G
Glenn Ziolkowsk
Guest
My winter riding and commuting has been suffering here in WI, USA since I went 'bent last April, for
the reason that my hands have been getting uncomfortably cold while riding the bent. Never had that
problem riding the wedgie down to -5°F last year. This year, on the SWB OSS 'bent, anything less
than +30°F has been miserable.
I upgraded to expensive ski gloves a few weeks ago, which turned out to be no better at keeping my
hands warm than the $5 cheapies I had been using.
During one of those deep thought sessions during my 45 minute morning commute, I began to think
about the problem. Hmm, last year, on the wedgie, my feet were getting cold, but hands were fine.
Now, on the 'bent, feet are fine, hands are cold.... What's different?
Duh! Their general positions relative to my torso (heart)! Could this be a blood flow problem? While
riding I took one hand off the OSS bar and dropped it down to my side and Bingo! I could feel the
blood flowing back into my hand and warming my then frozen fingertips. Within a mile I had both
hands back to being warm and toasty.
So now my practice is to drop both hands down to the side at stoplights rather than the usual
keeping them perched on the bar. No more problems. As a matter of fact, now I notice...hmmm, ya
know, my feet are kinda cold....
So, hopefully my 'revelation' will be of some benefit to other OSS riders out there that have cold
hand syndrome.
Glenn 2002 Burley HepCat remove .invalid from e-mail address when replying
the reason that my hands have been getting uncomfortably cold while riding the bent. Never had that
problem riding the wedgie down to -5°F last year. This year, on the SWB OSS 'bent, anything less
than +30°F has been miserable.
I upgraded to expensive ski gloves a few weeks ago, which turned out to be no better at keeping my
hands warm than the $5 cheapies I had been using.
During one of those deep thought sessions during my 45 minute morning commute, I began to think
about the problem. Hmm, last year, on the wedgie, my feet were getting cold, but hands were fine.
Now, on the 'bent, feet are fine, hands are cold.... What's different?
Duh! Their general positions relative to my torso (heart)! Could this be a blood flow problem? While
riding I took one hand off the OSS bar and dropped it down to my side and Bingo! I could feel the
blood flowing back into my hand and warming my then frozen fingertips. Within a mile I had both
hands back to being warm and toasty.
So now my practice is to drop both hands down to the side at stoplights rather than the usual
keeping them perched on the bar. No more problems. As a matter of fact, now I notice...hmmm, ya
know, my feet are kinda cold....
So, hopefully my 'revelation' will be of some benefit to other OSS riders out there that have cold
hand syndrome.
Glenn 2002 Burley HepCat remove .invalid from e-mail address when replying