Winter Wear

If you read this blog regularly, you will note that I have a fascination with weather.  Part of that arises from cycling, which is at core and outdoor activity.  If one is going to be outdoors, it is good to have an idea of what to wear.  Wisely does the Sage say,  “There is no bad weather, only poor clothing choices.”  I hate making poor clothing choices, and I hate missing a ride.

Throughout the course of a year, I have many conversations with other riders.  Often, when the topic of rain comes up, I hear something like,  “I never ride in the rain.”  That baffles me a bit.   When pressed, most riders reply that they don’t want to have to mess with cleaning up the bike after a rain ride.

I could accept that, but I work on a lot of those bikes, and the folks who ride them just about don’t  bother to clean them up…  ever.  I’ve come to realize that most folks who “don’t ever ride in the rain,” have two real reasons for avoiding it.  The first is fear, and the second is lack of preparation.

The fear is fairly rational, but largely misplaced.  These riders are afraid that the bike will crash if ridden in the rain.  Honestly, with just a little common sense and caution, it won’t.  The lack of preparation comes from not paying more than cursory attention to weather forecasting, and from lack of knowledge about dressing for the weather.

Cold weather riding is a similar problem.  It’s about how to dress for it.

On that note, I’d like to address another aspect.  Each year, it is necessary to re-evaluate the weather gear.  If one is riding in our climate some cold weather and foul weather clothing are a must.  The good news is that these pieces last us a long time.  The bad news is, “a long time” does not  mean forever.  Sadly, cold weather gear does wear out.

Base layers should provide complete coverage, and while they are thin, they should have enough material to work as a wicking layer.  With repeated washings this kind of material wears and becomes thin.  When that happens, it becomes almost useless, and should be replaced.

Mid layers should be fleece or micro fleece.  This is the material that traps an insulating layer of warm air.  It should have “loft.”  With repeated wear and washing, that fleece compresses and compacts, and it flakes off in washing.

Windblocking outer layers are not immune to the wearout process either.

So, reasonably, we don’t want to have to spend more than necessary on protective clothing.  But we want to be reasonably warm and dry while riding.  How do we accomplish this?

Protect your investment:

Wash the stuff as soon as possible after wear.

Never subject technical athletic clothing to the dryer!  Let it hang to dry.

When the season ends, wash the stuff, and then store it, in airtight containers.

Older, less effective base and mid layer pieces still have utility on the less extreme weather days.

Constantly Build capability:

• Budget for added weather gear each year. 
• Each year, buy one or two pieces that compliment what you already have.
• Evaluate your needs, and replace what is not working well.

Experiment, but control:

Don’t just trust claims on a new item.  Test it!  Example:  I always get into the shower with new rain gear.  I want to know how good it works before I depend on it.  In a similar fashion, go out for short rides with new cold weather gear.  You’d rather be close to home if it doesn’t work well, and you are starting to slip into hypothermia.

Learn a bit about the weather and climate:  It’s a fascinating subject.  And the ability to make reasonable guesses about conditions will allow you to ride more.  If you wait until ride time, and then look out the window, you’ll miss more rides.