camera56
Well-known member
This originally appreared in www.midliferider.com
I may be the last one to this parade, but I finally discovered the joys of underamour heat gear / compression gear. Those are a lot of words: Here's what they mean.
Compression gear: I've been peripherally aware of the idea of compression gear most of my life from closely studying the Sears Catalog as a kid. Back then they were called girdles and women wore them. They were in the section right after the bras. I know this for a fact.
More recently, compressive gear has rocketed to semi-popular attention with the release of the revolutionary new speedo lzr racer swimsuit.
Basically the idea is this. When you start to tire, your muscle tone begins to fail. Muscles have to work harder to fire which makes you even more tired. Bad things happen. In the swimming pool, that idea is enhanced with a related idea which is selective reshaping of the body to improve fluid dynamics. Another discussion.
For the past year or so I've been wearing a pair of Andiamo Padded Skins under my riding gear. According to the blurbosity . . .
Padded Skin is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to sitting in the saddle all day on a motorcycle. Sweaty underwear is a thing of the past when you put on an Andiamo! Padded Skin because the Hydrotech coated polyester fabric transports moisture away from your skin keeping you drier and cleaner! The chafe free padded liner provides additional comfort and support and all seams are flat stitched for additional comfort. You’ll never wear cotton underwear on a ride again.
Actually the last part isn't true. On a recent epic ride I did wear a pair of cotton briefs one day and I was as miserable as I could be. Never again. The Andiamo shorts perform as advertised: more comfort, no sweating, no monkey butt.
More recently, I was teaching a track day and noticed one of my fellow instructors standing around between sessions in what looked like long underwear . . . in 90 degree weather. What!!!! Well it turns out he was cool as a cucumber under his gear and the rest of us were dying. Which gets to the part about "heat gear."
It turns out that the Heat Gear Underarmour fabric is both UV resistant and a superior moisture transport system. It's uncanny stuff. If you can get any sort of airflow at all across the gear, the cooling effect is astounding: Much better than if you're not wearing it.
So I bought some. Actually I bought a lot: tops and bottoms, short, medium and long. While I have yet to test the short stuff I'm ready to call the ball: Don't waste your money: go straight for the long leggings and the long-sleeved top.
I tested my new gear recently on a 300 mile ride from Seattle, across the mountains to Leavenworth, and then home. I started the day in the seventies, got down to the low 60s in the mountains, up to the mid 90s on the other side, and then full cycle. It's the real deal.
Putting the stuff on is a bit of a chore. You want it to fit tight. Once its one, it feels great. Every muscle from ankle to wrist to collarbone is under light compression and completely supported. The feeling doesn't go away. I often get knotty muscles down the right side of my back when I ride long distances. Not this time.
When the temperatures got cool, I just cut off the airflow through my gear. Under those conditions, the underarmour is just like lightweight polypro. But once it heats up, even a small amount of airflow through my riding gear changed everything. It's like the breeze enters through a vent and spreads up and down your entire body. Very cool in both senses of the word.
And like the Andiamo gear, there's no monkey but. Your butt and private parts stay dry, vented, and comfortable.
It's possible I'll test the short pants and short sleeved shirt. It's also possible I'll give it away. The long stuff is just that good. Highly recommend.
I may be the last one to this parade, but I finally discovered the joys of underamour heat gear / compression gear. Those are a lot of words: Here's what they mean.
Compression gear: I've been peripherally aware of the idea of compression gear most of my life from closely studying the Sears Catalog as a kid. Back then they were called girdles and women wore them. They were in the section right after the bras. I know this for a fact.
More recently, compressive gear has rocketed to semi-popular attention with the release of the revolutionary new speedo lzr racer swimsuit.
Basically the idea is this. When you start to tire, your muscle tone begins to fail. Muscles have to work harder to fire which makes you even more tired. Bad things happen. In the swimming pool, that idea is enhanced with a related idea which is selective reshaping of the body to improve fluid dynamics. Another discussion.
For the past year or so I've been wearing a pair of Andiamo Padded Skins under my riding gear. According to the blurbosity . . .
Padded Skin is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to sitting in the saddle all day on a motorcycle. Sweaty underwear is a thing of the past when you put on an Andiamo! Padded Skin because the Hydrotech coated polyester fabric transports moisture away from your skin keeping you drier and cleaner! The chafe free padded liner provides additional comfort and support and all seams are flat stitched for additional comfort. You’ll never wear cotton underwear on a ride again.
Actually the last part isn't true. On a recent epic ride I did wear a pair of cotton briefs one day and I was as miserable as I could be. Never again. The Andiamo shorts perform as advertised: more comfort, no sweating, no monkey butt.
More recently, I was teaching a track day and noticed one of my fellow instructors standing around between sessions in what looked like long underwear . . . in 90 degree weather. What!!!! Well it turns out he was cool as a cucumber under his gear and the rest of us were dying. Which gets to the part about "heat gear."
It turns out that the Heat Gear Underarmour fabric is both UV resistant and a superior moisture transport system. It's uncanny stuff. If you can get any sort of airflow at all across the gear, the cooling effect is astounding: Much better than if you're not wearing it.
So I bought some. Actually I bought a lot: tops and bottoms, short, medium and long. While I have yet to test the short stuff I'm ready to call the ball: Don't waste your money: go straight for the long leggings and the long-sleeved top.
I tested my new gear recently on a 300 mile ride from Seattle, across the mountains to Leavenworth, and then home. I started the day in the seventies, got down to the low 60s in the mountains, up to the mid 90s on the other side, and then full cycle. It's the real deal.
Putting the stuff on is a bit of a chore. You want it to fit tight. Once its one, it feels great. Every muscle from ankle to wrist to collarbone is under light compression and completely supported. The feeling doesn't go away. I often get knotty muscles down the right side of my back when I ride long distances. Not this time.
When the temperatures got cool, I just cut off the airflow through my gear. Under those conditions, the underarmour is just like lightweight polypro. But once it heats up, even a small amount of airflow through my riding gear changed everything. It's like the breeze enters through a vent and spreads up and down your entire body. Very cool in both senses of the word.
And like the Andiamo gear, there's no monkey but. Your butt and private parts stay dry, vented, and comfortable.
It's possible I'll test the short pants and short sleeved shirt. It's also possible I'll give it away. The long stuff is just that good. Highly recommend.
