I won't forget the first time I saw someone wearing a hooded garment while riding with the hood pulled up, not just over their head, but over their helmet.
I recall thinking, "Huh, that's dumb. They must be a beginner."
This was a couple years ago while I was still enjoying my post-retirement gig at REI. One cool thing about working at REI is that, when the company introduces a new product or product line, REI will occasionally offer its employees what are called "mega pro-deals" which typically amount to extreme percentages off.
Anyway one mega-pro item was a hooded cycling jacket that retailed for something like $75. I could get it for something like $17 so I thought, "I wish it didn't have a hood, but whatever -- that's too cheap to pass up." So I bought it. It's a lightweight hoody with a thin nylon DWR shell bonded to a thin wool-blend interior. Quite lightweight actually, but very functional in Oregon's relatively mild winters.
Fast forward about a year. I'd never employed the hood on this garment but one day I was on a ride, deep in the outback and I'd underestimated temps. I was getting cold and I was wearing this garment, so I thought, "What the heck -- I'll pull the hood up over my helmet, as dumb as it may look."
I was blown away. I wear my helmets juuuuust snug enough that I prefer not to try to wear anything under them -- a thin earband is about all that will fit. But this hood worked wonders. It kept the wind from getting in, not just through my helmet but kept it off the back of my neck, too. I could turn my head just fine -- it didn't block my peripheral vision the way I'd expected it would. In short, it was more effective and more comfortable than I expected.
Now whenever I wear this jacket, I put the hood up all the time. I don't care if anyone thinks I'm a beginner. I've seen the light. I recommend such a garment.
This anecdote offered FWIW to anyone as shortsighted as I was.
=sParty
I recall thinking, "Huh, that's dumb. They must be a beginner."
This was a couple years ago while I was still enjoying my post-retirement gig at REI. One cool thing about working at REI is that, when the company introduces a new product or product line, REI will occasionally offer its employees what are called "mega pro-deals" which typically amount to extreme percentages off.
Anyway one mega-pro item was a hooded cycling jacket that retailed for something like $75. I could get it for something like $17 so I thought, "I wish it didn't have a hood, but whatever -- that's too cheap to pass up." So I bought it. It's a lightweight hoody with a thin nylon DWR shell bonded to a thin wool-blend interior. Quite lightweight actually, but very functional in Oregon's relatively mild winters.
Fast forward about a year. I'd never employed the hood on this garment but one day I was on a ride, deep in the outback and I'd underestimated temps. I was getting cold and I was wearing this garment, so I thought, "What the heck -- I'll pull the hood up over my helmet, as dumb as it may look."
I was blown away. I wear my helmets juuuuust snug enough that I prefer not to try to wear anything under them -- a thin earband is about all that will fit. But this hood worked wonders. It kept the wind from getting in, not just through my helmet but kept it off the back of my neck, too. I could turn my head just fine -- it didn't block my peripheral vision the way I'd expected it would. In short, it was more effective and more comfortable than I expected.
Now whenever I wear this jacket, I put the hood up all the time. I don't care if anyone thinks I'm a beginner. I've seen the light. I recommend such a garment.
This anecdote offered FWIW to anyone as shortsighted as I was.
=sParty
