From: steveha@microsoft.com (Steve Hastings)
Subject: Re: Performance Elite jacket
Date: 06 Nov 92 07:42:38 GMT
Organization: Microsoft Applications Division

In article <1992Oct30.041958.20990@microsoft.com> steveha@microsoft.com (Steve Hastings) writes:
>I have one, and I tend to get wet with sweat when I wear it.  I don't think
>it is very breathable, despite their catalog ad copy.  It is okay if you
>unzip all the zippers, but I think I'd like it better if it had a vented
>back like their $30 jacket that stuffs into a sack has.  In a real downpour
>it might be just what you want

Well, as a matter of fact, since I wrote that, I did ride through a real
downpour.  It kept me dry and comfortable.  I didn't get wet with sweat,
either, because of the chilling effect of the rain.  (And I had my Solar
Alpha on underneath -- on a warm, clear day I'd have roasted.)

My wife wore her "Performance Rain Jacket" (the $30 jacket on page 4 of the
current catalog, that stuffs into a small stuff-sack).  She found that rain
soaked through it (it is only "water-resistant", not "waterproof") and she
got wet even through her Century Jacket (we do buy a lot from Performance,
don't we?).


>By the way, I really like the stuff-sack jacket.  It is not as warm as the
>Elite, but it is windproof and better ventilated.  I bought the stuff-sack
>jacket and pants together (cheaper than buying them separately).

I still like and recommend these, but don't count on them to keep you
comfortable in pouring chill rain.

My wife, after we finished our ride in pouring rain, decided she wants a
Gore-Tex riding suit.  That will keep her more comfortable than the
stuff-sack jacket in winter rain.  If you figure you won't ride much in
pouring rain, a Performance Elite might be plenty of protection for you,
and it is cheaper than Gore-Tex by a lot.

So my final recommendations:
* buy a stuff-sack jacket and pants for occasional or light rain (ideal for
carrying in the summer in case of rain)
* buy a real Gore-Tex rainsuit if you want to ride in pouring, cold rain
* buy a Performance Elite jacket if you want something like a Gore-Tex
jacket that folds up really small, or if you want to save money compared to
Gore-Tex


Other notes:
Our hands got really cold through our Novara full-finger cycling gloves,
so now we bought Pearl Izumi "lobster claw" gloves at our local REI.
Gore-Tex waterproof, and warm.  At $40, they are only $5 more than the
winter-weight gloves from Performance, and I'll bet they are warmer.

I wore a "Squall Cap" from Lands' End (800/356-4444) under my helmet.  The
ear flaps kept my ears warm and dry, and the brim kept rain off my cycling
glasses.  It worked much better than my wife's ear-warming neoprene band
from the Performance catalog.  Instead of buying a helmet liner and
ear-warming band, consider a Squall Cap or equivalent.  The Squall Cap will
work well if you have panniers, but will not squish up into a seat bag like
the helmet liner and ear-warming band.

We wore our Performance Gore-Tex helmet covers.  These cost about $12, and
they cover up the air holes on your helmet.  They also have reflective
patches to make you easier to see.  They do not have a brim to help keep
rain off your glasses.  If you have a Squall Cap or equivalent, you can
probably blow these off.  (But they do squish up real small to go in your
seat bag.)
-- 
Steve "I don't speak for Microsoft" Hastings    ===^=== :::::
uunet!microsoft!steveha  steveha@microsoft.uucp    ` \\==|
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