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All Weather Dressing

This story is far from finished.  I'll tell you how I dress, and if you're so inclined take a moment to email me and tell me how you dress.  While I may not have all the answers, if I can help one soul keep from freezing up this winter, or enjoy their summer ride more by not overheating, then I've done something right.

Jackets.  First thing you'll notice on the grid below is I'm not much of a leather man.  The stuff is too heavy, sucks up water in the rain and shrinks when I run it through the washing machine.  But if I were a leather man I'd be darn sure that my jacket and pant's had armor just the same.  

I always find a way to wear a jacket, no matter how hot it is.  Imagine me typing this story with pins in my elbows?  A t-shirt and a leather vest might look cool but will do nothing to keep the pavement away.  For very warm days I like something like a mesh riding jacket.  During the rainy months a waterproof Kevlar/Gortex coat in good shape and some rain gear is advisied.  MSF suggests your jacket not be basic black, but carry a two tone or full bright color.  I agree.

Next thing you'll notice is I'm a fan of full faced helmets.  No, I don't always wear one, but on the highway I do because it scares the hell out of me to imagine a car pitching a rock into my naked face at 60 mph.  Frankly bug splats at this speed can be relatively painful too.  

I like to dress in layers.  If I'm out early in the morning and the temperature increases by 40 degrees during the day that's cool cause I just peel all the warm stuff off.  Of course eventually you need to put all that gear somewhere so be sure to carry something to put it all in.

Gloves.  Let me tell you about my experience with gloves.  So far the 'Winter Extreme' glove is the only waterproof glove I've found that will last more than two years and keep my hands warm at 45 degrees without using electric gear.  If you know of another one tell me about it.  Many have leather finger tips which slurp up water.  Mesh gloves in the 80 plus range will do a pretty good job of protecting your palms and fingers, but allow some cooling on hot days. Fingerless gloves leave your digits vulnerable to abrasion and I don't recommend the things.

Under garments do matter.  I select between two types.  In the winter I wear a synthetic base layer like the one's we created here at Sound RIDER!.  As one of our readers, Charles Greene, who spent 14 winters in Alaska points out, "Since moisture removes body heat 25 times faster than dry air does (hypothermia text EMT training years ago), cotton is not the best choice for 'next to your skin' in cold/wet riding conditions.  A moisture 'wicking' garment will keep you  warmer as the moisture is taken away from your skin."  In the spring, summer and fall I go with a lighter shirt and skin like the one's made by Andiamo.

When it's really hot out I use an Evaporative Cooling vest developed by TechNiche

Footwear.  I always go with over the ankle styles because rehab on a broken foot joint can last for months.  That same guy riding with shorts on a hot day can often be seen with tennies or sandals too - just boggles my mind.  

During colder months I wear ProFeet winter socks made with Thermalite and Merino wool.  For the milder months I wear socks with Coolmax, also made by ProFeet.  Cotton socks are a danger because the sweat stays near the skin and can cause overheating or hypothermia.   

Pants.  Shorts are out in my book.  Again my photographic mind just can't imagine the thought on my naked knees hitting the pavement.  I wear overpants made by First Gear in the winter, spring and summer and mesh pants in the summer.  Each have protective padding in all the right places.

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