Breathable outer top – help please

For muddy nightrides I have been using a waterproof top regardles of whether it is raining or not however I find, not surprisingly, that it is hot and sweaty added to that I dont want to wash it after every ride to try to preserve the waterproof qualities. It seems that what I need is a breathable outer layer that will “withstand” mud and frequent washing, not necessarily waterproof, any suggestions? What do you wear?

You need a softshell windproof thing like a Gore Phantom or similar, there’re been quite a few threads on them in the last few days.

I wear one of these [/url]

Very nice top, skin tight, but nice and stretch too. I find it very breathable too. Just have this and a base layer and i’m warm enough.

I’ve got an altura cropton jacket – it isn’t proper waterproof, but keeps the wind off and washes fine. I find as long as I don’t wear too many layers under it (currently just a single cycle jersey), I don’t sweat badly under it. It was pretty cheap too.

Joe

Richyb, sorry if there are other threads, I did look but find the new forum difficult to search!Will have a look at the Gore Phantom, I have other Gore stuff and it has been very good.
Thanks for the comments, very useful though a skin tight top might be embarassing will 😉

Joe the Altura Cropton sounds worth a look.

bumbly1 – Member
Thanks for the comments, very useful though a skin tight top might be embarrassing will

You’ll be fine…It’s just nice that you can show off your rippling muscles… 😉 lol

Don’t be sorry, didn’t mean to sound condescending

I cant help feeling there must be a low cost solution, perhaps unbranded even. No-one sees us on our nightrides so it is purely function. Even the windstopping facility could be under the outer garment making it only a requirement to breath, letting moisture out and not letting moisture in!

go to tk maxx Tom. They usually have a decent selection of last season outdoor stuff. Even a windproof golf top would work.

The cheapest option is a couple of mud guards

There are thousands of windproof tops on the market. Pertex is very thin and light but stops wind – softshell fabric is insulating as well to a greater or lesser degree, so adds much more warmth which could result in sweatiness. Your best option is a thin windproof on top of other insulation which you can remove if you get too hot. Pertex is the main fabric. Windproofs can be had at any decent LBS for as little as £20 or so.

I have a Gore Phantom that is a few years old but in great nick for sale (size XL). Let me know if you are interested. Nice and cheap 🙂

jfeb – I might be interested as seem to recall you were 6’3″ and slim – if so you’re similar to me. I’m not usually an xl tho as it wud fit my arms but be pretty baggy – how is the fit and what colour/price?

cheapest option is probably your normal warm jersey with a windproof gilet. it doesn’t need to be that breathable because of the gaps around the arms and the backs are often made of mesh, but it makes a normal thermal top a lot warmer as it keeps the wind out. I wouldn’t bother washing it very often either.

Windproof gilets are available from about £15 I’d have thought.

deepreddave – email me at jamesball@[remove]mail.com. Ta.

Interesting, tried my windproof gilet today….and froze 🙁

LOL. I find a gillet isn’t warm enough around or under zero, as you have just found

jfeb – I’ve emailed you to the address you gave though had to check there were such things as ‘mail.com’ accounts!

I have a crappy little thin pearl izumi showerproof thing £30 from James’s work’s a treat in anything less than downpour.

Hmmm I read this thread with interest, I have an old general purpose pertex top and I still get condensation in it when climbing/ going for it. I must be a right sweaty munter 🙂 The only jackets I find breath properly for me are goretex based ones but they cost an arm and a leg.

There is of course also a personal dimension to this so what suits one will not suit another. Some of the guys I ride with find they break into a sweat after two pedal strokes, and start changing clothing at the first stop. Others, like me. can keep the same gear on for the whole ride without disolving. I think I run cold 😉
The recent STW test of soft shells had one rider commenting on each but did not say if they were sweaty types or shivvery types though perhaps they were just the chosen “spokesperson” to give the aggregate views but I did not see this mentioned.
The Gore Phantom does sound a good solution with removable arms and extra vents that can be opened or closed to suit the wearer.
Thanks guys, helpful comments.
Tom

I tend to use either an Endura Windtex top or a Rab Vapour-rise trail stretchtop if it’s colder or windier. The latter is the probably my favourite piece of clothing. If it’s raining proper I do carry a waterproof and I’m getting a belated Christmas present of an Endura Stealth jacket.

A thick rough wool zip neck jumper (about £40) over a merino short sleeve base layer and with a gillet on top, covers most circumstances for me. The thick wool cuts out most of the wind on my arms, the gillet protects my chest, and the whole ensemble is more breathable than any cycling specific garment I have bought (and I have a wardrobe full of them). When I steam up the zip gets opened, and the wool is elastic enough to pull up to my elbows. It even handles light misty rain.

For when it’s wet I have one of those Montane Pertex pullover smocks. This folds up to the size of an orange, so it can go in a pocket of the gillet. In real rain there is some dampness, but it’s warm enough.

The only disadvantage for the fashion conscious is that it doesn’t look very mountainbikie 😆