[net.cycle] appropriate clothing

ken@ihuxq.UUCP (ken perlow) (01/27/84)

Anytime you're riding and it's below 55 degrees F, you have to
be concerned about the effects of hypothermia.  Remember, the
wind is coming right at you at around 50-70 knots, & you're just
sitting there, your muscles barely working.  It's easy to know
when you're too numb, but before that happens you're already too
slow and too silly to know or care.

All the insulation in the world won't keep the gale out--you have
to seal yourself up.  I've found that the heavy grade gore-tex
works real well, and it still breathes.  Underneath such a shell
you can wear whatever insulation is called for.  I had to get
a two-piece riding suit specially made, but I found gloves on the
market that work great.  Inside leather outers they have thinsulate
covered with gore-tex.  They're reasonably water-proof & toasty down to
about -5 F.  ("Reasonably" means that with a little protection from
a wide windshield they are waterproof; without one the water hits the
gloves with sufficient pressure to get in, but it takes about an hour.)
The maker is "Conroy."  Be sure to get the gore-tex ones, as they
make others (their market is skiers).  Price: $50-60.  Yeah, I know--
that's what I said.  But then, even in this Chicago winter I can
come into my office, take off my riding gear, & hack right away.
-- 
                    *** ***
JE MAINTIENDRAI   ***** *****
                 ****** ******    27 Jan 84 [8 Pluviose An CXCII]
ken perlow       *****   *****
(312)979-7261     ** ** ** **
..ihnp4!ihuxq!ken   *** ***