Yes: You need to wear a material that will 'wick' moisture
away, keeping you relatively dry.
No: You're obviously not riding hard enough then.
Why a special shirt?
Cotton doesn't wick, it absorbs moisture. Most performance
cycle shirts are made of high-wicking polyester.
Higher-performance polyesters - read also higher-priced -
have been structurally and/or chemically altered to enhance the wicking properties
and keep down nasty sweaty niffs.
Wool. The future?
Wool does wick and the appeal of retro styles is growing. But
it needs delicate hand-washing and itches as ferociously as the urge to buy that
new XC full susser you've seen in mmb.
Ventilation
Zips are your friends. The longer the front zip, the more cool
air you can float over your body. Longer zips are more versatile, aiding ventilation
considerably, but add to the price of the shirt. We are particularly fond of Cannondale's
super-long zips.
When do you ride?
All of them: Long-sleeved shirts will be popular in your wardrobe
- with thicker fabrics such as Roubaix, Polartec 100 and perhaps even Thermactiv,
or Polartec 200 for really cold days - but short-sleeved shirts and base layers will
also be needed. A slightly looser fit is necessary in order to get thermal layers
underneath.
Fair-season cycling: Short-sleeved shirts are the bedrock
of any cycling wardrobe. You can always complement these with armwarmers should the
sun go in. Go for lighter wicking materials, such as Fieldsensor, Coolmax, Microsensor,
C-Tech and Aquaduct.
No-sleeve shirts are rarely used in the UK, but they're ideal
for those super-hot days (well, we can always hope) if arm protection is not likely
to be necessary. However, from our experience, the extra cooling capacity does not
make up for the lack of protection from groping undergrowth.
Fitting
Assume the cycling position and ensure your shirt is cut long
enough in the back and arms. Cuffs are best if they're lightly elasticated, simply
stitched over on themselves or, on thicker materials, Lycra-bound so as not to constrict.
Flapping cuffs and sleeves can also be irritating, however.
Pockets
The three-rear-pocket design is a timeless classic which is
difficult to beat, except perhaps by the zipped middle pocket, ideal for your keys,
cash and other valuables. But zips caught between backpacks or beltpacks can chafe
very quickly and painfully, so you've been warned. Reflective piping, patches, materials,
logos, etc. are good as tie-breakers in moments of purchasing indecision.
