Well, I don’t mean to beat a dead horse, but there has been more interest than I expected in some of the cold weather riding gear posts we’ve had lately — so here goes one last one.
Some of that interest has been in the cool weather gear list I keep. A couple of readers thought it was unnecessary, while others thought it was a good idea. So I’m going to go into a bit more detail about why I keep it and how I use it.
I have alluded to the almost year-round warm (hot) weather in Texas before. It’s because we are able to ride eight months of the year in just a lightweight jersey and shorts that I need the gear list. By the time our first cold snap hits, usually in November, I’ve forgotten what combination of clothing works best under certain conditions.
In 2009, I started keeping the list. It’s very simple. When I return from a ride, I note the temperature, sit down at my computer and type out what I was wearing that day. I use a simple text editor to maintain the list so it will open immediately when I click it, and I park it on my computer’s desktop so it’s always handy.
Here’s what it looks like:
Click to embiggen.
You’ll notice that I have more than one clothing combination for similar temperatures. I’ve found that wind makes a difference in comfort, and wanted the list to reflect that.
The list jogs my memory about clothing, so I don’t make the kind of mistakes I did last week. That is, it’s supposed to prevent mistakes in theory — in practice, as you have seen, I still manage to screw it up from time to time.
The forecast for this weekend calls for 75 Friday, 77 Saturday, and 62 Sunday. Saturday morning, when I’ll be riding, it should be in the mid to upper 50s. Sunday morning, the low 40s. With my list, I’ll be able to dress appropriately, based on what I know will do the trick.
Overkill? Perhaps. But it’s a little resource I’m glad to have.
If I may? For a different style, here is my commuting outfit.
Wool socks over another pair
Cargo Pants
t-shirt under a turtleneck under a fleece jacket under a fleece vest.
face mask, wool watch cap, gloves.
lights. lots of lights.