Base layers

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J

Jim77

New Member
do people advise wearing base layers in all weather conditions? What would you recommend a newbie getting as essential kit. I am not too keen to get the old legs out until they are bulked up a bit!

at the moment, i am wearing cycling undershorts with tracksuit bottoms and a t shirt and a hoodie that i take off once i start getting warm. i don't feel this is ideal though . what would you recommend?
 
Young Un

Young Un

New Member
Location
Worcestershire
get some proper lycra - just go so fast that no-one will see you in it for maore than a fraction of a second - i only wear a base layer if it cooler than normal. so at 4.30 wen i do a ride i will wear one - same as when i do a 8 oclock in the mornign ride - however i dont wear it if im doing a time trial practise or ride at about 1 oclock on a warmish day.
 
theboytaylor

theboytaylor

Well-Known Member
Location
Charlton, London
Hi Jim,

Not sure you necessarily need a base layer as such - the number of layers is going to be down to personal preference. However, I'd definitely get some tops (long-sleeve or short-sleeve) that have material that wicks the sweat away from your body - at the moment I expect you get hot pretty quick and then once you take off your hoodie you have to warm up all over again as you sweaty skin cools off rapidly :becool: :rolleyes:.

If you've got a Decathlon nearby you can pick up some tidy stuff, breathable and comfortable without breaking the bank. Wiggle also has some decent, well-priced stuff in its DHB range.

Good luck
 
Bigtallfatbloke

Bigtallfatbloke

New Member
I have A £19 DHB base layer. It's ok...but to be honest it doesn't do any better a job than my nike running T shirts...and the BIG down side with it is that for some reason it STINKS after a ride, when my other kit doesnt. Plus side is that it has a slimming effect!
 
theboytaylor

theboytaylor

Well-Known Member
Location
Charlton, London
Bigtallfatbloke said:
I have A £19 DHB base layer. It's ok...but to be honest it doesn't do any better a job than my nike running T shirts
Click to expand...

Yeah, should have said that you don't necessarily need to buy cycle specific kit - just something that is classed as a "technical" layer so that it is breathable. Personally my kit is mainly a mix of Decathlon bike (http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/cycling-gear-848635/) stuff and other stuff I got for running. Some was expensive, most of it was cheap as chips on the net. The only common thing about it is it's all light and breathable.
 
S

shades.5

New Member
JamesM said:
I bought one of those today. Seems to fit OK. I've got nothing to compare it to in terms of cycling gear as I've not got my new bike to start commuting just yet. Still on the trains...
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if you havnt got any lycra type base layers will a thermal t shirt be ok
 
Y

yello

Guest
Personally, I'd avoid "thermal" base layers. I reckon they'd be okay as an outer layer perhaps but for the base, you really want something that's going to pull sweat away from the skin primarily and not just keep you warm. I rate merino wool as a base layer because it can successfully do both.

As theboytaylor mentions, stuff marked as "technical" is worth a look. They're not necessarily expensive - places like Millets have stuff that'll do the job. As others have said, it doesn't need to be cycling specific. Cycling stuff tends to be cut for a closer fit, that's all.
 
M

MattB

New Member
Ive got several Aston Villa football shirts (:becool:), these seem to do a good job of 'breathing' when I go hiking, so I assume these would also be good for riding? I dont fancy wearing my works polo shirt all day after riding to work :
 
byegad

byegad

Legendary Member
Location
NE England
I'd say that a good base layer T-shirt is my only essential piece of kit. Having cycled in a cotton shirt and nearly frozen to death on a warm day as I descended a long hill with the soaking shirt slowly drying I swore never to do it again.
 
HLaB

HLaB

Marie Attoinette Fan
Location
That little part of Scotland known as Peterborough
CeeDee51 said:
These are £9.99 at Aldi on Thursday
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_7536.htm
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I bought a cople of them last year and they've done the job my other base layers were just too warm. I was glad of the descente base layer I had on on Sunday though; I forget what they usually retail for but htanks to a tip from this forum I managed to pick one up for £15.
 
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