Spring Jackets?

SG said:

Can anyone recommend a top class Spring jacket (i.e. can handle April
showers and allows breathing?

If all you need is to deal with a shower then a simple pertex top is
usually enough. Very light and much more breathable than a full
waterproof. I use a Mardale one (http://www.mardale.com/bike.html), but
there are various on the market (for example, Buffalo, Montane and Rab
all make cyclists windtops in lightly proofed Pertex too). It'll be out
of its depth in an April *downpour* of any significant duration, however.

Beyond that stuff like Gore Windstopper (the laminate Formerly Known As
Activent) is quite a bit more waterproof than pertex, but also heavier,
more expensive and less breathable (though more breathable than a full
waterproof). Freestyle do some nice stretchy ones and they won't be the
only game in town.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

SG said:

Hi all,
I wore my winter jacket this morning - what a mistake, am now
intravenously feeding of water ever since!
Can anyone recommend a top class Spring jacket (i.e. can handle April
showers and allows breathing?

You're much better off with just a *windproof* jacket or gilet when it's
not actually raining. I think water resistance + good breathability in
spring is too much to expect. Just sweat a bit more when you do have to
don your rain jacket.

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

You're much better off with just a *windproof* jacket or gilet when it's
not actually raining. I think water resistance + good breathability in
spring is too much to expect. Just sweat a bit more when you do have to
don your rain jacket.

I guess it's down to semantics, but most windproofs will give a
reasonable measure of /resistance/ to water, without being formally
water*proof*. A windtop will generally keep a shower at bay
sufficiently well for it to be a non-issue.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Pete Biggs said:

You're much better off with just a *windproof* jacket or gilet when
it's not actually raining. I think water resistance + good
breathability in spring is too much to expect. Just sweat a bit
more when you do have to don your rain jacket.

I guess it's down to semantics, but most windproofs will give a
reasonable measure of /resistance/ to water, without being formally
water*proof*.

Perhaps down to semantics regarding "windproof"......

Quoted message said:

A windtop will generally keep a shower at bay
sufficiently well for it to be a non-issue.

Not the (highly breathable) ones I use: Lusso Tactel Gilet and Ozzo
September gamex Jacket -- I suppose they're more wind resistant than wind
proof (hence why I often wear both together). Anything more than a few
mins of ultralight rain and the water goes straight through them, worst of
all with the gamex one. But they're great when it's not raining.

BTW, I tried a water-proofing spray on the Tactel: didn't help.

~PB

"SG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,
I wore my winter jacket this morning - what a mistake, am now
intravenously feeding of water ever since!
Can anyone recommend a top class Spring jacket (i.e. can handle April
showers and allows breathing?

This Gore Windstopper jacket is seeing out its second spring.

http://qurl.net/bJ

Great jacket for going to work on a cool morning then packing into 2nd
bottle cage for the ride home in just a jersey as the day warms up.
--
Simon Mason

http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

SG said:

Hi all,
I wore my winter jacket this morning – what a mistake, am now
intravenously feeding of water ever since!
Can anyone recommend a top class Spring jacket (i.e. can handle April
showers and allows breathing?

Having owned a range of breathable stuff over the years, I decided to go
cheap this year. It's got warmer so it was getting impossible to wear
my Henri Lloyd ocean sailing jacket - even for my gentle commute.

Popped into Millets and paid £29 for a dayglow jacket that claims to be
breathable and waterproof. It fits well, packs up very small and the
breathability seems no better or worse than stuff I've paid 10 times the
price for in the past. I have yet to test the waterproofing, though as I
have only worn it on two days.

It is not cycling-specific clothing which means there are no back
pockets or drop tail but it does mean it has a pack away hood. I like
hoods as they stop water running down my neck, so this is good.