That makes sense to me too.

Interesting point. If you're sweating faster than your base layer can evaporate it then I'd imagine you'd be uncomfortable. I'd imagine the surface evaporation efficiency rises with price and given that I'm shopping at the bottom end of the barrel it seems likes it going to be a trial and error thing to figure out what works.

Depends on the fabric...but much more on the dewpoint. The more wicked the dewpoint gets, the less sweat (or any water) evaporates and the more it just drips.

Here in the USA midwest with 80F dewpoints and 100F degree temps and 90% humidity...any base layer no matter how expensive becomes a sopping wet towel, and stays that way for the duration of your ride.

I've just started wearing a base layer under my jerseys, I find its more comfortable no not have the bib short straps on bare skin.

evaporative cooling only works if the sweat can evaporate, i dont see how the sweat can evaporate faster by having an extra layer between the jersey and the body. wouldnt it make more sense to have the sweat hit the air as soon as possible?

I always wear this in a sunny day (white): https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/me...pid1257471-100
Yes, long sleeve!!! Just yesterday I participated in the NYC Gran Fondo, it was 29 degrees Celsius with 89% humidity and rode comfortably all day long. It not only helps me cool but its also rated 30 UPF. The science behind these technofabrics is amazing, they do work! I have tried adidas and nike versions, but UA is superior.

rapha merino wool base layer. there. i said it. gooood. gooood. let the hate flow through you.

An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman are driving through the desert when their car breaks down. So they have to get out.
The Englishman takes a bottle of wine with him, the Scotsman takes an umbrella and the Irishman takes a car door.
On the way they meet this old bastard. He says to the Englishman "I know why you've got the wine so you can have a drink when your thirsty", He says to the Scotsman "I know why you've got the umbrella to keep the sun off you", "but" he says to the Irishman "Why have you got the car door?" and the Irishman replies "If I get hot I can wind the window down!"


I find when it gets really warm taking my baselayer off helps.

I am pretty sure Houston's humidity and heat is worse than hours....when I went there it was anyway....worse I ever felt.

Just go faster, the wind will help evaporate the sweat quicker....works on my Harley anyway.

The further east you go on the upper Gulf Coast, the worse it gets. So New Orleans makes Houston look like Phoenix.

We left NC, spent night 1 in Memphis then 3 days in Houston then 3 days in the Bayou & NO. You are right , I was comparing it to here in NC...next time I go, I am bypassing NO and going to the Bayou....I was there last 2 weeks before Katrina...I am Acadien so I have a lot if history in that area going back to 1755.

$200 for a jersey? Holy crap....

That's quite an interesting and honorable heritage. The bayou folk are the most self-reliant and ingenious that I have ever met.

I have had several ship captains tell me, That Houston's Humidity is The Worst in The World.

There are different types of base layers, most of the ones mentioned in this thread have been the mesh type, which are a little thicker than jersey material but in a very lightweight honey comb type pattern. Sweat is absorbed by the part of the base layer that touches your skin, then is transferred to it's outer edge where it can be absorbed into the jersey to evaporate. The idea is to pull the sweat away from your body and give you a little air gap between the jersey body so the sweat soaked jersey isn't against your body.

I have never had one of these types of base layers sopping wet as described by some, with thinner base layers more like an undershirt, yes and it's sticky uncomfortable, but not the mesh type which I always wear in the summer even with humidity.

They look pro, do you need more of a reason?



I wear one when I race, but during normal training rides when it's above around 85 F I don't. No real reason one way or another, I don't think it makes a big difference for me.

That's nothing compared to the rapha merino wool base layer that ooga-booga has

+1... The mesh type are very open but have what are probably hollow core yarn that wicks more sweat, thereby increasing the wicking and transportation of sweat from your skin. It also increases the effective surface area available for evaporative cooling, so if you unzip your jersey a little the venting can also allow the baselayer to help cool you off in addition to wicking moisture to the jersey.

You can test this by wearing the thin sun shield style arm sleeves. Cycle in the heat with them on then spray them with water from your water bottle and you'll realize that your arms are actually cooler than if they were just bare skin. Note that the mesh baselayers are basically open like a net so they don't reduce airflow or help to insulate and trap heat.

Same here in south Florida, the only thing that keeps you cool is the shade, the pool or constantly squirting water bottles on your back (to a point). Nothing evaporates in 100% humidity

The only time I don't wear a baselayer is pedaling in Hawaii in summer.

Wait, I thought bibs were supposed to be sooo comfortable.

What's the deal?


In "Bike for Life", John Sinibaldi was interviewed. He was raced in the '30s, & was riding daily at 90 when the book was published in 2004.

"I have one secret: wear a shirt under your jersey, no matter how hot it is, wool, anything. It'll get damp right away, and you will never use any sweat anymore. It'll keep you cool all summer, and you won't dehydrate. Like these runners that take everything off, the girls who have just a bra on, they dehydrate. They look dry. But they dehydrate , because the sun just dries them right up. If they were covered, they wouldn't have to drink.
Back when we rode a 100-mile race, who's going to give us water when we're riding from one city to another?
As a matter of fact, the old-timers all used a shirt under a shirt. When you see these guys today with a plastic jacket, they are dehydrating so fast. In other words, you go to Africa or Egypt, or any of these Arab countries, ask these guys to take that white shirt off-that sort of dress they wear-and they got a woolen shirt underneath it in the desert."

He did say that he didn't sweat much, but he lived in Florida.

I started wearing a sleeveless compression top (not mesh) under my jersey. I haven't ridden in extreme heat, but definitely in temps in the 80s. I can't say that I was cooler than I otherwise would have been because I really don't know. But, I definitely didn't overheat and was quite comfortable.

The real question is why the $200 jersey.

One good test is worth ten billion internet opinions.

REI, LLBean, Backcountry.com, and many others have generous return policies based around a satisfaction guarantee, which makes that one good test easy.