TEAM Arizona Riding Tip: MacGyver Your Ride Part II
Last Updated: February 6th, 2021
Have you ever started a ride in an area that is nice, warm, and comfortable only to end up in a place where the temperature drops and now you’re much colder? Considering the wind chill factor, in Arizona we can easily go from 100 degree temps to below freezing in a single two hour ride. So what are some options to help keep us warm? What would MacGyver do?
AVOID FEELING DOWN IN THE DUMPS
Let’s say we find ourselves in a position where our summer riding gear isn’t maintaining body temperature in the face of colder temps. We can improvise and adapt to increase our riding comfort and safety. Just like MacGyver, we’re going to offer our best solutions which require minimal to zero expense or access to retail gear shops. While these options might not be the most attractive or stylish, they’ll get the job done and may cost little to nothing!
- Shut Your Vent Holes: Easy and free way to gain a couple degrees back. Make sure your current riding gear is sealed as best as possible and all of your vents are shut.
- Garbage Bags: Yes, you read it right. Something as simple as a wearing a garbage bag on y0ur upper body can help windproof your torso and provide heat retention (your rain gear works great too if you remembered to bring it). How do you get a garbage bag? Kind restaurant shop owners will provide them if you ask. A nice person at a residence may lend one too. Wherever there is a garbage container (e.g. gas station), there is most likely a garbage bag. Some places store their replacement bags underneath the garbage bag in use…worse comes to worse, check it out.
Shopping Bags: Stop into a grocery store and slap a few on your feet. This will help keep the feet warm and in some cases provide a little waterproofing.- Pantyhose: As odd as it sounds, pantyhose can dramatically increase leg warmth and add another layer of insulation beneficial for getting you through that cold snap. Don’t be shy guys; your safety depends on it!
- Create Insulation Barrier: Much like homes use some form of insulation to help stop the transfer of heat from the inside to the outside, we can also insulate our bodies from the temperature sapping wind. We give thumbs up to crumpled newspaper as air gets trapped in small pockets and prevents the air from circulating between the warm body heat and the outside layer. In the absence of newspaper, cardboard, foam, pillows, shopping bags, and polystyrene all make decent insulators.
- Rubber Bands/Duct Tape: MacGyver wasn’t shy about using duct tape and rubber bands, and neither should we! We can use rubber bands or duct tape to close areas of apparel that may be giving the cold air access to our bodies. Exposed skin can lead to frostbite, so make sure none of our skin is directly affected by the cold air. Exposed zippers? Duct tape might be used for covering them.
- Latex Gloves: In our August 2014 newsletter, we discussed how to keep your hands warm.
WHAT IS AT STAKE?
You. We can’t make it any more simple. Hypothermia is a real threat. It can cause confusion, sluggish motor activity, poor muscle coordination, and incoherent behavior. If there is doubt, then THERE IS NO DOUBT. If you experience any of these symptoms, pull over immediately and give your body a chance to warm up. In extreme situations, stop riding.
Do you have any interesting ways for staying warm when the riding gets unexpectedly cold? We’d love to hear about your solutions. Visit us on Facebook and tell us your ideas!
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