Can anyone recommend a good short sleeve base layer for cool mornings (In TX, we get chilled when it drops into the 40's)?

I have a lightweight underarmour short sleeve base layer I use, but I find it a little too cold when it's in the 40's.

I like short sleeves so I can wear with arm warmers and remove them when it gets hot as the day warms up.

I also have a heavy weight synthetic base layer that I wear on colder days, but I can't find that weight in short sleeves.

I was thinking about trying a Rapha or Cappo Merino wool base layer, but I'm a little hesitant to spend the money without seeing how they feel first (I don't think any of the local LBS shops stock them).

This one

https://www.worldcycling.com/Craft-Ze...nfo/CRANBLXSS/

I love the Descente pro-v base layers. You can pick them up at jensenusa for a song. There are some on eBay too. They are super comfy with just the right compression and weight for cool weather. With a jersey and a pair of armwarmers, you are good for high 40s.

https://shop.ibex.com/Apparel/Mens-Short-Sleeve/17-5-T

This is expensive but worth it. Comfortable at all temps., nice enough to dress up with, faultless at wicking away moisture, keeps you warm when wet, and never smells when sweaty.

Rapha. I wear them on basically every ride. Take DAYS to smell at all, and I have never been this comfortable in the past (should have listened... layering is the key).

Well, my recommendation is a lightweight merino wool shirt also. I have stuff from Ibex, Minu33, Icebreaker, and even REI. All seems to be well made and works great. What really surprises me is the wide temperature range you can wear the wool and be comfortable. With my modern "technical" gear I was using 5 degrees of temperature seemed to make a difference between being comfortable or not. With the wool I am using now I can wear the same 3 layers for rides with temps in the 20s to the 50s with comfort. Keeps me warm, keeps me cool, and moves the sweat so, so, so much better! Oh, and no more smelly gear that takes special steps in laundering to keep odor free. I can wear the same wool for days on end with no smell, awesome!

All my synthetic polyester crap is in the bottom of a drawer, washed but still smelly and unused. I performed a somewhat gross experiment. I wore my Minus 33 long sleeve black base-layer for an entire week- cycling 12 hours, at work the entire week under a lab coat and even to bed on a few cold nights. At the end of the week not even a hint of odor. Merino is amazing. Ditto the temp variation greatness, cool in warm , warm in cold, in wet with rain or wet with sweat it does it's job and no, I have no vested interests in wool.

Merino, yes!

Craft

If you're in Austin, Mellow Johnny's carries Rapha

rapha merino wool ss base layer, Or the craft one king-tony posted. both are great.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I think I'll try the rapha. I looked at Mellow Johnny's website and they didn't list Rapha, but I'll give them a call tomorrow to check.

Any feedback on sizing? I normally wear a large in just about anything, but I find Assos jerseys a bit tight in large (and too big in XL). Does Rapha fit normal or run on the small side?

Also, I went with the low tech solution and used newspaper this morning (a guy I ride with does this and I've seen the pros do it also). It actually worked pretty well and I was able to ditch it after a while. I think I'm still going to give the Merino a try though.

+1 Rapha

Their sizing is spot on for me. If you're just barely a size large, you might try medium, because you want it to fit snug. It is very stretchy and does not shrink. You will have no problem returning it if the size is off. In my experience, Rapha has always provided great customer service.

I use their base layers through out the spring and summer season, but for winter I usually opt for my Icebreaker merino wool base (200 weight). It's almost twice the weight of the Rapha gear. It works great from 40 to 60 degrees. Sometimes I'll add the Rapha as a 2nd base layer for additional warmth. The base with a normal SS jersey, wind vest and arm warmers are good for me down to 40. I'm cold natured so I tend to pay extra attention to my options. All the posts on odor free are not exaggerations.

Nothing wrong with the low tech solution. Whenever I feel a wind vest is not warranted, I'll place a sheet of bond paper beneath my jersey as a just in case measure. Easy to discard if not needed.

I have a bunch of Craft summer base-layers. I think they were 20 bucks each from PBK.

I got one from Hincapie that gets very toasty under a windbreaker. I also have a craft SS with the wind shell on the front that does ok. I just got one from Voler on a team order. I like it a lot for colder weather it has a nice feel to it. It is real thick. No problems on smell for any of them.

To me, all the light weight base layers seem about the same.

Another vote for merino wool: My favorite short-sleeved baselayer is the Ibex Woolies which I think would be perfect for cycling in the 40s.