![\"cycle](\"http:\/\/www.velotechcheshire.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Dare-to-go-bare-300x257.jpg\")
Today is the first day of British Summer Time and true to form the sky is heavy, the wind is brisk and the forecast is for heavy rain\u2026\u2026\u2026. welcome to summer, but at least it can only get better (can\u2019t it?).<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tCycle wear or not? No this isn\u2019t a \u2018call to arms\u2019 for everyone to join in on the London naked bike ride, but if that floats your boat, please carry on!<\/p>\n
This is a look at what to wear and when to wear it and some of the science behind the theories, for which I take no credit and have quoted those far more eminent in their field than I.<\/p>\n
Today is the first day of British Summer Time and true to form the sky is heavy, the wind is brisk and the forecast is for heavy rain\u2026\u2026\u2026. welcome to summer, but at least it can only get better (can\u2019t it?).<\/p>\n
The decision of what to wear today won\u2019t be a problem, rain jacket, winter long sleeve jersey, warm winter tights, winter socks and waterproof winter boots, these are a given and still after 50 miles water will have found its way everywhere.<\/p>\n
I have ridden virtually every week throughout the year and during 2014\/15 have only been stopped by the weather once, and that was due to snow.<\/p>\n
But what I have been amazed by, throughout the winter months are the number of people riding with bare legs and even bare arms, on one occasion just after Christmas my Garmin was indicating a temperature of 1 degree and a group of riders past the opposite direction in shorts and thin jerseys \u2013 their legs were bright red from the cold! I know we are used to the cold \u2018Up North\u2019, but even being brought up on the North East coast, I know it\u2019s not good to bare that much flesh in those conditions.<\/p>\n
So what is the thought behind the effects of cold on, especially, the knee joints?<\/p>\n
Well the knee is the pivot point between the two major muscle groups of the thigh and the calf which when you look at it doesn\u2019t have much in the way of protection, and given that we rotate, push and pull the pedals to cycle it is imperative that we keep the knee free from damage. The knee is surrounded by fluid which lubricates during rotation, the effect of cold on lubricants is well known and the knee fluid will also become thicker in the cold making the knee less efficient, which long term may lead to cartilage damage and dreaded \u2018knee pain\u2019.<\/p>\n
The knees don\u2019t have exclusive rights to being at risk when cycling, the other major joints \u2013 elbow, neck etc. will also be affected and also consider general health, especially the chest \u2013 it wasn\u2019t that long ago that it was common to see a soigneur at the top of a climb in the Tour de France and other races handing out newspapers for the riders to put down their tops during descents to lessen the effect of extreme sweat on the ascent chilling to such a level that chest complaints were commonplace.<\/p>\n
It may be 9-12 degrees at the moment, but take into account any wind will cause a \u2018wind chill\u2019 reducing temperature and also if you\u2019re riding along at 15-20 mph the effect will be heightened and even more so on a descent, so the 9-12 degrees could very easily be halved to an \u2018actual\u2019 temperature of between 5-7 degrees. Adding rain will also heighten the temperature deficit.<\/p>\n
The best way is to cover up until such time that the weather is settled and any adverse effects are negated, and the most effective solution is to \u2018layer\u2019, it is easier to add or remove layers dependant on the conditions and what you are actually doing at the time.<\/p>\n
I have quoted James Hewitt\u2019s guide below as it is the most up to date reference I have found researching the science behind the above and this guide from the paper is an ideal reference for what to wear, when:<\/p>\n
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR LAYERING<\/strong><\/p>\n