To follow is a list of some of the bike jacket technical terms you may come across when looking at bike jackets.  Knowing what these terms mean will help you to decide whether your bike jacket or jackets need to be waterproof or breathable… or both!  Hope this helps and if you want anything else explained, please get in touch….  CONTACT goRide

OUTER LAYER TERMS – Wind proof, water proof, water resistant, seam sealed, breathable, thermal, reflective, bright

Includes rain jackets, thermal jackets, waterproof trousers

An outer shell or hard shell jacket designed for riding doesn’t do much to actually keep you warm except for keeping out wind. Its primary function is to protect the inside layers of clothing from getting wet.  Most cycling jackets are made up of an outer shell and maybe an inner membrane.  Very few have insulating layers as they are designed for active use not to help keep you warm.

WATERPROOF

Technically, being waterproof means that it is impermeable to water, no matter how much time it spends in water.  No water in or out. A waterproof jacket will have a coating on the outer fabric called a DWR (Durable Water Repellant).   This will help the garment shed water and prevent saturation.

A garments level of waterproofness is measured in millimetres.  The range between 5,000 mm and 10,000 mm is great for spending long days outdoors through cold and wet weather conditions. It can withstand rains and winds, making it ideal for most outdoor activities including cycling. Waterproof ratings beyond 10,000 mm are excellent.

BREATHABILITY 

This is a measure of how quickly moisture vapour, generated from your body when you are exercising, is able to pass through a fabric from the inside to the outside environment.  A waterproof jacket that has no breathability will trap all this vapour which will then condense and make you feel damp and sweaty, and potentially cold on a bike.  A jackets breathability will vary depending on the use it was designed for.  As a guide breathability can be measured in g/m2 so depending on the level of activity you want to perform on a regular basis you can buy a jacket that matches.  Most jacket companies will have their own guidelines but to give you a general idea…

• 5,000 – 10,000g/m²: This level of breathability is fine for light activities, but will get a bit clammy during high-intensity riding or hill climbing.
• 10,000 – 15,000g/m²: Jackets in this range are suited to more adventurous, moderate to high levels of exercise.
• 15,000 – 20,000g/m² & above: An extended back country trip, protection in warm climates or otherwise working hard and perspiring heavily will require a jacket this breathable.

Breathability can also be aided with vents, zips, mesh lined pockets.

What is your activity level?  How important is a breathable jacket?

Control Moisture

Why do you need to control moisture? Once your clothing is wet, in warm conditions, it will lead to chaffing.  In cold conditions, it will lead to hypothermia. The combination of wet clothing & wind is dangerous and riding creates a draft without any help from the actual weather conditions.

WATERPROOF & BREATHABLE

Most waterproof breathable fabrics are layered. This is what distinguishes them from the rest of the jacket options.  The layers will be made from laminate materials, which usually consist of

• an inner fabric optimised for wicking moisture
• a waterproof membrane
• an outer face fabric with a DWR treatment

Layered fabrics are common in waterproof & breathable jackets

A fitted thermal bike jacket for wind or chill protection

Water resistant, packable & hi-vis bike jacket