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Copyright © 2000 by M. Hilton Taylor. All Rights Reserved by T.A.M.S. It ain’t rocket science . . . is it. |
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WHAT DO YOU MEAN, “IT’S TOO COLD TO RIDE?” Don’t have any heated clothes but you still like riding when it is cold? It just takes a little “heat management!” Of course, you could always lay down the bucks for a heated riding suit, so if you have the money . . . lay out the cash. If not here are some suggestions to get you through the cold weather like a smiling Polar bear. A healthy body is around 98 degrees and most houses are around 70 degrees, so you have to manage the heat that you have. The best advice for staying warm in cold weather is to layer your clothes to manage moisture, keep dry, insulate for warmth, and protect you from the wind and weather. The first layer of clothing should manage moisture by moving perspiration away from the skin to keep you dry and comfortable. The key is to keep moisture away from the skin as it is the enemy of heat retention. Use thermal underwear made of synthetic fibers like polyester and polypropylene to wick moisture away from the skin. Avoid natural fibers such as cotton, as they tend to hold moisture close to the skin and dry very slowly. The second layers are the insulating layers to create dead air space between the layers of clothing, trapping warm body air and keeping it around the body. It should trap warm air escaping from your body and hold it in open spaces within the insulation to keep your body warm and insulated. Multiple layers of insulation may be needed depending on the outside temperature. Fleece and fishnet is a good second layer that will trap air and insulate from heat loss. Wool is another good material for maintaining warmth. The outer layer should provide protection from wind and rain and keep cold air and moisture from penetrating into the insulation layers. Look for outerwear that is warm, water-resistant, and well insulated with a synthetic fiber such as Thinsulate™ Insulation. It should be breathable to let the moisture escape. It should also be lightweight and give you freedom of movement. Thinsulate™ Insulation provides about 1 ˝ times the warmth of down and nearly twice the warmth of other insulations when equal thicknesses are compared. Look for features such as cuffs that fit tightly to keep out cold air, zippers with large nylon teeth, and storm flaps over the zippers or behind the zipper to block wind and water. Don't forget your feet and hands. Wet cold feet can make you feel cold all over. When choosing shoes for the winter they should not be tight fitting and should have round toes to provide some air space for insulation. It is a good idea to buy a pair that is one half-size larger so you can wear a good pair of socks that wick water. Hiking socks are a good choice, but more socks are not the answer. You should never wear more than a thin liner sock and a thick outer sock. Waterproof gloves lined with synthetic insulation such as Thinsulate ™ insulation are the best choice for the hands. You can also cover your leather gloves with a pair of thin rubber gloves to protect from cold and rain penetration. Keep your body warm and your metabolism high. Your upper body and head must be kept warm to allow for circulation to other body parts. If either your upper body or head get too cold, your body will shut down the heating of extremities in order to keep the upper body and head warm. This will cause your feet and hands to get cold. Be sure to eat foods such as nuts, cheeses, meats and drink lots of liquids to keep your body energized. A good meal before you start your ride will get you prepared for the cold. Avoid caffeine and nicotine as they have the opposite affect. A pocket full of candy bars, peanuts, and jerky are the great riding companions. I have ridden in very cold weather and all it takes is a little preparation and care. My winter riding outfit is expedition weight polypropylene underwear, jeans, a good fleece shirt, Gortex pants, jacket, round toe boots, heavy weight hiking socks, and a good pair of gauntlet gloves. This will usually get me down to about 20 degrees. Anything similar will work well, but be sure not to overdress, as more is not always better and it will prevent you from looking like the Michelin man. You should always stop when you get too cold, drink plenty of liquids, and watch for signs of hyperthermia. Enjoy the ride and be sure you smile at the drivers in the cages that look at you like you are nuts . . . they are just envious.
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