Hot weather gear

[bcroslin]

I recently picked up a Castelli climbers jersey and inferno bibs and I'm blown away at how much cooler the jersey is than my other jerseys. It got me thinking about what other game-changing hot weather cycling gear is out there that is worth checking out.

So, I'm asking, what is your game-changing piece of cycling gear for staying cool in the summer heat?

Bob

[christian]

Castelli Sanremo Speedsuit. Incredibly comfortable when the temp exceeds 80d.

[Tony]

Started wearing sun sleeves this year, I feel cooler. On really hot days like today, 100 degrees here in Sacto I'll wet the sleeves, provides a real cooling effect as the water evaporates.

[bcroslin]

One more thing that I discovered that I was dubious of is the cold-black material. I picked up a Capo jersey with coldblack and it's pretty amazing stuff.

[11.4]

I've used Coldblack and other Schoeller fabrics in a variety of applications and really admire them. It's technology that really works, in contrast to so much of what we find in a few major American brands.

We buy kit for our large team and have tested a number of different brands. Castelli is always a question mark when it comes to fit -- trying to fit even sprinters is sometimes hard. Beanpoles who have to buy Nanoflex leg warmers in XL just to be able to slide them over their thighs are an example of why Castelli needs to rethink its sizing. However, once you have it on, whether for extreme heat or cold, they have the best portfolio of fabrics out there today. Hands down.

[christian]

It's so funny you say that. I can't think of another manufacturer where I am so reliably a race fit L at 5'11 and 165. I guess I'm just lucky with Castelli. Agreed on the fabrics.

[FlashUNC]

Craft sleeveless baselayer.

My go-to hot weather, long-ride bit of kit is my Assos ss.13 jersey. Best short sleeve jersey around.

And I'll second the Coldblack recommendation. The Rapha Pro Team bibs I use have that baked in. Great stuff. Definitely works.

[bluesea]

Panache has a great looking mesh jersey, as long as you're not too susceptible to "Froome tan" .

[FastforaSlowGuy]

I'll second the Castelli Climber's jersey, as well as the Coldblack tech. I rode this weekend in my Craft mesh baselayer (which looks like something out of a bad porno, but really works) and Rapha Pro Team jersey (in black, no less) and was very comfortable. It was my first ride in the jersey, and I expected to fry. But it was easily as cool as my Climber's jersey, which is about the coolest thing I've ridden in.

I'm interested to try the sun blocking arm sleeves.

[phcollard]

I've been modeling a new brand : Kheer aur Shakkar

Forget everything you think you know about hot weather clothing. This brand leaves every other one behind. Do a search on the forums.

[Vinci]

I recently started wearing skinsuits and aero-fit jerseys. I am finding that they feel much cooler because they stay in contact with my skin and are constantly wicking sweat away.

[bcroslin]

Originally Posted by 11.4

I've used Coldblack and other Schoeller fabrics in a variety of applications and really admire them. It's technology that really works, in contrast to so much of what we find in a few major American brands.

We buy kit for our large team and have tested a number of different brands. Castelli is always a question mark when it comes to fit -- trying to fit even sprinters is sometimes hard. Beanpoles who have to buy Nanoflex leg warmers in XL just to be able to slide them over their thighs are an example of why Castelli needs to rethink its sizing. However, once you have it on, whether for extreme heat or cold, they have the best portfolio of fabrics out there today. Hands down.

Agreed. I'm pretty consistently a medium in every other company but Castelli where I'm a large. Same goes for Rapha bibs.

[bcroslin]

Originally Posted by phcollard

I've been modeling a new brand : Kheer aur Shakkar

Forget everything you think you know about hot weather clothing. This brand leaves every other one behind. Do a search on the forums.

I saw that last night when I was searching the forums to see if my question had already been answered. I started reading and then noticed what day it was posted.

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by Vinci

I recently started wearing skinsuits and aero-fit jerseys. I am finding that they feel much cooler because they stay in contact with my skin and are constantly wicking sweat away.

I'm guessing that you're cooler not because the fabric wicks sweat better, but because the clothing is tighter, and therefore holds the sweat to your skin.

Wicking fabrics have never been shown to actually keep people cooler in hot weather. In fact, there is some evidence that it actually makes people hotter. Some tests have shown that subjects wearing wicking fabrics have higher core temperatures when exercising in hot humid weather. You're body cools itself through the evaporation of sweat. If the sweat is wicked away before it evaporates, it doesn't have a chance to cool you.

Wicking fabrics are good for cold weather, because moisture on the skin conducts heat away. But it might be bad for hot weather, when you want heat to be transferred away from your skin.

[Vinci]

I may have used the wrong term.

What I meant is that I feel cooler because the tighter, lighter material lets the sweat through so that air passing over it can evaporate it while against my skin. This versus a heavier, baggier jersey where the sweat evaporating on the material isn't against my skin to cool it.

My thinking being that air is an excellent insulator and that I don't want air trapped between my skin and the jersey to slow down the evaporative cooling.

Whatever the reason, aero kits feel cooler to me.