Keeping warm and cool.....

[Panter]

When I start my commute, its reasonably flat for the first 6 or 7 miles. I take it fairly easy as my legs are stiff and cold, and in the Winter I get very cold.
After the flat bit, I have to cross the north Downs, and I get very hot (when its below freezing I literally have a huge cloud of steam follow me up the hill )
On the descent (which knocks on the door of 50mph) I get cold again.
After that, the last 5 miles or so are relatively flat and my temperature is about right.

I wear a long-sleeve jersey for this journey, but if the temperature is approaching freezing point, I put a Quecha technical type T shirt on underneath. I still freeze on the way there and boil on the Downs crossing but I don't shake with the cold quite as much.

There's no point in dressing any warmer, as I'll just melt on the hill, but is there a garment available which will help? I don't suppose there is as the brief sounds fairly impossible but just thought I'd ask.

 

[Globalti]

A fabric, which responds to temperature must be the Holy Grail of the textile industry. In fact I believe I read something recently about this very thing although I expect it's expensive.

I don't know if you can do what the professionals do but they use arm and leg warmers, which can be rolled down when they warm up, as well as zipped windcheaters.

 

[Tynan]

merino?

and one of those front insulted gillets that you zip for downhills and unzip for climbing?

50mph!

 

[swee'pea99]

Not that it's helpful in the least, but kind of connected, did I read somewhere recently that at the top of Alpine passes people hold out newspapers for passing riders so they can stick them under their jerseys for the descent, then discard them when they reach the flat again? I hope it's true! I do love an unbeatable no-cost, lo-tech solution.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

Have you thought of having something which you can zip and un zip? I've got a semi windproof kind of fleece which I wear over a short sleeved jersey. It was £20 from Halfords.

 

[gavintc]

[quote name='swee'pea99']Not that it's helpful in the least, but kind of connected, did I read somewhere recently that at the top of Alpine passes people hold out newspapers for passing riders so they can stick them under their jerseys for the descent, then discard them when they reach the flat again? I hope it's true! I do love an unbeatable no-cost, lo-tech solution.[/QUOTE]

Yes, watch any of the mountain stages on the tour and you will spot people offering newspapers to the riders. Some will take the paper and jam it up their front. I am always impressed at their riding skills; to ride with no hands at speed at the top of a hard climb while they sort out their clothing ready for the fast descent.

 

[gavintc]

I have a very lightweight Adidas gilet made from pertex. It is paper thin, but when zipped up is very warm, but when I am really blowing hard, I can unzip it to cool off

 

[Panter]

Stupidly enough I hadn't thought of any of those things

I don't like to carry anything I'm not wearing as I don't take a bag, but if I got a thin, lightweight fleece I could stuff it in a jersey pocket when I get hot.

The arm warmer things, I've always thought they must be a load of hassle but on reflection, everyone uses them. Maybe I should give them a try too?

Thanks for the suggestions, I've also been making do with very cheap kit (Aldi Jersey, £5.00 Decathlon top) so just by spending a bit more it'll probably help.

I read a lot about the merino wool, does that not just keep you very warm though?

 

[Shady]

I myself use a lot of paramo gear (http://www.paramo.co.uk) - the advantages of this stuff is that you can use layering - a sweat wicking base layer and a light windproof jacket could be ideal for your needs.

There are other garments for multi activities (vasco jacket and others) which has multiple vents to allow heat and steam to escape !!



The stuff ain't cheap mind !!

Adam

 

[LondonCommuter]

Merino's great in terms of temperature but not windproof so the chill still cuts through you on a descent. Softshell materials are good at keeping out the wind but you will still get hot, though one with a zip may help.

 

[Panter]

Thanks all

I feel a shopping trip coming on.........

 

[Globalti]

Pertex is pretty good, I have a Pertex cag, which I have used as a top layer for years. Unfortunately it has no zip and is quite baggy so it flaps around.

Did you know that Pertex was originally made for typewriter ribbons?

 

[Fiona N]

[quote name='swee'pea99']Not that it's helpful in the least, but kind of connected, did I read somewhere recently that at the top of Alpine passes people hold out newspapers for passing riders so they can stick them under their jerseys for the descent, then discard them when they reach the flat again? I hope it's true! I do love an unbeatable no-cost, lo-tech solution.[/quote]

Absolutely true. Moreover, it still applies: on my first Alpen Brevet (Swiss equivalent of the Etape, over similarly high mountain passes) I neglected to take a jacket (well, it was warm and sunny in the valley when we started at 6am). At the top of the first pass - the Gotthard at about 2200m - it was sleeting and I expected to get exposure from the cold on the descent. But help was on hand in the form of the lady from the kiosk selling newspapers who handed over a couple of the previous day's papers for me to stick down my jersey. Thanks to these I survived the descent from the Gotthard and from next pass - the Oberalp - where there was a well timed thunderstorm just as I arrived at the summit. In the way of these events, the third pass was climbed in conditions of blasted heat so the cool of the descent was welcome and the newspapers finally abandoned.

Makes for a memorable day - good job I was wearing a wool jersey - the combo of wool and newspapers seems to be optimal in the wet

 

[MessenJah]

The 'answer' to 'your' question is 'merino' as others have mentioned. It is the best.

 

[MessenJah]

merino?

and one of those front insulted gillets that you zip for downhills and unzip for climbing?

50mph!

I've seen one of those 'front-insulted gillets'. Apparently in the factory where they're made, men are paid to stand in front of the gillets and call them "ugly f**king c**ts".