"Just riding" partially means wearing non-bicycle racer clothes to ride bikes. I've always done this, especially when the temperature goes below 65 F. Everything Patrick notes sounds great, what I do, too, even if I currently live where it almost never cools to point I need my vast store of experience. My three favorite pieces of wisdom for the cold weather are:
Dress a little lighter than you think you need, you'll warm up. Protect the hands and feet more than usual on a bicycle (including a thin produce bag vapor barrier in the shoe, over a thin liner sock). Wear a light, fuzzy Balaclava under the helmet; my favorite is a very breathable stretchy synthetic pile- a little unusual as I usually favor wool. Maybe that Aussie one on the rivbike.com. I am amused and pleased by Grant's inventions in the range of cool weather armour that is really very cycling specific, and yet no racing cyclist would be seen dead in: half-mitts, splats, a bib to block wind when descending. I'm lucky to have a good range of clothes, so "there's no bad weather, just bad clothes" for me. (No that's not true, there's bad weather=black ice.) On Sun, Dec 30, 2012 at 10:08 AM, Garth <garth...@gmail.com> wrote: > > <https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PUPU6Pp6Wlc/UOBsBqX9RCI/AAAAAAAABlY/0FU73AdhKFI/s1024/2012-12-30_11-29-12_847.jpg> > With the neck gaiter, the "mouth" portion is part of the pattern, it's > unnoticeable with flat seams except for that it is regular fleece, which > blocks zero wind. Here's a pic of the inside: > https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PUPU6Pp6Wlc/UOBsBqX9RCI/AAAAAAAABlY/0FU73AdhKFI/s1024/2012-12-30_11-29-12_847.jpg > > This gaiter is not snug fitting ! Measures 11" across, 22' dia. This is > where the elastic drawcord comes into play.... you can close it to seal in > the warmth, open it to vent . It's not a supple or flexible as thinner pure > non wind resistant fleece is, but if I don't need it I just take it off for > a thinner one. No Windstopper fabric is as flexible as regular fleece. > > The number one issue in the cold is the evaporative cooling effect. > Whereas lots of airflow is great in summer, it is less so in winter as > perspiration and cold air = *massive* cooling. Not desired in winter when > trying to stay warm, and dry ! So the key is to always find the right > balance of warmth, perspiration and airflow to balance . > > > > The vest is not cycling specific. It's fine for my 75 inch height. I'm > usually a stickler for longer backs, but in this case it doesn't matter as > my core is warm. That's probably why I thought a longer vest is "always > needed" to stay warm, they were not warm enough to start with !!! So no > extra length is going to make it any warmer . The collar is average also, > not high, not low. But that is what the neck gaiter is for , as no collar > goes high enough for me , NONE ! I dig the European high cut ones, but > rare in America. The vest is not windproof, and the insulation on the > light side for a insulated vest. That what makes it great for cycling, it's > a balance between insulating and breathable ! .. for me at least. Everyone > is so different in comfort levels you really can't compare one to another. > Like you ... I always experiment to find my own suitable method as I'm the > one residing in this body so who else is there to decide what works !! ? I > have tended to chill easily .. and sweat easily . Not an ideal combo for > winter. The real solution for me is to move to more mild climate :) > > You might also think of other vests Patrick. Maybe a light fleece best > would work for you if you need the airflow. Patagonia makes an R1 vest > which is light fleece and super breathable . > http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/patagonia-mens-regulator-r1-vest?p=40140-1-175 > as does Ibex if you want wool: > http://shop.ibex.com/Apparel/Mens-Vests-Jackets > > I also use Pearl Izumi vest that has a mesh back that I use in milder > conditions, I'm not sure if they make it anymore. > > Vests are like the bees knees for versatility. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/4avfZW6BybgJ. > > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > -- Bill Gibson Tempe, Arizona, USA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
