What IS Fleece anyway? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

10-21-2004, 10:57 AM

I know to avoid cotton for cold weather biking. Fleece is often
mentioned as a good middle layer. But I've seen "fleece" that is 80%
cotton and 20% polyester. And I've seen "fleece" that is 100%
polyester.

I'm assuming that the 80% cotton isn't a good idea whether it says
"fleece" or not. I guess "fleece" just means "soft and mushy".

10-21-2004, 11:54 AM

Fleece is a method of creating a fabric by shearing one (or both) faces.
You can also have natural wool fleece that is chopped off of a sheep.
Cotton mats down when wet, so is worthless for most cold weather
outdoor activities. Synthetic fleeces or wool are much better.
For cycling, look for a stretch fabric that fits close to your skin
for better insulation and moisture transfer.