WoolWeenies Club

Got the Ibex Dash Jackets last week, just didn't really get to look too closely as there was so much going on. They are not heavy, but more medium weight, but the front seems like it would be quite windproof. The back is a like a stretchy warm sweater. The L womens fit me nicely everywhere but the length, where I feel it is too short for me. I am long waisted, and also 5'8". The sleeves were long enough, the shoulders fit well, and it was not baggy. The mens is much longer, and dips more in the back, which I like. However, I tried on my husbands L, which is too baggy everywhere, but the length is lovely. So I don't know whether to try the mens medium. My husband is definitely keeping his, but I "sob" have to send the womens back. These jackets are beautiful for the money. However, if you are a tall women, I would recommend trying the mens.
Any ideas from the Ibex rep who posts here? I would appreciate it!

Darn, I hope Ibex isn't shortening their women's sizes! I'm 5'8" and long-armed, and wear a L in everything. Sounds like the L Dash wouldn't fit me at all!!!

Thanks for the Dash Jacket report!

I tried the dang jacket again.....I keep hoping the thing fits. Part of the problem is I have wide hips, and the jacket is riding up slightly.....looking shorter than it really is. If I pull it straight down tight it hits my high hip, and dips slightly in the back. This would be fine if it would stay, but it won't. I was just thinking maybe I should go to an XL. This is annoying, because an XL is usually huge on me.....but if the shoe fits.... I just wonder if the XL is any longer in length than the L....

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Originally Posted by pooks

And here I'd promised myself not to buy any new cycling gear in January....

But I needed the long tights. Just ordered 'em. Thanks for the heads up. All they have left are L and XL, if anybody else is interested.

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Just an update -- Lisa's highly recommended Ibex Approach wool tights (on sale, no less) arrived and I've been wearing them constantly since. SO warm and comfy.

Thanks for the heads up, Lisa!

I am sooooo bummed that I can't afford to buy anything right now! Is there a lotto just for wool weenies with a guaranteed pay-out?

I know what you mean, Knot.. I haven't been able to buy any wool for WEEKS
because of the budget going towards other things. and now i am thinking about a frame :confused: :confused: :confused: what am I crazy? Yup crazy in love.

There was a pair of wool long johns on sale for 25 bucks at someplace like Sierra Traders right after/before Christmas (cranberry colored) that i resisted and now I am having serious regrets!
I have been wearing tights every day for a while and none of them are wool. (under my work slacks)
brrrr

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Originally Posted by pooks

Just an update -- Lisa's highly recommended Ibex Approach wool tights (on sale, no less) arrived and I've been wearing them constantly since. SO warm and comfy.

Thanks for the heads up, Lisa!

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Oh I'm so glad! And I'm wearing mine right NOW...
They are so comfy I wear them almost every day now whether I'm biking or not.

The only problem I have is the cat hair magnet effect of wool. But you just wet your palm and "roll" the hair down your leg into a little clump and pick it off. :D

Anyone have both the Zephyr T-neck and the Woolies T-neck?

I have the Zephyr in a medium. It fits just right for outwear but not tight enough for layering under a tailored jersey. Since the Woolies says it is a form fit, do you think I can order the same size and have it truly be formfitting without being clautrophobically tight? Does the arm length change? I need long arms in my cycle clothing.

I wish they made the Zephyr in a form fit because the weight would be just perfect under some of my jerseys. I wonder how much shorter the arms would be in a small.

According to Ibex, the L womens dash hybrid jacket is 20 3/4" in the front and 24.5 in the back. The extra large is about a 1/2" longer correspondingly. I would love to have a jacket that is just a touch longer, especially in the back. The mens jacket must be about 5" longer all the way around. I was going to order the mens in red in medium, BUT of course now they only have it in small!
:mad:
Maybe I am not supposed to have this? Any suggestions on other winter jackets people use cycling????

Did you check the Ibex jackets on clearance at www.rei-outlet.com ?

I only looked at a couple, but it seems like there were 3 or 4 when I was there. (they could be sold out now, but it might be worth checking)

Anyone interested in the wool/polyester tshirts that were on steep and cheap? I got 2 of the mediums but don't like how they fit - I have short arms and the sleeves go down past my elbow. I hate that! Anyway, they were $17 a piece which includes shipping within the US. I have a green and red one if anyone's interested.

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Anyone have both the Zephyr T-neck and the Woolies T-neck?

I have the Zephyr in a medium. It fits just right for outwear but not tight enough for layering under a tailored jersey. Since the Woolies says it is a form fit, do you think I can order the same size and have it truly be formfitting without being clautrophobically tight? Does the arm length change? I need long arms in my cycle clothing.

I wish they made the Zephyr in a form fit because the weight would be just perfect under some of my jerseys. I wonder how much shorter the arms would be in a small.

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I have the Zephyr T, and the Woolies CREW necks, all in Medium. The Zephyr is more relaxed fit, and the material is heavier than the woolies. The woolies arms are plenty long, but the fabric is thinner as it's intended as a base layer like long underwear. It is definitely more form fitting. The woolies also have long fine ribbed cuffs, if you notice, like the kind of cuffs you find on long johns. If you don't mind that, then yes I love wearing my woolies under things they are very soft and snuggly, and the arms are long enough. They would def. be form fitting enough to wear under a jersey.

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Originally Posted by mtbdarby

Anyone interested in the wool/polyester tshirts that were on steep and cheap? I got 2 of the mediums but don't like how they fit - I have short arms and the sleeves go down past my elbow. I hate that! Anyway, they were $17 a piece which includes shipping within the US. I have a green and red one if anyone's interested.

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I thought they were a 3/4 sleeve. I like mine okay, mine is orange :rolleyes:

Lisa, thanks! Just as I was thinking no one had read my post.

I am not impressed with the addition of the cuff in an underlayer garment. It just adds bulk. My husband has last year's Woolies with no cuff and agreed that the cuff is not an improvement.

What I really want is the midweight in a formfit.

SmartWool runs too long on me and I sure like my Zephyr.

The only thing I can recommend is the Smatwool zip-T...VERY form fitting, and a nice weight like the zephyr... But too long on you??

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Lisa, thanks! Just as I was thinking no one had read my post..

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Silly girl there are a lot of wool weenies that read every post. Sometimes we just don't respond because we don't know the answer.

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

The only thing I can recommend is the Smatwool zip-T...VERY form fitting, and a nice weight like the zephyr... But too long on you??

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Last year I bought REI's lightweight Zip T-neck because the arms and torso were about 2 inches shorter than the Smartwool. Over the summer, I bought the Ibex Zephyr which is closer to the REI in length, maybe even a tad shorter but that could be because it is a more relaxed fit and for possible use as outwear (mine is embroidered with a bike company's logo).

Arms being a little long is OK, torso no. You can only tuck so much down into your bike shorts. :eek:

My Zephyr turtleneck is in the wash right now, and won't be dry til tomorrow, but if you want to wait, I can compare the sleeves and torso lengths of it to my SW Turtle-zipT. Both are size medium.

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Last year I bought REI's lightweight Zip T-neck

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what did you htink of the rei zip? I have two and love them. I wear them all of the time ( wearin the black one right now. I bought them on sale ( I love a sale!) and that is what started me on wool. I wish they would bring rei wool back and maybe even expand the selection.

I love my REI wool zip-T. I think it is very nice and certainly much less expensive than Ibex and Smartwool. They've discontinued it? Must be why I was wandering aimlessly around REI the other day wondering where it was.:rolleyes:

OK Sadie Kate....
I measured and compared my two medium zip turtlenecks today:
One is the Zephyr zipT and the other is the SmartWool zip-T, both size medium, both longsleeve turtlenecks and both have been worn quite a few times and washed about twice in warm (not hot) water with Woolite and dried very slightly on LOW and then laid out to dry the rest of the way.

I found that the Zephyr is about 1/2 inch longer in the torso (from shoulder to bottom), and about 1/2" longer in the sleeve (lined up the cross seam under the arms.)

The SW zip-T is MUCH more form fitting though- has seams that taper the waist in and the sleeves are narrower too- easily fits smoothly under things that would make the zephyr bunch up underneath. The Zephyr is nice when you wear it on top because it's a more relaxed feel.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, Lisa. I wonder if Smartwool did some re-design. The ZipT I tried on was oodles longer.

The Zephyr is sure snuggly. I wish they made it in bright, bright, red.

Yeah, a HOT TOMATO red!! :p
...and a juicy MANGO YELLOW!!!! :D :D
...and a crisp cool SPRING LETTUCE green!!! :D :D

(oops, getting hungry again....)

Re-read the 12 steps!
We're with you in this!
You are not alone, Lisa

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Originally Posted by margo49

Re-read the 12 steps!
We're with you in this!
You are not alone, Lisa

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Confession time. :(
Lately, I have been ordering some NON WOOL biking clothes.
I've been trying to get some neon screaming yellow/green top layer stuff so that I can be as visible as possible to cars. I'm sort of paranoid about that.
It started with a NightLife jersey from Terry.
I liked that so much that now I want a lightweight neon vest and a neon rain jacket, and I've ordered some to try out.
If I wear at least 2 wool items at any given time though, will I hopefully not be kicked out of the WW Sisterhood? :(

no, of course not, dear, we have your number. we all know that you
will return to wool again and again.

My mother found me a great red-orange 50-50 wool blend second hand,
perfect for work. So I feel better about not finding anything for myself.

Yellow wool? Here you go though I have no idea how they fit us girly-types.

If you haven't heard of Kucharik, they are an old and trusted name in bicycle clothing. Sadly, they aren't seen as much but those "in the know" over the years know about them.

http://kucharik.com/

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

Confession time. :(
Lately, I have been ordering some NON WOOL biking clothes.
I've been trying to get some neon screaming yellow/green top layer stuff so that I can be as visible as possible to cars. I'm sort of paranoid about that.
It started with a NightLife jersey from Terry.
I liked that so much that now I want a lightweight neon vest and a neon rain jacket, and I've ordered some to try out.
If I wear at least 2 wool items at any given time though, will I hopefully not be kicked out of the WW Sisterhood? :(

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If you have wool as your next-to-skin layer, then you are an official WoolWeenie regardless of what is on the outside. Blazing yellow nylon makes sense as a windproof, waterproof, hi-vis outer layer. The wool is next to your skin where it does the most good at wicking and insulating. WoolWeenies don't have to show off their wool all the time, because WoolWeenies are modest and humble people. :D

The opposite are people who wear wool on the outside for show and **shudder** cotton **gasp** on the inside. They are just poseurs.

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Originally Posted by DebW

If you have wool as your next-to-skin layer, then you are an official WoolWeenie regardless of what is on the outside. Blazing yellow nylon makes sense as a windproof, waterproof, hi-vis outer layer. The wool is next to your skin where it does the most good at wicking and insulating. WoolWeenies don't have to show off their wool all the time, because WoolWeenies are modest and humble people. :D

The opposite are people who wear wool on the outside for show and **shudder** cotton **gasp** on the inside. They are just poseurs.

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Boy, I agree with that!

I found El Fito knickers on sale for $88 here:
Bike Stop
But before I grab them, I have a couple of questions for the rest of the WW club:
1. Are the El Fitos pretty true to size? I wear a L in Shebeest, so comparing size charts, it looks I should get a L in the El Fitos. Any tips?
2. Has anybody ever dealt with Bike Stop before? Any problems with them?
Thanks--I'm dying to snap up this sweet deal, but trying to be judicious about it.

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Originally Posted by DebW

WoolWeenies don't have to show off their wool all the time, because WoolWeenies are modest and humble people. :D

The opposite are people who wear wool on the outside for show and **shudder** cotton **gasp** on the inside. They are just poseurs.

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Now that I know!
(whew) relieved that I'm still saved.

The Kucharik has some nice things- my DH has several pieces from them. But although I have ample hips, I have a small waist and small boobs and shoulders, and I'm pretty sure their men's small will be weird fitting and baggy on me. I like tapered fit without bagginess around the waist. And I see most of their stuff does NOT come in xs. Strange that they have children's stuff, but no specific women's stuff.

I'll be doing well wearing wool base layers with the neon nylon top wind layers in the Spring. And there's always my wool tights, socks, and helmet liner too! :) Thanks for the WW soul support, sisters!

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Originally Posted by Bad JuJu

I found El Fito knickers on sale for $88 here:
Thanks--I'm dying to snap up this sweet deal, but trying to be judicious about it.

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Waaah! They only have large and small. No medium. I'm a frustrated WoolWeenie.

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Originally Posted by DebW

Waaah! I'm a frustrated WoolWeenie.

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Waaa! Waaa! A fwusstwated wooweenie!!

I went ahead and ordered a pair. :o I was too afraid they'd be sold out if I waited.

Sorry for causing so much fwustwation among the WoolWeenies, but...I needed a fix.:eek:

Deb - I found the El Fitos to run a little large. I usually wear a "L" in Ibex, but I can wear a "M" in the El Fitos. (I haven't worn an "M" on my heinie in DECADES!) A small might fit you just fine.

you know actually except for my rei wool zips, I don't like to wear wool against my skin. This means pretty much my icebreaker 260 crews (very thick!). I wear a synthetic tank top or a synthetic sports bra and tank top. I am not sure if it is a comfort thing or a warmth thing or I just feel that I should be wearing somehting under it.

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Originally Posted by madscot13

you know actually except for my rei wool zips, I don't like to wear wool against my skin. This means pretty much my icebreaker 260 crews (very thick!). I wear a synthetic tank top or a synthetic sports bra and tank top. I am not sure if it is a comfort thing or a warmth thing or I just feel that I should be wearing somehting under it.

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Well, for me there are two main reasons. One is just the fact that I don't like to wash my woollen sweaters as often so I prefer to have a more "disposable" layer underneath to absorb my body stuff directly.

The second thing is that when I've worn wool sweaters directly on my skin I feel very oily at the end of the day. I mean, there's nice moisturized dewy skin and then there's oily. I don't get this feeling on my skin when I wear the finer weave stuff like the smartwool underwear tops. Only the larger chunky knits.

Sierra Trading Post got some Ibex:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Ibex.html

Pretty limited, but if they do like they did last year, there will be more Ibex soon.

Snakes on a plane it has been cold lately! And I love it!

Just the perfect excuse to wear every wool layer I own and proudly exclaim (and loudly or the howling wind will mute it) I AM NOT COLD! and this is before the ice from your breath instantly freezes and falls like little itty bitty icicles on your wool covered feet.

The combination of wool and cold induced delusions (is that an early sign of hypothermia?) makes me want to run around outside and do lord knows what people do in such great weather.

Ooh Ooh Ooh, my Ibex El Fito knickers arrived while I was out of town, and they're here just in time for a cold snap! Projected high/low for the Saturday morning club ride is 51/40 degrees F.

BTW, they fit beautifully. I'm borderline between L and XL, and the large El Fito is perfect for me. Can't wait to ride in them!