I'm not following you. It's my understanding that the only difference between a dry suit and a wet suit is that a dry suit reduces water circulation to zero and that they both insulate in the same way: tiny air bubbles within the neoprene. I'm not sure what you mean by "liquid insulation". I'm assuming you don't mean water, because water isn't an insulator.
The water between you and your wetsuit does provide an effective thermal barrier, which is also what insulation does/is. Dry suits are used for dives in very cold water or extended dives in cold water. They are used because at the temperatures at which they're used, your body could not transfer enough heat to the water in a wetsuit, over time, to sustain a safe body temperature. It's just a thermodynamic reality. It's all a function of body surface area, heat transfer rates, and finite energy source the body has.gudujarlson said:
I do I relate what you are saying to what this wikipedia page is saying:
I use the neoprene Castelli booties on the coldest days and my feet are pretty toasty - nothing but ankle socks and regular cleats underneath, As far as water, my feet, the socks and my cleats are usually soaking wet from sweat after the ride, but still very warm. I need to de-sweat the cleats with a clean water rinse after.
They're not a problem most of the time, but as I said above if you stop for an extended break or have a flat or summat in the cold, they can become a problem. They can also be a problem for folks with poor circulation. While the conditions were likely much different, the list of mountaineers and cold weather outdoorsmen who've frostbitten and possibly lost toes or chunks of feet because of such things isn't short. What I said was meant as a consideration not as a dire warning.danfoz said:
When you start you should be cool or cold for the first few miles. Also, 35° isn't terribly cold for a day on a bike, so your base layer may have been a bit too much. How to layer is really dependent on you and the conditions in which you are outdoors. If I were you under similar temps, I'd try the jacket with a shorts sleeved jersey or lightweight short sleeved base layer. Layering doesn't do everything by itself, though. You need to actively monitor your temp or sweat level, and when you got hot or start to feel a bit moist, open up some vents in the jacket or open the front zip to whatever position solves the issue. Wicking layers are very effective, but you can overwhelm the wicking layers by either dressing too warmly or not ventilating properly. There have many times were I've been working hard in the cold and my base layer and middle layer have worked so well that they transferred the moisture to my outer layers which then frosted. No matter what, if you don't layer properly for the conditions and/or don't ventilate properly, you will end up wet and cold.bartsie said:
Regarding the water insulation layer under neoprene, I've had much success on rides with less than 5-10 minutes stop time. The right materials for the right conditions should always go without saying.
Maydog, a few of the veteran riders here put rear racks on their bikes and keep everything in a small trunk bag. It's nice to be able to start out warm and then store a jacket, vest, warmers as the day warms up. Plus, having a rain jacket on a winter day with an unexpected rain shower makes a huge difference. And, the rack serves as a decent fender. If you've ever had a wet road put a nice grimy stripe down the back of your the jersey and then run down into the shorts, you know what I'm talking about.
