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Merino wool: Stay one step ahead of UK weather
April 10, 2025
If you’ve ever set off on a spring bike ride in blazing sunshine, only to finish under leaden skies and a smattering of hail, you’ll know that dressing for British weather in April is an art form. Enter the humble but heroic base layer. And not just any base layer; a merino one.
This week, we’re giving away a short-sleeve merino base layer in cheerful yellow from British brand Torm. Designed with spring riding in mind, it’s soft, breathable, lightweight and naturally anti-bacterial (a polite way of saying it won’t make you unpopular once you get to the office).
Made from a 39% Merino wool and 61% polyester blend, with a fabric weight of 170gsm, it promises to be toasty enough for cool morning starts, but breathable enough when things warm up. Raglan sleeves provide extra comfort across the shoulders, while a dropped tail ensures your lower back stays covered when you’re riding.
And while we may be heading towards warmer months, anyone familiar with the British climate knows it’s never a bad idea to be prepared for all four seasons in one ride. Layering can make all the difference between a joyful ride and a battle with the elements.
Win a Torm merino wool base layer
To be in with a chance of winning, you don’t need to buy anything or sign up for a mailing list that will haunt your inbox forever. All you have to do is leave a comment at the bottom of this page. Just let us know what size you'd like. That’s it (although if you'd like to sign up to our emails about cycling and to hear about weekly giveaways like this one, you'd be more than welcome to join our growing community).
Torm: Small by design, big on ethics
You know that bit in every business origin story where someone says, “We just wanted to do things differently”? Well, in Torm’s case, it seems they actually meant it.
Torm began over a Chinese takeaway in Broadstairs, Kent, when two disillusioned scientists - Al and Jon - realised they’d had enough of big corporations. The pair, long-time cyclists and tinkerers, wanted something more fulfilling and grounded. So they opened a local bike shop, and deliberately kept things small. It wasn’t about taking over the world; it was about community, craft, and staying true to their values.
When the numbers stopped adding up in retail, they pivoted; a discovery of merino SportWool inspired them to create their own line of cycling jerseys. Selling direct to customers meant they could offer premium quality without the premium price tag. Ten years on, Torm is still just Al and Jon, making kit they believe in, keeping their local shop alive, and proving that staying small can be a conscious, sustainable choice.
Get Cycle Rescue for free with ETA bicycle insurance
If you suffer a breakdown (including punctures, or even a flat e-bike battery) while out cycling, our 24-hour Cycle Rescue team is on hand to arrange transport for you and your bicycle to a safe location. The service is included for free with ETA cycle insurance, along with:
• Theft, accidental damage & vandalism
• E-bike battery theft cover
• Cycle Rescue
• No devaluation of your bike over time
• £2m third party PLUS £20,000 personal accident cover
• Shed and garage storage
• Low standard excess of 5% (£50 minimum)
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.
Information correct at time of publication.
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