[GRRiders] Clothing and weather

[Lois Springsteen]

Indeed - I always have some sort of jacket, too!

-----Original Message-----
From: cycle at machka.net [mailto:cycle at machka.net] 
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2005 2:38 PM
To: Lois Springsteen; 'Amy Rafferty'; 'David Pyle'; 'Gold Rush'
Subject: Re: RE: [GRRiders] Clothing and weather

I agree with your minimum kit, except that I add my rain jacket to it.  That
jacket is waterproof breathable with lots of ventilation so I don't sweat
like crazy inside it, but at the same time it can be quite warm when things
cool off.

>From my limited experience with riding in hot weather, if it cools down by
even 20 degrees at night, it will feel very cold, especially when I'm tired.
So I've got a full range of stuff with me!

-----Original message-----
From: "Lois Springsteen" lois_springsteen at prodigy.net
Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2005 00:07:15 -0400
To: "'Amy Rafferty'" aerafferty at ucdavis.edu
Subject: RE: [GRRiders] Clothing and weather

~~ Hi Dave (and all),
~~ 
~~ I rode the GRR in 2001 and I think that Amy's suggestions are very good
~~ ones. Amy and I have ridden many miles together and she always seems to
have
~~ it together. 
~~ 
~~ I have a "minimum" kit that I take for any brevet that involves night
~~ riding. My night-riding kit always includes long-fingered gloves, thin
~~ balaclava, long-sleeved turtleneck and tights in addition to whatever I'm
~~ wearing during the day.
~~ 
~~ In 2001, when I did the GRR, I decided in Greenville on the way back that
I
~~ didn't need my turtleneck or tights - that knee warmers and arm warmers
~~ would suffice. And, I had a drop bag there, so why not ditch a few things
to
~~ make the ride to the finish a bit easier?
~~ 
~~ While it wasn't a complete disaster, I was very cold the last night and
~~ really kicked myself for violating my minimum kit rule. I just figured it
~~ would be hot in the central valley and so I might as well lighten my
load.
~~ It seems that like many other riders, when I'm tired after several nights
~~ out, my body seems to need more clothing to stay warm. I was smart enough
to
~~ keep my balaclava and long-fingered gloves, but the last night would have
~~ been much more fun if I'd had that turtleneck and tights. So, if you're
in
~~ doubt, I'd say schlep more clothes.
~~ 
~~ It's interesting that the weather pattern leading up to the 2001 GRR was
~~ similar to this year - very hot the week before, but then the heat broke
for
~~ our event.
~~ 
~~ Anyway, I learned a valuable lesson about not violating my "minimum" kit
~~ rule. Funny how we (or maybe I should say I) have to keep re-learning
some
~~ of these lessons over and over again. ;-)
~~ 
~~ Lois Springsteen
~~ 
~~ P.S. See you at Eagle Lake!
~~ 
~~ 
~~ 
~~ -----Original Message-----
~~ From: goldrushriders-bounces at dbclist.org
~~ [mailto:goldrushriders-bounces at dbclist.org] On Behalf Of Amy Rafferty
~~ Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2005 1:42 PM
~~ To: David Pyle; Gold Rush
~~ Subject: Re: [GRRiders] Clothing and weather
~~ 
~~ Hi Dave:
~~ It will most likely be HOT at the 6 p.m. start. The valley will cool a
bit
~~ at night, but I only plan to carry my basic warm things from the get-go.
~~ 
~~ >From Davis, I plan to carry a sleeveless undershirt, armwarmers,
~~ legwarmers,
~~ windvest, lightweight insulating vest, balaclava and liner gloves. The
last
~~ two don't weigh very much at all and protect exposed skin if it's
~~ unexpectedly cold somewhere. I also usually carry an emergency space
blanket
~~ on 600k and 1200k rides. They don't weigh much and can come in handy if
you
~~ need to stop and rest somewhere that's cold.
~~ 
~~ At Taylorsville on the way out, I plan to pick up a rainjacket. Afternoon
~~ thunderstorms on the next part of the course are not unusual. I guess
Paul
~~ G's garbage bag would serve the same function.
~~ 
~~ I'm going to leave some warm layers at both Susanville and Adin. I tend
to
~~ feel the cold more acutely as the ride progresses, so I like the idea of
an
~~ extra layer or two for later on. I'm not talking about a huge amount of
~~ stuff here -- mainly a wool or fleece longsleeved jersey and an extra
hat.
~~ 
~~ I've never really had problems remembering to pick up stuff from my drop
~~ bags, but that's just me I guess. But I try not to store anything in them
~~ that I absolutely, positively must have to finish the ride.
~~ 
~~ I live near Davis and have also ridden in the Sierras, so I'm quite
~~ confident that what I'm carrying and what I'm picking up are right for
me.
~~ But everyone's different. I tend to carry a bit more than most because I
~~ like to be on the safe side, and I know I ride poorly when I'm cold. I
also
~~ find that several lighter warm layers keep me warmer than one thick warm
~~ layer, total weight and packed size being about equal.
~~ 
~~ Amy
~~ -- 
~~ 
~~ 
~~ 
~~ > From: David Pyle <ridelots at bwss.com>
~~ > Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 15:53:07 -0400
~~ > To: Gold Rush <goldrushriders at dbclist.org>, "Dusel, Peter W"
~~ > <Peter.Dusel at xerox.com>
~~ > Subject: Re: [GRRiders] Clothing and weather
~~ > 
~~ > Thanks for the replies. I guess my question was more about strategy. Do
~~ > you schlep the warn clothes from the beginning? Or put them in your
~~ > drop bag at Susanville for the outbound section from Susanville to
~~ > Adin, which may be ridden at partially at night? Or put them in the
~~ > drop bag at Adin for the return. Or pick up at Susanville, drop off at
~~ > Adin and then pick up at Adin again. Or other options. And I'm talking
~~ > about just the really warm clothing. I'm pretty comfortable in arm
~~ > warmers, leg warmers and a vest, which I will have with my at all
~~ > times, down to about 50.
~~ > 
~~ > Dave
~~ > 
~~ > 
~~ >
~~ 
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