Aznman

I hope that the major subscribers and/or donors to GCN can help out a bit here.

I've always wondered how much the wrinkles and looseness in clothing can affect air drag.
A while ago, I've bought a mountain biking specific clothing from REI. The sleeve opening is naturally quite wide (to allow for elbow pads), but the material is 'silky smooth'. I've been wearing the shirt even while riding my road bike because it allows me to use less sun block and its sweat wicking capability is incredible.

I want GCN to perform their quasi-experiment where they use the same road bicycle and individual. I want them to do a comparison between at least 4 major categories:
1. Extremely wrinkly and baggy BMX clothings
2. Casual clothings with the 'usual' amount of wrinkles
3. 'Silky smooth' but relatively loose mountain bike clothings
4. 'Silky smooth' and tight road bike jerseys
The results may be cursory, but I hope that there should at least be indicative differences.
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For those curious, I have attached a photo of my 'silky smooth', mountain biking shirt below. I have been using that shirt for around 3 years.

Tacoenthusiast

Make your bed you slob!


Also look into sun sleeves, same arm covering sun protection without having the annoying floppy loose sleeves

Ross520

A fair amount of tight-fitting, long sleeve, "summer" jerseys are available. And as one poster mentioned, there's also "sun sleeves", which are cool because you can take them off if you start to over-heat ( on climbs and such).

Flappy clothing, while obviously less-aero, also just gets annoying after a while. I didn't even realize how much room there was for improvement until I bought my first "real" road jersey and bib. Uncomfortable off the bike, yet perfect while riding. Then I bought top-tier stuff and it was even more of an improvement. I don't feel my clothes at all when on the bike (and yes I've checked, I'm not naked!).

Now I do understand that you are comfortable, mainly due to the silky-smooth fabric. However, I think (could very well be wrong) that you'd be better-off in road specific clothing. Heck, I even wear tight-fitting clothes on the single track trails. Just feels "right".

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dedhed

I know in late fall/winter/early spring the looser and more clothing makes a difference.

Aznman

I was in between changing sheets

Bmach

That would a good test in a wind tunnel.

Cyclist0108

The right arm looks a bit constricting.

Rashguards are also an alternative.

I find long-sleeve summer jerseys to be cooler than short-sleeve ones with separate sun sleeves.