Thomill

Hey gang,

I experienced a problem today for the first time that hopefully the group can offer some advice. I have been working to increase my mileage during the winter months. After about 15-16 miles with an outside temperature around 20F, I stopped for a couple of minutes to drink a little water and have a gel pack. I was wearing a wicking PI base layer and outer shell jacket (no middle layer) and their AmFib tights. I was plenty warm for the trip out, but on starting my return I was as cold as could be. This was, I think, from sweating a bit into my base layer or have my previous, trapped moisture cool over during my rest. It took me at least another 10 minutes of riding to shake this off, but never quite did really, on the trip home. So, my question is, what do you all do when you stop for a break - take off your jacket, swap base layers out (difficult to do, of course), or another method?

Thanks for any advice!
T

geraldatwork

A combination of a base layer and an absorbant layer works well for me. But it needs to be a good wicking base layer. I was fooled into thinking those Body Armor type garments work well. I have the Nike version. To some degree they work just not all that well. I would wear the Nike with a cotton turtle neck over it. The idea being the only place for the moisture (sweat) to go would be the cotton turtle neck and the base layer would keep me dry. However the base layer would still retain some moisture and when I stopped I also felt cold. I just recently got a Duofold base layer, a mock turtleneck, and it stays totally dry. What a difference. Now the cotton garment absorbs all of the moisture and against my skin the base layer is dry. I just wear a windbreaker shell on the outside with no insulation ability. This allows me to wear two base layers and then the cotton turtleneck to keep warm. So the moisture is still even further from my skin. I am just as warm when I stop. Before anyone asks my shell allows moisture to escape from under the flap in the back and under my arms but evidently I can produce it faster than it escapes. Having a base layer that stays dry is the key. A good base layer when taken out of the washing machine after the spin cycle will be almost totally dry. The Under Armor garments are still pretty damp.

Machka 

If I have to stop for a break outside, I try to find a place sheltered from the wind, and preferably in direct sunlight, to help me maintain my body temperature ... and I keep those breaks very short.

If I have to stop inside, I try to ensure that the temperature inside is warmer than usual (when I've used my apartment as a stopping place in a century, I keep the apartment temperature around 80F). I also remove several layers if I can (in the interests of time I can't always do that) so that everything can breath, and so that I have something warm to get into just before I leave again.

At 20F ... I'd be in 5 layers on top, not 2 ... but that's just me!!

chipcom 

Get yourself a merino wool mid layer. Target has some decent high necks with a zip for like 20 bucks. If your shell has pit zips, use them, they work as an exhaust to let some of the warm moist air out to minimize moisture build up on the inside.

2manybikes

When you stop, your production of heat goes down as you are not working. Your body, your clothes and your sweat cool off. Now you need a little extra heat to warm them all up again as they are probably colder than when you came outside to start your ride if you came out of a house, and now you have to heat up sweat too. You need to produce more heat than before to get warm.

You need to work hard enough to produce more body heat. Shift down and spin fast until you feel the heat coming back. If you use a low gear you cut down on the wind chill too. Climb a big hill, sprint and stop and sprint. Try spinning your arms in circles. One big hill will do the job. All you need to do is turn up the heat. You shut off the furnace when you stopped. Now you have to heat up more than when you started, turn the thermostat way up, for a while. Then set it back to normal. Don't just start riding at the same pace you will never get heated up enough. As you ride home if you get cold repeat the warm up routine. Jogging works very fast and very well.

Lolly Pop

excellent analogy.

MichaelW

If you are sweating at 20F, then perhaps your clothing is not right. Is your shell breathable enough to let the moisture evapourate. I use the huff test. If the material can let a huff of air through under some pressure then it is OK. If I cannot huff any air through it is not breathable enough. If the air goes through with no resistance it is not windproof enough.

Thomill

Thanks for the help gang as usual. Some excellent points. I will certainly give all the ideas some go. It may well be my base layer is getting a bit long in the tooth; I think I will hunt around a bit for some end-of-season sales while trying out the other ideas.

Take care,
T

rule

You describe what I was riding in with this morning when I got stopped waiting for a frikkin train. It happens too when I stop along the way to chat with a buddy, for a mechanical or if I make an extended stop like waiting behind some cars at a drive-through atm or for a quick coffee. I am having better luck wearing a base layer, and a breathable/vented but wind blocking outer layer. That way, I never build up much moisture other than what is in the process of working off my skin as I stop. I carry a light shell in my jersey pocket. Whenever I have to make an extended stop, I put it on to keep my body temperature from dropping so much. It works out really well.

willtsmith_nwi

What I think we need is a stowable overcoat that you can "unfurl" for when you stop and quickly stow again for when you get going.

Either that or a jacket with 10 or so vents that automatically open/close based on your body temperature. Some type of temperature sensitive elastic is probably what the doctor ordered.

Feel lucky. I was watching a NOVA regarding climbing Denali (Mt. McKinley). Everest may be taller, but Denali is colder. They were doing research on oxygen levels and core temperatures. The subjects had swallowed intra gastro-intenstinal temperature monitors that tracked their core temperatures. You could really see their core temperatures fluctuate as they moved and stopped for breaks.

This is the name of the game in the winter. Stay active enough to be warm but not active enough to sweat and ruin your insulation.

Myself, I just plain sweat PERIOD. Once I get going, my temperatures go WAAAAY up. I can stop on the side of the trail and wear nothing but a short sleeve shirt in 20°F for 10-15 minutes. I know that I'm NEVER climbing a tall mountain. My temperature just fluctuates WAAAY too much.

BTW, they send two of their three subjects back down to camp (before summiting) because their core temperatures were fluctuating too much. One was an astronaut. The guy who summited, well he was a mountaineer of course.