"Wool jerseys keep you cool - and not just stylistically. Seriously, I've worn lightweight merino jerseys on the hottest, most humid days and have been as comfortable as I would wearing the most modern ""wicking"" fabric.

Wool jerseys don't smell bad after one ride, or even two or three. At worst, after a hard ride, they smell like, well, wet wool. After they dry - no smell. You can easily wear one for two days in a row without compromising your standards of cleanliness. And, no, my nickname is not ""Pigpen!""

I have a couple of ""retro"" Woolistic jerseys from Vintage Velos, some Alessandro/Woolistic jerseys from Rivendell, and a couple of modern tops from Ibex. I like them all. I wear them all year 'round.
"

Heavier than the Alessandro & Ibex jerseys, better for cooler weather. Branford Bike has them.

"I didn't shower for 2 days (you don't wanna hear that story), and rode to Nyack on the 3rd. Temps in the mid 60's, lightweight merino woolie.

Took a little breather at the GWB on the return leg, and I'm sitting there thinking, ""Eeewww, something really reeks over here in NJ today...""

Then, I realized, it was me!

Came home, draped that jersey over the door to air out an hour or so, and I swear, it smelled as fresh as a dew-drizzled sprig o' spearmint on a sunny spring morn... Well, almost.

One caveat, though. If you do wear wool next to your skin, be sure to store it in a ziploc or tupperware box, or else it's a free picnic lunch for moths.

Never, ever, ever seen a moth in your apt, you say? You'll see!"

"Wow, I didn't know there were so many retro folks here!

I still ride a lugged steel frame, but you won't see me in wool. Yes, it's a little less stinky. But the disadvantages as I see them are: Itchy, terrible if you get caught in the rain, prone to moth holes, can lose its shape, takes forever to dry, and expensive. Oh, and wool shorts with real chamois are the worst!

""Chainwheel"""

I wore wool when there was nothing else. As soon as they came out with lycra, I tried it, liked it and never went back.

I find even Merino wool to be itchy. That said, I'm about to buy a long sleeve wool jersey that I'll wear in cool weather– probably with silk or a techno fabric layer between it and me. I never really tried the wear it twice thing. It seemed gross to me.

"""Yeah, definitely no Woolite on wool. Use Ivory Snow!""

Really? What's wrong with Woolite? I even use it on my lycra stuff. I never heard of this before.

""Chainwheel"""

For what it's worth, this thread has raised for me the issue of fellow cyclists who re-use their bike clothes without washing them. It can be a real challenge following them in a paceline -- unless you can hold your breath for extended periods while pedaling. Don't know if any of these are wearing wool and really pushing the envelope. But I know there is one person who I have ridden with some recently, great guy -- strong, funny, knowledgeable about routes. But, it's really hard riding behind him because he often smells... a lot. Look at a paceline with him in it, and there is often a good gap between him and the next rider, and not because they can't keep up.

I've wondered if it was genetic or something, and I don't know this person well enough to say anything. But maybe the message board is indirect enough to put the word out for those trying out the reuse-bike-clothes (jackets or jerseys)-over-and-over-without-washing-them strategy.

Here's hoping,

David

Just recently tried the product called Win (available at www.windetergent.com), and I think it's great. WIN is supposed to remove embedded sweat and bacteria from workout clothes.

Also, if you do wash your sports clothes in the washer, make sure it's a front loader - the middle thing in top loaders tends to stretch clothes.

Clearly, Campmor Sport-Wash is old news.

Thanks!