Steepndeep

No one has mentioned UV protection. I'm looking for a baselayer now w/ this feature and not many seem to have it. I did find a Santini CAR 5.0 that does. Anyone have any more info on this?

WhyFi

I would think that most people would be looking for UV protection from their top layer, as opposed to the layer underneath that's meant to aid in breathability. I mean, I guess that it would be a nice-to-have benefit, and maybe I'm thinking about this wrong, but it seems to be a little at odds with functional layering, doesn't it?

Sy Reene

Actually, much of the reason I wear a base is to add UV protection to whatever the jersey offers, as there is very little in the way of UV rated jerseys out there. Crazy IMO, as you'd think this would be a marketing point that companies could pounce on with more frequent labelling of SPFs on their items.
Curiously, it seems easier to find the cold-black and UV protection mentions for bib shorts than jerseys.
Anyway, to the question, Garneau used to sell this.. looks like it's on its way out as you can't find anywhere:
https://garneau.com/us/en/sf-2-ls-te...MaAnh5EALw_wcB

surak

Does anyone have experience with Pactimo base layers? They're running a stages sale and the prices are in line with what I've paid for Pearl Izumi.

Also, opinions on sleeved vs. sleeveless base layers in the heat?

redlude97

So i've been using these almost daily for the past 2 weeks which have been hot for the PNW(75-90 deg) and they've been working well combined with a summer jersey and a pack on my back for commuting. The open mesh design I believe allows for better airflow than the craft/rapha style with a combo of thin mesh over a thicker grid. It does seem more fragile though and snags easier. For me the biggest difference was that it lifted my jersey off my back with my pack a fraction, which helped immensely which some evaporative cooling. They do run small as the site says so size up 1 size. They are stretchy so you can get a tight one on but its a bit restrictive.

Carbonfiberboy 

I'm totally an anti-baselayer guy. This past Sunday I did 115 miles, 7300', with maybe 6 hours in eastern Washington at temps of 90°-106°. I wore my Pactimo jersey, skin-tight, white sun sleeves, and a white poly hat under my helmet (I'm mostly bald). I drank 6 liters of water and was comfortable the whole way with my jersey, sleeves, and hat thoroughly wet with sweat the whole way. It does't get any better than that. Baselayers add insulation and just make you sweat more. If you ride with a full sip jersey and let it flap, then a baselayer might do some good. Otherwise IME, not. I've tried them, both SS and LS with bad results in really hot weather, say 100°+. The Pactimo jersey is a wonderful garment. No burn-through.

redlude97

That's mostly why I I started. Otherwise I get lots of sweat build up on my chest and lasts. I was a non believer for like the last 8 years until my GF started wearing them and she convinced me they helped.

Carbonfiberboy 

I hear you. It's a bit funny for me. I can only wear my skin-tight Pactimo in the hottest time of the year because that's the only time I'm thin enough not to be embarrassed. But that's why you wear a baselayer - it's skin-tight. I normally wear medium, but this sucker is size small. My Pactimo is basically like a sun-proof baselayer. It has a wide stretch layer on the sides, so it is really tight. Has grippers on the sleeves and bottom to keep it stretched. Wicks the sweat right off my bod, stays wet as long as I stay hydrated, so keeps me cool. I don't feel wet at all, but when I take the jersey off, it's quite wet. A great thing about it is that it has a full-length zipper, otherwise I'd never get it on and off, but I never unzip it far on the bike, no need, not a help. It's their 2016 Summit model, don't know if current models are of similar fabric or not. Only lthing I don't like about it is that the pocket tops are too high to be easily accessible, plus because it's so tight they'd be hard to get into anyway. OTOH, on a hot day I don't really need pockets. I carry a pickle juice flask in one and that works OK, plus a coin-purse of Endurolytes shoved up my shorts leg.

Adding another layer would just add insulation and make the sweat have to move further before it does anything, and then there's an insulation layer under the sweat-cooled jersey. Even if one unzips a looser jersey, there's still back, shoulders, upper arms which stay insulated. I wear a baselayer when max temp will be 60°-65° or lower.

Seattle Forrest

Try it yourself, there's a lot of variability between individuals.

I'm better off without long sleeves in the heat. Even white ones are too much.

fietsbob

OP is in GA, I'm right on the OR Pacific Coast,, we have a warm day ,
next day it drizzles, till the afternoon .. in july.. which follows 'Junuary'...

redlude97

Yea for sure everyone has their preferences. Interesting you go with sun sleeves though, I hate those and refuse to use those no matter how hot or sunny it gets. My GF uses them all the time. Those cause me to overheat way more than any summer base layer even in milder temps

Carbonfiberboy 

The skin on my arms got to looking like old man skin even though I'm good about sunscreen. That got me started with them and they seem to have slowed that process. Yes, sometimes they feel hotter. Seems to depend on the wind. In still air they're definitely hotter, but with wind on them they feel about the same. And they get wet with sweat, which seems to maybe help cooling over bare arms. White should absorb less light energy than brown. I'm a good sweater, but I ride with a guy who really sweats, thin super fit guy, too. I've been on his wheel and looked around for the rain cloud, then I realized.

surak

Hmm, I have two Pactimo jerseys, and even the aero-fit is loose on me, so maybe a base layer will help. Then again, I wore a club fit Voler jersey without base layer this past Saturday and went 96 miles without really feeling hot. I suppose base layers are more useful to me for commutes, because I can get to work in the morning with a soaked base layer and less soaked jersey, then wear just the jersey in the evening going home.

I've been wearing sunsleeves ever since temps went over 60F and don't find them hot unless I'm stopped for a long time under direct sunlight. If I have enough water, I just squirt some on for the evaporative cooling effect. From the sun exposure standpoint, they help a ton. The gap between my sleeves and gloves (which I futilely try to keep closed) is much darker, even though I put high SPF sunscreen there.

ddub

Recently bought a couple of the rapha pro-team base layer. Very dubious at first but I'm a believer now. Been using them faithfully just to make certain I'm not deluding myself as to whether they actually do work. IMO they keep you more comfortable in the heat and cool. My jerseys are the pro-team as well so they fit snug (no flapping).

canklecat

I just got a Pearl Izumi Pursuit warm weather base layer short sleeve t-shirt. Can't say I like it much. Big difference compared with the much better Pearl Izumi Transfer tees with minerale fabric.

The Pursuit is form fitting with very little stretch or give, which was incredibly painful to pull on over my still-partially dislocated shoulder -- like shooting stars, explosions in the body, cats fleeing in terror to hide under the bed because of my groaning. I'm dreading take it off again.

The fabric is laminated mesh over a slicker, finer weave inner layer. During an indoor trainer workout (inside temp 78F), it was saturated with sweat and didn't seem to evaporate quickly.

But it was only $16 on sale. A fair value for that price. I wouldn't buy another. It might come in handy as my conditioning improves enough for a nearly skin-tight top to provide some aero benefit in case I tackle some favorite Strava segments again. Most of my jerseys are casual fit.

In contrast the far superior Pearl Izumi Transfer base layer made from their minerale fabric is close-fitting but very stretchy and giving. It's easy to pull on and off, even with my busted up shoulder -- in fact I've worn this silly shirt almost daily for two months indoors, just hand washing it a couple of times a week. The minerale fabric resists odors better than anything else I've ever tried. It's even better than merino wool, and I loved my old merino wool jersey even in summer in Southern California.

I had hoped this short sleeve PI base layer would be the same fabric but it ain't, not even close. Even my sub-$10 Champion wicking fabric t-shirt is better.

And my 2014 or 2015 PI base layer isn't listed on the PI website any more, so it may not even be available new. I may check the local PI outlet store.

Bomb Komodo

Carbonfiberboy 

I bought a size smaller than my usual, having read comments to that effect.

TimothyH

Nope.

Everyone here is telling you that it doesn't, that they were against them for so many years until, etc.

Just get the open mesh kind and be converted. They feel wonderful under bib straps too.


That may be what PI calls a warm weather base but the open mesh kind are very effective while moving in truly hot weather.


-Tim-

Carbonfiberboy 

Well skepticism is the essence of the scientific method. My only experiment was with an Under Armour shirt on a long 2 mountain passes ride in ~90° and full sun. It dehydrated me faster than I could keep up with it at 1 liter/hour. I took it off, soaking wet, and finished the ride a bit damaged but fine. I guess I don't see the physics of it - how can two skin-tight layers be cooler than one? If the inner layer is mesh, isn't that also recommended as a cold weather garment in that the stagnant air spaces improve insulation at little cost in weight? Doesn't mesh reduce the contact surface with the outer layer, thus reducing the rate of moisture transfer from skin to outer layer to wind and thus actually slow the rate of evaporation?

Googling RAAM base layer, it looks like they only wear them when it's cold.

Pro males on the Kona bike leg are obviously wearing skin suits, sans base layer. Pro women also in skin suits but with as much upper body showing as possible. Interesting difference in cooling philosophy. The skin suits are all thicker on the back to prevent burn-through., thinner on the sides and chest.

canklecat

I suspect it's a matter of material and personal preference.

I've long worn undershirts with business dress clothing to minimize sweat printing through. That was essential with my last full time job, which involved a lot of outside work but we still needed to appear professional. I always wore sleeveless cotton undershirts -- most of my perspiration is from the chest, not my underarms, so I could get away with sleeveless.

I've worn a Pearl Izumi Transfer minerale fabric sleeveless shirt winter and summer, for cycling, under a dress shirt in humid spring weather for visits to the opera or museum, and most recently pretty much full time because it was the only shirt I could comfortably wear with an injured shoulder. It was pricey, $30 even discounted from Nashbar -- full retail is around $50-$60. Worth every penny.

My second favorite casual shirt is a Champion short sleeve Vapor t-shirt, a whopping $5 from Amazon. Perfect combination of fit, stretchy but resilient fabric that breathes and wicks well, and resists body odor. Worth all the pennies I've wasted on disappointing shirts. Frankly, unless I needed a tight, form fitting baselayer, I wouldn't spend more than the usual $5-$10 Champion charges for their poly wicking fabric t-shirts. They're really good values. Not sure about their compression tees, haven't tried one yet.

But the Pearl Izumi mesh fabric Pursuit baselayer was a huge disappointment. I'm not sure I'll wear it again at all. So in my case it's not a matter of just personal preference, but the material. Fortunately it cost only $16, discounted from $50, so I won't complain too much. But mesh fabric and high tech promises didn't cut it this time. First Pearl Izumi product that's disappointed me.

surak

UA base layers are crap for cycling. I actually like the PI mesh base layer. It's an acquired taste, since I also initially didn't like it compared to the regular PI Transfer base layer. The mesh one is cooler than the regular, though perhaps it works better with a looser-fitting jersey and/or with the jersey somewhat unzipped so that air can get in and evaporate the moisture.