from high 30's to mid 60's. With a rain/wind jacket it's good down to low 30's or below. I don't baby mine at all, as far as care. I wash them like normal clothes and have experienced no shrinkage, but I don't wash anything on 'Hot'. If you care about it getting pilly, be sure to turn it inside-out.

How long can I go between washes? Wait until it stinks?

Love all my wool stuff - socks, underwear, hats, jerseys, and even polo/riding shirts. I wish I could find more gear that is wool and casual. I like the biking jerseys, but looking for casual shirts that can be ridden in and sit around a pub in (with "regular" people). The polo shirt I have is very thin and can be worn summer or spring/fall and is comfortable.

Wool is comfortable in almost all temps. I knit my own socks, and I only give up wool socks when the temps get into the upper 80s.

Agreed, it is tough to where lycra after spending time in any wool gear. Sad that Sugoi has dropped their wool jersey and now sells a lycra one with a sweater-like argyle pattern printed on it! (American Cyclery does this too)

I won't wear anything else in the rain, if I can help it.

You'll wait a long time if you're just riding in it. Typically, I'll only wash mine if it gets muddy.

Yup.

I have some wool jerseys that are 30 years old. I love merino wool. It's so named because it comes from the merino sheep, a Spanish breed.

Costco was selling long sleeve merino polo shirts for $20. I was an idiot and only bought one.

I bought 2 Sugio short-sleeved when REI was having a 75% off sale. Paid like $30 each...wishing I bought more.

Wash it when it stains or stinks. Cold water, gentle cycle, lay flat on a towel to dry.

Silk, wool and cashmere are my preferred cool/cold weather fabrics and see plenty of use jogging, winter sports, cycling and general hanging out.

I have two wool shirts that I've worn for years, especially in the fall. Absolutely my favorite outerwear when there is a chill in the air, or in gentle (cool) rain. Mine weren't meant for cycling, but I wear them constantly this time of year. Wish I had more.

We just made 2 pair of knickers from wool slacks.
I started out with one trial pair, but instantly fell in love with the material.
Now I'm on the hunt for a few shirts.

I treat my wool stuff the same way I do the synthetic. I don't dry either in the dryer. I can wear my thin wool jersey up to the mid 90Fs. I have a thicker one that gets a bit too hot around 90F.

Cashmere is also a great wool. My wife was throwing out a cashmere pullover that the moths had gotten to. I cut off the sleeves and wear it as a baselayer on cold days.

I sweat "a lot" and have several wool garments. When I wear the stuff I tend to not be too hot or be too cold, sort of a damp, cool feeling (more cool than warm). It works best for me as a baselayer w/ some sort of wind blocker. The only real downer for me (over poly) is it takes longer to dry.

I've noticed that as well. I wear a backpack so even on cooler mornings I sweat on my back. When I left work for my evening ride home, 9 hours later, it was still damp. Can wool be hung or will it stretch?

Wool should be laid flat to dry, generally. If a garment is knit out of superwash wool (fibers that have had the scales removed to prevent felting in the wash) they will sometimes require a trip through the dryer when damp to get their "bounce" back.

I put my wool socks on blockers to dry, because it makes them pretty and I'm kind of picky about my laundry.
http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uplo...104_medium.JPG

It'll probably never stink. I bought a beautiful Brroks Bros. cashmere sweater at a resale shop for $4. I wore it almost daily as an undershirt for a few years, and it smelled as good as the day I bought it. I only washed it once, by hand in cool water.

Minus33 wool clothes are well priced. Check 'em out. I wear their t-shirts as a base layer.

http://www.minus33.com/

Wool is great for biking. That's what I wear most of the time, in various weights for various temperatures.

You need to get clothing that does handle washing in water "washable". If it says "Dry Clean" there is a good chance that water washing will leave you with a lot of long lasting wrinkly stuff. I believe it's at least partly a function of how the wool is spun into yarn, or perhaps how the yarn is knitted or woven into cloth.

I do washable wool in the machine, mine actually has a 'wool' cycle so I use that, with Woolite. I usually hang dry after washing. Socks seem to get into the regular load and into the dryer a little more often and hasn't really been a problem with them.

kookaburra, Those are some pretty rad socks! Where can I find some like that?