Anyone use arm warmers?

[Bluetree]

As the weather cools, I'm wondering if I should invest in a pair of arm warmers. It's not quite cold enough for the cold-weather material, but my arms get the wind chill effect in the early AM.

Thing is, my arms are pretty short, even for the smaller sized arm warmers. The Castelli ones I like on TE are 17" long, which pretty much reaches from my arm pit to almost the halfway point of my palm. They are not supposed to reach that long, are they?

Also...
Are they supposed to be easy to take off (like when you're coasting) or are they snug and have to be taken off when you're stopped?

Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.
Joy

[Trekhawk]

As the weather cools, I'm wondering if I should invest in a pair of arm warmers. It's not quite cold enough for the cold-weather material, but my arms get the wind chill effect in the early AM.

Thing is, my arms are pretty short, even for the smaller sized arm warmers. The Castelli ones I like on TE are 17" long, which pretty much reaches from my arm pit to almost the halfway point of my palm. They are not supposed to reach that long, are they?

Also...
Are they supposed to be easy to take off (like when you're coasting) or are they snug and have to be taken off when you're stopped?

Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.
Joy

I love my arm warmers. They are really great when you know things will heat up later in the ride, then you can just pull them off and shove them in your jersey pocket. I have Sugoi ones - I think mine are probably a little shorter than that but you are right they should end at your wrist not your palm. They should be snug enough so they dont fall down but not so tight they cut of the circulation.

[Haudlady]

Arm warmers are great!!!

I'm excited, because I just bought my very own pair on Tuesday - Pearl Izumi, with a light fleece lining. My LBS was having a 30% off clothing sale, so I bought the top three things on my wish list (other than a road bike, of course) - arm warmers, a second pair of shorts, and a vest. I had been borrowing my DH's DeFeet coolmax warmers and his old vest for my morning commute... they really didn't fit. They were much better than nothing, though!

I was glad to buy mine from the LBS not online. I had to try on a lot of them before I found a pair that didn't make me feel like I was wearing a matched pair of blood-pressure cuffs!

Mine are snug, but I'm sure I could take them off while riding.

[Triskeliongirl]

Arm warmers are a must for variable temp days. You might try the terry brand ones. I actually found them too small and prefer the sheebeest but it sounds like for me the terry S might be perfect. Leg warmers are great too BTW!

[bcipam]

Arm warmers are the coolest things ever invented! I have the regular ones that pull up and also a bolero to wear with my sleeveless jerseys. They are especially great during changing weather 'cause you can pull them up and push them down and pull them up again when needed (like going up hill I hit hot but coming downhill I get cold). I use them not only for cycling but for hiking as well. Have different colors (black, red, blue, grey, purple) to match different jerseys. Defnitely invest in some. Favorites are by Terry and PI.

[emily_in_nc]

I'll second the thumbs up for Terry armwarmers. I am petite and they fit me great - not too long (but not too short, either). They are great for those rides that start out a little chilly but warm up fast.

Emily

[caligurl]

oh gosh! i wear arm warmers (and sun skins) ALL the time! i don't wear short sleeve jerseys in the sun (tan lines.. ICK!) so i always wear warmers or skins if i wear SS! plus in cool weather... they keep my arms toasty!!!!!

i have black, blue, red, and white ones!

[jobob]

I prefer a bolero, but I don't like things snug on my arms.

[Nanci]

A Bolero is about a thousand times better than arm warmers! And simple to remove- pull it off over your head! I won't ever wear arm warmers again- the Bolero is so much better.

[jobob]

Oh Nanci, you're much more coordinated than I, I can't do that on the fly, I need to stop to pull off my bolero. :o Still, that's a small concession.

[Nanci]

Someone on here taught me how- pull it off over your head with one hand! Before I read that, it was a cluster getting it off...

I wear it over tanks, sleeveless jerseys, short sleeve jerseys, long sleeve jerseys...

[jobob]

I think that was Veronica, she's annoyingly coordinated too.

Not to mention, now an O-fficial CA Triple Crown winner :)

[emily_in_nc]

I have a bolero too (looks like the same one as Nanci's) and also love that - but for some reason I forget about it in my big pile of bike clothing. It gets lost in the black bike shorts, and when I finally do run across it, I think "Oh yeah, I should really wear this more often!" It's great when I actually remember to wear it. :D

I only like it with sleeveless jerseys, though. With short-sleeve jerseys, the sleeves get all bunched up and require too much straightening for my taste, so I wear armwarmers with SS jerseys when it's a little cool out (but not cool enough for a long-sleeve jersey).

Emily

[pooks]

I'm beginning to think cyclists have more opportunities to accessorize than Barbie!

[7rider]

I'm beginning to think cyclists have more opportunities to accessorize than Barbie!

BwaHAHAHAHA!
Too funny.....
And here I was thinking, Hmmmmm...Bolero.....Maybe *I* should try one of those. My 5 y.o. armwarmers are totally stretched out and end up at my wrists about 1/2 hour into my ride...whether I want them there or not!
But now...sheesh...All I think about is Barbie!
:D

[salsabike]

Great, now you guys have started up the idiot song "I'm a Barbie Girl in a Barbie World" in my head. That'll go on for days...

Couldn't do without arm warmers. Mine are a little long but I just pull the excess down at my wrists, no problem. They're an absolute staple.

[DirtDiva]

HAHAHAHAHA pooks! Brilliant call. :D

Have never tried armwarmers before, but I'm looking forward to taking my brand new AV ones for a spin (they've only been for a spin around the house so far). I'm thinking the inbuilt bramble protection features will be a most handy side benefit. :cool:

[pooks]

Armwarmers are beginning to sound like a good idea. I liked the bolero thing but it doesn't come in plus sizes, and if it runs small an XL wouldn't work for me.

What are sun skins?

And why can't I have a Barbie Dream House?

[Nanci]

I wish they would make the bolero in more colors.

I pretty much just don't like SS jerseys at all any more. It's either broiling hot, or in the middle where I can start out with the bolero for an hour, then broil, or freezing so I can wear LS jerseys. I'm not even liking sleeveless any more now that I have the world's largest tank collection, except for probably caligurl.

Emily, my bolero likes to hide, too. it has to live with the jerseys, not the shorts. I just found a pair of shorts that had been hiding for who knows how long the other day. Not missed, though.

I can't wait until it gets cold enough to wear the two LS jerseys I bought in the spring and haven't worn yet...

[Bluetree]

Thanks for all the great advice. I think I will try the Sugoi arm warmers first - they are shorter and the lightweight fabric is better for this area (the coldest it gets where I live is 45F°). I will probably get the bolero eventually, but doubt I can master the on-bike removal.
I just pictured a scene where EMTs are finding my body/bike in the bushes next to the road, my feet still clipped in and my head/arms completely entwined in black fabric. Cause of death: Cycling clothes.

[kaian]

I have SheBeest arm warmers size small and they are pretty short. I am a very small person with stubby arms! Good liuck with whatever you get!

Now can someone suggest knee warmers for someone with short legs? I have a 27" inseam.

[jobob]

I wish they would make the bolero in more colors.

Meee too! The basic black Terry boleros always seem to sell out, you'd think either Terry would step up production - with assorted colors - or some other clothing manufacturer would start making them too.

Yoo hoo, Shiela Moon, make some boleros, pleeze?

Darn, she had a booth at the Marin Century, I should asked.

[Trekhawk]

I will probably get the bolero eventually, but doubt I can master the on-bike removal.
I just pictured a scene where EMTs are finding my body/bike in the bushes next to the road, my feet still clipped in and my head/arms completely entwined in black fabric. Cause of death: Cycling clothes.

LOL - too funny.:D :D

[bikerz]

Bluetree - Hilarious! I was picturing the same image for myself, then scrolled down and saw your description!

I have a pari of AV armwarmers and I really like them - and I have learned how to take them off while riding up hill slowly...

[Trek420]

I *heart* armwarmers :p

Basic black, AV, pink velo girls arm warmers....

Here in the Bay Area it seems to always be cold/foggy when you start, get warmed up, slide them down, stopped for while slide them back up, arms cold but core is warm unzip the vest/jersey....so variable. Unless it could rain I prefer vest/arm skins over jacket any day.

[Susan Otcenas]

Personally, I think a vest and armwarmers are two must-have cycling pieces. They extend your warm weather wardrobe dramatically, and are useful well into the cooler weather. I only wear a jacket with sleeves when it's quite cold or if it's raining.

JOBOB - what perfect timing you have. Sheila was here at TE on Tuesday showing us her spring line. She has armwarmers coming out in FABULOUS colors AND prints, all to match her spring 2007 apparel. We all loved them here in the office (very nice fit on the boleros), so you can be sure you'll find them here at TE in early spring. :)

Susan

[RoadRaven]

I always use armwarmers on a cool day to warm up, then, after about 20-30 minutes I slip them down - they are a fabulous and easy way to regulate your temperature
:)

[bcipam]

Armwarmers are beginning to sound like a good idea. I liked the bolero thing but it doesn't come in plus sizes, and if it runs small an XL wouldn't work for me.

What are sun skins?

And why can't I have a Barbie Dream House?

When I purchased my Bolero I was fairly large. I'm still a big gal with a broad back and shoulders and the Bolero works fine. It's actually less constricting then regular arm warmers.

I have lost some weight and they still fit just fine. My only beef is I have trouble getting them on and off in a hurry. I'm not coordinated like Nanci. I try the over the head thing and suffocated myself! :o

[quint41]

I just bought arm and leg warmers from Nashbar on sale. They had sizing info, I measured, and when I received them they fit perfectly. And not a moment too soon. Autumn is coming early to Connecticut. :(

[pooks]

When I purchased my Bolero I was fairly large. I'm still a big gal with a broad back and shoulders and the Bolero works fine. It's actually less constricting then regular arm warmers.
:o

Thanks -- that's helpful!

[jobob]

... the Bolero works fine. It's actually less constricting then regular arm warmers.

That's why I like the bolero so much. Armwarmers don't work particularly well for me since I don't like them snug, so then they tend to slide down.


I try the over the head thing and suffocated myself! Ummm, ditto :o

Susan, are you saying that Sheila Moon might be making boleros ??? That would be great.

I'd really like a purple bolero. Or a red one. Or a blue one. Or a ... eh, you get my drift.

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks to this thread I finally remembered my bolero today! :)

This was our first cool morning - just 62 degrees when we rolled down our very shady rural road to begin our ride, and the bolero was perfect. Four miles later, in the sun, it came off. I tried to imagine taking it off one handed while riding, like Nanci, and that just wasn't even close to happening. I don't need to crash again! :eek:

Emily

[Susan Otcenas]

Susan, are you saying that Sheila Moon might be making boleros ??? That would be great.
[/I]


Not might be. WILL be. :)

4 colors, 4 prints, and possibly black too! We tried on her samples and they fit well. More "fitted" than the Terry boleros which fit more like sleeves. The Sheila Moon boleros fit more like armwarmers (ie. closer fitting). And they look ADORABLE over her sleeveless summer pieces for '07.

Susan

[jobob]

excellent :cool:

[Veronica]

I think that was Veronica, she's annoyingly coordinated too.

Not to mention, now an O-fficial CA Triple Crown winner :)


Funny, I never use to think I was coordinated.

I have both a bolero and arm warmers. I use the arm warmers if the day is likely to warm up and I'll want to take them off and I'm wearing short sleeves.

Sheesh... my cycling clothes are becoming a fashion statement.

V.

[HipGnosis6]

I bet I could make one of those bolero thingies pretty easily..... Which of you Seattle girls has one I can check out?

[Bluetree]

Thanks for everyone's support and recommendations. I ended up buying the Sugoi Matrix arm warmers and the Terry bolero. The arm warmers are great. They're a little long but they are snug enough not to move. I really needed something just to cut the wind, not necessarily for overall warmth, and the Sugois do the trick.

The bolero? I love the quality and material, but the size S/M is a bit large for me. I don't mind the roominess of the arms because it slips over a SS jersey easily, but even bent over on my bike, the back portion is loose and the sleeves slip over my hands. Perhaps when the Sheila Moon boleros come in (red, maybe?), I'll try those out.

Kudos to TE for the fast shipping and excellent return policy!

Joy

[mimitabby]

I bet I could make one of those bolero thingies pretty easily..... Which of you Seattle girls has one I can check out?

Hip i never even heard of them before today; sorry. Maybe they aren't so useful in Seattle where you usually either want to take everything off or cover everything up?

[Kano]

I bet I could make one of those bolero thingies pretty easily..... Which of you Seattle girls has one I can check out?

Hi there! I'm not a SEattle girl, don't have one you can check out, but!

http://www.fitzpatterns.com/Pages/KATIA/0501_KATIA_PatternPage.htm

This link is a free pattern download so that you can make 'em! I was surfing around in my pattern making software, and what we who wear bike clothes are calling a "bolero" the rest of the world is calling a "shrug."

I can't speak to the quality of this pattern, but it's worth having a look at!

Karen in Boise