Cotton T-Shirt?

Okay, I know this is a bad idea, so while I'm working myself up to go attack the heat and ride --

My first pair of road shorts are here and I love the way they feel. (I'm sure they give me diaper butt but I don't care at this point.)

However, my embarrassment comes not from the size of my *** but my stomach. Gack. As an apple, I carry much weight in front and I hate it. I'm tempted to put on a cotton t-shirt that will be loose and hang down over it a bit.

That's really a bad idea, isn't it?

I need to get a jersey that isn't so tight so I won't feel so self conscious!

Cotton loves to hold in moisture and not let it go! Then there is always the possibility of the darn thing chaffing you under the arms. Can you find some sort of wicking shirt that will do what you need? I just found some wicking tee-shirts for the DF at Old Navy for eight dollars a piece. He works outside and was complaining about the heat and how much he sweats in tee-shirts. I got him four of these shirts and he lives in them! Good luck in finding something that works for you!

If you don't intend to ride for very long, a cotton tshirt will be fine.

You could try to get a wicking tshirt for longer rides eventually...

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Originally Posted by pooks

Okay, I know this is a bad idea, so while I'm working myself up to go attack the heat and ride --
As an apple, I carry much weight in front and I hate it. I'm tempted to put on a cotton t-shirt that will be loose and hang down over it a bit.

That's really a bad idea, isn't it?

I need to get a jersey that isn't so tight so I won't feel so self conscious!

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hey Girl, try the cotton teeshirt!! if it doesn't work out you can try something different. Sometimes I wear cotton on rides. Get a real light weight one. can only hold SO much moisture, you know?
There's NO LAW that says you can't have a good ride without wearing spandex everywhere. Some of my bike jerseys feel positively icky!

Good point. I have a microfiber wicking t-shirt but it was made as a base-layer for winter wear, so I'm not sure that would work. But there's an Old Navy nearby.

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by pooks

Good point. I have a microfiber wicking t-shirt but it was made as a base-layer for winter wear, so I'm not sure that would work. But there's an Old Navy nearby.

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I see no reason why something labelled "winter layer" wouldn't keep on wicking just because it's summer...

Remember you don't always need to buy new stuff. And as mimitabby says, just try it, and if it doesn't work, try something else!!

I guess I'll try it. It seems like I tried wearing it in the summer before and it felt hot instead of cool, but maybe that was my imagination.

if all else fails, I'll give myself an all over squirt of water.

Today's will be a very short ride, anyway!

Yea, yea, yea, I've heard all that "cotton is rotten" folderol. 9 days out of 10, maybe more, I'm in A COTTON T-SHIRT. When I sweat, it stays wet and then the moisture evaporates. Evaporation cools. (And I look like a person who doesn't need no stinkin' jersey, that whole reverse snobbery thing... if you look like you're not even trying, then you can't fail, right?)

You're not doing a century, even if it feels like it in the heat :-)

NEW RULE

If the heat is over 100, you're doing a Century!

Ahem...

Wicking t-shirts are great, but I have cotton t-shirts. So I wear cotton, mostly. I'm trying to add wicking shirts as I can, but never seem to hit the sales. The cotton stuff comes off as soon as I get home, though, it DOES get wet.

I loathe cotton t-shirts. Unfortunately , all the cool events I take part in give out free cotton t-shirts, so I have a whole drawer of them that I rarely wear. I may consider wearing one if the temp is appropriate (early fall weather is the most ideal, for me) but I hate how I sweat and the pits get discolored and the shirt sticks to me.

Check out Target or even Walmart in their exercise section. I got a nice t-shirt style wicking shirt at Target for something like $12 which isn't bad. I actually bought it because one day I had only brought my long sleeve jersey to work and it was way too hot to ride in it. I just rarely use it because I prefer to have something with pockets, since my compact frame bike has a very small frame-hung bikebag which won't fit some of the most important things (like car keys and $$ for ice cream rides).

Also, not all jerseys need to fit skin tight. The skin tight thing seems to me ideal if you're racing, but if you're not worried about time then whats a little extra flaping in the wind gonna do to harm you?

K.

Well, believe me, if my cotton t-shirt starts making me feel hotter -- it WILL get wet. I'll douse myself with cold water from my polar bottle.

Women and children, hide your eyes! It ain't pretty!

One of the mroe insightful responses to Hurricane Katrina 'round here was somebody who sent emails asking for people to gather up those athletic event t-shirts they'd never worn... there's gotta be uses for 'em :-)

<going back on diet now... but to do list actually SHRANK yesterday and today... minor personal victory... :) )

Terry makes some nice plus size jerseys that tend to fit loosery than regular jerseys. Also try mountain bike jerseys - they tend to be cut more casually and loose.

Also - many department stores now carry "fitness wear" these are basically tshirts made in various wicking materials (usually CoolMax). I bought some for spin class and like them so much also use them while riding.

I was talking with a friend last night about he old days when I only wore cotton tshirts. At the start of the ride they fit fine but the end, they were 4 sizes larger and went ot my knees due to all the sweat collected. It definitely pays to wear wicking material.

Check out LL Bean for cool max t-shirts for about $20. I started with two of these in the sleeveless style when I started biking. I've since had to move on to jerseys with back pockets for longer rides, but I now use these t's for yard work and/or tennis! They are awesome and totally feel like cotton...

The first three items on this page are all cool max:
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...at=ssdpa500653

You may also be able to find similar stuff at a local TJ Maxx or Marshalls or some place similar.

I get t-shirt look wicking workout wear in the mens athletic wear department at Target. I think I pay $17-$18 they work on the bike and the run.
Jones

I wear wool t-shirts. Granted, it doesn't get all that hot here in Seattle, but it feels hot to me...

No stink, no cling, no moisture held captive against my dainty skin.

I have wool stuff from Duofold, Icebreaker, and Ibex. I much prefer Ibex. www.ibexwear.com Their stuff ain't cheap, but it is fabulous and replaces 3 or 4 regular shirts. Be sure to check out there outlet/sale section. Sometimes you can find theirs at Sierra Trading Post for pretty good prices. www.sierratradingpost.com

Otherwise, I second the suggestion to check out Target for wicking loose comfy t-shirts. Target is one of my favorite places because they have such decent stuff for such decent prices. (and they give good wages and benefits to their employees)

For my horridly bright commuting wear, I purchased a few shirts from www.alertshirts.com. You will be seen. They have one that looks like a t-shirt but it's made of wicking material. They are about $8 each, and that can't be beat. They also come in big sizes (AND they run long) because they are made for big road improvement worker guys, not cyclists.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

I wear wool t-shirts. Granted, it doesn't get all that hot here in Seattle, but it feels hot to me...

No stink, no cling, no moisture held captive against my dainty skin.

I have wool stuff from Duofold, Icebreaker, and Ibex. I much prefer Ibex. www.ibexwear.com Their stuff ain't cheap, but it is fabulous and replaces 3 or 4 regular shirts. Be sure to check out there outlet/sale section. Sometimes you can find theirs at Sierra Trading Post for pretty good prices. www.sierratradingpost.com

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You're a kick, Knotted one, but i confess, I bought some of those wool knickers myself. They are waiting for me at Sammamish Bike.
ps i have wool teeshirts too but usually don't wear them in the summer unless it is cooler.

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Originally Posted by Jones

I get t-shirt look wicking workout wear in the mens athletic wear department at Target. I think I pay $17-$18 they work on the bike and the run.
Jones

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Until I got brave enough to wear shorter, snugger tops ( took until this year, getting ready to turn 50 and snubbing my nose at the fashion police) I too bought mens workout wear from Target or Wally world - under 20 bucks, longer and wider than women's wear

I still wear cotton tee's if out on a tourist ride with the BF.

I have now found some good inexpensive female jerseys that are longer and don't have that dang elastic bottom - I have hips - and elastic doesn't like hips, and I don't like my jersey gathered under my BOOBS!:D

I just can't seem to throw-down the money for "wicking" t-shirts. THen i went to ROSS dress for less last week, and found a bunch of "athletic"wear (wicking shirts, some with bra built in) for $3 - $7 dollars. I'd seen the same stuff at Sports Basement on sale for around $25-$35. Score!

It's worth a look! they're getting all the summer stuff on super sale now.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

I wear wool t-shirts. Granted, it doesn't get all that hot here in Seattle, but it feels hot to me...

No stink, no cling, no moisture held captive against my dainty skin.

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When I flew from Vancouver to Montreal two weeks ago I was wearing a wool t-shirt. I had it from 3pm on Sunday to Monday 6pm or so. It took me through Vancouver's rather hot weather that day, a 5-hour plane ride that was really hot for some reason, and REAL heat in Montreal. I was never sweaty, never felt badly hot, and above all it didn't smell anything.

I haven't found a fitting wool jersey yet but I hope I do next time I need to buy a jersey. They're so cool...