Baselayers?

Gunth

Hi just a quick question about baselayers from a newbie cyclist. Should a person wear them under their cycling shorts or over them? It is just that I read a post somewhere here a few months ago that the cycling shorts are first to be put on followed by everything else.
Don't worry my next thread won't be asking for your advice on which bike I should buy under the CtW scheme!

jwshooter

Gunth wrote: »

Hi just a quick question about baselayers from a newbie cyclist. Should a person wear them under their cycling shorts or over them? It is just that I read a post somewhere here a few months ago that the cycling shorts are first to be put on followed by everything else.
Don't worry my next thread won't be asking for your advice on which bike I should buy under the CtW scheme!

skins, the best on the market .

i wear them under my cycling shorts ,and under my wind stop .

cosman9373

you could try these extra layer and extra padding. win, win.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9372

IM0

to answer the question baselayers ALWAYS go under the shorts/tights bibs (loops) the clue is in the title

stopped_clock

We're talking about baselayers for the top half here, aren't we?

Gunth

me@ucd wrote: »

to answer the question baselayers ALWAYS go under the shorts/tights bibs (loops) the clue is in the title

I would agree with you that baselayers are always worn underneath but some people have said that there should be nothing worn underneath the cycling shorts only over them. Sorry for this rather personal thread!

alfalad

jwshooter wrote: »

skins, the best on the market .

i wear them under my cycling shorts ,and under my wind stop .

They are good for compression and a lot would say not the best. But given the time of year i'm assuming the op is refering to a base layer for heat in which case they are looking for something thicker than skins.
I have skins and never found them warm!

niceonetom

I think when manufacturers say that nothing should go between you and your shorts they're really referring to the chamois. i.e. go commando. A base layer under the straps is ok, and can prevent the dreaded "assos nipple". oooohh the abrasion.

The best material for base layers is merino wool. Warm when you need it, doesn't overheat as much as synthetics and feels good against the skin even when wet. Icebreaker make beautiful base layers in merino and are available in a variety of weights for all year round.

ROK ON

[quote=niceonetom;The best material for base layers is merino wool. Warm when you need it, doesn't overheat as much as synthetics and feels good against the skin even when wet. [/quote]

I completely disagree. Have several merino wool baselayers, and they are fine when they are not wet. When I have worn them and gotten wet (rain/or push hard and sweat a bit more) then I have become very very cold with them. Last time was the Sean Kelly this year, where my temp was way too hot or absolutely freezing cold.

I have a few underarmour baselayers that are excellent at wicking seat away from the body, and have kept me very warm indeed on cold wet winter rides.

rottenhat

ROK ON wrote: »

I completely disagree. Have several merino wool baselayers, and they are fine when they are not wet. When I have worn them and gotten wet (rain/or push hard and sweat a bit more) then I have become very very cold with them. Last time was the Sean Kelly this year, where my temp was way too hot or absolutely freezing cold.

I have a few underarmour baselayers that are excellent at wicking seat away from the body, and have kept me very warm indeed on cold wet winter rides.

Hmmm, I think I'm with Tom on this one - I've found that wool insulates well when wet. But synthetics work too, and I agree that UnderArmour make very good gear.

ROK ON

rottenhat wrote: »

Hmmm, I think I'm with Tom on this one - I've found that wool insulates well when wet. But synthetics work too, and I agree that UnderArmour make very good gear.

Only prob I have with underarmour, is by Christ it stinks after a long ride.

rottenhat

ROK ON wrote: »

Only prob I have with underarmour, is by Christ it stinks after a long ride.

That's true to a greater or lesser degree of all synthetics. Let me tell you, the reek of one of my jerseys after a summer's day in DC, especially if I'd been drinking heavily the night before, could kill at ten paces.

Jip

I find the same with all of the base layers I use, be it for running or cycling, they stink after one wear.

But I guess that's what they're supposed to do, they draw the sweat away from your body so therefore all the sweat is held in the base layer, hence them getting stinky so quickly. It's a pain in the arse though as most require a delicate or cold wash which means they sometimes still come out a little smelly. One jacket in particular I have has to be hand washed with biological washing powder (or is it non biological?) because of the water proofing on it.

Caroline_ie

Wool is Cool

niceonetom

Merino doesn't smell. I have no idea how this works, but it simply doesn't get stinky the way polyester does.

I'd actually quite like someone to explain it to me.

Caroline_ie

niceonetom wrote: »

Merino doesn't smell. I have no idea how this works, but it simply doesn't get stinky the way polyester does.

I'd actually quite like someone to explain it to me.

Here ?

ROK ON

niceonetom wrote: »

Merino doesn't smell. I have no idea how this works, but it simply doesn't get stinky the way polyester does.

I'd actually quite like someone to explain it to me.

Its big attraction is that and feel.
Dont understand it, in that sheep are particularly smelly:).

niceonetom

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Here ?

Yet more propaganda from the wool lobbyists.

ROK ON wrote: »

Its big attraction is that and feel.
Dont understand it, in that sheep are particularly smelly:).

Well yes, but just imagine if they were wearing polyester...

blorg

To be honest I am not sure how much the smell matters if you are changing your base layer daily.

alfalad

blorg wrote: »

To be honest I am not sure how much the smell matters if you are changing your base layer daily.

Tell that to the people sitting next to you in a cafe after you have done a hard 100km.

Tawfee

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=34423

I use these & find them very good. they're a mix of Merino wool & something else (LIFA technology whatever that is), but they do a good job of keeping you warm, & I can just about get thru a week of commuting without having to wash them.

Signal_ rabbit

The non wool base layers have a coating on them to prevent them from smelling, however after a few washes this coating washes out and even after ten miles can start to hum a bit. Merino wool doesn't do this and feels lovely against the bare skin................. oops sorry time to go!

Drapper

Patagonia in Dublin have a great sale on baselayers at the mo! some left. Merino wool ftw.

blorg

Drapper wrote: »

Patagonia in Dublin have a great sale on baselayers at the mo! some left. Merino wool ftw.

What sort of prices?

Drapper

Misses got me one for about 30-38 euro. Only a few left. 'Wool 2' was the level of Merino. For cool conditions. They are beside the till inside the door of the shop.

BTW, its better than my Endura BA BA one but not as good as my Howie's one (double the price). Tip:- as its wool get it a size above you need. They can shrink a bit!

alfalad

Drapper wrote: »

Misses got me one for about 30-38 euro. Only a few left. 'Wool 2' was the level of Merino. For cool conditions. They are beside the till inside the door of the shop.

I'll be popping in there at lunch so!

Drapper

also, they are getting some "2nds" in too.......... ask to be notified of them too! they tend to be always next to perfect!


btw I've tried Merino and Synthetic and Merino is far better, even when wet (as I'm a sweaty bloke) they stay warm and never itchy!

blorg

Can you stick the merino wool ones in the washing machine- also tumble dryer? I don't have a washing machine at home so all my stuff just gets lumped in to the laundry.

Drapper

no dry cleaning for them as they will fit your barbie doll after it! cool wash 40 degrees!


another good source of Merino is Groundeffect in NZ.
http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/ great lads and very reasonable prices to Ireland! (about 7 days postage too)

ROK ON

blorg wrote: »

Can you stick the merino wool ones in the washing machine- also tumble dryer? I don't have a washing machine at home so all my stuff just gets lumped in to the laundry.

Not a good idea, as in send to laundrete. Washing machine at 40 degrees is fine.
I hand wash mine with woolite.

rottenhat

ROK ON wrote: »

Not a good idea, as in send to laundrete. Washing machine at 40 degrees is fine.
I hand wash mine with woolite.

Members of Mrs Rottenhat's knitting circle claim that Woolite is actually not great for your woollens (it strips the lanolin or something) and that you should use other soaps. Unfortunately she is off telling foreigners how to live their lives so I can't ask her what you should use but I imagine the internet will know.

blorg

Fair enough... might try one for special occasions... the synthetics just go straight in the wash and turn out fine.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

Fair enough... might try one for special occasions...

Sweet, Boards in action. Persuading you of the need to purchase more stuff which may or may not be better even though all the stuff you have right now is perfectly fine.

alfalad

rottenhat wrote: »

Members of Mrs Rottenhat's knitting circle claim that Woolite is actually not great for your woollens (it strips the lanolin or something) and that you should use other soaps. Unfortunately she is off telling foreigners how to live their lives so I can't ask her what you should use but I imagine the internet will know.

Would be interested to know what I should be using as I bought a bottle just for my wool cycling jerseys!

rottenhat

blorg wrote: »

the synthetics just go straight in the wash and turn out fine.

well, this is the major pro for synthetics. but it wouldn't be much work to chuck a wool vest in the sink after a spin. If you roll it in a towel, you can get most of the water out and it dries quickly after that.

rottenhat

alfalad wrote: »

Would be interested to know what I should be using as I bought a bottle just for my wool cycling jerseys!

She bought some Ecover stuff but I think she also said that washing up liquid does the trick.

Edit: And a brief search of the internet says that Woolite is formulated for synthetics these days and is too alkaline for actual wool so either get a special wool wash or use a detergent, e.g. washing up liquid.

alfalad

rottenhat wrote: »

She bought some Ecover stuff but I think she also said that washing up liquid does the trick.

Washing up liquid?? I thought that would be fair too harsh! Plus i don't want to smell like my dishes!

MIght look into the ecover stuff though, thanks.

Signal_ rabbit

My Merino base layers go in a cool wash in the machine and come out fine.

niceonetom

I've been machine washing my merino stuff at delicate/30* in woolite for ages - all my cycling stuff gets the same treatment, synthetic or merino. I haven't noticed any deterioration, but I also don't know what lanolin is...

I refused to buy assos's special detergent, so I'm not about to go looking for some special soap for my baselayers and socks. There has to be a limit.

How do we get lever brothers to be more honest and rename their detergent syntheticite?

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

Sweet, Boards in action. Persuading you of the need to purchase more stuff which may or may not be better even though all the stuff you have right now is perfectly fine.

A wool baselayer might be useful, I have been doing a fair bit of light touring recently and just wearing my base layers as evening wear.

petethedrummer

Woolite stinks.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

I have been doing a fair bit of light touring recently and just wearing my base layers as evening wear.

You need this:

DirkVoodoo

I use woolite in the synthetic wash. Canterbury base layers are the best for me.

petethedrummer

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Canterbury base layers are the best for me.

I have to agree. They don't get smelly and they dry quick as a flash, they come out almost dry from the washing machine.

scottreynolds

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I use woolite in the synthetic wash. Canterbury base layers are the best for me.

petethedrummer wrote: »

I have to agree. They don't get smelly and they dry quick as a flash, they come out almost dry from the washing machine.

And they are from my home town and I wear them.

Anyway back to the original posters message. DON'T wear them under our shorts your balls will pay the price.

Drapper

any left Blorg?

crashoveroid

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I use woolite in the synthetic wash. Canterbury base layers are the best for me.

They are the best and there is great life in them i have some as old as three years when i used Addidas ones i would be lucky to get a season out of them. I also like they way there is such a wide choice.

ROK ON

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Canterbury base layers are the best for me.

Strange, in that I went to buy Cantebury base layers in the Cantebury rugby store in Stephens Green last winter.
The sales guy advised against it. He advised underarmour - they were €10 cheaper, and he claimed a far superior base layer. I bought the underarmour and have been mightily impressed. Didnt buy the CCC so I have no comparison.

DirkVoodoo

ROK ON wrote: »

Strange, in that I went to buy Cantebury base layers in the Cantebury rugby store in Stephens Green last winter.
The sales guy advised against it. He advised underarmour - they were €10 cheaper, and he claimed a far superior base layer. I bought the underarmour and have been mightily impressed. Didnt buy the CCC so I have no comparison.

Underarmour=american=lance....

Jip

I got myself some Helly Hansen HH Dry Baselayers the other week, http://www.hellyhansen.com/product/BaselayerHHDry/Charger12Zip/48862/view/372 and was genuinely impressed with them. First time I wore one of the tops I had a good cycle with a heavy backpack and when I got home my back was actually dry. I took the top off and the outside of the back was damp but the inside was dry, very impressive tech altogether especially when I compare it to some of the other base layers I have, although the downside is that aforementioned stick after a wear.

blorg

Drapper wrote: »

any left Blorg?

I haven't made it in, saw these ones on Wiggle though that I was considering.



I got a ton of Craft ones recently for around the tenner each mark from Wiggle (most gone now) so don't have a burning urgency about it, might like one wool one though to see how it was.