TimothyH

It's only another six or seven weeks before the daffodils bloom here in the the ATL. Easter will be here before you know it and then the May charity rides.

So, do those summer base layers really keep you cooler? Not talking about "arm coolers" but the light shirts that go under a jersey and wick the sweat away.

Rapha Pro Team? Assos SkinFoil? Something cheaper? Recommendations?

Elvo

Baselayer - Men

Doge

The Nike and other brand compression wear. Long sleeve, white if summer.

TimothyH

Perhaps I should have been clearer. I'm sorry. Maybe people are busy.

Do they actually work?
What brands have you tried?
What do you like about the brands your recommend over other brands?

Thanks.

Carbonfiberboy 

I tried a UA long sleeve shirt on a hot day in the mountains with long slow climbs. Total disaster. I dehydrated like crazy without realizing it. IMO they work at keeping one cool by holding one's sweat in the garment, and using the evaporation to cool. However the evaporation and thus cooling only happens if you're moving fast enough to get that box fan-like wind. Otherwise they're just an insulator which increases body temperature and thus causes increased sweating. So for flat short rides, probably they work fine. For long hot rides in the mountains, not so much.

I pulled off the soaking wet undershirt and hung out in the shade and drank for about 20 minutes and was then able to continue up to the pass. Unzipped SS jersey with nothing under was the way to go.

surgeonstone

No need, silly idea.

gregf83 

You cool yourself when sweat you release evaporates. Sweat more you'll cool more. I think in the best case a baselayer will not interfere with the sweat making it to the jersey and evaporating. I don't see how it can cool you more than a skin tight jersey. Maybe it works better if your jersey isn't tight? I see a few tour riders using a base layer on the hottest days but not many. Around here it's not hot enough to make a difference.

Doge

Yes - they work. I use Nike and Under Armor and can't much tell the difference. If I can find long sleeve compression without tags on them - I buy for price.

milkbaby

For hot days I prefer an open mesh base layer. Since it's open mesh, it's not insulating, but the material the mesh is made of wicks sweat and increases the effective surface area for evaporative cooling.

woodcraft

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...ng-summer.html

SpeshulEd 

This. I tried a couple of different versions in the Phoenix heat and prefer to ride without them. That said, while mountain biking in the summer with a lose shirt over the top of a baselayer, I did find some benefit, but with a tight/race fit road jersey, there's really no need.

Robius

Review: Castelli Seamless Sleeveless base layer | road.cc

I'm using this castelli base layer and if route is flat they are really good at keeping you dry even if it's like 40 celcius. While climbing i think they add a little warmth but they still wick sweat away.

I like it so much now i own 4 of these.

Seattle Forrest

Thin (like 100 grams per square meter) merino wool base layer all summer. I'm cooler and more comfortable with it than without. The sleeves offer some UV protection too.

grolby

It's highly unlikely that a baselayer will keep you cooler than no baselayer at all. But it may well help you feel drier and more comfortable.

dalava

The Mesh SuperLight is the thing to get... yes they keep you cool by wicking away the moisture

mprelaw

I dunno, when I watch a mountain stage on TV, what I see of the pros is a lot of unzipped jerseys and bare chests, and very few base layers, on the climbs. Of course, most of us aren't riding 150 km with a couple of cat1 climbs and one HC climb, so YMMV. In really hot, humid weather, I've worn light compression jerseys, and I've worn my jersey alone. I really don't notice any appreciable difference. Most of the times, in the areas where I most often ride, there's plenty of wind to accelerate evaporational cooling.

IMO the less laundry I have to do, the better.

Nachoman

I subscribe to that theory.

kpotier16

More insulation will never make you cooler.

bleui

is the Mesh close-fitting enough? or do I need to size down?

TimothyH

Thanks for this. Lazyass's comment about wearing a base layer in the army was interesting.



I wasn't postulating a theory but asking a question. Not really sure what you are trying to say.

jamesdak 

Yeah, but in uniform the standard when I was in was a cotton tee shirt. What a disaster under your BDUs which didn't breath at all anyway. So of course a wicking product is going to be better. But under a bike jersey that's already designed to move the sweat and keep you cool it just makes no sense to me. Just my 2 cents...

dalava

One size down. Craft fits bigger.

dalava

Depends on the bike jersey, some are better wicking than others. I find the dedicated baselayer does keep me dryer which leads to cooler feel during summer. In fact, I only wear summer baselayer like the Craft Mesh SuperLight when it's really hot (>90 degrees); otherwise, I just wear the jersey only. YMMV

Seattle Forrest

That's why people don't run across Death Valley in August wearing down jackets. But a base layer's job isn't to insulate you, it's to deal with your sweat. The constant evaporation is what cools you. Maybe the UV shielding too.

woodcraft

Well this is just not true.

Insulation ******* movement of heat from a warmer point to a colder one.

When it's hot outside, being inside an insulated building keeps you cooler.

This applies as well to clothing in extreme conditions.




(opposite of 'accelerates')