Hot-weather - Bibs & base layers

rally200

really basic stuff this but too frigthened to post it in the "Road Beginners" at the mo in case I get trolled to death (its all getting a bit catty - Like the Evan Davies/Peter Mandelson interview on Today this week if you heard it)

Base layers - do they really cool you down when its hot? or is it just marketing?

Also bibs, & base & jersey 3 layers in places - too much for high summer?

prawny

I don't know about keeping you cool but they stop your nips from being rubbed raw! Sadly all my base layers are long sleeved and my nips are... well you get the picture :?

AndyManc

rally200 wrote:

really basic stuff this but too frigthened to post it in the "Road Beginners" at the mo in case I get trolled to death (its all getting a bit catty - Like the Evan Davies/Peter Mandelson interview on Today this week if you heard it)

Base layers - do they really cool you down when its hot? or is it just marketing?

Also bibs, & base & jersey 3 layers in places - too much for high summer?

Base layers are the devils spawn, I never knew they were supposed to cool you down anyway :roll:

I've been wearing a cotton t-shirt and bib shorts, they do me fine .


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prawny

Hmm I doubt the cotton is doing you any favours, coolmax jerseys only in the weather for me, and I'm still a sweaty mess by the time I get to work.

AndyManc

I only commute 6 miles (each way) , cotton is fine, base layers in this weather (esp. the tight performance ones) are a nightmare.


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always_tyred

rally200 wrote:

really basic stuff this but too frigthened to post it in the "Road Beginners" at the mo in case I get trolled to death (its all getting a bit catty - Like the Evan Davies/Peter Mandelson interview on Today this week if you heard it)

Base layers - do they really cool you down when its hot? or is it just marketing?

Also bibs, & base & jersey 3 layers in places - too much for high summer?

No, they don't cool you down. The theory is that they wick water from the skin and provide a bigger surface area from which the water can evaporate more rapidly than simply sweating.

However, sweating cools you down by conducting the heat required to evaporate the moisture from your skin. Removing this process to the surface of fabric means, imo, that the effectiveness of the cooling to the wearer will be reduced because a greater proportion of the required energy will be drawn from the surrounding air, and not the skin.

A lot of riders like base layers under bibs for comfort. These garments are about as substantial as loo paper.... single ply... just enough to make the shoulders and, ahem, nipples, comfy. Personally I don't bother.

Roadies have a habit of generating fanciful theories to think themselves faster. These theories need not bear any relation to newtonian physics, thermodynamics or common sense. Examples include the use of gasses other than air in tyres, the aerodynamic benefits of leg shaving and materials other than grease in bearings to aid rolling resistance.

As a scientist, I place my faith in pixie dust.

bomberharris72

I cycled in to work tonight, 11 miles, with Gore bibs, Helly Hansen Lifa s/s base layer and a Gore Contest jersey. The only time I felt like I was overheating was five mins after I'd got off the bike. Got in the shower but didn't feel like a sweaty mess.

I'd say that base layers do work, certainly comfier under the jersey. Maybe a sleeveless one would be even better in these extreme temperatues. Try a Helly Hansen one before an Assos as a third of the price.

cjcp

Bib shorts are fine, but I've ditched the baselayer unless I'm riding home late in the evening. You know, just to reduce the chance of getting a chill and what not. :P

clu

I tend to wear base layers regardless of the temperature. If it's cold it keeps me warm and if it's warm they help to wick the sweat away better. They need to be body hugging though to work properly, so getting the correct size is important. I have both short sleeve vests and long sleeve hally hansen lifa tops.

I wear something similar to these during the summer.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Craft_Pro_Cool_Mesh_Superlight_Sleeveless_Base_Layer/5360042382/
The vest goes on first then the bib shorts, followed by the s/s shirt. I find in the hot weather this layering system works particularly well. 2 hours+ in the saddle and I still feel very comfortable and not hot at all. 8)

always_tyred

La la la la no one's listening la la la

il_principe

I'm a total convert to baselayers, I like the way they wick so effectively as I hate having a really wet top. Prendas ones are ace and cheap.

always_tyred

Il Principe wrote:

I'm a total convert to baselayers, I like the way they wick so effectively as I hate having a really wet top. Prendas ones are ace and cheap.

You assume dry = good. If you wicked all the sweat off your body, using the perfect baselayer, you'd die of heatstroke.

Now, if you were wearing an extremely tight baselayer, which was completely soaked and in fluid communication with your skin, they might actually cool you more than not wearing one.

Gavin Gilbert

Always Tyred wrote:

La la la la no one's listening la la la

That's because whilst it looks like words, it's self-important pseudo-technical whilsting noises. Maybe the Soup Dragon understands you, but we don't

Gazzaputt

Castelli and Craft both do base layers which keep you cool. I have the mesh Castelli top which does work very well in hot weather.

always_tyred

Gazzaputt wrote:

Castelli and Craft both do base layers which keep you cool. I have the mesh Castelli top which does work very well in hot weather.

Oh, that proves it then. Ignore my thermodynamics nonsense.

Clever Pun

cjcp wrote:

Bib shorts are fine, but I've ditched the baselayer unless I'm riding home late in the evening. You know, just to reduce the chance of getting a chill and what not. :P

you really need to MTFU

always_tyred

Gavin Gilbert wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

La la la la no one's listening la la la

That's because whilst it looks like words, it's self-important pseudo-technical whilsting noises. Maybe the Soup Dragon understands you, but we don't

So, you didn't understand it then.

Go and stand in front of a fan.

Now go and pour a bottle of water over your head and stand in front of a fan.

Now get a t-shirt, put it over your head, pour a bottle of water over your head and stand in front of a fan.

There's not much point in doing any of this, but I'd feel better if you were standing in your office with a wet t-shirt over your head with people laughing at you.

gert_lush

I am a fan of baselayers just because in the winter I can actually wear them as a base layer, and in the summer I just wear a baselayer on top and thats it, (with some baggies dont go nuddie!)

il_principe

Always Tyred wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

I'm a total convert to baselayers, I like the way they wick so effectively as I hate having a really wet top. Prendas ones are ace and cheap.

You assume dry = good. If you wicked all the sweat off your body, using the perfect baselayer, you'd die of heatstroke.

Now, if you were wearing an extremely tight baselayer, which was completely soaked and in fluid communication with your skin, they might actually cool you more than not wearing one.

I assume comfortable = good. With a baselayer my jersey ends up fairly wet but my body stays drier. I've had no problems over heating at all and keep well hydrated.

always_tyred

Il Principe wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

I'm a total convert to baselayers, I like the way they wick so effectively as I hate having a really wet top. Prendas ones are ace and cheap.

You assume dry = good. If you wicked all the sweat off your body, using the perfect baselayer, you'd die of heatstroke.

Now, if you were wearing an extremely tight baselayer, which was completely soaked and in fluid communication with your skin, they might actually cool you more than not wearing one.

I assume comfortable = good. With a baselayer my jersey ends up fairly wet but my body stays drier. I've had no problems over heating at all and keep well hydrated.

That's fine, but not the same as "baselayers make you cooler in hot weather".

I wear one most of the year to keep warm and dry. How does THAT work? I'm so confused.com.

jonginge

Rivers of dripping sweat bad. Evaporating film of sweat from baselayer good

always_tyred

JonGinge wrote:

Rivers of dripping sweat bad. Evaporating film of sweat from baselayer good

Sewinman

I find a jersey and gilet works, even in hot weather. Keeping the wind off my chest seems to help somehow.

jonginge

FWIW:
Mon: 2XU compression baselayer > hotter than a hot thing
Tues: castelli mesh baselayer > cool
Wed: HH lifa baselayer > cool
Thurs: Tess megalight > coolish

Christophe3967

Science or not, the bottom line is that some people do find base layers more comfortable in all weathers for a variety reasons. Having not done so in the past, I always wear a base layer in summer - either Defeet or Craft - and both seem pretty good at keeping me relatively dry compared with just a jersey. In these temperatures a full length zip is also really helpful - I didn't have one on a 40 mile ride a few days ago, when it got up to 33C -and really missed it.

cjcp

Will clarify my last post.

I use the baselayer for the longer rides, even when it's warm.

Gazzaputt

Always Tyred wrote:

Gazzaputt wrote:

Castelli and Craft both do base layers which keep you cool. I have the mesh Castelli top which does work very well in hot weather.

Oh, that proves it then. Ignore my thermodynamics nonsense.

I did.

jedster

I tend to wear only one layer on top in the summer but that layer is often a merino base layer. I don't think merino performs any better than HH Lifa except by not getting smelly.

FWIW I find that rapha sportswool jerseys wick just as well as base layers so don't feel the need for another wicking layer under those (although I do wear one for warmth in the winter). Most other jersey fabrics do seem to get soggy and uncomfortable.

To answer the original question, I don't think that bas layers keep you cooler but I do think they can make you more comfortable (for the reason that Jon succintly describes above).

J

Finbar Saunders

I don't ride that much now but I find my DeFeet sleeveless mesh base layers keep me comfortable and possibly cooler in hot weather. And in the past when I have done a lot of riding in places much hotter than the UK I have definitely found a mesh base-layer more comfortable than just a jersey. In the end it comes down to personal preference and perception, no matter what the arguments and theories are. There's nothing wrong with a placebo effect!

il_principe

Always Tyred wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

I'm a total convert to baselayers, I like the way they wick so effectively as I hate having a really wet top. Prendas ones are ace and cheap.

You assume dry = good. If you wicked all the sweat off your body, using the perfect baselayer, you'd die of heatstroke.

Now, if you were wearing an extremely tight baselayer, which was completely soaked and in fluid communication with your skin, they might actually cool you more than not wearing one.

I assume comfortable = good. With a baselayer my jersey ends up fairly wet but my body stays drier. I've had no problems over heating at all and keep well hydrated.

That's fine, but not the same as "baselayers make you cooler in hot weather".

I wear one most of the year to keep warm and dry. How does THAT work? I'm so confused.com.

And where did I say: "Baselayers make you cooler in hot weather."

That's right, I didn't.

always_tyred

Gazzaputt wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Gazzaputt wrote:

Castelli and Craft both do base layers which keep you cool. I have the mesh Castelli top which does work very well in hot weather.

Oh, that proves it then. Ignore my thermodynamics nonsense.

I did.

I know.