Cover Those Legs
It looks like winter riding is now here. The lows for the next 10 days are forecast to be at freezing and below. When temperatures get into the twenties it is time for some serious cold weather gear.
Yesterday morning it was 32 degrees when I left my house. I saw a guy walking his dog. The man was wearing a hooded coat and short pants. He must be crazy! Why bundle up head to waist and let the legs go?
On Sunday the high was around 50. There was a wind and it was partly cloudy. It felt colder than fifty. I was interested in the number of cyclists I saw riding with bare legs.
I read once that if mountain men of the early 1800’s managed to escape being killed by the sundry ways of getting killed in those days, they normally suffered extreme arthritis due the amount of time they spent wading around in ice cold mountain streams during the winter trapping season.
Some cyclist and runners may be in for the same type of chronic pain as they age. I have also read that bicyclists should keep their legs covered anytime the temps hit 60 or below. On a bicycle you have windchill in addition to the actual temperature.
I currently have about 5 variations of leg coverings. They range from light leggings that I use from 50-60 degrees to the heavy wind proof tights that I use when it gets down below twenty.
We might think we are tough and the cold is okay. But we could be doing damage to our legs in the long run.
Looking at you guys ride and run in the cold with bare legs makes me cold.
So please cover up those legs.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:51 am
That was interesting! I run and I know I have to cover my legs when it’s around 40ish, you know the whole sweating factor.
I read some where that when you run your body is 20 degrees higher than the actual temperature, so I figure 40’s a good cut off!!
Thanks!
November 18th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Carey: I have found it much harder to find leg covering for running than for cycling. I am a real heater so I know the problem. I end up using cycling tights for running. They just seem to be the best without being too warm.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Carey: I once tried to use cycling leg warmers for a run. They wouldn’t stay up… SO I safety pinned them to my underwear. In addition to the discomfort of trying to run with something tugging down on your briefs, the ’safety pins’ were not nearly as safe as I would hope. The minute one of those guys popped open I concluded that my idea had failed and it was better to be cold then have pins and needles in my briefs.
I’ve always heard ‘cover your knees until it’s 60 degress’. I wear knickers until about freezing before I put on full leggings. Maybe I should put on my leggings for warmer temperatures, but I paid so much for my cold weather gear that I don’t want to wear it out when I don’t have to.