Flying Nun
- Fabric:
- Sizes: WS, WM, WL (see chart)
-
Colours:
Supersize
Reviews
Cycling Plus (UK) - Jul 10
This lightweight long sleeve merino jersey has two rear zipped pockets and is comfortable and breathable when riding. Worn as a base layer or on its own, it's suitable year-round. We must like it as we've been caught wearing it off the bike as well as on.
9/10 stars.
Mountain Biking Australia - Jul 10
Ground Effect has gone through a few incarnations of their 'Lightwave Merino' fabric over the past couple of years. To begin with, this summer weight fabric was quite cool indeed but very stretchy and saggy once you chucked a tube and a few gels in the back pockets.
The next generation was more supportive but a little too warm to be considered a warm weather garment. In its latest guise, Ground Effect has blended the merino with polyester; 50% New Zealand merino against your skin with the polyester on the outside (it was previously a merino/nylon blend). While you still can't overload the pockets in the same way as you can with a study full synthetic jersey, the new fabric is a lot more supportive and you can pack a reasonable amount of stuff into the rear pockets - a handy thing if you don't always ride with a pack. As with the earlier incarnations, the Merino fabric remains relatively odour free and remained comfortable in warmer conditions - say up to 25 degrees.
By John Hardwick, Editor of Mountain Bike Australia magazine.
Fabric
A bi-component thermal fabric combining 51% merino wool and 49% polyester. Superfine 18.5 micron New Zealand merino wicks sweat away from your skin while the polyester provides a durable, non-pill outer. Lightweight at just 160gm/m2 and machine washable. Developed by Ground Effect and knitted for us in New Zealand.
- Composition: 51% merino; 49% polyester
Man vs Wild
Merino is unrivalled for comfort as a body layer. It absorbs more moisture than synthetic fibres, mopping up excess sweat rather than letting it settle and cool on your skin. However high-aerobic activities like cycling will often overload ordinary merino. Heatwave's polyester component repels moisture to avoid total saturation of the fabric - so it dries faster to keep you toasty.
Snug-as-a-Bug Fit
Heatwave™ Merino tops are intended to hug your body, ensuring the fabric sits against your skin to wick sweat away - keeping you dry and not chilling out.
Hot 'n' Cold
As a single garment Heatwave™ Merino regulates your temperature through a wide range of conditions. Delivering comfort in all but the hottest climes. Yet it is versatile enough to layer under a WindFoil™, Vortex™ or HydroFoil™ shell in winter.
Sizing
Check out the chart to suss out where you fit. This is a guide only - if you fall in-between sizes, the right size for you will depend on your body shape and how loose or tight you like to wear your clothes. It's no hassle to swap it, if your first choice is not the best fit.
| Women | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| WS (8-10) |
WM (12) |
WL (14) |
|
|
Bust |
88 - 92 cm |
93 - 97 cm |
98 - 102 cm |
|
Waist |
63 - 69 cm |
70 - 76 cm |
77 - 83 cm |
|
Hips |
89 - 95 cm |
96 - 102 cm |
103 - 109 cm |
Unisex vs Women's Sizes
If you're struggling to find that certain something in the Outskirts™ women's range, then check out Ground Effect's standard range of unisex gear. As unisex items tend to be larger than our women's designs selected products are also available in XS (approximately women's small) to provide a more complete range.
Kick bad habits and Mother Superior all around the hill with this versatile all-conditions top. Heatwave™ Merino mixes the next-to-skin comfort of superfine New Zealand merino with a durable, quick-drying polyester outer. Perfect year round when worn solo, and toasty when layered under another top or rain jacket in winter. No wimple required.
> Heatwave™ hi-performance bodywear combines a merino inner layer with a fast-drying polyester outer.
> Long front zip for venting.
> Long sleeves protect your forearms from both the sun and the cold.
> No-elastic hem.
> Twin zipped rear pockets.
> Sewn in emergency tube repair patch, because you can never be too well-prepared.
> Made by us in New Zealand.
What is the difference between the Tip Top, Starfish and Flying Nun?
> All share similar design features: long zips, high collars, rear pockets and full-length sleeves. The main difference is in the fabric.
> The Heatwave merino used in the Flying Nun is used extensively in our clothing range, for use in both hot and cold climes, and is versatile enough to wear as an insulation layer in winter. It has twin zipped rear pockets.
> The Tip Top and Starfish are summer specific designs, utilising fabrics designed to wick moisture away from your skin in the heat of summer.
> The Intercool in the Starfish combines the functionality of synthetic fibres with the familiar look and feel of cotton. While the HyperActive in the Tip Top is a lightweight summer fabric from Italy packed with technology to keep you cool and dry as. The fabric dries at the speed of light - great when reduced to hand washing on tour.
Why is Heatwave Merino so comfortable next-to-skin?
> Heatwave combines the comfort, warmth and low-odour properties of merino wool with the durability of polyester. Merino wool absorbs more moisture than synthetic fibres like polyester or polypropylene. This makes it very effective in dealing with excess sweat - it is absorbed into the fabric rather than settling (and cooling) on your skin. The polyester component repels moisture which avoids total saturation of the fabric - helping it to dry faster. The strength of the polyester also maintains the shape of the garment and minimises wear 'n' tear and pilling.
> The Baked Alaska and Popsicle are intended to be used as a stand alone cycle top in cool, as opposed to cold, conditions.
> The Ristretto, Model T, Robin Hood, Submerino and Hot Toddy are all base layers - best worn directly against your skin.
> The Median Strip, Berglar and Flying Nun are riding jerseys, with additional features including three rear pockets and long front zips. For use in both hot and cold climes and versatile enough to wear as an insulation layer in winter.
Washing Instructions?
> Try to avoid cold-water detergents, those with bleach, fabric softener or 'oxygen whitener'. Bleach rots natural fibres like wool. Sodium Percarbonate (the main ingredient in oxygen whitener) can make colours run. Fabric softener can do both.
> Warm machine wash, 40°C.
> Where possible look for a product with a neutral pH level (pH 7) to avoid damaging the wool. As a rule of thumb, product that is easy on the planet is also easy on your body. Select a mild plant-based soap like Ecover, Ecostore, Earthwise or Aware.
> Wash colours separately.
> Most Ground Effect gear dries super-fast so drying on the line or hanging over the bedpost does the trick. Or use a dryer on a warm (not hot) cycle.
