WoolWeenies Club

[Andrea]

Based on the ravings in this thread, I went to Ibex's site & ordered the long sleeve crew (from the "clearance" page). You guys have me all excited to try it out!

[elk]

Ok...I'm IN LOVE with my new Jamis and my 2 layers of ibex merino ...but I'm wondering what kind of vest to put over the layers...Want wind and rain protection...another wool layer? or a shell kind of vest...?

i've been looking at vests and most of them seem pretty form fitting...i mean, how are they going to go over 2 layers?

[Dianyla]

Ok...I'm IN LOVE with my new Jamis and my 2 layers of ibex merino ...but I'm wondering what kind of vest to put over the layers...Want wind and rain protection...another wool layer? or a shell kind of vest...?

I'm really fond of wearing the PI Whisper Vest in screaming yellow over my woolies. Gives you visibility and some windproofness. Not much water protection, though.

[KnottedYet]

ditto the PI Whisper vest.

If you are afraid it won't fit over your layers, measure yourself while wearing the layers! Choose the size that fits over the layers.

I have a wool vest from Woolrich that I'm quite fond of, but I'm more likely to put on a sweater for the bike ride rather than my wooly vest. (I like the sleeves, and the PI vest does most of the core warming I might need.)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm a Brooks Nightlife screaming yellow fan myself. You can get them from Terry. I've tried the Whisper vest and jacket and they just don't fit my body shape as well as the Nightlife stuff does. Same purpose, though- some wind and light rain protection and high traffic visibility.
I do like vests for biking- the arm ventilation keeps me from getting overheated, but my core/torso stays warmer. Also they are smaller than sleeved jackets if you have to stow them in your saddlebag.
In heavy rain all bets are off and you really need a true bike rain jacket of some sort. Maybe Gore? I have a Craft screaming yellow rain jacket from TE that I like. But keep in mind that when something is truly rainproof then it often does not breathe well, and it tends to get hot and stuffy in it if you're working hard.
Wool does have the advantage in light rain of keeping you warm and ventilated even if it gets damp. So sometimes in drizzle I'll wear my dense wool Ibex vest over my other wool items.

[elk]

well i ordered the PI whisper late last night...we'll see. I tried to order the Brooks vest at Terry that night of the 50% off and just got so frustrated!

JUST got a box from Ibex...

BUt one of my fave pieces is the Icebreaker tank I got from Sierra TP...it's SO soft and fits so well. I ordered 2 of the same by mistake....but I think I'll keep 'em both!

I SO wanted to take a long ride today but it's RAINING..grrrrr
In Portland rain means RAIN...not drizzle or mist...

[Eden]

For those who have everything else in wool......... (you know you need a wool bikini or perhaps a set of wool sheets)
http://www.wolltraum.de/
It's all in German, but you can get the idea about most of it pretty easily

(for those with sensitive work places, some of this stuff perhaps a bit R rated.....)