What is the ideal cycling jacket (for UK commuting)

[ship]

Hi

What is the best cycling jacket for commuting (at reasonable speed in
UK)

I am looking for something that is:

b) HIGHLY BREATHABLE
a) Bright in colour /reflective at night
c) ultra-Compact
d) nearly(+) waterproof
e) COOL

Plus ideally:
f) aerodyamic/elastic??
g) fairly durable?

Budget: upto GBP 300.

So far I can't find ANYTHING on the market that is remotely
satisfactory.


For completely waterproof, the best I can find is Gore Paclite.
Costs about GBP120-160, which is fine.
The problem is it ISNT VERY BREATHABLE.

But on most days commuting in London I dont actually need
100% waterproof - just VERY shower resistant would do.

The big problem is keeping cool & getting rid of *SWEAT*
because I dont have a shower at work.


I have a Paramo (Model: "Alta"??) jacket that is very durable,
*massively*
breathable and though not *technically* waterproof it will keep
out even a down-poor. It has no membrane and is thus
implicitly resistant to puncturing and is highly durable...
It has vents for the armpits which is helpful too.
It's a fabulous jacket in the cold season in the scottish
mountains.

....BUT it's not elasticated and thus flaps around rather
and in any case it is FAR TOO HOT (& too heavy).
i.e. you cant compress it to fit into a pack very easily,
and you get far too hot when wearing it.
AND they dont make a bright yellow/pale orange varient
nor anything with reflectors on for night time use.

- So... any recommendations?


Ship
Shiperton Henethe

P.S.
There are some very expensive (GBP 250-350 ) Gore jackets which I
havent been
able to find in any shop (in Central London) e.g. Evans Waterloo
didnt have them... But on their website at least they didnt seem
to have them in BRIGHT colours (just dark blues and blacks...)
e.g. "Gore Bikewear Concept Jacket" £349.99
e.g. "Gore Bikewear Fusion Jacket" £259.99
....

 

[Clive George]

"ship" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>What is the best cycling jacket for commuting (at reasonable speed in
>UK)

Have you tried any of the altura ones?

I've actually stopped wearing a jacket until proper winter comes - I let my
jersey get wet, since it would anyway from sweat.

cheers,
clive

 

[Art Harris]

ship wrote:

> I am looking for something that is:
>
> b) HIGHLY BREATHABLE
> a) Bright in colour /reflective at night
> c) ultra-Compact
> d) nearly(+) waterproof
> e) COOL
>
> Plus ideally:
> f) aerodyamic/elastic??
> g) fairly durable?
>
> Budget: upto GBP 300.

"Waterproof" and "breathable" are mutually exclusive terms that no
amount of money will reconcile. Best advice is to get a decent "water
resistant" thin windbreaker with vented back and arm pits. Here in the
US, I bought an inexpensive Hind jacket a few years ago that's OK for
light rain, but not a heavy downpour.

Art Harris

 

[Chris Smith]

ship wrote:
> Hi
>
> What is the best cycling jacket for commuting (at reasonable speed in
> UK)
>

IMHO the only way to stay dry on top, and not boil-in-the-bag is with a
Big Yellow Cape. Sadly, you will take off in anything other than a light
breeze

I've gradually learned that survival in wet weather is about controlling
the degree of wetness; and not allowing yourself to get cold. This means
keeping your feet warm, and as dry as possible for as long as possible.
Let your legs get wet - there's nothing you can do about it really - if
you wear longs, the trapped moisture and hard work will keep your legs warm.

On top - wear a cheap windproof/showerproof jacket. I use a 4.99ukp
Regatta thing in the summer, and an Altura Nevis in the winter. Then
your usual wickable layers underneath - more layers in colder weather.

HTH
Chris

 

[Pete Biggs]

ship wrote:
> Hi
>
> What is the best cycling jacket for commuting (at reasonable speed in
> UK)
>
> I am looking for something that is:
>
> b) HIGHLY BREATHABLE
> a) Bright in colour /reflective at night
> c) ultra-Compact
> d) nearly(+) waterproof
> e) COOL
>
> Plus ideally:
> f) aerodyamic/elastic??
> g) fairly durable?

Ozzo September Jacket* is wind resistant, light & flouresent in colour,
packs up very small, highly breathable, smooth & quite close-fitting, and
lasts for years. Sew on some Scotchlite tape if you want reflectives. Not
water resistant - but please see my comments below. In the coldest weather
I find a Lusso Tactel gilet underneath is good for extra wind resistance
without causing over-heating.

* from www.mikedyason.com - http://tinyurl.com/ynb88d

> So far I can't find ANYTHING on the market that is remotely
> satisfactory.

I don't think you will do. On the minority of rides when it rains, accept
either the extra sweatiness from a waterproof jacket or just get wet from
the rain. In the dry, wear a good non-waterproof windproof jacket or gilet.

/snip
> But on most days commuting in London I dont actually need
> 100% waterproof - just VERY shower resistant would do.

Most commutes in London there's no need for any water resistance at all.

Carry a separate waterproof - perhaps a racing-style jacket with vents.

~PB

 

[Bryan]

As has been said you can't get waterproof AND breathable (well you can get breathable, but not to the extent that you need on a bike, or even moderate walking

I currently use a Paramo Fuera Smock, that does all I expect it to. So long as I keep it prrofed with TX10, it is about as breathable as anything I have ever used. I've used it on the bike, and whilst running, and have no complaints (cost about £40-50)

Alternatively the Rapha softshell is a VERY nice jacket (saw one a cycle, and they are exceptionaly well made), according to teh web site (www.rapha.cc), it is:
Highly breathable, wind-proof, water resistant softshell. Soft and flexible, quick drying, hard wearing.

And after seeing one I have no doubt it is, only problem is the expense, but it is under your budget.

Bryan

 

[POHB]

ship wrote:
> But on most days commuting in London I dont actually need
> 100% waterproof - just VERY shower resistant would do.
> The big problem is keeping cool & getting rid of *SWEAT*
> because I dont have a shower at work.

Does such a thing exist? I'd suggest putting a fresh work shirt in the
space in your bag that a waterproof would take and wearing some kind of
t-shirt for cycling. In colder weather wear two. It doesn't really
matter if you get rained on occasionally if you've something dry to
change into on arrival, even if you can't shower.

 

[nobody760]

As previous poster 'does anything like this exist'?

I would find jacket that suits your needs and then put a loose fitting
builders Day-Glo/night stripes waistcoat over it.

 

[Clive George]

"Bryan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Alternatively the Rapha softshell is a VERY nice jacket (saw one a
> cycle, and they are exceptionaly well made), according to teh web site
> (www.rapha.cc), it is:
> Highly breathable, wind-proof, water resistant softshell. Soft and
> flexible, quick drying, hard wearing.
>
> And after seeing one I have no doubt it is, only problem is the
> expense, but it is under your budget.

Not the only problem : the eejits are more of a fashion brand than people
aiming for performance. (look at the colour - it may look cool, but there's
no way I'm wearing that out on the road).

cheers,
clive

 

[Peter Cole]

ship wrote:
> Hi
>
> What is the best cycling jacket for commuting (at reasonable speed in
> UK)
>
> I am looking for something that is:
>
> b) HIGHLY BREATHABLE
> a) Bright in colour /reflective at night
> c) ultra-Compact
> d) nearly(+) waterproof
> e) COOL
>
> Plus ideally:
> f) aerodyamic/elastic??
> g) fairly durable?
>
> Budget: upto GBP 300.
>
> So far I can't find ANYTHING on the market that is remotely
> satisfactory.
>
>
> For completely waterproof, the best I can find is Gore Paclite.
> Costs about GBP120-160, which is fine.
> The problem is it ISNT VERY BREATHABLE.
>
> But on most days commuting in London I dont actually need
> 100% waterproof - just VERY shower resistant would do.
>
> The big problem is keeping cool & getting rid of *SWEAT*
> because I dont have a shower at work.
>
>
> I have a Paramo (Model: "Alta"??) jacket that is very durable,
> *massively*
> breathable and though not *technically* waterproof it will keep
> out even a down-poor. It has no membrane and is thus
> implicitly resistant to puncturing and is highly durable...
> It has vents for the armpits which is helpful too.
> It's a fabulous jacket in the cold season in the scottish
> mountains.
>
> ...BUT it's not elasticated and thus flaps around rather
> and in any case it is FAR TOO HOT (& too heavy).
> i.e. you cant compress it to fit into a pack very easily,
> and you get far too hot when wearing it.
> AND they dont make a bright yellow/pale orange varient
> nor anything with reflectors on for night time use.
>
> - So... any recommendations?
>
>
> Ship
> Shiperton Henethe
>
> P.S.
> There are some very expensive (GBP 250-350 ) Gore jackets which I
> havent been
> able to find in any shop (in Central London) e.g. Evans Waterloo
> didnt have them... But on their website at least they didnt seem
> to have them in BRIGHT colours (just dark blues and blacks...)
> e.g. "Gore Bikewear Concept Jacket" £349.99
> e.g. "Gore Bikewear Fusion Jacket" £259.99
> ...
>

I agree that there doesn't seem to be a perfect wet weather solution.
For warm weather, I use a membrane type vest (Gore Activent). It folds
small and keeps the torso dry and doesn't trap sweat too badly. In cold
wet weather I bite the bullet and wear a heavier well-vented water
repellent coated jacket and live with the inevitable condensation. I
find that synthetic stretch fleece is about the best thing for wet
warmth, so I wear that under.

 

[John Hearns]

On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 04:20:29 -0700, ship wrote:

>
> Hi
>
> What is the best cycling jacket for commuting (at reasonable speed in UK)
>
Rapha Softshell? http://www.rapha.cc/index.php?page=21
I've only ever worn one at the Cycle Show mind, but it is lovely.
Comes in a fetching shade of black.

 

[Pete Biggs]

nobody760 wrote:
> As previous poster 'does anything like this exist'?
>
> I would find jacket that suits your needs and then put a loose fitting
> builders Day-Glo/night stripes waistcoat over it.

Would spoil the aerodynamics that the OP wants, and also would be too warm
most days in London. It's surprising how little material it takes to make
you over-heat when cycling hard. I can't wear my Lusso gillet all the time
and that's much much more minimal than one of those builders waistcoats.

~PB

 

[Tim McNamara]

I have had great results with the Showers Pass Elite jacket. As others
have pointed out, "waterproof" and "breathable" are mutually exclusive
(Gore's marketspeak notwithstanding- water vapor molecules can't pass
through the membrane when it's wetter outside than in). A good
ventilation strategy is key. The Showers Pass jacket's ventilation
works quite well IME. It will also be well below your budget of £300
(the exchange rate ought to bring it below £100).

http://www.showerspass.com/cart/index.php?cPath=21_25

Hope this helps!

 

[Peter Clinch]

Tim McNamara wrote:
> I have had great results with the Showers Pass Elite jacket. As others
> have pointed out, "waterproof" and "breathable" are mutually exclusive
> (Gore's marketspeak notwithstanding- water vapor molecules can't pass
> through the membrane when it's wetter outside than in).

Up to a point, Lord Copper, but "wetter" means there isn't a positive
vapour pressure gradient which isn't necessarily many people's idea of
"wetter", as body heat amongst other factors will create a positive
vapour pressure to push vapour through. You can certainly pass vapour
through into a rainy cloud interior which is about as wet as it gets
before getting submerged.

However, it /is/ the case that practically everyone can easily sweat
faster than a Goretex membrane can shift the result, and that sitting
inside a windproof PTFE bag doesn't exactly inhibit you from sweating in
the first place.

eVent membrane seems to be quite a bit more breathable because the
Clever Folk In White Coats behind it have managed to remove the need for
the microporous layer to have an extra coating to prevent contamination
which made the first microporous fabrics leak when used by sweaty
people... This in turn means it breathes better, but it still won't
breathe as well as if it's not there!

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 protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[ship]

> Ozzo September Jacket* is wind resistant, light & flouresent in colour,
> packs up very small, highly breathable, smooth & quite close-fitting, and
> lasts for years. Sew on some Scotchlite tape if you want reflectives. Not
> water resistant - but please see my comments below. In the coldest weather
> I find a Lusso Tactel gilet underneath is good for extra wind resistance
> without causing over-heating.

Doesnt sound any more waterproof then my Pertex thing from Montane.
i.e. Not very showerproof at all!

Ship

 

[Clive George]

"ship" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>But come off it - what do professional racers wear when they are
>training and it rains?

Think about what rain gear is trying to do. On a very simplistic level,
'waterproof' describes it - ie keeping the water off. If one is wearing
one's office clothes underneath, this is probably a relevant feature.
However the actual problem this sort of clothing is trying to solve is how
to keep warm (ok, I started off saying 'most', but then thought about what
clothing does these days ). So being wet isn't actually a problem so
long as you're still warm. Which is the pro racer approach - the rain
jackets they wear don't appear to have any pretence at being breathable. The
most important bit is being windproof - stop the air blowing through, and
you stop windchill. Bit boil in the bag, but this doesn't matter as long as
they can let enough heat out. End of ride, take off manky wet jersey, wash,
no problem.

cheers,
clive

 

[Peter Clinch]

ship wrote:

> We can put rockets on the moon but we STILL cant make a waterproof
> highly breathable jacket. I'd call it pretty pathetic!

No, rockets to the moon is straightforward reaction physics. Rocket
science is not exactly, errr, rocket science, in other words (the
engineering can be tricky, but the physics is easy!).
But with "waterproof breathable" you want air to freely pass through a
jacket while stopping liquid water. That isn't actually too easy.

> But maybe the answer could lie in very sophisticated venting.
> e.g. under-arm vents.

That's not sophisticated though. Hot air rises, and under arm vents are
pointing in the wrong direction. Of course, if they point the right way
the rain gets in...

> This really *IS* truly pathetic that the manufacturers cant build some
> decent

Lots of them do. My Mardale pertex top has it, my wife's Paramo Velez
has it, her Foska training jacket has it, my Lowe Atom waterproof has
it, my Ronhill cycling waterproofs have it, etc.

> Sorry YES! I forgot to mention. I currently own and use a Pertex top
> from Montane. VERY light & compressible *and* bright yellow so quite
> visible.
>
> *But* it's just not very waterproof.

Go back to the first paragraph... the more stuff you have keeping liquid
water out, the more you will prevent free flow of air too.

> But come off it - what do professional racers wear when they are
> training and it rains?

I doubt rain bothers them that much, to be honest, as long as they're
warm enough then other comfort issues are moot for a pro.

> I'm told that depends who you speak to - apparently it doesnt
> hold back enough atmosphere's pressure to count
> But in practice I would certainly agree.

Hydrostatic head. That doesn't factor in the pump effect because that
relies on you being in the jacket, which is why the lab tests say no.

> How do Foska compare with Paramo?
> & where can I get them from?

Not sure how the warmth would compare so won't answer.
www.foska.com!

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 protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[Tom Crispin]

On 16 Oct 2006 04:20:29 -0700, "ship" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>Hi
>
>What is the best cycling jacket for commuting (at reasonable speed in
>UK)
>
>I am looking for something that is:
>
>b) HIGHLY BREATHABLE
>a) Bright in colour /reflective at night
>c) ultra-Compact
>d) nearly(+) waterproof
>e) COOL
>
>Plus ideally:
>f) aerodyamic/elastic??
>g) fairly durable?
>
>Budget: upto GBP 300.

I do a lot of mountaineering as well as cycling and I have a range of
jackets which I use for both activities.

My Paramo Aspira smock is the undoubted winner in the cold and/or
extreme wet for cycling and winter mountaineering. It will keep you
warm and dry. It's bright in the day, but has no reflectives so I
keep my bike well lit at night. It's quite long so doesn't need an
extended back.

http://www.paramo.co.uk/UK/acatalog/AspiraSmock-16-114.html

Berghaus Bike is my everyday winter jacket, but it's a bit sweaty.
It's certainly shower proof but it's very heavy. The reflective
piping is excellent. I never use it for hill walking. It has an
extended back.

I don't think its still manafactured.

Berghaus paclite is very light, showerproof and has good ventilation.
Excellent for summer hillwalking and cycling when there is a
possibility of a short sharp storm. It has no reflectives, so keep
your bike well lit. It's short so you'll get a wet back.

http://www.berghaus.com/

 

[Pete Biggs]

ship wrote:
>> Ozzo September Jacket* is wind resistant, light & flouresent in
>> colour, packs up very small, highly breathable, smooth & quite
>> close-fitting, and lasts for years. Sew on some Scotchlite tape if
>> you want reflectives. Not water resistant - but please see my
>> comments below. In the coldest weather I find a Lusso Tactel gilet
>> underneath is good for extra wind resistance without causing
>> over-heating.
>
> Doesnt sound any more waterproof then my Pertex thing from Montane.
> i.e. Not very showerproof at all!

I said it was not water resistant. It's a recommendation for a
non-showerproof wind resistant jacket to wear when it's not raining.
Please read my whole message.

~PB

 

[Jay Beattie]

"Tim McNamara" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have had great results with the Showers Pass Elite jacket.
As others
> have pointed out, "waterproof" and "breathable" are mutually
exclusive
> (Gore's marketspeak notwithstanding- water vapor molecules
can't pass
> through the membrane when it's wetter outside than in). A good
> ventilation strategy is key. The Showers Pass jacket's
ventilation
> works quite well IME. It will also be well below your budget
of £300
> (the exchange rate ought to bring it below £100).
>
> http://www.showerspass.com/cart/index.php?cPath=21_25
>
> Hope this helps!

This jacket has been getting very good reviews in Portland and
appears to be the jacket of choice among the wrenches --
particularly now that Burley is swirling down the tubes. -- Jay
Beattie.