WoolWeenies Club

[elk]

I have a decision to make....I have been ordering jackets trying to find the right one....and I realize that I need to think of all kinds of weather and in terms of how things work together.
PNW....rainy damp cold winter...wet wet spring...dry temperate summers....

Some of this is fit...I am losing weight, wear an XL, but have found alot of the XLs are just a little tight in the hips, big in the shoulders. (think hourglass )

I have a hardshell Bean Gore Tex Stowaway which I actually have used on the bike since the Showers Pass was returned.

So I'm trying out the following:

Sugoi Stealth....light weight /wind/water resistent...fitted soft shell.

Marmot Sharp Point.. heavier weight wind /water resistant lined with a thin fleece, I am comfortable with 2 layers of wool under it and it fits really well...smaller waist, flared at the hip...wonder if it will soften up...it's stiff and a little noisey but comfortable.

Ibex Ber.??... the loden wool zip on sale at Ibex....but I 'm not liking the fit as well.
Waiting for ONE more...a Lowe Alpine water resistant soft shell in a NICE soft grey...the fit chart and color make this one look promising.

suggestions?

[kelownagirl]

I need to win the lottery...

That you do....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ibex Ber.??... the loden wool zip on sale at Ibex....but I 'm not liking the fit as well....
suggestions?

Elk, the only suggestion I might have is that the Ibex full zip Switchback on sale right now is a looser fit. It's not quite as heavy as the loden wool jacket you have though, it's more of a light wool jacket or heavy zip top. I have a VERY pear shape (small top, small waist, but large curvy hips) and the Switchback full zip fits me well and does not squeeze at the hips.

OK, so I have pix of the Ibex Cortina vest I got on sale from Ibex that I mentioned in an earlier post. I really love this vest. I hope these pix aren't too gigantic- if so I will then try to resize them . I am wearing my brown Ibex Shak under the vest, an Ibex neck gaiter, and 2 pairs Smartwool socks- green and blue. I love the color combination!

Attachment 4952 Attachment 4953


P.S. Sandra I gotta know the story behind your new avatar! What did you get crowned for?? You look like a movie star!

[elk]

Lisa...so cute..and so happy in her woolies....

YES...I have a full zip switchback and it fits perfectly. I love it...maybe I should get another one...

But it's worthless in the wind as an outerlayer...

I am collecting Smart Wool adrenaline socks...they are awesome!! I took Maudie for a walk last night in the cold rain and I had on my Sauconys with meshy tops and darn if my feet didn;t stay warm and dry!!!

[KathiCville]

Hi Elk......I don't know if this suggestion will help you, but you might try looking for jackets that have two-way zippers that allow you to open the jacket up from the bottom as well as from the top. Being able to open the bottom by even an inch or two can make an amazing difference in how a jacket sits on your hips.....I don't have any specific models/brands to suggest (in wool), unfortunately. Athleta has at least two or three winterish jackets that have a two-way zipper, but I think they're all fleece or other synthetic materials.....( www.athleta.com )

[Lisa, that vest is GORGEOUS! Great pick!]

[sandra]

Ok, I ordered the Ibex Switchback that is on sale at STP in the large. Got it yesterday. I love it. It is too small. Actually it fits perfectly, but too perfectly. I don't like my stuff to be fitted. I want it looser.

If any of you girls are selling XL's that don't fit, please let me know.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ok, I ordered the Ibex Switchback that is on sale at STP in the large. Got it yesterday. I love it. It is too small. Actually it fits perfectly, but too perfectly. I don't like my stuff to be fitted. I want it looser.

If any of you girls are selling XL's that don't fit, please let me know.

The Switchbacks tend to shrink a little when they are washed. You do not want to get one that fits perfectly at first. Can't you send it back?

[sandra]

yes, it is going back.

[elk]

KathiCVille The 2 way zipper is what allowed me to wear the SHowers Pass...but it was too big on top...all floppy...

I gotta say...I feel pretty hot in the Marmot Sharp Point (hot as in cool, not hot as in whew, open the pit zips) it fits really well. It breathes and with a few merino layers underneath could be perfect for cold drizzle....
It is wind stop and water resistant...

Maybe a packable rain poncho would be the ticket then if I were to really get caught in it....I don't forsee going out to ride in Heavey rain...Seattle/PDX Girls??

It's a really different proposition to stay warm in the NE than it is to stay warm and DRY in the NW!

So what am I gonna do when I have all the clothes I need, 2 bikes with all the right stuff...I guess I'll just have to ride instead of shop!!!

[elk]

Lisa
what knickers are those? you look like you were born in them!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So what am I gonna do when I have all the clothes I need, 2 bikes with all the right stuff...I guess I'll just have to ride instead of shop!!!

I hope to be in a situation like that next year when I have my second bike.
I feel very lucky indeed to be able to get a second nice bike.

Lisa
what knickers are those? you look like you were born in them!!!

Sometimes if it's not deadly cold, I wear one pair of long tights, then my regular old Terry Spinnaker spinning knickers over them, and then wool knee socks. That puts two layers covering my legs. That's good for about as low as 35 degrees if there's no wind.
If it's colder, like today was in the 20's, then I wear 2 layers on my legs as well, but they will be more heavy duty. Today was wicked cold and windy, and my legs had first Ibex merino thick tights, then some SportHill wind proof tights/pants, then my Ibex short black wool skirt (I wasn't riding today). I also wore heavy boots and socks. I really bundled up this morning at 25 degrees very windy and did my 3.6 mile walk. I actually stayed toasty!

Those Spinnaker knickers have a VERY light chamois in them- so light in fact that I can wear them alone and no one can see any chamois at all. They look good just for everyday wear. You don't really feel the thin chamois- it's like 1/8" of cotton or something- not much good for long bike rides. Here's a picture of me wearing them alone in the summertime last year:
http://harmonias.com/LisaBike_1.jpg
And here is where they sell them:
http://www.terrybicycles.com/detail.html?item_no=1822
They stretch a lot, so you don't have to be skinny to wear them.

[elk]

I just ordered the Spinnaker Knickers...they look great.

I better get some kneesocks...what kind are yours, Lisa..smartwool...what are they called?

I hope I didn't order them too big, but sizes in this stuff tend to run small...I ordered an XXL which I have never ordered before...

[elk]

Ok, I ordered the Ibex Switchback that is on sale at STP in the large. Got it yesterday. I love it. It is too small. Actually it fits perfectly, but too perfectly. I don't like my stuff to be fitted. I want it looser.

If any of you girls are selling XL's that don't fit, please let me know.

Sandra...Ibex has them in 3 colors for 1/2 off..tempted myself...
I have persimmon and even though it's not my favorite color, I wear it all the time because it feels and looks great on me....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Elk,
my knee socks are Smartwool Ski socks. STP has some on sale at the moment:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Pro...f=AffinitySale
Not sure how heavy those are compared to mine. I paid about $17 for my SW ski knee socks, medium cushion. I think mine were men's small....

XXL might be too big for your Spinnakers- they aren't that tight and stretchy- more relaxed. You'll just have to see when they arrive.

Sandra needs an XL switchback- Ibex only has that size in periwinkle color- with no photo of the color. I'm not sure what periwinkle looks like. I'm not seeing many XL switchback full zips left on the net at this point.

[KnottedYet]

I think my full-zip switchback is the periwinkle, a light blue with purple undertones. The periwinkle switchback fabric isn't as unstable as the charcoal fabric. (which shrank and shrank and is still shrinking... and that's why Ibex doesn't make switchbacks anymore) (at least according to one of the reps I talked to.)