J
Jay Beattie
Guest
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Art Harris writes:
>
> >> 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.
>
> I'm with you on that except that I use my parka on my summer
tour in
> the Alps where it can snow any day of the year and often does
as you
> can see from the pictures at:
>
> http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/alps_photos.html
>
> 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.
You are describing a "descending the Alps in the snow jacket"
which is not the same thing as commuting in the rain jacket. For
commuting, a single-wall, breathable and well vented jacket is a
good bet. I commute in a Burley rain jacket with pit zips and a
back vent, which stays reasonably dry inside even when I go home
through the hills. As for long descents in the wet and cold, it
would not be my first choice because it suffers from all the ills
you mention. I am still experimenting with that, but I think the
best approach may be a weatherproof/breathable jersey up and a
packable storm shell down (this is day riding with no seatpacks
or panniers). -- Jay Beattie.
news:[email protected]...
> Art Harris writes:
>
> >> 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.
>
> I'm with you on that except that I use my parka on my summer
tour in
> the Alps where it can snow any day of the year and often does
as you
> can see from the pictures at:
>
> http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/alps_photos.html
>
> 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.
You are describing a "descending the Alps in the snow jacket"
which is not the same thing as commuting in the rain jacket. For
commuting, a single-wall, breathable and well vented jacket is a
good bet. I commute in a Burley rain jacket with pit zips and a
back vent, which stays reasonably dry inside even when I go home
through the hills. As for long descents in the wet and cold, it
would not be my first choice because it suffers from all the ills
you mention. I am still experimenting with that, but I think the
best approach may be a weatherproof/breathable jersey up and a
packable storm shell down (this is day riding with no seatpacks
or panniers). -- Jay Beattie.