Its cold, windy but dry - what jacket?

milese
milese Posts: 1,233
edited December 2009 in Road buying advice
Its a lovely day at the moment, bit cold and windy but the forecast is for some rain.

Due to a lack of other kit I've having to wear my boil in the bag waterproof out.

I'm guessing a warm but very breathable windproof jacket with a very small packable jacket?

Can you recommend what I should be wearing please, dont want to spend loads if I can help it, but want kit that works.

Comments

  • little upstart
    little upstart Posts: 43
    Assos 851 pricey but simply the best.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    Lusso windtex, or Lusso jura with a gilet - both jackets around £50. But I'm sure there will be some others along in a minute who will claim it's not possible to ride a bike in this weather unless you are wearing £200-worth of Assos or Rapha.....

    (edit - too late.. )
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    softlad wrote:
    Lusso windtex, or Lusso jura with a gilet - both jackets around £50. But I'm sure there will be some others along in a minute who will claim it's not possible to ride a bike in this weather unless you are wearing £200-worth of Assos or Rapha.....

    (edit - too late.. )

    Yeah, I 've had to forego this weekends rides, as they're both in the wash.

    Seriously though, if it's dry and not too cold, a good gilet and armwarmers is a good combo and doesn't cost the earth.
  • Chip \'oyler
    Chip \'oyler Posts: 2,323
    A windproof gilet is an excellent choice. It can be used nearly all year round (I've even used mine to warm up on very early morning TT starts in the Summer). They are a great staple for the wardrobe. If you're going to use it a lot it's probably worth spending a bit more though.
    Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/

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  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    Try a gilet + a pertex top eg Montane Faetherlite, combined are quite warm if over a standard jersey / warm baselayers and reasonably OK to keep rain off; or Assos 851 Airjacket which is superb.
  • milese
    milese Posts: 1,233
    Thanks for the replies. I'll have a look at all those suggested.

    As it turned out today I spent the first 29 miles (generally ) climbing in the sunshine, wishing I didn't have the Gridlock on. Then on the next 18 miles of (general) descent I turned the corner into a evil headwind and the type of rain that really stings, and was really glad I had it on!

    Any advice on the waterproof jackets that will pack down to the size of a tennis ball? The Montane Featherlite, any others?
  • Lagavulin
    Lagavulin Posts: 1,688
    Having made do for numerous winters with a boil in the bag fluoro Altura jacket I've just invested in my first decent windproof jacket. I didn't go nuts - £140 squid on a Castelli Leggerezza - but, having cycled little of late, I've been out 4 days out of 5 and to me that's money well spent. Possibly some of the best money I've spent. I've never been faced with the prospect of being too warm in December before and even toyed with the idea of zipping the arms off on yesterdays ride.

    I'm so pleased with the result I'm going to buy another. An Assos AirBlock or Castelli Mannaggia soon to be added to the crimbo list.
    2010 Cannondale CAAD 9
    2008 Wilier Izoard
  • milese
    milese Posts: 1,233
    Any thoughts on......

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/dhb_R ... 360040347/

    Or

    http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/lusso-wi ... 37117.html

    And

    http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Montane-Feather ... t_8892.htm

    What is it with lusso putting a stupid coloured square panel on the back?
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    JamesBwmb wrote:
    Try a gilet + a pertex top eg Montane Faetherlite, combined are quite warm if over a standard jersey / warm baselayers and reasonably OK to keep rain off; or Assos 851 Airjacket which is superb.

    +1 gilet and montane
  • milese
    milese Posts: 1,233
    Scrumple wrote:
    JamesBwmb wrote:
    Try a gilet + a pertex top eg Montane Faetherlite, combined are quite warm if over a standard jersey / warm baselayers and reasonably OK to keep rain off; or Assos 851 Airjacket which is superb.

    +1 gilet and montane

    What do you think about the jacket / gillet in the wiggle link above?
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Milese wrote:
    Thanks for the replies. I'll have a look at all those suggested.

    As it turned out today I spent the first 29 miles (generally ) climbing in the sunshine, wishing I didn't have the Gridlock on. Then on the next 18 miles of (general) descent I turned the corner into a evil headwind and the type of rain that really stings, and was really glad I had it on!

    Any advice on the waterproof jackets that will pack down to the size of a tennis ball? The Montane Featherlite, any others?

    the Montane Featherlite is NOT waterproof. Even the H2O isn't really waterproof (and its much less breathable than the normal Featherlite).

    I've been using Featherlite's for years now, but recently bought an Altura Nightvision windproof (not the waterproof one). For normal riding in cool weather (<10 degrees) I think its much better than the Montane, not least because it doesn't flap in the wind and doesn't make me look like the Michelin man.
    More problems but still living....
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    The Montane Featherlite Velo is a fine emergency jacket for those days when you have a long sleeve jersey and a base layer but no weatherproof stuff and suddenly you find yourself in the middle of a heavy rain, wind and the like. I have used mine plenty of times and it does actually flap a bit but for £30 is unbeatable I reckon.

    If you want a proper windproof with an excellent cut get a Gore Oxygen SO – it is the bees knees :wink:
    x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
    Commuting / Winter rides - Jamis Renegade Expert
    Pootling / Offroad - All-City Macho Man Disc
    Fast rides Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra
  • singlespeedexplosif
    singlespeedexplosif Posts: 1,564
    Ground Effect Baked Alaska, with a Montane in the pocket if you're worried about that kind of thing.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    Milese wrote:
    Any advice on the waterproof jackets that will pack down to the size of a tennis ball? The Montane Featherlite, any others?

    Plenty of those around. I bought one from Aldi for about a fiver, which stuffs into its own bag - slightly larger than a tennis ball, but not by much. Keeps the rain off, but then so does a plastic bag.

    If you accept that you will never stay dry in the rain, then look for a jacket that will keep you warm - that's far more important than being dry.
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    You can increase water repellency of the Montane Featherlite, or any other Pertex shell, by washing in Nikwak Tech wash followed by wash in TX10i direct; this will give a moderately shower proof shell taht is also highly breathable; as above comment a plastic bag is waterproof, breathability is a very important factor though!
  • stomith
    stomith Posts: 332
    Is it just me that finds the idea of riding with a Featherlite over my head...somewhat ...snigger....silly.

    I can see the practical side, but ...snigger....hehe.....IT's REALLY FUNNY!

    ROFL

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