In article <
[email protected]>,
[email protected] wrote:
> For that reason I have a more stringent rule on what works.
>
> 1. It must be water proof.
>
> 2. It must have a hood that can be cinched down so that only eyes and
> nose are exposed.
>
> 3. It should be double layered, the inner layer can be mesh but must
> insulate the outer skin from the rider's arms to prevent freezing
> hands.
>
> 4. Velcro closure on sleeves and over the zipper down the front.
>
> 5. No vents or slots. Climbing can be done with the front partially
> open even in rain.
>
> 6. No Gore-Tex, the outer layer of which gets wet and doesn't dry
> readily, and the same goes for condensation on the inside.
> Breathing is illusory for someone climbing hills on a bicycle.
>
> 7. Bonus: Stiff and tight fitting enough so it does not flap in the
> wind when descending.
>
> Flapping sleeves and body is the greatest loss of warmth from forced
> convection. Next time when descending, hold the arms so the jacket
> remains still and notice how much warmer it is.
>
> Unfortunately, the people who make bicycle jackets haven't tried
> descending a 20km alpine pass when it's snowing... or at least not
> with an understanding of why it is as cold as it is. Most jackets
> have no adequate neck and head covering and have a body to hold Santa
> Clause with many layers of clothing.
Good for your purposes, but I wonder if a rain jacket like that would be
suitable for riding to work in typical cool, rainy weather. On the
rides you describe, getting chilled could be life threatening if you
start to shiver and the bike develops a wobble on a mountain hairpin
descent, or if your hands get cold enough that you can't grip the brakes
properly. On a commute to work in one's office clothing, on the other
hand, one might arrive at work a sodden mess from sweat.
I have a jacket much like you describe (urethane coated nylon bought
from Nashbar or Performance about 10 years ago), but riding in it for 20
miles in the rain on a 55 degree F day is like being a boil-in-the-bag
dinner. In a cold rain it works fairly well, but even then its
limitations can be reached as I found out on a 200 km brevet with 8+
hours of rain in the low 40s F. My other jacket is useful over a wider
range of conditions, but does not have a hood (a detachable one is
available, but I haven't bought it as I really don't like hoods).
Basically, I've not found any jacket that keeps on dry from the rain and
also from sweat. Until nanotechnology invents some miracle fabric that
actively transports water vapor molecules and heat out and cool air in,
rain jackets will make the rider damp from sweat. Good ventilation, I
have found, is currently the key to comfort.
For cold weather riding, I find jackets useless. Even at freezing
temps, the sweat buildup is problematic. I just pile on more insulating
layers of materials that are knit rather than woven, as I find these
breathe better. In my case, that generally means a wool base layer and
a varying number of wool jerseys and possibly a wool sweater over the
top. For the legs I make do with Lycra tights or PowerStretch 100
tights from Col d'Lizard. Lake winter SPD boots have made cold weather
riding feasible for me.
