For the inner fabrics this amounts to the designer selecting a fibre with a treatment to reduce surface tension and also having cross section which gives a large surface area so that there is more surface along which the sweat can move. This movement under capillary action is called wicking. When water penetrates the outer layer it can also wick backwards through your base layer to your skin. Malden call this Bi-Polar but the feature is not exclusive to them. Powerstretch pants are a good example of this.
Good selection can at one and the same time improve wicking, water resistance and wind resistance.
Layers are as close fitting to each other AND TO YOU as possible without restricting movement. This ensures that the base layer has maximum wicking capability because it touches you all over. When bike riding the excess fabric should not droop or pouch giving the possibility that it will touch the knees. Get an entry for the kimm. Select your kimm class.