How to Dress for Cold Weather

November 1st, 2006 by Nick

 

 

Here’s where it gets serious. Here’s where winter bikers are not only hardcore by reputation, but also in appearance. No, it’s not a ninja mask, it’s a balaclava, and you can get a good one for $15 - $20. You can also get a polar fleece tube for the bottom half of your face, which is good if you use a helmet liner, as long as you pull it up in the back so that it tucks under your helmet; it will slide down otherwise. The concept here is to cover all of your skin. It doesn’t have to be thick - the thermals alone will keep your shins nice and warm, but that blast of chilly air on the exposed centimeter between your jacket sleeve and your glove will get old real fast. My trick here is wristbands, the kind you’re supposed to use to wipe sweat from your brow. When your arms are extended out to your bars, your sleeves pull back, and wristbands do a great job of covering the gap. Cold air will also get to your toes, especially if you wear shoes like mine, so an extra pair of socks helps. I just pull a pair of short socks — which I’m wearing in the first picture — over my thick socks. Under is fine too. Finally, I have thinsulate gloves, which keep my fingers warm. There are good cycling-specific options out there too, but they cost more, and these were $5 from a street vendor.

While “below 30″ does technically describe the deadly coldness of outer space, this outfit is all I have ever needed here on earth, or at least here in New York City. I believe the lowest it got last winter was in the teens, and I was just fine. I’ve skipped riding because there was too much snow in the roads, but I’ve never skipped riding because it was too cold out.

You may notice that my eyes are uncovered in all of these pictures. I’m actually not a big fan of eyewear for riding. I find them distracting, even the clear wraparounds, and when it gets cold out, they fog. Goggles might be good for the cold weather, but my life depends on my peripheral vision, and I’d rather have my eyes tearing from the cold than not be able to see. And that’s usually what happens: for the first few minutes of my ride, my eyes tear up. And it passes. When it’s below 30 degrees, the balaclava/mask does something magical - it directs the hot air of my breath up through the eyehole, and keeps my eyes warm. Now that’s economical use of body heat.

So, use your judgement and make your own variations on this formula, but this is what works for me. I like having rules for temperature ranges, because it means I can check the weather in the morning and dress accordingly without having to gamble with being warm enough or do too much mid-ride stripping.

Cold weather isn’t that scary on a bike. I surprised myself, and I encourage everyone to give it a shot, even if you think you’re taking a risk. If it sucks, you can go back to driving or taking public transportation, but you might find out that you like it. I sure do.

If any readers brave colder weather than we have here in New York City, I’d love to hear your tips. In fact, I encourage all winter riders to hit up the comments and share ideas. Teach me something! And remember, if you feel cold, pedal harder!

                                                                                                                                          

Balaclava (clothing)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Different ways of wearing a balaclava.

A balaclava (pronounced /ˌbæləˈklɑːvə/), also known as a balaclava helmet or ski mask, is a form of headgear covering the whole head, exposing only the face or upper part of it, and sometimes only the eyes. The name "balaclava" comes from the town of Balaklavain Crimea. During the Crimean War, knittedbalaclavas were sent over to the British troopsto help protect them from the bitter cold weather. They are traditionally knitted from wool, and can be rolled up into a hat to cover just the crown of the head. Modern balaclavas can be made from a number of materials, such as silk, cotton, polypropylene, neoprene, wool or fleece. Modern balaclavas are also used in outdoor winter sports activities such as skiing, snowboarding, or winter bicyclingto help protect the face from the cold wind and maintain warmth. Some exercise specialists believe that balaclavas help athletes with exercise-induced asthma by recirculating exhaled moisture (in concurrence with the theory that it is the dryness of air, not temperature, that triggers some types of asthma).^[1] Motorcyclists also wear one under their crash helmets for similar reasons; balaclavas also help to keep the inner lining of the helmet clean.

Additionally, balaclavas are often associated with special forcesunits such as SWATand the SAS, or alternatively with robbersand terrorists, where they act as a form of identity concealment.

In the United States, the term "ski mask" is much more commonly used than the term "balaclava."

Racing driversmay also wear balaclavas made of fire-retardant material underneath their crash helmetsin order to improve protection in case of a fire following an accident, and commonly cover the nose and mouth to reduce inhalation of smoke and fumes. Dragster-racing drivers usually wear balaclavas which have just two separate eye holes because of the increased fire risk.

In the Indian subcontinent, balaclavas are commonly referred to as monkey caps, due to their typical earth tone colours, and the fact that they blot out most human facial features. Monkey caps sometimes have a small, decorative, woollen pom-ponon top. They are commonly worn by troops on Himalayanduty.^[2]

 

                                                                                                                                           

 

Winterize Rover for cold-weather fitness, Cornell veterinarian advises;
Lessons from the Cornell sled dog team can be applied to house pets

FOR RELEASE: Dec. 9, 1996

Contact: Roger Segelken
Office: (607) 255-9736
E-Mail: hrs2@cornell.edu

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Doggie coats and booties are more than fashion accessories and a couple of extra pounds of fat is healthy when it comes to "winterizing" dogs for outdoor activities, according to trainers of some canine athletes that make human Olympians look like couch potatoes -- the sled dog racing team at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

With a little preparation, almost any healthy dog can accompany humans on winter running, fitness walking or cross-country skiing expeditions, said Arleigh Reynolds, D.V.M., Ph.D., assistant professor of clinical nutrition. The Alaskan huskies that are involved in Reynolds' nutrition studies at Cornell and trained by students to run in sled races are well suited for winter life, he notes. But even the racing huskies need extra care in extreme conditions -- a lesson that can be applied to family pets.

"Keep in mind what your dog is built for," Reynolds advised. "Not all dogs can handle cold weather. Some of the small, short-coated dogs like Chihuahuas are never going to be comfortable in a cold environment. And other breeds, such as Norwegian elkhounds, Samoyeds, Huskies and Malamutes, actually are more comfortable in the cold than in a warm environment. Most family pets fall between those extremes, so your average Labrador retriever, for example, has a coat that keeps it fairly comfortable in cold weather."

The professor/musher offers these tips to successfully share winter activities with dogs:

-- If weather conditions allow humans to be comfortable, running with normal sweat pants and breathing without a face mask, dogs such as retrievers will do fine. But if it's so cold that humans need a face mask, then dogs are at risk of frost bite. Especially vulnerable are females that recently have had puppies or males with little hair on their underbellies. Specially designed dog coats can protect the abdomens of dogs that are out in cold weather.

-- Even champions in Alaska's Iditarod race wear dog booties, so suburban pooches shouldn't feel bad when they're led to the pet-supply store for a fitting. The uninsulated booties are not for warmth, the Cornell expert noted, but for two kinds of protection: For preventative health care if the dog may run through changing conditions -- from water to snow that forms balls in the hair of the feet or from powder snow to granular snow or ice with sharp edges -- the booties prevent injuries. In deep-snow conditions, where dogs' feet spread out and snow acts like tiny knives to produce cuts between the webs of their feet, Rover will be grateful for the fashionable attire. And if the dog already has a cut pad or other minor foot injury, booties help the injury heal faster.

Taking the dog in for a fitting is a good idea, Reynolds said, because a boot that is too large won't give proper traction on slippery surfaces. Openings at the top allow snow to enter the boot, also causing injuries. And a too-small boot can cut off circulation to the dog's feet. Check the condition of the booties from time to time to ensure that the dog hasn't worn holes in the bottom and that the boots aren't too tight.

-- Adjust feeding as winter approaches to add a pound or two of insulating weight to active, outdoor dogs. That much weight will not make normal dogs obese, and they can shed the extra pounds when the weather warms in the spring.

Don't forget water for working dogs in the winter, even if they are eating snow, Reynolds said. An active dog can't get enough water from snow, and it uses extra energy to melt the snow. However, the electrolytes in sports drinks are not needed, the veterinary nutritionist said, because dogs don't sweat the way humans do.

-- Equipped with their naturally thick coat and adapted to the cold, many dogs can thrive outdoors if their yard includes a shelter from precipitation and wind. The doghouse should be appropriately sized -- just large enough to allow maneuvering while retaining the animal's body heat -- and outfitted with dry bedding.

All dogs reach their cold-tolerance limit at some temperature, the Cornell husky-trainer said. "If it's so cold that you can't go out without extreme cold-weather gear, your dog shouldn't be outside at that temperature either.

"Bring the dogs inside then," he advised. "That's the true meaning of a 'three-dog night.' They'll be happy to keep you warm, too."

-30-

Those amazing canine athletes, the Alaskan huskies of sled-dog racing

Cool facts from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University

-- Although almost any "Northern" breed of dog may run in the Iditarod, the most successful mushers field teams of Alaskan huskies. The Alaskan husky is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), as are such breeds as the Siberian husky and Malamute. It is a mix of those breeds, with superior speed and endurance.

-- The average Alaskan husky running in the Iditarod burns about 11,000 calories a day. To put that in perspective, compare a 44-pound dog with a 175- to 180-pound human in an endurance event like the (Tour de France) bicycle race. On a body-weight basis, an Iditarod racer eats and burns about eight times as much as a Tour de France cyclist.

-- In another physiological parameter, the maximal oxygen uptake, or VO2 max, the huskies also are champs. The human who won the 1996 Olympic marathon in Atlanta had VO2 max of about 75 mils of oxygen per kilogram of body weight. Dogs running in the Cornell sled dog team have VO2 maxes as high as 240 -- three times as high as the very best human athletes in the world.

-- The average human recreational runner in an endurance event such as a marathon usually clocks 9-minute miles. Alaskan huskies in the 1,000-mile Iditarod, running in a variety of harrowing conditions that would turn a human marathoner blue, average 9 or 10 mph -- the equivalent of a 6-minute mile. And the dog teams are pulling sleds that weigh, at the beginning of the race, between 300 and 400 pounds.

-- Besides endurance, Alaskan huskies are prized for their super-insulating coats of inner and outer fur. A musher considering buying a new husky sometimes borrows the dog for the night and lets it sleep on the snow. If snow beneath the dog has thawed overnight, the dog is a "melter" with insufficient insulation and probably isn't worth buying.

                                                                                                           

Health Encyclopedia - Diseases and Conditions

Causes and Risk Factors of Frostbite

Exposure to extremely cold temperatures (32 degrees or below) for prolonged periods of time causes frostbite. The risk becomes greater as the temperature drops and the wind increases.

 

The risk of frostbite increases with impaired circulation. Those with peripheral vascular diseaseor diabetesmellitus and those taking beta-blocker drugs are more vulnerable.

Symptoms of Frostbite

Common warning signs include a progressive numbness and a loss of sensitivity to touch. The affected area will also tingle or feel as if it is burning. As the condition worsens, the pain begins to fade or eventually disappear.

 

The skin also changes color when exposed to extreme cold. It blanches, then may appear red, and finally white-purple if allowed to freeze.

 

Most people say the affected part of the body feels "wooden," and it may appear to have a wooden texture.

 

Frostbitecan affect any part of the body, but the tip of the nose, ear lobes and rim, fingertips, and toes are the most likely areas.

 

In mild cases, full recovery can be expected with early treatment. Severe cases of frostbite can result in infection, or gangrene - the death of some body tissue due to the lack of blood supply.

Treatment of Frostbite

When you first notice signs of frostbite, come out of the cold immediately and rewarm the affected area as rapidly as possible.

 

Do not rub the skin in an effort to get blood flowing back to the area. This causes friction and will destroy the already damaged skin and underlying tissue, as well as increase the risk of infection.

 

To thaw frostbitten skin, immerse the affected part in a bath kept at a constant temperature of 104 to 105 degrees F for an hour or more. This will cause the blood vessels to dilate and circulation to return to the area.

 

Rapid rewarming is an intensely painful procedure. Take two ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen to dull the pain.

 

Do not smoke or chew tobacco. Nicotine constricts the blood vessels, reduces blood flow to chilled areas, and delays the healing process. If you do not have access to warm water, stick the frozen body part under an armpit or between the thighs.

 

When the skin has thawed and rewarming is complete, cover the damaged skin with bandages and warm clothing. Contact your doctor or go to an emergency room.

 

If there is any chance of refreezing a thawed body part, do not rewarm it in the first place. Freezing, rewarming and freezing the skin again causes much more tissue damage than being frozen once. As it rethaws, the skin turns red, swelling develops, and the area becomes quite painful. Dark blisters appear on the skin and continue to form over the ensuing week(s) as new skin develops.

Prevention of Frostbite

Before going outside in extremely cold temperature, apply skin moisturizer to the face, hands, and any other body part that may be exposed to the cold. Dress warmly, wear dry clothing, and stay out of the wind. Wear a face mask for extra protection. Wear heavy mittens instead of gloves in freezing cold weather. When the fingers are together in a mitten, their collective body heat keeps the hand warm.

 

Children playing outside should be watched carefully to make sure that they do not lose or remove mittens or head-coverings.

 

Be extremely careful when pumping gas into your car if the temperature is below freezing. Gasoline on exposed skin evaporates very quickly, lowers the temperature of the skin, and makes it more susceptible to frostbite.

 

When you exercise in below-freezing temperatures, wear layers of clothing. The more layers you wear, the better insulated you are. The innermost garment must be nonabsorbent and loosely woven.

 

Go inside, if possible, when you feel too cold. Remember that fatigue, lack of oxygen in high elevations, and consumption of alcohol may cause you to disregard discomfort and cold.

 

Avoid smoking or drinking before venturing out into extreme cold. Tobacco decreases circulation by constricting blood vessels, and alcohol interferes with the body's ability to regulate temperature.