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Cotton or Poly in this Heat?

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Cotton or Poly in this Heat?

Old 07-27-22, 06:56 PM
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gringomojado
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Cotton or Poly in this Heat?

I find cotton cooler than polyester in high heat/sun situations. Any riders agree?

gm
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Old 07-27-22, 07:29 PM
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I prefer synthetics because they are better at wicking moisture and dry faster than cotton. Modern synthetic fabrics have come a long way and are way more comfortable than cotton.
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Old 07-27-22, 07:30 PM
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Originally Posted by gringomojado
I find cotton cooler than polyester in high heat/sun situations. Any riders agree?
This rider does not agree. Faster wicking and evaporation with poly.

iI’s the evaporation that keeps you cool.
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Old 07-27-22, 07:32 PM
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https://www.mulberryscleaners.com/bl...abrics-summer/
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Old 07-27-22, 07:47 PM
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Depends upon where you live and how you keep cool. Before I retired and when I had to ride in the afternoon in summer, the only way I could ride any distance safely was to ride wet. Fortunately water sources are easily accessible at local parks. It would take about 5 miles to go from soaking wet to bone dry. Even with temperatures around 100 it was chilling to put on a wet t-shirt. This works in areas with low humidity. Cotton was my fabric of choice because it holds a lot more moisture than synthetic fabrics. If you are solely relying on sweat for cooling and live in a humid area I agree that the wicking fabric are better. Here it really doesn't matter as even cotton stays dry because of the fast evaporation rate. It is way to easy to dangerously overheat relying on perspiration alone.
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Old 07-27-22, 07:57 PM
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I don’t agree.

But is this thread sincere? Even if it is, wear what feels best for you. What the rest of us think should not really matter.
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Old 07-27-22, 08:09 PM
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Personally I wear Lycra. I find the air movement created by cycling cools well through evaporation. In fact it cools so well that some times I don’t drink enough, which leads to others issues. I also like being able to zip my jersey half way down for long hot climbs and then zip back up for descents.
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Old 07-27-22, 08:25 PM
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Absolutely not cotton here in Shanghai. It would be absolutely drenched within minutes with the high summer humidity, and not comfortable. Synthetics only here.
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Old 07-27-22, 08:32 PM
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Synthetic with light mesh venting material under the arms and lateral sides works for me.
Demoed a L/S Mossy Oak synthetic fishing shirt with side mesh in 90F and high humidity today.
Just as effective if not more so than more expensive cycling specific jerseys.
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Old 07-27-22, 08:35 PM
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This summer it’s all f&@%ing hot. I’m thinking of adopting nudism.
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Old 07-27-22, 09:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Rolla
This summer it’s all f&@%ing hot. I’m thinking of adopting nudism.
I have a jersey that is actually cooler than nothing. I'm reserving it for the next 90 degree day here.
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Old 07-27-22, 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by genejockey
I have a jersey that is actually cooler than nothing. I'm reserving it for the next 90 degree day here.
I would pay good money for a day that was only 90 degrees.
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Old 07-27-22, 09:31 PM
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"Poly" describes a vast number of fabrics. Dacron was the original polyester and patented by Dupont. Late '70s(?) polypropylene came along; a different fabric entirely. Early '80s, Patagonia, Malden Mills and probably others came up with polyester fleece and woven fabrics like Capilene. Things really took off from there. But many of the older, non-wicking polyesters are still out there. So don't expect wonders just because the tag says poly-something.
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Old 07-27-22, 09:33 PM
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Loose fitting cotton in light colors.
You don't see people in the desert wearing Lycra to stay cool.
What Lycra does is perform best-as-possible for a low-drag garment.
If you want to dress for drag, go for Lycra.

Last edited by greatbasin; 07-27-22 at 09:37 PM.
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Old 07-27-22, 09:42 PM
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Originally Posted by gringomojado
I find cotton cooler than polyester in high heat/sun situations. Any riders agree?

gm
on both cases depends on how much of that dumpster vodka you have been consuming
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Old 07-27-22, 09:57 PM
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Years ago I won a tech cotton T shirt at a slideshow. I don’t know what it is, probably a cotton poly blend.

Its not cycling fit but I’ve used it for climbing and hiking through the summer and desert. It’s honestly great. Something like that would work pretty well in the right trim.

I’ve done plenty of MTB rides in a collared Hawaiian shirt as is trendy now. That kinda sucks but it’s fun to look stupid sometimes.
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Old 07-28-22, 02:48 AM
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Originally Posted by greatbasin
Loose fitting cotton in light colors.
You don't see people in the desert wearing Lycra to stay cool.
What Lycra does is perform best-as-possible for a low-drag garment.
If you want to dress for drag, go for Lycra.
Synthetic clothing doesn`t have to be skin tight. There is plenty of clothing made from technical fabrics which are loose and relaxed fit.
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Old 07-28-22, 04:50 AM
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Synthetic fabrics have improved greatly over the 25 years since I got back into cycling. The cheapish running shirts I now use are really soft and feel wonderful and yet dry very fast.

But the moment the ride is over, the synthetic clothes (shorts and shirt) come off and the cotton goes on.

If you are in a truly arid environment, cotton is fine. I might even prefer it. For shirts, that is. I’d still want regular bike shorts for riding.

Last edited by Kapusta; 07-28-22 at 06:58 AM.
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Old 07-28-22, 05:50 AM
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Something synthetic and moisture wicking. It's about avoiding the soak and the prickly heat that the soak will bring.
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Old 07-28-22, 06:32 AM
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I disagree (to put it mildly).

For cycling in the heat? I haven't worn a square millimeter of cotton while cycling in decades, whether hot or cold. In fact, I don't wear cotton while cycling, hiking/backpacking, skiing (Alpine or Nordic), snowshoeing, playing tennis, running or any physical activity.

Cotton is fine for temperate conditions, for leisure activities and for office work clothing. But if it's hot or cold, or if you're doing any sort of physical activity for more than a few minutes, wool or synthetics perform far better. Cotton stays wet, bunches up and causes chafing/blisters (cotton socks are particularly evil), is clammy to the touch and holds moisture against your skin, and is heavy as heck. The last time I wore cotton while backpacking (cotton underwear and t-shirts; everything else was wool or synthetic), I was miserable. It rained frequently that week, I couldn't get any of my cotton clothing dry. On (what turned out to be) my last day is started sleeting heavily (at that point, I turned around and went back to the nearest road, hitchhiked into town and found a place to stay; went home the next day). This was nearly 30 years ago, and since that day I haven't worn cotton during any sort of extended activity.

I have no experience with desert conditions, so maybe this does not apply for cyclists in dry climes.
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Old 07-28-22, 06:39 AM
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Yak is the best fiber. 120

Merino in 150 is decent.

Some synthetics are good but they stink when worn multiple days
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Old 07-28-22, 08:23 AM
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Cotton might be tolerable as a shirt or jersey while exercising, however for any other use while riding for anything but slow leisurely rides it seems one of the worst possible fabrics to wear.
  • It soaks up lots of sweat and the fibers soak the moisture up and lose any support the garment may have given.
  • When wet, it becomes real abrasive to the skin. Especially if it is between my crotch. I gave up cotton underwear years ago when simply walking in the summer time heat had my cotton underwear soaked and wadding up in a uncomfortable way rubbing against my inner thighs and not supporting my male personal parts as they should.
  • IMO, cotton is only comfortable when lounging around and relaxed. Not when exercising and sweating.

Last edited by Iride01; 07-28-22 at 08:26 AM.
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Old 07-28-22, 09:05 AM
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Walking in cotton is nice, particularly if it's high cotton.
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Old 07-28-22, 09:09 AM
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However, polyester is moisture-wicking and will keep you dry when you are sweating. Cotton is highly absorbent and will show sweat patches. Cotton clothing is often cooler and more comfortable in summer. It's soft, breathable, and durable.

In Guatemala, where I live half the year, people (not necessarily cyclists,) seem to prefer cotton, saying that synthetics are hot under the sun. When I wear a synthetic jersey on a ride I get comments about it.

gm
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Old 07-28-22, 09:20 AM
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I wore a cotton t-shirt on tour because my jerseys were dirty. It was a humid day and it was pretty difficult to peel the shirt off at the end. Ridiculous wet t-shirt contest.
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