To base layer or not to base layer...

BigSpecs

I have the Trossachs Ton coming up on Sunday. The weather here has been incredibly 'unscottish' over the last week. I am used to the conundrums of 'how many waterproof jackets' or 'tights or leg warmers' type but I am not really prepared for it being (dare I say it) too hot...???
If it is scorchio, what is the general feeling, does one wear a base layer next to the skin to aid with 'wicking' or do you just go for the jersey as less is more? I see the pros are pretty much divided 50/50 on this one.
All input gratefully received...
Col.

trtimothy

I personally find less is more....I find I'm hotter even when wearing the Craft pro cool vest which is designed for really hot weather. I instead use it to keep the chill off when its about 15 degrees. I'd just go for a full zip jersey.

dennisn

I don't think they do much of anything in hot weather. The pros get paid to wear all that stuff and since they are probably neither help or hindrance the riders figure why not. Now in cool or cold, well, the more layers the better. I've never said to myself "d*mn, wish I'd worn that base layer because it's so hot out".

majormantra

The problem with the weather at the moment is the shear volume of sweat you'll end up covered in, so I suppose a base layer might help. I wouldn't chance it if you've not worn one in hot weather before though.

One of these days I'll get a sleeveless one to try in summer. There must be a good reason the pros use them.

sunburntknees

MajorMantra wrote:

There must be a good reason the pros use them.

They get paid to.

majormantra

sunburntknees wrote:

MajorMantra wrote:

There must be a good reason the pros use them.

They get paid to.

I know that applies to most of the kit they use but I can't imagine they'd wear base layers if it made them too hot - it's not like they're even visible most of the time.

Pros use pretty much what they're given by their sponsors but when it comes to really critical stuff like saddles they often choose their own and I imagine that layering might be similar.

rokkala

Being Scottish myself, if the weather stays as it is then definitely go without a baselayer. You'll regret it otherwise. Just go with a full zip jersey as has been said, good to help regulate temperature when your climbing etc.

sunburntknees

Making people think they are going to be cooler by wearing an extra layer of clothing must be one of the greatest marketing coups of all time?!

meanredspider

Up here I just wear an S/S jersey provided it's above 8C

mkirby

i always wear a base layer as it stops the jersey shredding my nipples. They are very sensitive.

elscorcho

MajorMantra wrote:

The problem with the weather at the moment is the shear volume of sweat you'll end up covered in, so I suppose a base layer might help. I wouldn't chance it if you've not worn one in hot weather before though.

Here's the real deal about wearing cycling clothing particularly while working at high- intensities for extended periods and in this case in hot weather. Your skin without any clothing is 100% breathable Any piece of cycling clothing no matter how advanced and well made reduces the breathability of your skin.

In hot weather only wear as much as you absolutely need to stay warm enough to be comfortable and to not get arrested! :P If you are just short of feeling too hot wearing only a short-sleeved jersey on your upper body then wear only that.

Adding a base lase layer will make you too warm in this instance as it reduces the breathability of your skin as no item of clothing is 100% breathable in all circumstances particularly when working at a high-intensity for extended periods.

If you were feeling too hot and covered in sweat adding even the lightest and most effective base layer under a jersey without resting until cooler would only make you hotter and make you sweat more!

anto164

I wear a base layer which means that i don't get hot fabric (Heated from the sun) straight onto the skin, there's a cool layer in between which stops this.

I have a few of the Prendas Sleeveless base layers, highly recommended.

http://prendas.co.uk/details.asp?ID=407

majormantra

elscorcho wrote:

MajorMantra wrote:

The problem with the weather at the moment is the shear volume of sweat you'll end up covered in, so I suppose a base layer might help. I wouldn't chance it if you've not worn one in hot weather before though.

Here's the real deal about wearing cycling clothing particularly while working at high- intensities for extended periods and in this case in hot weather. Your skin without any clothing is 100% breathable Any piece of cycling clothing no matter how advanced and well made reduces the breathability of your skin.

In hot weather only wear as much as you absolutely need to stay warm enough to be comfortable and to not get arrested! :P If you are just short of feeling too hot wearing only a short-sleeved jersey on your upper body then wear only that.

Adding a base lase layer will make you too warm in this instance as it reduces the breathability of your skin as no item of clothing is 100% breathable in all circumstances particularly when working at a high-intensity for extended periods.

If you were feeling too hot and covered in sweat adding even the lightest and most effective base layer under a jersey without resting until cooler would only make you hotter and make you sweat more!

It's not about breathability - the theory is that a good base layer can increase the rate of removal of sweat from the skin, thereby improving cooling. Whether or not this works is another matter, I've not tried it. The fact is however that some very powerful riders like Mark Cavendish can frequently be seen racing during the summer with a base layer.

nferrar

Firstly I very much doubt the many pros that wear base layers even in high temperatures do so because they're paid to if all the base layer was doing was increasing their core temperature. Personally I often use a thin mesh base layer in hot temperatures as I find it more comfortable due to the wicking effect, it doesn't provide any noticeable additional insulation. I also tend to avoid skin tight jerseys and can end up with joggers nipples with a sweat soaked open-zipped jersey flapping against my chest and a base layer stops that to.

meanredspider

But a base layer can only insulate you from the cooling effects of the air flowing over you. Besides which, it wicks the sweat to where? Directly to the layer that you would have had against your skin. By this time the sweat is cooler and less likely to evaporate at the surface. The base layer will then become more damp and the sweat at the skin less likely to move. As for insulating you from the direct heat - the colour of your top will have the biggest influence. If the theory worked, you'd see workers in the sun wearing wool jumpers. The truth is, your body (in this country at least) is always warmer than the surrounding air. Insulation works in both directions.

The only reason I can see for pro riders wearing base layers (over and above the monetary ones) is that it can get cold up mountains (the snow has only just gone from the ones I can see from my house and they're only small). A colleague riding in the Pyrennees (sp?) last week was saying he got cold in just a jersey. Pro riders won't exactly have a lot of fat on them and windchill at the speeds they do will be significant. My guess is they wear them to keep warm.

pottssteve

HI,

It's currently 32 degrees celcius and 80% humidity over here. I rode to work this morning when it was a chilly 28 degrees and wouldn't dream of wearing a base layer, despite all the "wicking properties". I was sweating like a pig. I wear a short sleeved jersey, zipped open on the flat and climbs and zipped up when going downhill. I don't know how hot it's forecast to get in Scotland but I'd take a look at the route and see if there's a lot of riding at high altitude. It's obviously cooler up there and you might be better to pack a light wind stopper for chilly descents; much easier to take on and off.

Lordy, cycling's complicated! Enjoy the ride.

Lillywhite

I always wear a cotton tee shirt even in hot weather.

Professional and even amateur racing cyclists will wear a second layer beneath their road top to prevent/minimise friction burns in the event of a crash.

BigSpecs

Interesting stuff...
Seems like opinions are as divided as mine! The comments on 'joggers nipple' are relevant, as I have had this bother before. I have a thin Prendas base layer and will probably use this unless it is absolutely boiling. Hopefully it will just get a bit cooler, then I won't need to worry. I am crap in the heat...
Cheers,
Col.

pottssteve

BigSpecs wrote:

Interesting stuff...
Seems like opinions are as divided as mine! The comments on 'joggers nipple' are relevant, as I have had this bother before. I have a thin Prendas base layer and will probably use this unless it is absolutely boiling. Hopefully it will just get a bit cooler, then I won't need to worry. I am crap in the heat...
Cheers,
Col.

I've had jogger's nipple as well, but only with cheap Aldi jerseys. All my others are fine.
Pray for snow.

daviesee

Everyone is different but here is my guidelines.

Under 15 - baselayer
Over 20 - no baselayer

Between 15 & 20 it gets a bit complicated.
Is it going to be constantly over 15 for the duration of the trip - no baselayer
If it is going to dip below 15 at some point i have to consider sun heating me up or hard climbs - no baselayer.
If it is relatively flat or a chilly descent - baselayer.
Tricky to get spot on but as I am only considering a few degrees the eventuality of making the wrong choice is not too dire.

cougie

I wear a baselayer unless its continental temperatures. It feels comfier to me - I dont like the clammy feel of a cycling top on my skin.

Exactly how hot is it going to be in Scotland ? I'd rather be a bit warm rather than too cool. You'll have a nice cooling breeze as long as you are moving, and if there are any long descents it could get quite cool. Its no fun being too cool.

(plus forecasts are crap too so take kit for both extremes !)

elscorcho

MajorMantra wrote:

elscorcho wrote:

MajorMantra wrote:

The problem with the weather at the moment is the shear volume of sweat you'll end up covered in, so I suppose a base layer might help. I wouldn't chance it if you've not worn one in hot weather before though.

Here's the real deal about wearing cycling clothing particularly while working at high- intensities for extended periods and in this case in hot weather. Your skin without any clothing is 100% breathable Any piece of cycling clothing no matter how advanced and well made reduces the breathability of your skin.

In hot weather only wear as much as you absolutely need to stay warm enough to be comfortable and to not get arrested! :P If you are just short of feeling too hot wearing only a short-sleeved jersey on your upper body then wear only that.

Adding a base lase layer will make you too warm in this instance as it reduces the breathability of your skin as no item of clothing is 100% breathable in all circumstances particularly when working at a high-intensity for extended periods.

If you were feeling too hot and covered in sweat adding even the lightest and most effective base layer under a jersey without resting until cooler would only make you hotter and make you sweat more!

It's not about breathability - the theory is that a good base layer can increase the rate of removal of sweat from the skin, thereby improving cooling. Whether or not this works is another matter, I've not tried it. The fact is however that some very powerful riders like Mark Cavendish can frequently be seen racing during the summer with a base layer.

I would like to add some comment to your response to my post. You say it's not about breathability but that a good base layer can "increase the rate of removal of sweat from the skin, thereby improving cooling" In my understanding breathability in relation to fabrics involves the removal of sweat from the skin so they are one and the same. If you were cycling wearing only a short-sleeved summer jersey and felt too hot adding a base layer would make you even hotter as they trap heat and reduce the rate at which sweat can evaporate from your body. Ideally you would ride bare-chested which would be ok for men who aren't too self-conscious to do so!

The following is an excerpt from http://www.psychovertical.com/?thetruth ... aterproofs written by experienced mountain climber Andy Kirkpatrick.

"The reality is that once you put any kind of clothing on you are going to reduce your breathability, the greater the barrier/level of protection the lower that breathability becomes, whether it’s a jacket made out of newspaper or a pair of pants made from gaffer tape"

You say that Mark Cavendish wears a base layer for racing during summer. I can only speculate as to his reasons. He may believe that a base layer will keep him cooler but they all trap body heat making you warmer. He may even wear a base layer for a little extra protection against road rash in the event of a crash or perhaps it is for sponsorship reasons.

hopper1

I wear a base layer, always... Never overheated, yet...
A base layer makes a nice barrier, between me and a my sweaty cycling jersey.

greasedscotsman

+1 for base layers. Always wear one, just because it doesn't feel right just to wear just a jersey. If it's really hot then I'll wear one of these...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Craft ... 360042382/

But think it's very much personal thing...

frazerbrown

I always wear a base layer, mainly because it reduces friction burns when you crash (not that I intend to crash everytime I go out!). I've never felt as though I was overheating.