jacket

Paul Rose

"Adrian Boliston" <adrian@boliston.co.uk> wrote in message
news:355cq0F4hn0vlU1@individual.net...
> "Paul Rose" <newsgroups@lakelandwalker.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > "Idris" <Idris@daviesrus.f2s.com> wrote in message
> > news:csjqij$96b$1@news.freedom2surf.net...
> >> Looking for a waterproof cycling jacket to wear whilst cycling on
> >> mountains. Must be very weatherproof.
> >>
> >> Any recommendations?
> >>
> >> Gerald
> >
> > Not really a mountain jacket I don't suspect but, I've been looking
> > at the Altura Nevis for £50 or the Nevis Light for a little more. The
> > Nevis seems to be a popular choice according to what I've read. I
> > would be interested in people's opinions on these jackets and on the
> > Altura brand in general. Thanks,
>
> I got this jacket as an xmas present and so far i'd say it's an excellent
> jacket. Also got a pair of their waterproof trousers, so I'd say it's a
> very good brand.

Thanks to all for the replies re: the Altura jacket. I had a drive through
to my local bike shop(s) today, with the intent of purchasing the Altura.
However, one shop was closed and the other didn't have the size I wanted, or
the colour! While I was there though, I was seduced by the Gore Bike Wear
Countdown jacket. Very nice, well made and very light (Gore-Tex Paclite).
Slightly more expensive at £125 as opposed to £50 but I didn't get that one
either because they didn't have my size, or colour, again! They are
expecting another delivery from Germany soon so I suppose I better use the
time to decide which to go for. Decisions, decisions ;o)

--
Regards, Paul (R)
My Lake District walking site:
www.lakelandwalker.co.uk

davek

Paul Rose wrote:
> Not really a mountain jacket I don't suspect but, I've been looking at the
> Altura Nevis for £50 or the Nevis Light for a little more. The Nevis seems
> to be a popular choice according to what I've read. I would be interested in
> people's opinions on these jackets and on the Altura brand in general.

I have a NevisLite - a couple of times I've ended up with
boil-in-the-bag syndrome, but now I've learnt my lesson and I only wear
it if it is /really/ cold and/or wet, and/or I'm not planning on riding
too hard.

Of course, there have been other occasions when I have been extremely
grateful for its wind/waterproofing qualities.

Overall, an excellent jacket, but not for every set of circumstances.

d.

Arthur Clune

Peter Fox <peterfox@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html> wrote:

: My personal circumstances are:
: 1 - I get cold VERY VERY quickly. 5 seconds in the fish pond or 1
: 2 - I REALLY want to cycle 10 miles each way to the pub and back in the
: winter but wet and cold make it _impossible_.

OK. What I'd do if I was you then (in no great order). This is what I'd
wear for hillwalking in winter in Scotland. Actually, it's a little more
than I'd wear, but still, it'll give you some ideas.

1) Big boots, thick walking socks + flat pedals not light weight cycling shoes
2) Top half:
* Warm base layer (try M+S for a cheap + good wollen one)
* Fleece
* Jacket. One of these http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product.php?pid=2091
(on offer for £60) or similar (ie a heavy weight jacket)
* Balaclava again, or maybe better a windproof fleece hat and a scarf

Hat wise, one of these

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/extremi....shtml#munrocap

will be the warmest option. Or, from this page

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/extremities/headgear2.shtml

the "Windy Balaclava" or "Windy took"

Buy the jacket large so that you can fit another jumper under if needed

Any of the windproof hats will be waterproof enough for 10 miles in all
but the more heavy of downpours.

3) Bottom half. Little more tricky since you want to look vaguely normal down
the pub I guess?

Two options: Some basic thermals + some light weight walking trousers +
waterproof trousers over the top (to look more normal down the pub) or
some heavyweight cycling tights, maybe with waterproof trousers over the
top if needed.

http://www.endura.co.uk/tights-weather.html (waterproofs)
http://www.endura.co.uk/tights-thermastat.html (tights)

You could make do with a cheap pair of £15 waterproof trousers though
if it's only 10 miles. Mainly you want to keep the wind off.

I'd suggest the first option for you. It'll be a less good for cycling
in (less freedom of movement) but warmer.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

Arthur Clune

Simon Brooke <simon@jasmine.org.uk> wrote:

: When you're
: pumping out three or four hundred watts you don't need much clothing to
: stay warm

When you're putting out four hundred watts for any period of time, you're
a lot fitter than I am!

--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

Peter Clinch

Arthur Clune wrote:

> * Balaclava again, or maybe better a windproof fleece hat and a scarf
>
> Hat wise, one of these
>
> http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/extremi....shtml#munrocap
>
> will be the warmest option. Or, from this page
>
> http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/extremities/headgear2.shtml
>
> the "Windy Balaclava" or "Windy took"

Further note that Mountain Caps and balaclavas are /not/ mutually
exclusive! A balaclava will keep your neck warm and cut out the
tendency fro drafts to cut behind the ear flaps on a Mountain Cap. A
Buff can take the place of a balaclava, and also doubles as a scarf.
The Polar model gives you more options for warmth.

If you prefer to wear a helmet then the polystyrene is quite a good
insulator, but it may be worth covering the vents if you've lots.
Gaffer tape or a shower cap are the cheap options, a Goretex or similar
helmet cover if you want to throw money at it for a minor improvement.
Thin balaclavas and buffs work well under helmets, and keep your ears warm.

Lowe's Mountain Cap (and probably some others too, a lot of different
manufacturers make them and you're spoiled for choice) has an option for
raising the peak with a popper button, which can be handy in lower light
levels if you're not keeping out rain. Some have a peak like a baseball
cap while others have a single stiffening wire. The latter are IMHO
better on the bike as they don't get caught in the wind and can be
shaped according to preference.

> Any of the windproof hats will be waterproof enough for 10 miles in all
> but the more heavy of downpours.

But windstopper fleeces are shocking when they /do/ soak through, taking
forever to dry and being cold when they're wet. The Mountain Caps will
be better for downpours in this respect.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Colin Blackburn

Peter Clinch wrote:

> Further note that Mountain Caps and balaclavas are /not/ mutually
> exclusive! A balaclava will keep your neck warm and cut out the
> tendency fro drafts to cut behind the ear flaps on a Mountain Cap. A
> Buff can take the place of a balaclava, and also doubles as a scarf. The
> Polar model gives you more options for warmth.

I'd echo this. I hadn't really been taken with the idea of a Buff but I
got one as a freebie last year and this winter I am rarely without it
either walking or cycling. It is much better than a scarf for cycling
and with efficient tucking in it can seal all the gaps.

> Lowe's Mountain Cap (and probably some others too, a lot of different
> manufacturers make them and you're spoiled for choice) has an option for
> raising the peak with a popper button, which can be handy in lower light
> levels if you're not keeping out rain. Some have a peak like a baseball
> cap while others have a single stiffening wire. The latter are IMHO
> better on the bike as they don't get caught in the wind and can be
> shaped according to preference.

Again, ditto. I have had more than one baseball-peaked cap blow off when
cycling but my mountain cap, even with its flaps up, has never come off.
As you say the wire stiffener is very good, allowing a shape that
channels off rain but doesn't obscure vision.

> But windstopper fleeces are shocking when they /do/ soak through, taking
> forever to dry and being cold when they're wet.

I can certainly attest to this. I once got soaked through at a Radiohead
gig in Oxford. I was wearing a windstopper fleece to keep out the night
chill but I hadn't expected rain. The fleece held up for a long time
other than at the seams. Walking home it felt like I was wearing a giant
soaked sponge. The fleece took days to dry out.

Colin

Paul Rose

"davek" <swangulstoke@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:358d7iF4hkeh0U1@individual.net...
> Paul Rose wrote:
> > Not really a mountain jacket I don't suspect but, I've been looking at
the
> > Altura Nevis for £50 or the Nevis Light for a little more. The Nevis
seems
> > to be a popular choice according to what I've read. I would be
interested in
> > people's opinions on these jackets and on the Altura brand in general.
>
> I have a NevisLite - a couple of times I've ended up with
> boil-in-the-bag syndrome, but now I've learnt my lesson and I only wear
> it if it is /really/ cold and/or wet, and/or I'm not planning on riding
> too hard.
>
> Of course, there have been other occasions when I have been extremely
> grateful for its wind/waterproofing qualities.
>
> Overall, an excellent jacket, but not for every set of circumstances.
>

I asked about the NevisLite but was told they have stopped making them.
There was another lightweight jacket on show from Altura which, apparently,
is the one to replace the NevisLite. It was also cheaper at £60 as opposed
to £65 fro the NevisLite. No doubt I could still purchase one whilst stocks
are still available.

Regards, Paul (R)
My Lake District walking site:
www.lakelandwalker.co.uk