Most people check the calendar to find the first day of fall. For me the first day of fall is the day in early September when I have to grab my arm warmers before I go out for a morning ride. I own several different brands of arm warmers, but the Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Arm Warmers are my absolute favorite.
Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Arm Warmers
The Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Arm Warmers are made of a nylon/spandex/polyester blend and have a Windstopper membrane that keeps the wind out. While these arm warmers are not waterproof, they do offer great protection from light drizzle. If the temperature rises while you are out on a ride you can roll these arm warmers up and stuff them in your jersey pocket and you’ll still have room to spare. The reflective accents on these arm warmers are larger than you will find on most cycling jerseys or jackets. Since you are going to be wearing these arm warmers in the spring and fall when the sun sets earlier in the day this is a valuable feature.
A couple of things separate these arms warmers from the other brands. First, these arm warmers actually work! The Windstopper fabric keeps the wind out and the fleece backing traps warm air next to your skin to keep you comfortable. Second, the “grippy” elastic hems keep these arm warmers in place. I have several pair from other companies that just won’t stay where they belong!
I use these arm warmers in temperatures from around 50 to 64 degrees. When the temperature drops below 60 I also put on a cycling vest—this way I can avoid wearing a jacket for as long as possible.
Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Arm Warmers retail for $50, but you can find them online (Amazon.com, Nashbar.com, et al.) for around $40. There are a lot of cheaper arm warmers on the market, but I don’t think you will find better ones.
Chasing Fifty
September 23, 2011 at 9:41 AM
I avoided arm warmers until my wife recently gave me a pair. I’ve used them twice this week, and they are great. I’m planning to use them at the start of my first century tomorrow. Temps are expected to rise 25 degrees from start to finish, so shedding layers easily will be important.