windproof jacket or thermal jersey

steelwheels
steelwheels Posts: 94
edited January 2010 in Road buying advice
what to buy for riding in the cold weather we are experiencing, should i go for something like a windstopper jacket ( thinking Gore Contest jacket ) or something like a thermal jersey ( thinking Gore Oxygen jersey )

i have merino wool base layers which are quite warm so would wearing a thermal jersey or a windproof jacket be enough, or is a mid layer required

hope to take advantage of your experience so i can make the best choice

thanks

Comments

  • windproof that you can unzip the sleeves off. I have gore one. That i use most of the year, with just a baselayer underneath.
    “If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.”

    @mattbeedham
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    i.e gore phantom

    be honest about the type of riding you do. You only need race cut if you race. The phantom may be a less tight fit, but it is a superb all rounder.

    I use it in winter, and wear it on cold spring mornings - sleeves off on the warmer trip home.

    If you have thick baselayers, go for more LS jerseys with windblock front, or a windproof gilet as a pack away top layer.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I go with the windproof jacket - its no fun being cold on a bike in winter.
  • Lagavulin
    Lagavulin Posts: 1,688
    edited January 2010
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Gore Softshell jacket - is both windproof and thermal - most thermal tops without a windproof layer wouldn't be warm enough IME
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • thanks for all the comments, sounds like a windproof jacket is the ticket
  • strodey
    strodey Posts: 481
    go for a soft shell
    Carbon is a mans best freind
  • DamonC
    DamonC Posts: 263
    Warm baselayer and Endura Stealth jacket...sorted
    Suffering from the light bike fat git syndrome.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    I use a long sleeve summer base layer (from next) and Endura Air Defence Softshell Jacket, half the price of the Stealth Jacket and is wind/waterproof. It is plenty warm even in these cold days, and I find it fairly braethable once I open the underarm zips although several reviews disagree. I got mine here http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/8113.html cheapest I could find
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    Gore oxygen SO is very similar to the Phantom but no zip off arms but a better, less 'square' cut. Try then on obviously.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • how does a windstopper active shell compare to a windstopper soft shell

    which would be best and which more versitile
  • Baybash
    Baybash Posts: 136
    I went for the Gore Phantom and its a stonking piece of kit
    exercise.png
  • Baybash
    Baybash Posts: 136
    I went for the Gore Phantom and its a stonking piece of kit
    exercise.png
  • John C.
    John C. Posts: 2,113
    I've got an Altura night vision wind stopper, it's the business http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDeta ... uctID=8120
    I'd say it's too warm for racing but at a steady 75% hrmax it's fine. I only ever where a summer T shirt top underneath even in temperatures below 0.
    http://www.ripon-loiterers.org.uk/

    Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
    Hills are just a matter of pace
  • thanks for all the suggestions

    i am training for the race season so need to get out in all sorts of weather, dont want to start off my first racing season behind in fitness :-)

    on the colders days now i am wearing a merino wool l/s base layer, then a short sleeve jersey, then a Gore goretex jacket

    the problem is i think the goretex is not breathable enough and so when working hard i build up a lot of heat

    but without the jacket even with a l/s jersey or more base layers i would be too cold i think

    so was really wondering about the windproof jackets, and specifically if something using the windstopper active shell, which i think is a packable jacket, would be ok to use and if got too warm could take it off and put it in a pocket

    or is it better to go for a windstopper soft shell which will be warmer, and then just wear a base layer

    would the active shell be more versitile in that you could wear it in warmer days with less underneath, or carry it even in summertime to use on the way home late in evening when it may be cooler

    just without being able ot see or test these jackets as nowhere near me stocks anything like this, then hoping for suggestions
  • othello
    othello Posts: 578
    maddog 2 wrote:
    Gore oxygen SO is very similar to the Phantom but no zip off arms but a better, less 'square' cut. Try then on obviously.

    +1 for the Gore Oxygen SO
    Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com
  • ajb72
    ajb72 Posts: 1,178
    strodey wrote:
    go for a soft shell

    +1. Came off heavily yesterday (burst pipe left 3 inch deep ice on a blind bend - and no warning sign! I am prety banged up, but my Rapha softshell is unmarked! Lovely jacket, have worn it through winter with a long sleeve base layer and never been cold or over-heated.

    The roads round here are filthy dirty too, and it cleans much easier than my winter jerseys or fleece.
  • cant afford a rapha unfortunately

    have narrowed it down to a gore contest jacket, as i know it will fit as it is the same cut as my goretex jacket

    either a gore contest so softshell jacket which seems like i will only nead a baselayer under it....

    or a gore contest as active shell jacket which is a lighter packable jacket, so may need a baselayer and a jersey under

    advantages / disadvntages ???

    the softshell jacket will be warmer in this weather so will probably require only a baselayer, but is purely a cold weather jacket

    the active shell jacket could be used also in warmer weather and also packed in a back pocket to use if it gets cooler on a ride, but will probably require a baselayer and jersey under

    ???/
  • its hard to get a decent jacket, you need a good fit not to flappy and light and packable, breathable is a massive plus too, when you add this all up it starts getting expensive!

    i have been riding round in one of these Pearl Izumi Zephrr for a while I'm quite impressed although not sure how it would cope with scrapping along the ground as I haven't fallen off fro a while. :wink: