L/S jersey's - how useful are they?

[Cassandra_Cain]

Hi...

So as the high's are now threatening to sink below 80 degree's, I've officially declared it winter :p

I've lived in cold climates before (canada, etc) but never ridden in winter. As such I've been happily soaking up all those toasty cold-weather gear threads in these forums. That's given me a lot of ideas about what to try and get in advance. A few questions for you all, please chime in at will :)

1 - how useful are long sleeve jerseys? TE has some lovely ones like the Bello Vela, LG Pro, LG Athena, etc - are these any warmer than regular SS jerseys? As in are they lined with something warm and cozy or are they just the same mesh-type material as S/S jersey's? I know it sounds dumb but can you roll up the sleeves on them if it gets warmer - or do the sleeves stay 'long' always?

I figure if they aren't any warmer, save for just longer sleeves, than it is probably not worth getting one and instead, opting for a light jacket and/or warm layers over a regular S/S jersey.

I have looked around at a few LBS here but haven't seen any to get some first-hand experience with.

[Veronica]

I only have a couple of long sleeve jerseys. One is wool and the other is regular cycling material. I have found that jackets just don't breathe, so I tend to wear a jacket only when it's really cold, raining or on a long descent.

I wear the wool jersey when it's warm enough for a single layer and not likely to warm up much. I wear the other jersey with a bolero over it, when it's a cold morning but likely to get warmer, but not so warm that I want short sleeves.

V.

[SadieKate]

Long sleeve jerseys come in all different weights and permeability. I wear them a lot with another layer underneath. Windjackets are reserved for really cold days or rain because it is too easy to get sweaty and then cold. But I have heavy windfront lycra jackets which I adore for my nighttime winter rides. I'll ride to about 30 degrees at the lowest. Colder than that and I'm indoors with my Irish Coffee.

You bet they're worth it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just got the long sleeved SmartWool brand "Zip-T's" from TE. They are thin soft merino wool with a little turtleneck with front neck zipper.
I wore one yesterday (the jade green) in the cold rainy wind, a 40 mile ride. I really liked it, it breathed so I didn't feel suffocated or too sweaty, yet kept me nice and warm all day on the ride. I got the plum color too. Very versatile item.

[KSH]

Well, since I didn't have the money for a long sleeve jersey... I basically have long sleeve wicking shirts that I wear under my regular jerseys.

So, I get the sleeves, the pockets w/the jersey... and I take the long sleeve shirt off and tie it around my waist, if I get too hot.

For the colder days, under 60F degrees, I wear an Under Armor/cold gear mock turtleneck under my jersey. I also have some pants and a jacket to wear.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Hmmmm. Interesting replies - as always of course - here here for Irish Coffee and Bailey's. Wait? Winter riding? Who does that? :P

Ok so....


Seems like some gals use the L/S'ers while others don't - opting to get the same benefits with other clothing/layers.

For instance, I like these two jerseys - both very cute, but from my pc anyway, they don't look any more cozy than the short sleevers.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=21443
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=20588

Whereas something like this looks like it would actually be toasty:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=21711


Maybe I need to just call TE and ask them to compare various jerseys.

[Cassandra_Cain]

I just got the long sleeved SmartWool brand "Zip-T's" from TE. They are thin soft merino wool with a little turtleneck with front neck zipper.
I wore one yesterday (the jade green) in the cold rainy wind, a 40 mile ride. I really liked it, it breathed so I didn't feel suffocated or too sweaty, yet kept me nice and warm all day on the ride. I got the plum color too. Very versatile item.

Hi Lisa - thanks for mentioning those tops. Are these the ones you are referring to?

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=21593

[postiechic]

You can get some l/s jersies that are warmer than others. I have 2 l/s jersies - both Nettis - one has the brushed fleece inside which makes it warmer than the other one (and it got me all thru winter) thats the same fabric as s/s jersies. I know layers are good...but the less I hafta cart to work and home again each day, the better.
However, having said that, i like the idea of the s/s jersey combined with the l/s plain ole wicking top.

[li10up]

I haven't done much cold weather riding but when it gets cooler here I've found that a SS jersey with arm warmers works great. If the jersey is on the thin side (most are) then a vest with a mesh back blocks the wind from the front but lets your body vent and keeps you from over-heating.

[CorsairMac]

CC: For what it's worth living in the same city you do: I wear LS jerseys all winter. Course - I also commute all winter. I use them starting when the highs stay below 65 and then just layer under them as the temps keeps dropping. I don't use a jacket until 2 layers of jersey isn't enough - usually when the lows are around 35 - oh - and when the sun doesn't come up until mid-morning since my jacket is illumnite material. This will be my third year of commuting and I appreciat every LS jersey I own.

Also: I don't ride in the winter except to commute - it's just too cold! ;)

[Cassandra_Cain]

CC: For what it's worth living in the same city you do: I wear LS jerseys all winter. Course - I also commute all winter. I use them starting when the highs stay below 65 and then just layer under them as the temps keeps dropping. I don't use a jacket until 2 layers of jersey isn't enough - usually when the lows are around 35 - oh - and when the sun doesn't come up until mid-morning since my jacket is illumnite material. This will be my third year of commuting and I appreciat every LS jersey I own.

Also: I don't ride in the winter except to commute - it's just too cold! ;)

Quite true C-Mac - you would know, living in the same place I do.

The downhill to journal center though must be the worst part of it - give you have virtually zero chance of warming up almost.

So hey, what is the cut-off date between winter commute-riding-only and rest of the year fun riding? :)

I wouldn't mind doing a metric sometime btw :cool:

I think I'll be getting a L/S'er after all, now I just need to decide on which one(s)!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hi Lisa - thanks for mentioning those tops. Are these the ones you are referring to?

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=21593

Yes, I got those two colors (mint & plum), and am now planning to order a black one too, because they are so comfy and versatile.
But be sure to check out the same ones in two other colors:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=15821
(These are on SALE I think because they aren't the "new" colors.)

These are SOFT and cozy wool tops that breathe nicely and are not bulky at all.

[sulis]

I just got the long sleeved SmartWool brand "Zip-T's" from TE. They are thin soft merino wool with a little turtleneck with front neck zipper.
I wore one yesterday (the jade green) in the cold rainy wind, a 40 mile ride. I really liked it, it breathed so I didn't feel suffocated or too sweaty, yet kept me nice and warm all day on the ride. I got the plum color too. Very versatile item.

I've never owned any SmartWool or Merinowool but definitely need a good base layer for the fall riding coming up. These sound perfect. However, I have not traditionally done well with wool. Are they itchy?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've never owned any SmartWool or Merinowool but definitely need a good base layer for the fall riding coming up. These sound perfect. However, I have not traditionally done well with wool. Are they itchy?

I don't find them itchy at all- they seem very soft- they are Merino wool- the softest wool there is. But hey you might be extra-itch sensitive, so your mileage may vary!

[Nanci]

The last few winters I've just had one fairly light LS jersey. I hardly ever wore it. Then, last winter, when I was riding almost every day, I _did_ wear it alot, because I couldn't be so selective about weather conditions. (The coldest it gets here is about 25F, but then it often warms up to 45F- so then the LS is too warm!!) I liked it so much, on the days that it was cold enough, that I bought two on clearance this spring, that I haven't gotten to wear yet- another Terry lightweight one, and the Terry Polarfleece soft cuddly one. I am looking forward to cold weather! But if I could only afford one thing, a Bolero or LS jersey, the Bolero is much more versatile, plus you aren't stuck in it if it gets warmer than you thought it would.

I think they are a _lot_ warmer than SS jerseys- because my arms are what gets cold, and they are covered up! Also, I can push the sleeves up if I'm a little too warm.

Another really versatile item is a nice lightweight wind jacket- small enough to go in a pocket when you get warm.

Something I bought but always end up wearing a jacket instead is a wind vest. If you need wind protection- your arms need it too. It just doesn't really add much warmth at all.

[pooks]

I don't find them itchy at all- they seem very soft- they are Merino wool- the softest wool there is. But hey you might be extra-itch sensitive, so your mileage may vary!

I have smart wool socks and LOVE them. I even wear them in summer.

I'm now coveting one of those zip-Ts.

Pooks

[li10up]

Something I bought but always end up wearing a jacket instead is a wind vest. If you need wind protection- your arms need it too. It just doesn't really add much warmth at all.This is true but in the transition weeks I've started out with the temperature being cool and then with the combination of it getting warmer as the day goes on and me heating up due to the effort a wind vest with arm warmers is ideal. You can pull off the arm warmers and stuff them in your jersey pocket, unzip the vest and you aren't overheating and not having to tie a jacket around your waist. Once it gets cold and stays cold a jacket with layers is the way to go.

Arm warmers and leg warmers IMO are great! If you only have one LS jersey you have to wash it too often and you can only wear the LS part of the year. With arm warmers and leg warmers you don't have to invest in several long sleeve jerseys or tights.

[Nanci]

You may not _have to_ invest in several LS jerseys, but when you can get them on spring clearance and drool over them all summer, it sure is fun!!

[kelownagirl]

I tried some arm warmers on the other day and wondered if a strip of your arm can get exposed (and cold) between the jersey and the arm warmer?

barb

[li10up]

I tried some arm warmers on the other day and wondered if a strip of your arm can get exposed (and cold) between the jersey and the arm warmer?
barbIf you have cap sleeves on your jersey I guess that would be possible. I haven't run into that problem though. Just be sure to check the length is long enough for you.

[DirtDiva]

I've never owned any SmartWool or Merinowool but definitely need a good base layer for the fall riding coming up. These sound perfect. However, I have not traditionally done well with wool. Are they itchy?
Merino is great. I could clothe an army in the amount of merino I wear in the winter. I don't own any other kind of woollies. A good knit (a la SmartWool) shouldn't itch, should last forever and will be really washable. And it won't smell unless you've literally worn it for days. Might be worth using a washing powder/liquid for sensitive skin with 'em, if you've had problems with wool beeing itchy, though... :confused:

Personally, my winter ensemble typically involves a long-sleeved synthetic thermal (largely because the ones I've got are long enough to get tucked in and stay tucked in), a merino t-shirt and a wind vest or jacket (I've got one of the ones with the arms that zip on and off - brilliant concept, why aren't more made that way?).

[spokewench]

Layering is the key for cold weather riding. I've ridden in very cold and not so cold. When it is not too cold, I will wear summer weight knee warmers, and arm warmers and maybe a very light (wind breaker, can be folded up in a pocket) type of Jacket.

The next step is to change the leg warmers to full length tights, and add some summer weight wool socks, like smartwool lightweight socks, and maybe a lightweight long sleeve by itself of under a short sleeve jersey.

As it gets colder, I wear thermafleece tights (umm warm and toasty), a polyproplyene undershirt, under short sleeve or warmer long sleeve jersey (toasty, thick one), and a little heavier jacket. The jackets can cause you to sweat so often times I start out with them but take it off as I warm up and before I get too sweaty. You can wear a light weight long fingered glove, specialized makes a pretty good one.

Then, you add the toe covers, then booties, and thick wool socks (like wooly boolies) under your shoes with all the booties and toe covers on top. At about this time, you add a ear warmer over your ears. Sometimes a balaclava to cut out the cold air from the airways so you can breath especially if you have asthma. Good gloves that is the hardest thing to find - try some wind proof ones.

Now, the next step is the really hardcore, pearlizumi (i forgot what they call them, they are thermafleece with a wind protection layer on the front, a really good say GORE jacket for really cold riding! (When it gets this cold, I usually don't ride - it just isn't worth it for me) BUT it can be done! All this with the other stuff underneath.

Now, the trick is how to figure out how to budget all of this when you don't have any of it! :D

[Cassandra_Cain]

Thank you for all the tips, very much appreciate all the different suggestions and ideas!

Spokewench - woah, no kidding about budget. Still I like how you went into different levels of attire according to the weather. Muchas gracias! You being in flagstaff, I think would know all about cool weather :)


I finally tried on some L/S jersey's at the LBS - about time they got them in. I can definitely see they are different than the short sleevers - the inside especially. The bottom line I can see is layering, as everyone mentioned, so now I just have to decide which pieces I want to get, but now I have some excellent ideas :D

[Cari]

Hey Cass,

This one is a little late, but I thought I should mention...

The pink Louis Garneau l/s jersey you mentioned is made of their Micro Brush fabric, which is fuzzy but not super heavy. It looks like it would be great for layering, and it's sized just a tad more generously than their regular s/s jerseys so a base layer would fit comfortably -- no need to size up.

However, if you want something that's really warm would recommend that you check out anything made with Garneau's Micro Airdry Elite fabric. Now *that* looks super toasty!

Happy shopping,

Cari