Cycling Jerseys. Who Needs 'Em?
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I live in Phoenix. It gets VERY HOT here. Wicking jersey is essential to cooloing as it pulls the moisture away from the body where it evaporates. Otherwise, you get a hot sticky mess or even worse start to fry - CRACK!. Also, In these parts, no shirt = melonoma! Bad news either way.
BTW, I did see some ****** once riding with bib shorts and no shyrt - YIKES!
BTW, I did see some ****** once riding with bib shorts and no shyrt - YIKES!
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Cycling jerseys aren't exactly the most fashionable garment, but ever since I started wearing them to ride there is no way I feel comfortable wearing a cotton tee. Functionality is a key -- that seems to be a common requirement among cyclists. My fave is last year's "Assault on Mt Mitchell" jersey. It's quite the conversation starter and I feel like a stud wearing it!!
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Originally Posted by Ranger
I've also heard of a tan. I spend a lot of the summer without a shirt on. Once you get very tan it no you don't burn. I expose my skin in small stages so it gradually gets tan. I know, I know.....not healthy, blah, blah, blah......... IThe only time I have ever gotten burned on top of a dark tan is when I went to Mexico one summer. The sun was much more intense there.
And if you wish to look more like a spring chicken than an ancient reptile, any cut in sun exposure is beneficial for you future.
My youngest sister has always sunbathed and tanned alot. She looks years older than my middle sister and they are onlyu 4 years apart in age. It drives her nuts when people assume that she is the older sister of the 2 of them!
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You don't need a cycling jersey if you don't want one. As others have pointed out, cotton is a wretched material for summer cycling. It holds too much moisture. But, you don't need to get the latest cycling miracle material. For about $10 you can get similar synthetic jerseys at your local xmart. The won't have pockets in the back and they won't be cut extra long in the back, but they work fine.
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I realize I don't "need" them, especially on shorter rides, but I actually like wearing them as part of the "uniform" - a little like getting "my game face on", for those of you familiar with team sports or competitive sports.
Some may call it being a "poser" (although none of what I wear is pro team gear), because I'm not racing anybody, and I certainly wouldn't beat very many if I did. But I actually feel much more comfortable on my rides in my gear - like it does make me perform better because I do feel better. That alone makes it worth it to me, besides the practical stuff already mentioned.
Some may call it being a "poser" (although none of what I wear is pro team gear), because I'm not racing anybody, and I certainly wouldn't beat very many if I did. But I actually feel much more comfortable on my rides in my gear - like it does make me perform better because I do feel better. That alone makes it worth it to me, besides the practical stuff already mentioned.
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Most you guys dont like them because your getting the skin tight ones most likly. I use the loose fitting ones,no elastic in the arms or waist. The do help and are better then ant cotton top no matter what others say.
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If you don't like to wear true cycling jerseys, then don't. You've received very good
arguments from "both sides of the coin" here. Process the info. & make your own decisions. Like others have said there are plenty of shirts that have the ability to transfer perspiration from the skin, are quite comfy & cost less than "real" cycling
jerseys. From a personal standpoint, I carry more than my saddle pack will hold, so the functional aspect of cycling jerseys make them needed.
arguments from "both sides of the coin" here. Process the info. & make your own decisions. Like others have said there are plenty of shirts that have the ability to transfer perspiration from the skin, are quite comfy & cost less than "real" cycling
jerseys. From a personal standpoint, I carry more than my saddle pack will hold, so the functional aspect of cycling jerseys make them needed.
#33
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I have two coolmax t shirts..I miss the pockets and the pull down zipper on hot days.The material that the t shirt is made of is suspect..Maybe its me, but I do not think that particular material is the same...Wicks not as well.
Plus the bright colors...WIth motorists as distracted as they are, we need all the help we can get. And finally, I do not mind looking the roll of a cyclists ...Do T shirts give you that cyclists tan marks?
Pleased , my doctor just the other day, said, I can tell you are cycling more..
Plus the bright colors...WIth motorists as distracted as they are, we need all the help we can get. And finally, I do not mind looking the roll of a cyclists ...Do T shirts give you that cyclists tan marks?
Pleased , my doctor just the other day, said, I can tell you are cycling more..
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Where're going to put your arm warmers and your vest when it starts to warm up if you don't have a jersey with pockets in the back?
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Originally Posted by SteveE
Where're going to put your arm warmers and your vest when it starts to warm up if you don't have a jersey with pockets in the back?
Expandable seatpack.
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Originally Posted by Ranger
Expandable seatpack.
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Originally Posted by SteveE
Yeah, but I can't reach back there while I'm riding. It doesn't work for me on group rides 'cause if you're off the back you'll never get back on. Maybe it doesn't impact you but for me it's just one more reason to wear a cycling jersey, in addition to all the other reasons already mentioned.
Not to discount your reasons because I do use my jersey pockets to stuff my arm warmers in, but usually when it comes time to get the arm warmers on, I'm also needing the leg warmers. How does one handle that on the move? Or do you just hope the rest of the pack are just as cold so that everyone stops?
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How do you get arm warmers over the top of your gloves? To me it is a lot simpler to stop for 10 seconds, take them off and throw them in the pack. Don't have to worry about them falling out of the pockets either.
As a side note I am finding arm warmers increasingly useless. After spending a winter riding in all sorts of nasty conditions, arm warmers almost seem silly. I have worn mine once this year and then sort of wondered why. REally if arm warmers need to be taken off, basically you didn't need them. This is considering that conditions don't change a great deal. If they do then i suppose the warmers are ok.
As a side note I am finding arm warmers increasingly useless. After spending a winter riding in all sorts of nasty conditions, arm warmers almost seem silly. I have worn mine once this year and then sort of wondered why. REally if arm warmers need to be taken off, basically you didn't need them. This is considering that conditions don't change a great deal. If they do then i suppose the warmers are ok.
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Originally Posted by Ranger
That is one of the last rights the American Male has left. Won't be long and they'll have us all wearing brazieres. Then again if Janet Jackson makes anymore progress mayble all of the lassies will shed their tops?
I played enough sports and always wear cotton. When cotton gets wet...I simply feel wet. I dont get chilled. Guess I am lucky. I also don't liek to be visible...might piss the bears off enough to start chasing me
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Originally Posted by Ranger
As a side note I am finding arm warmers increasingly useless. After spending a winter riding in all sorts of nasty conditions, arm warmers almost seem silly. I have worn mine once this year and then sort of wondered why. REally if arm warmers need to be taken off, basically you didn't need them. This is considering that conditions don't change a great deal. If they do then i suppose the warmers are ok.
Maybe in other parts of the country with way less temperature variations intraday and much flatter topography, none of those extra layers are necessary - reducing the need for jerseys.
Also - arm warmers make those short-sleeve jerseys into long sleeves, but with more versatility. I have lots more short-sleeve than long-sleeve jerseys, as a result (also because it's never colder than high 40s or low 50s here in the Bay Area).
Last edited by Allen H; 03-27-04 at 06:44 PM.
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Ranger,
I pull the arm warmers off right over the gloves.
I live in Silicon Valley and ride out to the coast frequently. It can be cold starting out (arm warmers on), cold but working up a sweat climbing up the mountains (arm warmers off), cold on the descent over to the coast (arm warmers on), workin' up a sweat again back up over the mountains (arm warmers off), if it hasn't warmed up a lot on again for the descent, and off again once back in the valley.
SteveE
I pull the arm warmers off right over the gloves.
I live in Silicon Valley and ride out to the coast frequently. It can be cold starting out (arm warmers on), cold but working up a sweat climbing up the mountains (arm warmers off), cold on the descent over to the coast (arm warmers on), workin' up a sweat again back up over the mountains (arm warmers off), if it hasn't warmed up a lot on again for the descent, and off again once back in the valley.
SteveE
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Originally Posted by khuon
Not to discount your reasons because I do use my jersey pockets to stuff my arm warmers in, but usually when it comes time to get the arm warmers on, I'm also needing the leg warmers. How does one handle that on the move? Or do you just hope the rest of the pack are just as cold so that everyone stops?
I find over-the-knee knickers work best for me. They're pretty comfortable up to the low-to-mid 70's. Anywho, there's usually one stop about 30-40 miles into the ride where we stop long enough to shed the knee warmers. I normally only have to cover my knees even in the winter time around here, so I either wear knicker-length shorts or knee warmers.
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Originally Posted by Ranger
What is wrong with it soaking through? I mean when it is 100 degrees out I can think of nothing better than having a wet garment covering my torso, especially with a nice wind. I guess that is where I don't follow the logic. Obviously it is bad to get wet when it is cold, but getting wet when it is hot sounds like what you want.
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Originally Posted by Ranger
What is wrong with it soaking through? I mean when it is 100 degrees out I can think of nothing better than having a wet garment covering my torso, especially with a nice wind. I guess that is where I don't follow the logic. Obviously it is bad to get wet when it is cold, but getting wet when it is hot sounds like what you want.
Same thing with the heat, when the cotton gets wet, it is acting as a thermal barrier that's keeping heat build up from escaping like it should. Don't know about the humidity in CA, but I have too much experience with the humidity we get here in snowy OH in the summer. And I know if I am not evaporating sweat and getting it away from my skin, I will not last long at all on those hot & humid days.
I'm wondering if folks in drier climes feel the same with you about 100 degree days, and being cool in a wet shirt. Maybe it's a function of the humidity and wouldn't bother folks say in the desert as much as the more humid climes.
I couldn't agree more with you and the others who said a wicking layer is the most important, of all, and for me it's often my only layer for most of the summer. It just so happens that my cheap alternative for a wicking layer gets used year round, and therefore is a great value for a minimal investment to me.
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Just to echo everyone else, you don't want cotton thats for sure. But wool works excellent, I have a wool golf shirt I sometimes use, you can use a searsucker shirt and due to it's bubbly surface (not sure how to explain that) it only allows about 20% of the material to actually contact the skin and while riding the sweat evaporates quickly and won't soak the shirt.
But I prefer the loose MTB clothing (I road bike only) because I found that when it gets really hot the tight fitting clothes-no matter how advance the fabric is-it's too hot; when the fabric fills with air due to the loose fitness your actually much cooler because the air is allowed to move in and out. I also prefer wool because it doesn't stink, but wool is expensive. I also do not use black clothing because that color absorbs the heat making you even hotter...wonder why those stupid bike clothing people make that stuff in black only? Oh yeah, because it looks cool! I wear tan colored MTB shorts and light colored mtb shirts, then put sunblock on all exposed areas.
I use to live in the deserts of California where the summer daytime temps often exceeded 100 degrees and experimented with various clothing styles trying to find some degree of comfort; but hot is hot.
But I prefer the loose MTB clothing (I road bike only) because I found that when it gets really hot the tight fitting clothes-no matter how advance the fabric is-it's too hot; when the fabric fills with air due to the loose fitness your actually much cooler because the air is allowed to move in and out. I also prefer wool because it doesn't stink, but wool is expensive. I also do not use black clothing because that color absorbs the heat making you even hotter...wonder why those stupid bike clothing people make that stuff in black only? Oh yeah, because it looks cool! I wear tan colored MTB shorts and light colored mtb shirts, then put sunblock on all exposed areas.
I use to live in the deserts of California where the summer daytime temps often exceeded 100 degrees and experimented with various clothing styles trying to find some degree of comfort; but hot is hot.
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I wear jerseys... but I'm not about to drop $80+ on one of the pro jerseys... I don't want to be 'that guy' wearing the U.S. Postal jersey doing 5mph in my lowest gear up a hill
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Originally Posted by Jakey
I wear jerseys... but I'm not about to drop $80+ on one of the pro jerseys... I don't want to be 'that guy' wearing the U.S. Postal jersey doing 5mph in my lowest gear up a hill
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#49
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your jerseys can also prominently display all of your sponsors in brighter colors.
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Originally Posted by Ranger
What is wrong with it soaking through? I mean when it is 100 degrees out I can think of nothing better than having a wet garment covering my torso, especially with a nice wind. I guess that is where I don't follow the logic. Obviously it is bad to get wet when it is cold, but getting wet when it is hot sounds like what you want.