Stylish cycling kit

i see that albion sell a repair kit https://www.albioncycling.com/products/repair-kit

maybe i'll give that a go...

on the note of mesh base layers - what are the hive mind's thoughts on them in hot weather? on sunday i didn't at all consider wearing one as it was quite hot and muggy - but there is a school of thought that they wick away sweat better...

I currently have a mesh dhb and some old rapha hot weather non mesh and find the mesh ones hotter!

Plus less wearable off bike... But the rapha ones are discontinued. Oh well

Wearable off bike?! Hopefully you’re not talking about sleeveless. I still have a 5yr old Rapha merino mesh which is cooler than the Maap mesh. I wear them on hot days as it means I can unzip my jersey without getting a public indecency charge.

Depends on the jersey you're wearing on top. Jerseys on their own usually aren't that good at wicking away sweat and get a bit clingy and uncomfortable if you're sweating a lot. But as with most things in cycling you don't need one, but its nice to have.

yeah I use them a lot during other seasons - but feels too hot for them right now

I always wear one, definitely helps wick sweat away. Got one of the mesh rapha sleeveless, rate it very highly.

on the note of mesh base layers - what are the hive mind's thoughts on them in hot weather? on sunday i didn't at all consider wearing one as it was quite hot and muggy - but there is a school of thought that they wick away sweat better...

I live in a country with ridiculously hot/humid summers and sleeveless mesh baselayers have been a revelation. Helps a lot with sweat and means I can unzip my jersey in public without looking like a total pervert.

It does help to wick sweat away and they do make bib straps a lot more comfortable, but surely an extra layer is making you warmer in proper heat. I wear one almost religiously, but above 25C it just doesn’t compute.

Are you wearing them in high heat?

This…. it’s just another layer.

Yes. When it's really hot, then an extra layer stops the sun being so hot on your back, like roof insulation. I also don't like when jersey fabric clings to the skin, and feel that a lightweight baselayer keeps some separation.

Base layer all temps

I like the analogy but I’m not a house.

I think if you're wearing a proper lightweight jersey designed for wicking and not for aero etc then there's no need for a base layer, but 90% of jerseys aren't that great at wicking so having a layer to help that makes sense.

Wicking is great in the winter when your sweat risks making you cold, but surely the point of your body producing sweat is to cool you down. If you wick it away then you won't benefit from the cooling effect of being wet? I've tried a mesh layer but found I just get hotter with it on.

I thought it was the evaporation of sweat that actually cools your body?

Yes, exactly, wicking the sweat away means it doesn't evaporate from your skin though does it (quite possible that I've misunderstood this)

See what you mean, my memory of GCSE Biology can take me no further than this though unfortunately.

interesting thanks all. shame there doesnt seem to be a scientifically-proven answer. maybe something i need to experiment with... or perhaps buy a less tightly-woven mesh to test with

Need someone sciency here - but I think thats the same thing. Its the sweat taking heat with it off your body, if it gets actively drawn away (wicks away from your skin) then it takes heat off faster

Yes, would be great to have someone scientific confirm! In my (non-scientific) mind, winter base layers keep you warm by wicking the sweat away from your body so it doesn't stay wet and (and therefore cold). Surely in the summer you're trying to achieve the exact opposite so wicking is bad?

I'm no scientist, but it just seems to work for me (33 - 40°C and humid). I spent years not using them as assumed the extra layer would just make things warmer. I like having the option of unzipping my jersey and letting air in through the mesh without getting semi-naked. Only use light sleeveless ones (from Albion).

Have an old one and that looks like this, think it helps.

I hear you, and I’m with you up to a point.

My hairy chest prevents the nudity problem.

My hairy chest prevents the nudity problem.

That makes it worse