Results tagged “baselayers”

So we've done the bike, now to deal with the other big area of equipment: what to wear for the big day.

The most important elements to get right are those that will have most contact during the ride: shorts and shoes.

Shorts

Shorts are a deeply personal affair for numerous reasons including their contents and their fit. What works for me won't necessarily work for you because my sit bones and thighs aren't yours.

What does generally hold true is that this is an item which rewards a bit of extra spending. If you are someone who finds a cheap pair of shorts that fits like a second skin and gives you the padding and comfort you need, then you are truly blessed.

Otherwise, I'd suggest that you should be looking to spend upwards of 50GBP on a pair. How high you want to go will depend on how high you need to go to find the desired level of fit and comfort.

Shoes

Again, this comes down to you and nobody else. One thing I've found is that a shoe that is comfortable in milder weather might not be so in hotter conditions. I've got my old Specialized S-Works Boas that I'll be taking with me as well as my Bont A1s to cover such eventualities.

Getting custom footbeds done for your shoes really helps. I've got one pair that gets transferred into whichever shoes I'm riding and which give me excellent support because they are made for my feet. You can probably get some done for around 50GBP and the investment is worth it.

Jersey

I say this regardless of the event: DON'T WEAR JERSEYS YOU HAVEN'T EARNED. There's something fundamentally wrong about wearing a classification jersey if you haven't earned it.

Here's why: A pro gets a bloody hefty fine for not wearing the jersey they are entitled to, at least 1500 Swiss Francs. Just remember that the next time you think about wearing something like the rainbow or polka dot jersey replica.

There are literally hundreds of jerseys on the market that look good, wear well and are suitable for riding the Etape. Light colours are recommended, white if you are happy for it to be nowhere near as clean at the end as the start. They'll reflect the heat better. There's a wide array to choose from on the market.

If the ride is as hot as it tend to be then it needs to be made from a lightweight material but one which holds its shape well and won't sag when the pockets are full as they will be. Full zip or half zip depends on whether you fancy displaying your pasty chest to the passing Pyrenean mountain goats.

Talking of pockets, it needs to have plenty of space in them and be accessible. Try a few on to find out which one works for you as almost every manufacturer positions them differently and some are more accessible than others, depending on your size and flexibility.

Traditionally three pockets is the style but there's a few out there now with two. I like three for the ease of segmentation it offers - solid food and money in one, waterbottle or gilet in the middle, gels and powders in the other.

My recommendations are to look up something from Rapha or Shutt Velo Rapide for simple effective designs.

If you want something retro then try Prendas. Pro team kits are allowed if they are no longer an active jersey. That is the only exception to the "no pro jerseys" rule I will allow.

Helmet

As you're required to wear one, it's worth spending the cash on the lightest, most comfortable one you can afford. That will be dictated by the size and shape of your noggin and the depth of your wallet.

People who fit Giro helmets tend to have a different shape to those that fit Specialized helmet or Bell helmets.

Personally I'd be happier not wearing one but, as it is, I've invested in the Giro Prolight which is incredibly comfortable and light enough not to feel like a burden on the longer days.

Gloves

As a main contact point these are again somewhere that finding the right pair can make a big difference. Look for something lightweight and which isn't going to feel like you're wearing clown hands.

I've got a preference for classic leather mitts and I'm still wearing the same Rapha criterium gloves that I rode my first Etape in. But I do like to ride without mitts at times so I'm investigating something a bit lighter on the backs of the hand at the moment, preferably without the annoying velcro fasteners.

Baselayer

A good baselayer is one of the best pieces of kit you can invest in. It'll help reduce road rash if you fall and removes that horrid clinging dampness that jerseys can suffer from.

On descents it acts as a bit more protection from the chill and on the climbs it'll draw the sweat away from the skin.

I like the merino wool ones but lots of people swear by the Defeet mesh ones. Most manufacturers feature them in their range, so there's no excuse for not getting one.

And no, they don't cause you to overheat.

Gilet/jacket

Unless it's extremely wet you're only going to need something to keep the windchill off your torso on the descents. Don't waste time taking arm and knee warmers that take up pocket space.

Take something that packs small and even then don't waste pocket space with it. Instead, shove it up the back of your jersey where the elastic and contents of the pockets will keep it in place. If you're worried about it slipping out, then shove it in the top of your bib shorts. After about ten minutes riding you'll forget it's there.

I'm going to take my Montane Velo which packs down to the size of an apple but I may also take a look at what else I can get my hands on in the event of wet weather.

(Photo by Lucy @ Imperial RT who organises the Winter Series)

See that rain? I've not ridden in anything quite so torrential in ages. Or so cold.

On the plus side my white Mavic Razors are not as muddy as they were and look almost white. It's not that I'm too lazy to clean them at home, it's just I've not found a way of doing it without making the sort of mess that gets small children sent to bed without their supper.

The conditions presented an attire question: Wear a rain jacket, gilet or no waterproof? In the end I went with none of the above and stuck with a baselayer and midweight jersey.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm the sort of rider who heats up a lot and sweats it out so when racing in winter I need to find a balance so I don't end up soggy and cold. But mainly the issue is ending up cold.

The baselayer is one of the best I have found anywhere. It's by Falke and has been good enough to keep me feeling comfortable down to -20 in at Kicking Horse. I think it's their Athletic Warm long sleeve.

Men, ask your most trusted female friends and they'll probably roll their eyes in despair that you've only just discovered Falke. I got mine in TK Maxx (Hammersmith and High Street Kensington) ridiculously cheap. Good fortune as I've found them harder to track down elsewhere.

I've never felt damp or overheated in the baselayer and the fit is such that I barely notice it. Not feeling the garment when you're wearing it is always a hallmark of good quality gear for me.

Back to the race.

On the right day I quite like racing in the rain. I can handle my bike pretty well by my reckoning and so cornering in the wet doesn't terrify me. Plus there's a bit more respite when it's wet.

The key tip for riding well in the wet is tyre pressure. I ran my Vittoria Open Pav´e; s at between 85 and 95 PSI which sounds low but gives a very smooth and predictable ride, the latter being key in the wet. The Open Pav´e; just looks right on a bike in the wet which is equally important.

I've been riding my Ridley Crossbow all winter and I've been using it for everything. It copes pretty well with racing as it does cyclocross and commuting. I like that in a winter bike. Biggest gear is 46/12 and at no point at Hillingdon did I feel undergeared for the level.

I spent most of the race trying to sit in the middle of the bunch and I think I did so better than my previous race. Still need to concentrate on not drifting backwards too easily.

There were a few digs but nothing that ever looked like sticking, so it was more a case of staying out of trouble and avoiding the splits that occur in the wet when riders aren't confident through corners.

I stayed up near the front when it started to get a bit lively in the final few laps. Still a few places too far back to be useful and wasted too much energy trying to move up for the sprint.

When it came I was about 15 back but already on my limit so sat up down the back straight. There's no point in burying yourself when you're badly positioned and in no danger of getting a point.

For a different perspective on the race try James Curry or The Cycling Lawyer, Martin Porter, both of whom I race with fairly regularly at the moment and who were in the bunch as well.

I was beginning to worry that it would never happen, as I rolled down my arm wamers on the way home on Monday night, but finally the ridiculously mild weather has come to an end. No doubt my decision to take out the clippers and crop my hair back to a grade two was highly influential in effecting this change.

It was a terrifying prospect that all those items of kit - jackets, gloves, warmers, baselayers, the list goes on - wouldn't get a decent outing this year. Having spent a fortune on building up a wardrobe to cover almost every eventuality I feel quite obliged to get some use out of the full range.

I'm quite looking forward to pulling on that long-sleeved merino baselayer for the first time. A little care tip: put them in a pillowcase and tie the end off when you put them in the wash. This stops them snagging on the drum. I've discovered this the hard way as my short-sleeve one is now looking slightly more like a string vest than it should.

I'll do something on winter esentials this weekend when I get a moment.