DJ - i don't know but my helmet does smell like vinegar!
|
 |
 Don't like merino any more, at first they're really good, but after a while all of mine have started to smell... a lot, and this is after washing them regularly too. I'd never wear them in the summer either. Synthetic baselayers for me, Girodana are really good and I have a few Nike ones. Did you catch any of the Tour Alsace while you were over in France?
|
| Edited: 29/08/07 09:54 |
Are you sure it's 100% merino? There's a lot of stuff around that has synthetic mixed in with it and it's this that causes the stink. I've been wearing some of my merino gear for going on 5 years (not without washing it occasionally I hasten to add) and it still doesn't stink. But mine is 100% merino. No synthetic in there at all.
|
|
 Have to agree with you Jude. Bought a Pearl Izumi s/s base layer and being designed just for cycling i.e. tight fitting ,it was brilliant last year for the changing of seasons (Autumn>Winter, Winter>Spring). But it wasn't 100% merino and hence pongs a little bit even after washing it. Whereas a 100% Icebreaker l/s base layer has lasted 3 years of use through the winter and doesn't whiff at all. You get what you pay for. How good are Rapha base layers? And how thin?
|
|
 I use a Rapha base layer quite often and it is an excellent piece of kit. It is very thin, much thinner and more comfortable than previous base layers I've used like Helly Hanson, but very effective. I've used it under short-sleeved jerseys instead of wearing long sleeve when it's a bit colder (it just looks like you're wearing arm warmers!). Also I often wear it as the only garment under a windproof jacket and find it gives the feeling of more 'breathability' compared to a jersey under a windproof jacket.
|
|
 Is the conclusion here that wool is a good thing? The best synthetic undervest I have found is made by BioRacer; good for wearing into work am. and back pm. without developing too much of a pong, and very comfortable with it.
|
|
 First things first, I sell base layers and bike kit.
For what seems to be a very simple product, there's quite a bit of technology involved.
With base layers you usually get two options: Heat or Cold - both of which need to be worn tight to the skin so that it can transfer moisture away from the body and out through the outer layers leaving you dry.
It's hard to get your head around the concept of wearing a base layer when it's really hot. But it works. Even in the TdF, you will see some of the pros wearing a base layer despite the searing heat. This is because transporting moisture away from your skin actually keeps you cooler because your pores are not being smothered in water. The moisture is moved into the outer layer where it evaporates far easier than if it were trapped between your skin and the outer layer. Remember, the base layer has to be tight to the skin or it will not work as effectively.
For the cold, you still want moisture transport or wicking but you also want thermic properties to keep you warm. Here, it's a question of how hard you are working. Last year I rode in just a high neck, long sleeve thermal base layer and a windstopper jacket or gilet and was fine in even the coldest temperatures. If you don't want to wear a jacket then companies like Primal and Craft for instance do a thermal base layer with a windstopper front built in, meaning you can still wear your club or team kit and stay nice and warm.
Some bases layers also employ 'compression technology' which sits even tighter to the body and helps reduce muscle vibration, lactic acid build up and assists blood flow back to the heart. This is what a lot of the pro rugby players are wearing now during games but also afterwards as a means of recovery. The theory is that the compression factor improves blood flow and therefore improves muscle repair and reduces the lactic acid. Again, it may feel a bit weird donning another pair of (even tighter) leggings afetr your hard ride, but it will pay dividends if you are training hard.
Because of the compression factor, most base layers will be synthetic. Merino is lovely stuff but it does not lend itself to being a true 'second skin' unless it is paired with a material like polyester. Pure Merino can also be tricky to wash without ruining.
|
|
Now that is what I call an answer. Top marks Spunky. Cleared up a lot of things that still puzzled me. I have like a sheep followed 'fashion'/'trends' and used really tight base layers for football and found them to be good but they 'die' really quickly. I have used UnderArmour base layers and found them to be but only last a season. The Uk site is less american football macho.Sometimes they work just too well and have felt cold when I stop running as I think they take away heat as well as moisture. My favourite non-cycling base layers, tops and bottoms, at the moment are cw-x. They offer great support and are more like having your limbs taped up but no so much as they feel confined.And I didn't feel as tired after or the in the days that followed. I'll be honest and say I'm challenging Teddie Sheringham for age so every little bit helps. I just like merino- pure or mixed for cycling. They just feel nicer next to your skin, keep the smell down and seem to work better in a range of temps i.e. climbing a hill and then going down the other side. What do you think/know about skins?
|
|
You were probably wearing Under Armour's Heat Gear product, which is great for when you are working hard and generating your own heat, but will offer less thermal performance at rest. It's a balancing act, but personally I hate being too hot under effort.
You could try a sleeveless version of Under Armour's Cold Gear Mock or Crew base layer. Much warmer for your core but at least you have the surface area of your arms to shed some of that extra heat
People expect a lot out of their kit but to be honest a season's worth of wear out of a synthetic base layer is all you should expect. In that sense, it's no different to brake pads or the cables on your bike.
Merino will last longer.
Skins is a compression product from Australia and is very similar technologically to Under Armour and Linebreak. Seems to be good kit.
|
|
I was and still do use Under Metal Armour Heat Gear which really keeps you cool as it has a mesh back. Fine for working hard like hill work or playing a match but the stop-start or commuting to work or footy training just seemed to make feel colder when I stopped and then I lost a lot of will to continue. Might just take you up on the Cold Gear for the up coming winter months and training. Kit only lasting a year? Sounds like a great excuse to get some more stuff so I can get the 'Another one?' look from the missus.
|
|
Oh right, you're using UA Metal. Yes, that's even more efficient than standard Heat Gear and will keep you even cooler, so I'm not surprised you feel the cold quicker on a stop start.
When you look after your kit it lasts longer of course. Washing at 30 degrees, drip drying etc, will all preserve it's life. Base layers are hard working items simply because they sit close to the skin. Wearing a base layer under an expensive Assos or Etxeondo jersey will extend the life of the outer layer because it will also protect it from the oils, sweat and dead skin your body regularly sheds during exercise.
|
|
" & _
