I wanted to title this post Holy F its cold, but in reality it is not that cold. It is freezing, but to be in perspective it is not like the Great White North. I was in shorts just a week and a half ago, so to be fair it is colder than what this hairless ape is accustomed. I just need to deal. All this being said, a conversation was had this morning about the willingness to go forth into the cold and its direct correlation to age.
The older we get the less resistant to cold. ???? Do you have any scientific evidence other than all the shut-ins that freeze to death in the winter? I am not sold on the resistance to cold theory, although it does have validity, I subscribe to the knowledge of cold, and age is supposed to give one more knowledge. I call this theory the been-there-done-that theory. I am by no means saying that I am old or young, or that I have knowledge. I know from experience that when I was a few years younger I wore a lot less clothing in the relative cold. Now that I am adding years to my time on this planet, I seem to be adding layers to my body when venturing out-of-doors. I also find that I tend to do my riding indoors more and more.
I hate cold hands and cold feet. I have poor circulation to my extremities, therefore making my problem a problem. The other nail in my cold activity coffin, is the fact that my hands and feet sweat -a lot. Moisture + Cold wind = Miserable. As I type this my fingers are little icicles, my toes and feet are sweating in my wool slippers. This condition can be a match made in hell when out on a long ride. Thank God for sheep and the lovely wool that they provide my feet. Ewe Rock!
I don't do many PSA's on my blog, because the two of you who read this probably already know what I can teach, but the best thing for cold weather activities is: Know your limiters. Cold hands? Cold feet? Cold head/face? What limits you from getting out in the cold? Cover your skin. Keep your core warm -this means your chest and kidney area, especially your kidney area. How do I do this? Keep the wind off your skin, don't let air into your jacket, secure sleeves at the cuffs. Collar -wear something that will not allow air/wind down your collar mainly down your back. No gaps, no air leaks, and you will be toasty. Do Not Overdress. Overdress and you will sweat, you will get wet and then you will freeze to death, or pretty close to death, or you will wish you were dead. Ok, sorry for that. I know you don't come here for my vast knowledge of the way to ride bikes. You come here for the witty repartee. Oh, yeah you do.
I'm not going to talk about motivation to get out in the cold, because I know nothing about motivation. I know all about cable TV and the couch when it is cold outside. What I do know, is that people will do things with other people that they would normally not do alone. Group mentality, or should we call it peer pressure is step one and then group mentality takes over? "I'll go, if you go." -ever been in on a conversation like that? I don't think it is peer pressure or group mentality. I call it the Mutual Dare. You do it, I'll do it, we will be stupid together, and together we are stronger than our weaker counterparts. That's right, Damn the Torpedoes let's go spit in nature's face... Together.
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