Mickle's tip of the week - Waterproof jackets

[gb155]

To establish if a cycling jacket is big enough for you, wear the largest jumper/ fleece that you are likely to wear under it, bend slightly forward to mimic your position on the bike and then stick your arms straight out in front of you. If it rides up exposing your wrists it’s too small.

I'll now take questions from the floor.

My Altura rides up on the sleeves, however its XXL (from last winter you see)

An "L" version of the same coat will "Fit" me but is worse in the arms

a XXL is about right on the arms.

This has been the story of my life when looking at new winter coats.

How to get round this ?

 

[Wobblers]

My Altura rides up on the sleeves, however its XXL (from last winter you see)

An "L" version of the same coat will "Fit" me but is worse in the arms

a XXL is about right on the arms.

This has been the story of my life when looking at new winter coats.

How to get round this ?

Easy. You just need shorter arms, Gaz!

 

[gb155]

Easy. You just need shorter arms, Gaz!

Of course

eBay here I come

 

[Jezston]

Don't get red, Moodyman.

My mate has one, and every time I think he's on my wheel, it's actually some other cheeky bugger in a red top. There are too many of them, and it MUST BE STOPPED.

And I bet it's one of those Altura NightVision tops too, right?

In fairness, I have one of those tops in grey, and it's actually a very good top for the money. Although the chest pocket seams fell apart fairly quick.

Only problem is that in a grey top I feel (and according colleagues, look) practically invisible in daytime rain in heavy traffic. A flouro backpack cover mostly sorts that out. Not sure what I'm going to do when I get that carradice bag. Rear helmet light time methinks.

 

[yello]

I've often wondered how much rain my Ground Effect Phantom jacket could handle. We'd got fairly solid rain this am so I decided to do some gardening tasks whilst wearing the Phantom. The rain stopped and all it did thereafter was drizzle. On the plus side, it handled that.

Have you ever wanted it to rain so you could give a garment a proper test?

 

[snorri]

I wish I could find a replacement for my Freestyle jacket that has served me well for quite a few years. Freestyle have ceased production and no other company seems to make cycling jackets with close fitting hoods which, along with my woolly hat, I find essential for the wet and windy winter months. Don't tell me hoods restrict side vision, Freestyle hoods didn't when carefully adjusted, anyway hypothermia is the bigger hazard in my neck of the woods.

 

[yello]

I know that feeling snorri. You find something that works for you and then they stop making it. If the company goes bung, well that you accept but when something is no longer made! Argh!! I'm incredulous on such occasions, not being able to understand why something that was so good has been 'upgraded'! But of course an answer could be that too few people found it any good. I'm sure that's why FionaN buys two of things when they work for her!

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I am riding in a sportive this weekend, 60 miles with 7000ft of climbing. The forecast is 62 fahrenheit with heavy rain showers. Do I wear a short sleeved jersey with a base layer, arm warmers and a gilet or do I take a long sleeve jersey with a lightweight showerproof? I know I will get wet.

In a sportive where the weather is quite warm, I would be tempted to just wear my lycras and just dry out. (However it, good to note that I am currently lying in bed with sinusitis after trying to "sweat out my flu" by going on a 40 miler yesterday and that I spent the first two months of this year in bed with pneumonia!)

 

[pawl]

I bought a very expensive Gortex jacket £200 aprox. supposed to be breathable for hill walking.got just as hot as idid in my original cheap jacket when climbing steep gradients.

 

[gwhite]

I bought a very expensive Gortex jacket £200 aprox. supposed to be breathable for hill walking.got just as hot as idid in my original cheap jacket when climbing steep gradients.

Manufacturers of breathable materials should really be called to account regarding the claims they make about their products and your experience is a common one. What they don't tell you and what is buried in the small print, is that for the material to expel moisture there requires to be a certain amount of pressure to the square inch for this to operate. I do believe that such pressure is rarely reached and such claims are not justified.


I have been told that while many Arctic expeditions have been supplied and sponsored by the manufacturers of such clothing, they are worn only for photo-shoots as to wear these in sub-freezing temperatures is to invite frostbite as the sweat generated rapidly freezes.

It's time these garments were subjected to properly monitored and controlled tests in order to justify their claims.

 

[Willo]

The only acceptable 'colours' for cycling jackets is grey or black. Or something in between. IMO.

Got to be black

Any colour will do apart from Yellow. They just make you look like a bag of custard.

I think black looks good, but what's wrong with yellow. I don't mind it and I always have trouble justifying in my mind why I wouldn't wear something bright when its purpose is to be used in low visibility conditions. Saying that one of my few long sleeve jerseys is black, but my batter old rainproof jacket that gets stowed in the jersey pocket just in case is yellow (custard).

Really useful stuff Mickle. My dilemma for all winter/wet weather clothing is that I get too hot so need something that can be stowed in the jersey pocket. I also find much of the winter gear makes my movement feel restricted. Plan to layer up this winter - will await a TOTW re long sleeved windproof jerseys

 

[Fiona N]

It's time these garments were subjected to properly monitored and controlled tests in order to justify their claims.

Well they are - Gore won't license any old person/company to use their fabrics. They test their garments to make sure they pass Gore's pretty stringent tests.

As ever, there are 'urban' myths (maybe that should be Arctic myths) - Goretex works fabulously well in cold dry places* because the humidity outside is so low and there's a natural gradient between warm humid inside of jacket and cold dry outside. Goretex (and all other breathable fabrics) relies on this gradient - in warm, humid Britain that gradient is a bit iffy for a good bit of the year so, as Mickle says, the under garments become critical to maintaining a gradient and preventing condensation on the inside. Just think, if the inside of the Goretex gets covered in a continuous water film, damn all vapour is going to be transmitted through it.

*Although ventile probably works even better as it just absorbs the water and evaporation removes it on the outside. Mind you, it's not so funny should it rain/wet snow and the water absorbs turning your jacket shortly after into a frozen stiff 2 tonne object.

 

[snailracer]

...Goretex works fabulously well in cold dry places* because the humidity outside is so low and there's a natural gradient between warm humid inside of jacket and cold dry outside. Goretex (and all other breathable fabrics) relies on this gradient - in warm, humid Britain that gradient is a bit iffy for a good bit of the year ... if the inside of the Goretex gets covered in a continuous water film, damn all vapour is going to be transmitted through it...

On their website, Goretex claims:

"All GORE-TEX® garments and footwear carry our GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® promise.
What does this mean? It means that liquid from the outside won't get to you on the inside. This includes moisture from the wet grass you’re kneeling in to the sudden squall you get caught in. And that's a promise."

Well, if you read it carefully, their GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® claim only applies to rain trying to get in, it doesn't apply to sweat trying to get out. Goretex bandy the word "breathable" about a lot, but make no equivalent "guarantee" about letting out the moisture generated by athletic activity at all!

 

[snailracer]

...I have been told that while many Arctic expeditions have been supplied and sponsored by the manufacturers of such clothing, they are worn only for photo-shoots as to wear these in sub-freezing temperatures is to invite frostbite as the sweat generated rapidly freezes...

The other reason why Arctic explorers don't like Goretex, or most other synthetic fabrics, is that they make loud "crunching" noises when you flex them in the frigid cold.

 

[Jezston]

I've got some Gore overtrousers and they are great tbh. Haven't found anything else that's as waterproof and still breathable. I wear them with a wicking layer underneath though.