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Like a good pair of rain boots, a good seasonal cycling jersey is one of the basic staples of your cycling wardrobe. A cold weather jersey needs to keep you warm in a variety of conditions while also being breathable enough to keep you sweat-free when you hit a few tough climbs. Now with sweat and cold weather it’s not always an easy combination to get right when you need to stay warm.
For any cool season from autumn, early spring, and winter, a jersey needs to have a few key things to look for. Today I’m going to cover these key items from fabrics, fit, and design elements. Thankfully, there are plenty of options, here is what you need to know about picking your seasonal base layer or jersey.
Fabrics
Roubaix This is a close fitting, thermal stretch fabric, with a soft brushed lining. Roubaix is extremely warm, and it’s high wicking properties help to maintain a comfortable microclimate close to the body. This reduces both chilling and overheating: a risk factor for dehydration.
Colorado
Colorado is a lightweight wicking fabric with an ultra-soft brushed face. It dries quickly to keep you comfortable, and looks great. Suitable for both mid and base layer garments.
Dakota
This is a close fitting, thermal stretch fabric, with a soft brushed face. Dakota is warm for its bulk, and it’s high wicking properties help to maintain a comfortable microclimate close to the body. This reduces both chilling and overheating: a risk factor for dehydration. It also has a wonderfully sleek and attractive appearance and a beautifully soft, snug feel.
Drytex
This is a high quality, high performance breathable waterproof fabric. Drytex is far more durable, and the waterproof qualities are much longer lasting.
Merino Wool
Merino wool is a fabric that is loved most during the cooler seasons. A jersey fabric that provides warmth, sweat wicking and antibacterial fibres that will help you smell nicer and stay warm. Lot’s of cycling jersey’s for cooler season will have merino in their jerseys blend with other synthetic fabric to help the jersey maintain it’s shape, performance and durability. Once thing to note about merino is that it can get heavy when wet.
Windproof
Windproof fabrics reduce the effect of the airflow so you’re not robbed of your body heat, allowing you to stay warmer for longer. Many manufacturers make jerseys with windproof panels at the front, or on the arms – areas that’s are exposed to the wind as you ride – with more breathable fabrics on the sides or back. I usually think of gilets or jackets as windproof layers over jersey’s though and I think many other cyclist do too for breathability effects underneath.
Fit
Whatever type of riding you do, you want a jersey that has long sleeves, fits close to your body, stretchy for layering but doesn’t sag, has a collar with a zip, and covers the lower back fully so that water or cool wind doesn’t get under to your skin.
Features
- Front zips: Look for a zip that’s easy to grab and adjust for breathability with gloved fingers.
- Zipped vents : Under arms/sides. Unzip when sweating or zip up for more warmth.
- Waist gripper : For close fit and preventing your jersey from riding up and letting cool air in.
- Reflective’s: Reflective’s for riding in dark or dull conditions. Rule of thumb: be bright, be seen.
Please note that breathable fabrics will not prevent you from sweating! Sweating is a function of how hard you are working, how much you are wearing and how warm it is. If these factors are sufficient you will indeed sweat, and the resulting moisture cannot escape from the fabrics. Always account for the weather temperatures and remember that your safest bet is to layer!
Image: Rapha