Winter sweat - what's a girl to do?

[Bklynmom]

What do you wear under your biking jacket or Jersey to absorb the sweat? My torso becomes a sweaty mess, then I freeze on the way home which is downhill from the park loop.

So I got the bottom half down - shoe covers and tights over the bike shorts seem to do the trick. Biking bamdana covers the ears, and I have a collection of various thicknesses of gloves.

On top I have a Peral Izumi Gavia biking jacket with a long sleved polyester running shirt underneath - not working . Fine when I leave the house, but too hot when I get going, then not warm enough on the downhill home.

What does everyone wear on top to stay not too sweaty but still warm enough?

[mimitabby]

wool helps with that

[7rider]

What do you wear under your biking jacket or Jersey to absorb the sweat?

What does everyone wear on top to stay not too sweaty but still warm enough?

I don't want to "absorb" sweat...I want it to be wicked from my body and sent packing (evaporated) out the back. Synthetics work great for that...a body hugging layer like Under Armor, a mid-warming layer, and a wind-proof shell (particularly front).

A golden rule I've always gone by for cold-weather rides: If you are warm in the first 10 minutes of your ride, you are dressed too warmly. Go shuck a layer.

[GLC1968]

I prefer wool for cold weather riding too. I don't think it wicks any noticeably better than my high quality synthetics, but it definitely keeps me warmer once it's wet.

If you are really turning into a sweaty mess, my guess is that you need to vent your jacket more when you are warmed up and working hard. Then, as you ride home at an easier pace, zip up and trap that heat inside. If you vent well, you can keep yourself from getting too, too wet. Pit zips, unzip the front (sometimes this works best to unzip from the bottom on a 2-way zip jacket), push your sleeves up, etc.

But again, once wet, only wool keeps me warm.

Oh, and I agree with Regina - if you are starting out comfy, you are over-dressed for the temps!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Merino wool has the amazing ability to keep you ventilated yet warm.
When you sweat, wool lets that sweat out to evaporate so you don't get clammy and damp, yet the wool still keeps you from getting cold. Plus, you don't get stinky.

Try getting a base layer top in 100% merino wool (it's non-itchy and soft) from Ibex.com or Smartwool, and see how it goes from there. Wear it underneath, next to your skin. If you like the effect you can get more stuff as needed.

I find i am most comfortable with just 2 or 3 layers of merino than i am with a merino base layer covered by a synthetic shell. The shell keeps the sweat in too much.

[spokewench]

You should be cold when you start out - cause you will warm up. So, don't wear the jacket at first, just a jersey and armwarmers for instance, ride the hard part where you get sweaty and then put your jacket on for the downhill. Sounds like it is just not cold enough for the jacket right now for the entire ride.
spoke

[velogirl]

Some of us just sweat. I sweat when I eat. I sweat when I walk. I sweat when I ride. My metabolism runs fast and I sweat.

Although it's not as cold here in winter, it can get into the 30s and 40s, and I have a similar problem. When it's cold and on rides with extended climbs, I'm just soaking, even if I strip off most of my layers. Then, I freeze my butt off on the extended descent. My secret has been to pack a dry base layer in my jersey pocket (in a plastic bag) so I can put a dry layer next to my skin for the descent.

[jcorbiser]

Anything from Craft is great. I much prefer it to Under Armour.

[DebW]

I stop and remove a layer when I get warm. It goes in the trunk rack.

[li10up]

I second the UnderArmor suggestion. Works great for me for moving the moisture away from my body.

[KathiCville]

Consider swapping out your poly running shirt for a wool base layer. I made the switch recently, after reading about the virtues of wool here on TE. I'm thrilled with the results.

For temps in the 30s, I've been putting on just a light or mid-weight merino piece (Smartwool or Ibex crew or zip-up top) under a seriously windproof jacket. (Your PI Gavia sounds like the ticket.) Plus SmartWool socks. Plus good Gore windstopper gloves. And an Ibex hat, if needed, tucked under my helmet.

Even if I work up a noticeable sweat on uphills, I haven't been getting chilled on the downhills----even if the wind is kicking up a fuss. I'm absolutely amazed by how comfortable I am, even though I can tell I'm damp. When I used to wear cotton or poly pieces for either hiking or biking in cold weather, more often than not I would freeze if I got the least bit damp or just stopped for more than a minute or two.

The two or three times so far that I've ridden when it's in the 20s, I've added another merino piece (like an Ibex Switchback) between the base layer and the jacket. One time I also put on lightweight Smartwool leggings under a pair of tights---possibly more than I really needed, but no big deal either way.

My boyfriend cycles much more than I do---in all kinds of weather---and says that he often runs into fellow riders who are overdressed for winter riding. I would no doubt do the same (I'm a wuss about cold weather), but he gave me a pretty good rule of thumb to follow: dress so that I'll be a little bit chilled (not miserable, just chilled) for the first couple of miles. After that point I should be warmed up enough. Then I can regulate my comfort the rest of the ride using the jacket zipper. (Taking my hat on and off would probably also work, but seems like too much trouble.) So far, between becoming a wool weenie and following BF's advice, I'm cozy behind the handlebars.....

[Geonz]

I can't wear wool and breathe... generally I give up the base layer for lost and if it's going to be as cold on the trip home as in, I pack an extra. I have *some* wicky stuff and lots of long-sleeved T-shirts... yes, "cotton is rotten" but it ain't that bad (and doesn't make me sick )
How cold are you talking about? 40 F? 20? (60?)

[OakLeaf]

Wool, and an outer layer that's windproof in the front for the descents, but vented in back.

[lph]

I dress the same way I do xc skiing - as little as possible, poly next to skin if I'm working hard and moving fast, windproof but vented as much as possible on the outside. For lower intensity, og if I have to stop at times I wear thin wool next to skin, also if it's really cold because then the consequences of getting wet and cold are just a bit too dangerous. Wool keeps me warmer, but I don't like really working up a sweat inside wool. Wool is great as a midlayer too, though.

Today it's going to be -6 C (about 20F) and I'll be wearing bike shorts, extra layer of poly boxer shorts (against the Numb Butt Syndrome ) Amfib tights, mediumweight wool socks, winter shoes, sports bra, turtleneck poly shirt, Gore Phantom jacket, lobster gloves, Buff and skull cap for the hour-long ride to work. I'll feel a bit cold for the first few km.

[onimity]

Agree with those that say that you are probably over-layered of you are toasty leaving the house.

I usually spend the first mile telling myself that I will put another layer on when I get to the two mile mark, the second wondering if I need to, and the remaining 8 miles (up & down) increasingly glad that I didn't. I have an outer jacket that vents well, very good for the last bits, even when it is very cold. I think the key is to regulating how much you sweat in the first place, i.e., don't let yourself get overly warm at the start.

Anne