Jersey advice pleeze

[Bigtallfatbloke]

There are so many on the web I am confused. What is the best make style?...I need a jesey (in fact 2) should I have one long and one short sleeved? or is there such a thing as a longsleeve that can be unzipped to give a short sleeved? I have no idea. All I know is I need xxxl size and it has to be made of stretchable fabric.

Cheap is good, but i dont want crap, so I'll pay for quality if necessary

Do you chaps wear base layers and jerseys and then a jacket in the winter?

I could get the jersey now for the summer, then add the base layer and jacket in the winter...

...blimey it's all so confusing...I dont even but my own underpants...thank gawd for Mums and the Mrs

any suggestion much appreciated.
Ta

 

[SamNichols]

I tend to wear a short sleeved base layer all the time, and a long sleeved one in the winter. I use the berghaus ones, as they're cheap, and the hiking shop near me stocks them (they also get wheeled out for hiking and camping); they mean that my jerseys don't smell as often, and the jerseys are more complicated to wash (a base layer can just get slung in with the rest of the washing).
I have a thick windproof jersey for the winter months, which is fine, and keeps the majority of the rain out, unless I'm out in torrential downpourings. It's altura Kinetic. I am going to invest in a waterproof for my move up North soon (my hiking one's a bit bulky).
Short sleeved jersey wise - look on wiggle for whatever they've got going cheap; they have some specialised ones for £23 at the moment, which is a good deal, and they go up to xxxl. Keep away from the italian manufacturers (e.g. campagnolo), as they are sized up small. I tend to go a size up from my normal clothes anyway, as jerseys arentight - I use large jerseys, whereas normally I take a medium.

 

[Chris James]

Short sleeved jerseys are very flexible as can be worn on their own or as part of a layering system throuhgout the year. I prefer wearing a cycle specific jersey as they have good chest zips for venting and the pockets for stowing food etc.

I use a short sleeve jersey in summer (mine are de Marchi but I don't think the precise make matters that much as long as they wick and vent well). When it gets a bit cooler I add arm warmers as I find the torso still stays pretty warm from the exertion of cycling. If cooler again I might swap the arm warmers for a long sleeved base layer until the SS cycling jersey. OR I might take a windproof gilet along with my SS shirt and armwarmers. It depends on the weather and my mood. This sort of combination is very flexible as it allows you to start wearing more gear and strip up a bit as you warm up.

In the middle of winter then I chnage to my Altura Night Vision windproof jacket, which has a windproof front, with a breathable fleece back. I find this is warm but not sweaty. If EXTREMELY cold (i.e. the road has to be gritted and max temps are not much about freezing) then I will add a short sleeved base layer under this (or could use SS jersey, I just think Helly Hansens wick better).

I very rarely wear waterproofs. In summer if I know it is going to rain then I may take a pertex jacket in my back pocket, or just rely on a gilet to keep off showers. In winter I would probably wear a waterproof only if I knew it was likely to rain. I would then either stow the jacket in a saddle pack and wear a gilet or, worst case, wear the jacket with only a base layer underneath. In general I find waterproofs massively hot and sweaty and to be avoided.

 

[Chuffy]

I'm mostly wearing a Groundeffect Submerino top, it's amazingly versatile. Long sleeves but they roll up easily if it gets warm. Also, being a merino wool mix, it keep you warm even if it rains. Possibly a bit too warm when the sun comes out properly though. I wear mine for a whole week of commuting between washes and it doesn't smell. Sizing is generous without being saggy and the price is pretty damn good too.

 

[jashburnham]

DHB for longsleeved winter tops - Wiggle sell 'em and they are excellent.
For the summer - I'm a big Castelli fan but they're Italian and pricey - try Specialized, thay can be quite cheap and seem to last forever. Otherwise Altura are cheap but IME don't last long.

 

[SamNichols]

Groundeffect[/url'] Submerino top, it's amazingly versatile. Long sleeves but they roll up easily if it gets warm. Also, being a merino wool mix, it keep you warm even if it rains. Possibly a bit too warm when the sun comes out properly though. I wear mine for a whole week of commuting between washes and it doesn't smell. Sizing is generous without being saggy and the price is pretty damn good too.

The prices of those merino tops are astonishing, may have to invest in one, how long do they last? I guess that even with freight, they're still cheaper than ones in the UK.[/url]

 

[Dayvo]

This is a good place to get good quality jerseys

http://bicyclinghub.com/recyje.html

I bought the adidas retro for $60+ dollars - sometimes they have bargains, but its' still cheaper than the 70-odd quid from UK stockists!

 

[Chuffy]

The prices of those merino tops are astonishing, may have to invest in one, how long do they last? I guess that even with freight, they're still cheaper than ones in the UK.

No idea on their longevity but their other stuff is very well made and I'm not light on clothes. I've got one of their Baked Alaska tops, part merino, and it's still in perfect condition after two hard years. The only problem is that their stuff occasionally gets snagged in the Customs net. But that's only happened once to me and I've bought quite a bit of kit from them.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

..I need to peddle more and shift some more inches around my chest and belly...even the xxl stuff is too small.

...actually it pisses me off that here in the uk xxl is a 46 max....wtf are real men supposed to do???? Dont they know I'm a heavy weight boxer AND a linebacker in the NFL....sheesh....

 

[giant man]

All you need is one jacket man, the Gore N2S Phantom Plus 2 jacket which at around eighty quid isn't cheap BUT it does have detachable sleeves, so you have the best of both worlds.

Always find it's best to try before you buy with jackets and other clothing cos it varies so much, but sizing on these goes up to XXXL. Can't be bad.

http://www.gorebikewear.com/1164920285784.html

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360029181

 

[HJ]

I recommend the Ardbeg Cycle Jersey but then what do you expect from...