Does the colour of jersey matter?

[Apollonius]

I see from your jacket that you like Altura. Me too. The Vapour jacket I bought last autumn is superb.
The problem with riding in a t-shirt is that they get flappy and when you get sweaty they feel cold. I hope you are getting out a lot on these fine long evenings and getting some miles in. You will find that a real cycling jersey wicks away moisture and is still warm when the day gets cooler as it dries on you in no time. You also have the convenience of the three pockets at the back.
You will also find that you need a new jersey(clean, that is) for every ride as they do get sweaty, so it might be worth buying a cheap couple from Sportsdirect or Aldi to start with. Invest in the Altura stuff when you know a bit more about what you like.

 

[KneesUp]

Oops I missed the question.

I'm wearing just a t-shirt and this

http://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/unnamed-jpg.47522/

I hope this isn't the day the window cleaner comes

 

[FlyingCyclist]

Yes it's my first jersey!

MikeG - That jacket does collect flies, but only when I stop. They seem to disperse once I get going again.

The Altura jersey is the only one I like. I've decided to go for the small size in red.

I was going to buy a base layer, but I'm not sure which one I want. Also I think it's too warm at the moment for one. I did choose one on Evans website but they don't have the size I want. So I think I'll leave this layer for now.


I also have some Altura shorts, but they're not lycra. I think they're mountain bike shorts.

I did a 21 miles cycle along the canal this morning and I'm still knackered!!! Not taking a drink doesn't do me any good.

 

[vickster]

Base layer, save up for good quality merino, warm if cold, cool if warm and doesn't stink as man made fabrics will do eventually...so you'll be washing the jersey every time it's worn

Take a drink and get some padded shorts to wear under the baggies

 

[FlyingCyclist]

Forgot to mention the shorts are padded

 

[Apollonius]

Young people sometimes find merino too itchy to wear next to the skin. My son cannot wear it at all. I prefer synthetic fabrics too, personally. I hope we won't need base layers till September, at earliest.

 

[FlyingCyclist]

Have any suggestions on water bottles? What max. size bottle would fit in a jersey?

 

[vickster]

Put cages on the bike. Horrid carrying anything big in pockets IMO and it'll get warm!

Can then go up to 700ml. Get camelbak podium bottles, don't taint the water, about £8 I think

 

[vickster]

Young people sometimes find merino too itchy to wear next to the skin. My son cannot wear it at all. I prefer synthetic fabrics too, personally. I hope we won't need base layers till September, at earliest.

Need quality merino, my Rohan one isn't itchy, although my cheap mountain warehouse one is

I don't know that David is that young?

 

[FlyingCyclist]

Need quality merino, my Rohan one isn't itchy, although my cheap mountain warehouse one is

I don't know that David is that young?

I'm 30 years young

 

[vickster]

That's quite young

 

[FlyingCyclist]

Put cages on the bike. Horrid carrying anything big in pockets IMO and it'll get warm!

Can then go up to 700ml. Get camelbak podium bottles, don't taint the water, about £8 I think

Which cages would you suggest? I was thinking against this because I have my tyre pump on the only scews there is on the bike. But I guess it'll be better than having a load of weight on my backside.

 

[vickster]

Quite a few pumps have brackets that go under the bottle cages, most would carry a pump in their jersey, and the bottles on the bike. Personally due to a back operation many years ago and the scar i have, i cant bear having hard things against my lower back!

Depending on what bike you have, i don't think you can go far wrong with these, can probably find cheaper though

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/elite/custom-race-bottle-cage-ec035471

 

[jefmcg]

Depending on what bike you have, i don't think you can go far wrong with these, can probably find cheaper though

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/elite/custom-race-bottle-cage-ec035471

You can go quite wrong with them: it's very easy to put them on upside down, and the bottles will still fit in - just



(easily fixed, too)

you can almost certainly keep your pump attached when you add a cage: most work something like this

 

[KneesUp]

Or for £1.98 you can have a bottle cage and a little adaptor to mount it on your handlebars shipped all the way from China. (99p for the mount and 99p for the cage)