I used to ask this question about Arc’teryx RE: cycling shells. The result was ex-Arc’teryx employees who saw an opening and started 7mesh. They knew the off-shore makers and what Gore et al needed to see ahead of selling an upstart waterproof/breathable fabric.
Patagonia goes pretty hard at the angler community, so their company ethos shouldn’t hold them back from getting specific cycling line beyond their current mtb offerings. Their fit is…different…and so I’m not always on edge of my seat for more from them.
oh right I have worn my 7Mesh windstopper jacket the last ten days in a row. They make really really good stuff.
I wonder if there are career tracks from mainstream outdoors clothing into cycling apparel, or if it’s the other way around, or totally different groups, or what.
Rolled out this morning, house is on a hill, so I hit 35mph in the first minute. Thought it was 48f and I was overdressed for it. Turns out it was closer to 40f and I’m glad I overdressed.
Thinking it might finally be my tights-under-shorts year. Anybody got good advice for what to look for in this category from a cycle commuting perspective? Uncle Jeff had the lighter Under Armour leggings for a good price so I have a couple pairs of those coming but I wonder if the ones they sell for cold weather might be overkill
Rainlegs would work well for this. There are also some lightweight waterproof over shorts for enduro mtbros that might work, though likely pretty baggy.
I had some, worked as advertised in the cold wet rain. Easy on/off. Those look more refined, mine were a bit rough around the edges, but that was like 2008 or something.
Those things in conjunction with a clever hood would be great. I might try a pair.
The clever hood is fantastic for straight up rain, but I prefer a rain shell for any freezy stuff that sticks to me.
I’m probably blanking on some really obvious layering element, but instead of my old Vermarc super warm jersey this year I’m leaning toward a zipper-front sweatshirt I have. This will not be a good idea at all if I exert myself at all, but the fit is nice. Surely there is something analogous that will not kill me when I sweat in it.
I think there are multiple versions of this, however. One I got was off ebay a couple years back. Got a more recent one that’s a fair bit warmer, less wicking, less stretchy, and inexplicably is way too tight for my arms in a size large.
The Endura has a better palm, is not veg, better touchscreen stuff, and is maybe slightly less warm. The Castelli gloves are quite warm, maybe down to 35f is good. Palms are weirdly baggy. Touchscreen stuff doesn’t work so well and no snot wiper.
I’m going to check out the local shops for something. Basically a quarter zip sweater that’s not knit–I love but tend to destroy knit things. Almost always goes under a thin shell.
Will report my findings.
It’s one of the best and most versatile pieces of winter stuff I’ve owned. It replaced a great wool jersey I got when ibex went oob the first time. Highly recommended.
Edit: I’m not sure what I wrote was true. The thing I have is the Shak jacket. It’s def not a base layer. Has pockets and stuff.
I got some M Gore Windstopper Thermo gloves direct from the Gorewear site (which is having a mega-sale right now). My first cold windy ride (42f with steady 10-15mph wind) reminded me that as I age, I need warmer gloves.
I was not impressed by the C5 Thermo Gorewear gloves I tried last year (they were not super warm and slipped around a lot), I’m hoping that they were a fluke dud from an otherwise very strong company.
We shall see how they stack up against my current winter (down to 32f) glove: cheap scuba diving neoprene gloves.
