Thermogenesis is what makes us humans warm-blooded. It\’s how we burn calories, especially when we exercise! It\’s why we don\’t have to park ourselves on sunny rocks to keep warm on chilly days.

I\’m quite amused at the designation EAT for exercise-associated thermogenesis. Exercise burns calories, but can also make us hungry. And what do we do then? We EAT!

Be careful not to depend on thermogenesis alone to keep you warm in cold weather. Assist it with proper clothing, lest hypothermia set in. Oddly enough, severe hypothermia can make the sufferer feel hot; resulting in possibly fatal shedding of clothing.

Just because we\’re still in the dog days, and it\’s swelteringly hot, doesn\’t make it inappropriate to discuss cold-weather cycling gear. In fact, it\’s a good time to start putting together that Winter wardrobe. Then we\’ll be ready for that first cold front a few months from now. An even better time would have been late Winter, when things were likely to be on special sale!

What all do we need for our cold-weather cycling wardrobes? That depends on several factors. How cold do Winters get where you live? Is your Winter season typically wet, or dry? Does it snow, and how much? What is your tolerance for cold temperatures?

Some cyclists enjoy riding in snow. As long as I live here I\’ll probably never get the chance to try it. In fact, on the rare occasions when it does snow, it\’s too cold for me! For one thing, the humidity makes the cold penetrate right down to my bones. My hands and feet especially feel the cold.

Maybe my thermogenesis needs a boost. Or perhaps I just need some good thermal socks!