Learning how to master the art of layering clothing
is an extremely subjective necessity for the individual adventurer.
You can either not have enough...
Or potentially worse, wear too many articles and you will surely overheat,
wasting crucial calories and water vapor from the body only destined to soak you up.
This in a harsh winter environment will ultimately leave you cold...and perhaps in trouble.
I gotta get this down, and I gotta get this down in what works for me.
At 128 lbs, I am either too cold or too hot, too much.
Finding that happy medium has always been a challenge for the likes of I. Running, hiking and even ice climbing have seen success in the ways of The Layering.It seems that mountain biking multiplies the needs of thermal regulating ten times or so (or so.)
The Togwotee is just 31/2 weeks away. 100 miles in Colorado snow.
I will be riding every day, soon to ride early before work to get in those miles in the cold and even plan to venture after light to get those pedaling hours when the mercury drops even further.
I suspect at this point for me, the key will be wearing clothing that is easily stripped and to always be continually moving assuring the blood flows.
I got some other ideas as well to experiment with.
What am I wearing when I overheat? :
Patagonia R .5 base layer,
the TNF Momentum,
and a hard shell for the wind.
I strip the ear warmers and pull up all the sleeves
though I get only a minor relief
and the wind chills my scalp and spine.
Not much of it, but apparently enough.
Time to call my friendly neighborhood TNFman
to see about some insulating and wind blocking options.
In other news:
The Yeti is once again Fixxed. 33t x 20t.
Fixxed is the way to go to play and ride in the snow, you know?
However, when the snow gets thick and deep,
I dream of gearing two or three less teeth.
Also, 40miler snow ride this Sundayand new gear to test out!
Osprey's Talon 11 adventure pack.
Endurance worthy?
Stay tuned!
wow dave... wish I could offer some advice on the skills of layering but alas I am of the clueless sort. As it is, I'm still in shock that I weigh less than you for the 1st time in years. lol
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lot of clothes to me! Granted, I've got 20 lbs on ya.
ReplyDeleteFor something like cycling or skiing at say, 15 F, I'd wear a sleeveless base layer, R.5 shirt, windshell (I really like the Patagonia Houdini), mid gloves and light hat. Running in the same conditions, a bit less.
I've found that in really cold weather, and especially below 0, shells with coatings or laminates are the kiss of death. They don't breath at all, frost builds up on the inside, and if you can't get inside and thaw out, you're fucked. I used the Houdini XC skiing in Duluth, MN for 5-6 hours with great success. It doesn't protect from very strong wind as well as thicker stuff, but it's a good trade off in my book.
We'll need to go skiing together next month!
Forgot, that whole 5-6 hours in MN was at or below -10 F. I think I had on a lightweight capilene LS shirt, and a powerstretch fleece shirt, too. Big gloves.
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