Hi, just checked the home newspapers over the internet. Aftenposten had a test report on cold weather sports gear. Their conclusions: Lots of good stuff out there in merino wool. Some find it doesn't scratch, others will need a thin layer under. Wool wicks well, but so do some synthetics. On top of wicking layer ... wool. On top of that if you need more ... fleece. Then windproof outermost. Of the wool things, they say these are so different as to be practically non-comparable. They do, however, have a couple of favourites. Norrøna Arktis and Aclima Ultra wick well enough that you stay warm even when you stop to rest. They also ventilate well so A'posten says you can use them at high levels of activity such as skiing (so why not biking?). Brynje Arctic is best of all at wicking, or maybe just thicker?. They say it can be layered up in extreme cold or worn alone (without jacket) in between-season weather. And in the back pack, try something from a line called Ullfrotté. I have some myself. It's great! This stuff insulates so well you feel warm in seconds, even if you're just sitting still, so this is what you pull on when you stop for a break. If you watch Nordic skiing on tv and see the athletes stripping in the snow after the race and pulling a dry sweater on ... probably ullfrotté. Certainly looks like mine. Of course, while these are standard brands in Scandinavia, I have no idea whether they're available this side of the Atlantic. I just bought some REI silks to see how I like'em. I've also used REI midweight underwear and find it pretty much keeps me warm enough in temperatures down to ... say mid-teens F at moderate levels of activity (e.g. trekking) ... unless the wind is too cutting. Colder and I need wool in layers to keep my jacket from freezing under the backpack where condensation can't escape.