Base layers

RossoCorso34

When do you wear a base layer for the top half? Do you wear them as a matter of course as the wicking properties are good? I was out this morning and it was about 12c/55f and felt that it made me too warm, although I tend to run quite hot anyway.

I can't quite work out where the cutoff for them is...

whyamihere

I always wear a base layer. However, I have lots of them, which are differently suited to various weather conditions.

kajjal

Only when it's cold enough for me.

lincolndave

I wear them all year round, obviously lighter ones in the summer

RossoCorso34

Kajjal wrote:

Only when it's cold enough for me.

I prefer this attitude to others, as it means there is less additional stuff to purchase and then hide, Umm, I mean store!

Given that the summer seems to be all but over, I guess the point of this question is long gone.

Man Of Lard

theboyfold wrote:

When do you wear a base layer for the top half?

Calm dry day - below ~5C
Wet windy day - below ~10C

Always merino.

aberdeenal

whyamihere wrote:

I always wear a base layer. However, I have lots of them, which are differently suited to various weather conditions.

Likewise

flasher

Only time I don't wear a base layer is when it's 30c+

e999sam

The only time I don't wear one is when I wear a skin suit. My preferred material is merino wool.

kajjal

e999sam wrote:

The only time I don't wear one is when I wear a skin suit. My preferred material is merino wool.

I tried the merino wool base layers and could not get on with them so use gore base layers now.

I definitely don't wear a skinsuit as I would get arrested

cougie

I'm old school and we always wore a base layer.

Granted in the south of France I've gone without but if it's less than 30 degrees I'm wearing one.

fudgey

I run hot so only wear a base in winter, but i questioned a guy at work who has been riding many years the other day. It was 20 degrees when we went out so i asked why he still wears one, albeit sleeveless and his answer was simply incase he crashed.
He much prefers his skin to stay where it is so wears a base.

Good point i guess, but i still get hot...

awavey

I always run hot but still wear a base layer in summer, partly for the crash reason, partly so I can unzip my top a little for extra ventilation if needed and still retain some degree of modesty at least. but I use those mesh type base layers in summer, they might seem to be snake oil type technology, but they really work well for me, but YMMV

RossoCorso34

Interested in the crash reasoning. I'd never thought of that before, I guess it makes sense. It's something that very much is down to personal preference, I'm not sure if I buy into the concept of wicking the sweat that well. Maybe the stuff I have isn't the most effective.

dannbodge

All the time.
Thicker ones in winter
Mesh or thin ones in summer and mid weight ones in between

davesnothere

I run quite hot (on account of being a fat ba$tard) so 13/14 degrees and up I don't wear one

Merino if i do wear them

courtmed

Dannbodge wrote:

All the time.
Thicker ones in winter
Mesh or thin ones in summer and mid weight ones in between

Same here, works a treat.

lostboysaint

theboyfold wrote:

When do you wear a base layer for the top half? Do you wear them as a matter of course as the wicking properties are good? I was out this morning and it was about 12c/55f and felt that it made me too warm, although I tend to run quite hot anyway.

I can't quite work out where the cutoff for them is...

You need to try something like UnderArmour HeatGear, then you'll understand why.

step83

Kajjal wrote:

Only when it's cold enough for me.

This, I run hot but if I get cold I get very cold very quick so Summer I just wear a jersey. Else its base layer or least something to keep my core warm.

svetty

Dannbodge wrote:

All the time.
Thicker ones in winter
Mesh or thin ones in summer and mid weight ones in between

Snap

Johnpsanderson

Only in the cold - I have some Oldo long sleeve ones which I just wear under a 'normal' long or short sleeve jersey. I also have a cheapo Peter Storm one which does the job but that does seem to stay wetter than the Odlo ones from sweat.

I especially wear them in the wet - rather than trying to wear any kind of waterproof - I've found that warm but wet is preferrable than any effort to stay dry.

Have dabbled with summer ones - but not enough to tell if I see any benefit. Plus I got too fat to get them on!

e999sam

theboyfold wrote:

Interested in the crash reasoning. I'd never thought of that before, I guess it makes sense. It's something that very much is down to personal preference, I'm not sure if I buy into the concept of wicking the sweat that well. Maybe the stuff I have isn't the most effective.

I've come off ripping my jersey to shreds but not a scratch on my skin because of the base layer.

fudgey

Equally, i binned it in Spain last year at over 30mph, just a jersey and ripped that. Gravel rash to upper back and shoulder but hip and thigh took the brunt of it.

It ruined the holiday for the next 2 weeks as it hurt to do anything, but i doubt a base would have helped all that much.

It was 28deg + tho, so i still wont wear a base and back there at the end of the week with thinner jerseys than last year.

ayjaycee

Svetty wrote:

Dannbodge wrote:

All the time.
Thicker ones in winter
Mesh or thin ones in summer and mid weight ones in between

Snap

Snap yet again.

Also, I had never thought much about a base layer helping to minimise skin damage but I had a bad crash about five weeks ago and when I took my jersey off I noticed that there was a hole/tear of about 1" and scuffing on the back near the left shoulder. Ordinarily, I would have expected a wound of some sort but there was nothing and I now wonder if the very thin mesh vest that I was wearing as a base layer helped to prevent it.

It's just a pity that I couldn't have prevented the other injuries that I suffered at the same time - road rash at the top of my left thigh (and wrecked bib shorts), very bad damage to my left elbow (with a flap of skin almost exposing the bone!), two (maybe three) cracked ribs and a bad groin strain. To add to all that, the elbow got infected and it took three courses on anti-biotics over 4 weeks to sort it out.

On the plus side, apart from having to pull the left shifter back into place and a puncture, the bike seems OK. Also, I don't want to pick at the whole 'wear or not wear a helmet' scab again but I definitely felt my head hit the ground and actually felt my helmet take the impact. I have no idea whether it would have been more serious without a helmet but I'm glad that I had it on. There is no sign of any damage to the helmet itself but I am now trying to decide whether to replace just in case.......

My Garmin tells me hat I was doing 22 MPH when the ride came to an abrupt end and I hit the deck!

Sorry to hijack the thread with my tale of woe.

cld531c

Hope you are getting better! Id get a new helmet - better safe than sorry

fenix

I was always told to wear two layers - if you crash then the layer will rub on each other not you. Even on the velodrome.

RossoCorso34

So this thread has just ended up costing me some money!

I've ordered a Craft Superlight baselayer to see how I get on with it, as I've found my current baselayers too warm to wear in the summer.

Thanks for all the input though, it's an a more interesting set of responses then I was originally expecting.

gimpl

theboyfold wrote:

So this thread has just ended up costing me some money!

I've ordered a Craft Superlight baselayer to see how I get on with it, as I've found my current baselayers too warm to wear in the summer.

Thanks for all the input though, it's an a more interesting set of responses then I was originally expecting.

You won't be sorry. After bib shorts a mesh base layer is the best thing I've bought. It seems to absorb more than it's own weight/volume in sweat. I do run quite warm though, not sure if that makes a difference.

RossoCorso34

Gimpl wrote:

theboyfold wrote:

So this thread has just ended up costing me some money!

I've ordered a Craft Superlight baselayer to see how I get on with it, as I've found my current baselayers too warm to wear in the summer.

Thanks for all the input though, it's an a more interesting set of responses then I was originally expecting.

You won't be sorry. After bib shorts a mesh base layer is the best thing I've bought. It seems to absorb more than it's own weight/volume in sweat. I do run quite warm though, not sure if that makes a difference.

It arrived today so will be getting a full test tomorrow on my commute

mouth

Almost always. 95% or more (can't remember the last time 'I just went for a ride') all of my cycling is commuting to/from work and I work permanent night shifts, with liberal sprinklings of 12+hours if overtime is involved. I don't remember a single time that it was warmer riding home at 5am than it was when I rode in at 5pm.

If I do ever get a chance for a stand alone ride, I'm usually fair weather and have a waterproof on anyways.

Garry H

When it's cold.

Contrary to marketing blurb, they do not keep you cool.