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Stay Warm While Riding

Written by John Swiatek

To Ride Warm Is To Ride Safe

Sixty, Sixty, Thirty Rule:
Traveling 60 mph in 60°F weather, the wind chill factor is 30°F.


If your fingers have ever become so cold that they could no longer work the levers you know just how dangerous riding can be when you are not comfortable. Keeping the wind off of your body is the first key to staying warm. As the 60-60-30 rule states even on a 60deg day, the wind chill can feel like 30.

Once you have figured out how to keep the wind off your body the next step is to generate some extra heat under your thermal layers. With today's electrically heated clothing technology you do not have to take the risks associated with cold hands or feet. The most common types of heated clothing are heated jacket liners, heated vests and heated gloves. Thin, comfortable, lightweight and easy to pack, there is no longer any problem riding all day in 30 deg (even 20 deg) temperatures using specially designed heated clothing. Forty, Fifty and Sixty degree days can be made completely comfortable when using a infinitely variable temperature controller along with Powerlet ProForm heated clothing.


Hands, Feet And The Core

Most people notice that their hands and feet are cold first. But why do your hands and feet get cold sooner than the rest of your body? It's simple - when your core body temperature drops, the body stops sending blood to your hands and feet. The solution for all day riding is to keep your core warm.


Maximize Heat Transfer

To maximize heat we must minimize the losses delivering power to the clothing and the heated clothing must have a snug fit. Small gauge wire and low power connectors will rob power from the heated clothing. Real world losses can total up to 10W for a heated jacket liner, or about 10% of your heat. Using a minimum of eighteen gauge wire and high current connectors will reduce this loss considerably. Powerlet socket kits use 14 gauge wire to further minimize the power transfer losses.


Battery Power vs Vehicle Power

Batteries have a pesky habit of running down at inopportune times. Battery operated heated clothing also has higher long term operating costs due to the need to replace the batteries over time. However being wired to the vehicle is not as convenient as running on batteries. Ultimately you must decide which system you will use more often to minimize your risk of becoming cold while riding.


The Most Common Concern

There is no worry of being electrocuted in the rain by Powerlet heated clothing.