I need to buy a light to mid-weight road cycling jacket that's wind and water-proof (or at least highly resistant) and under $100 (preferably under $75), and was wondering which ones were recommended. I live in Seattle if that helps (i.e. it rains a lot from October-June but rarely gets below the 40's during the day).
I actually recently picked up a "Transformer" jacket at Performance, because I happened to be in the store and needed to redeem some coupons and discounts before they expired, and they had a pretty good deal on it ($70 marked down to $40, then another 20% off). But it seems a bit too light and flimsy to me, and I'm thinking of returning it (I haven't ridden in it yet).
Does anyone have any experience with this jacket pro or con? What about other jackets in this price range?
I need to buy a light to mid-weight road cycling jacket that's wind and water-proof (or at least highly resistant) and under $100 (preferably under $75), and was wondering which ones were recommended. I live in Seattle if that helps (i.e. it rains a lot from October-June but rarely gets below the 40's during the day).
I actually recently picked up a "Transformer" jacket at Performance, because I happened to be in the store and needed to redeem some coupons and discounts before they expired, and they had a pretty good deal on it ($70 marked down to $40, then another 20% off). But it seems a bit too light and flimsy to me, and I'm thinking of returning it (I haven't ridden in it yet).
Does anyone have any experience with this jacket pro or con? What about other jackets in this price range?
-- Kovie [email hidden]
Consider a clear PVC rain cape. Very cheap, folds into a jersey pocket, excellent water resistance and better breatheability than you'd expect - look for one with vented fabric in the armpits. Velcro fastener is much easier to handle with gloves on than a zipper. Keeps the expensive jersey underneath nice and clean too.
Hiya Kovie: You might want to go with a layered approach. As in, one distinct shell on the outside for rain/wind/really ambitious "mist." Then have a separate softer garment of some sort for insulation. For example -- outer shell of GoreTex or some other name brand breathing, highly water-resistant fabric, then a thin Polartec (or other fleece) pullover or even a wool or acrylic (or blended) sweater. An advantage of the less specialized inner garment is that, when sitting down, you won't look any less disreputable than any other casually dressed person -- something which some people (like the hostess at a restaurant I'll never eat at again) seem to think is important. My apologies in advance for making the whole process a little bit more complicated.
I picked up a last year's (fall 2004) Pearl Izumi jacket for 25% off at a local store. I think it's called the Instinct something like that. I just wore it on a tour to Ireland and it worked great. This is the time of year when the new models come out, so maybe you can find one of these.
How can anything be breathable and water resistant? You need pores/holes to be breathable-therefore allowing water in?
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Hiya Kovie: You might want to go with a layered approach. As in, one distinct shell on the outside for rain/wind/really ambitious "mist." Then have a separate softer garment of some sort for insulation. For example -- outer shell of GoreTex or some other name brand breathing, highly water-resistant fabric, then a thin Polartec (or other fleece) pullover or even a wool or acrylic (or blended) sweater. An advantage of the less specialized inner garment is that, when sitting down, you won't look any less disreputable than any other casually dressed person -- something which some people (like the hostess at a restaurant I'll never eat at again) seem to think is important. My apologies in advance for making the whole process a little bit more complicated.
Hiya chrisc: I'm not in materials science, but the way it was explained to me is that, if the pores are all small enough, they won't easily let the water droplets in, but they'd be large enough to let the water vapor out. Further deponent sayeth not.
I need to buy a light to mid-weight road cycling jacket that's wind and water-proof
Quoted message said:
I live in Seattle if that helps
Quoted message said:
I actually recently picked up a "Transformer" jacket at Performance... But it seems a bit too light and flimsy to me.
I don't think it gets too cold in Seattle. A jacket that seems "light and flimsy" may be just what you need. Use layers under the jacket as needed for insulation based on the temperature. Jackets with a vented back and zippered armpit vents will help avoid overheating. Keeping warm is usually easy. Perspiration makes staying dry more difficult.
: : I don't think it gets too cold in Seattle. A jacket that seems "light : and flimsy" may be just what you need. Use layers under the jacket as : needed for insulation based on the temperature. Jackets with a vented : back and zippered armpit vents will help avoid overheating. Keeping : warm is usually easy. Perspiration makes staying dry more difficult. : : Art Harris
speaking of perspiration, I wore (tight) shoe covers to keep my feet dry, but they wound up being wet from perspiration. On the other hand, they were warm. The Pearl Izumi jacket wound up being warm in a cold rain partially because it blocked the wind.
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
I need to buy a light to mid-weight road cycling jacket that's wind and water-proof (or at least highly resistant) and under $100 (preferably under $75), and was wondering which ones were recommended. I live in Seattle if that helps (i.e. it rains a lot from October-June but rarely gets below the 40's during the day).
I actually recently picked up a "Transformer" jacket at Performance, because I happened to be in the store and needed to redeem some coupons and discounts before they expired, and they had a pretty good deal on it ($70 marked down to $40, then another 20% off). But it seems a bit too light and flimsy to me, and I'm thinking of returning it (I haven't ridden in it yet).
Does anyone have any experience with this jacket pro or con? What about other jackets in this price range?
If it is waterproof, why would you think it is flimsy? When you are riding you don't need a heavy jacket. When ride, I usually use a thin jacket down into the 40's. It usualy takes temps in the 30's for me to get my lined jacket, and even that one is pretty thin. ------------------- Alex
"Art Harris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Kovie said:
I need to buy a light to mid-weight road cycling jacket
that's wind and water-proof
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I live in Seattle if that helps
Quoted message said:
I actually recently picked up a "Transformer" jacket at
Performance... But it seems a bit too light and flimsy to me.
Quoted message said:
I don't think it gets too cold in Seattle. A jacket that seems
"light
Quoted message said:
and flimsy" may be just what you need. Use layers under the
jacket as
Quoted message said:
needed for insulation based on the temperature. Jackets with a
vented
Quoted message said:
back and zippered armpit vents will help avoid overheating.
Keeping
Quoted message said:
warm is usually easy. Perspiration makes staying dry more
difficult.
Good advice. I see no need for a heavy rain jacket -- or even a lined rain jacket -- in the Pacific Northwest. Layering will do the trick when it drops into the teens, which is about as cold as it gets here in PDX. The second option is a long sleve windstopper jersey or one of the "storm jerseys" with various macho names. These are snug and breath well and generally warm enough for most winter riding when worn with a good base layer. I hate flapping jackets and will wear a jersey whenever possible. -- Jay Beattie.
Alex Rodriguez <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
I need to buy a light to mid-weight road cycling jacket that's wind and water-proof (or at least highly resistant) and under $100 (preferably under $75), and was wondering which ones were recommended. I live in Seattle if that helps (i.e. it rains a lot from October-June but rarely gets below the 40's during the day).
I actually recently picked up a "Transformer" jacket at Performance, because I happened to be in the store and needed to redeem some coupons and discounts before they expired, and they had a pretty good deal on it ($70 marked down to $40, then another 20% off). But it seems a bit too light and flimsy to me, and I'm thinking of returning it (I haven't ridden in it yet).
Does anyone have any experience with this jacket pro or con? What about other jackets in this price range?
If it is waterproof, why would you think it is flimsy? When you are riding you don't need a heavy jacket. When ride, I usually use a thin jacket down into the 40's. It usualy takes temps in the 30's for me to get my lined jacket, and even that one is pretty thin. ------------------- Alex
I live in Portland, OR and have used a $10 performance PVC rain jacket over a light microfleece jacket and have kept warm and dry riding during the winter (32 deg F and foggy in the mornings). A little cold at first but just right once I get warmed up.
Thanks to all for your ideas and advice. So far it's been a moot issue as the weather's been fairly good here in Seattle, but it looks like the rainy season's coming next week so I'm going to have to make a decision really soon...
On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 20:44:37 GMT, "Kovie" <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
I need to buy a light to mid-weight road cycling jacket that's wind and water-proof (or at least highly resistant) and under $100 (preferably under $75), and was wondering which ones were recommended. I live in Seattle if that helps (i.e. it rains a lot from October-June but rarely gets below the 40's during the day).
I actually recently picked up a "Transformer" jacket at Performance, because I happened to be in the store and needed to redeem some coupons and discounts before they expired, and they had a pretty good deal on it ($70 marked down to $40, then another 20% off). But it seems a bit too light and flimsy to me, and I'm thinking of returning it (I haven't ridden in it yet).
Does anyone have any experience with this jacket pro or con? What about other jackets in this price range?
If you have access to Performance, look at the Gill Morph jacket, $69.99. It's breathable, waterproof, fairly substantial, zippered pits, and has reflective bits for night riding.
