Do we want to be like a hot potato?

With December here, everybody — cyclist or not — is hauling out the jackets. We want to be warm, after all. What\’s the best kind for cycling?

Most of us have heard of \”layering\”; that is, wearing several lightweight layers of clothing instead of a single, heavy layer. That makes it much easier to adjust your clothing to the temperature as you and/or the day warm up.

Which cycling jacket should you get? I guess that depends on how cold it gets where you live. The jacket I have is designed with magnets around the collar, armholes, and the bottom of the yoke. That lets me remove the sleeves if my arms are too hot. Or, if my chest gets too hot, but my arms still feel the cold, I can take off the vest portion of the jacket; and leave the sleeves on. If you live in more Northern regions, a cycling jacket with fleece lining might be a good idea.

The sleeves of my first cycling jacket got torn up over time. Finally I discarded the sleeves, but kept the vest part. It makes a nice extra layer when I need it. I also notice that the older jacket has a better quality zipper than the new one, although it\’s the same brand.

Do I feel as toasty warm like a hot potato in its jacket when I go out to ride on a cold day? No, I don\’t. Even when the top of me is warm from riding, my feet are still cold!