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10 Tips for Getting Warmer When the Heat Is Off

By Robert Matson, WFR
Illustration by Mike Clelland
To download this entry as a reprintable PDF, click here.

Do you lack heating in your home? These ten tips will help you stay warmer.

1. If you start feeling cold, get moving. Jump up and down or do jumping jacks every time you feel a chill. If you have trouble moving, voluntarily force yourself to shiver. You can also shake your arms, your legs, your head, and your hands. The more you move, the warmer you’ll get. Talking to others — and yourself! — will also help.

2. Wear dry clothes. If your clothes get damp, remove them, including underwear, and put on dry clothes.

3. Eat! When you feel cold, you can quickly generate warmth by eating sweet foods like candy bars, hot liquid Jell-o, and sweet breakfast cereal. Beverages like hot chocolate and milk with added sugar are good whether served hot or at room temperature. If you like coffee or tea, add sugar — real sugar and lots of it — to help you warm up. In addition, eat complete and nutritious meals throughout the day to maintain your energy and do not skip dessert. This is not the time to diet. Have a snack before going to bed.

4. Sit on a cushion. When you sit down, sit upon something that provides insulation between you and whatever you’re sitting on. These are good: a cushion, a pillow, a piece of foam, a towel, a spare piece of clothing, a yoga mat, or a blanket. Avoid sitting directly on cold, hard surfaces like metal or wood chairs or benches or floors.

5. Wear layers of clothing. On top, layer-up like this: first a t-shirt, then a long-sleeved t-shirt, then a baggy button-down shirt, then a hooded sweatshirt or sweater. On the bottom, layer-up like this: first underwear, then sweatpants, then jeans. Loosely-fitting stockings are also a good first layer.

6. Wear loose-fitting, baggy clothes. Avoid tight clothing, which may inhibit circulation to your extremities and which may, in turn, make you feel cold.

7. Wear a hat, and a scarf, and a hooded jacket. Instead of a scarf, you can also tie a dry towel or shirt or wrap a men’s tie loosely around your neck.

8. Wear two pairs of thick socks and a pair of extra large shoes. The socks should be thick, warm and non-constricting. Find shoes that are big and loose enough that you can comfortably wear them over your socks (you may look goofy, but you’ll feel warmer).

9. Cover all exposed skin, including hands, ears and neck. Wear mittens, gloves or thick socks on your hands. Button all buttons. Wear a hat that covers your ears. Pull up your pants.

10. Put on a thick, insulated winter jacket if you’re still cold during the day. If you’re still cold at night, wear all your layers to sleep and cover yourself with blankets.

Written by Robert Matson, Wilderness First Responder, 2012 (Brooklyn, NY) blog.nycrecumbentsupply.com

Illustration by Mike Clelland, 2012 (Driggs, ID) mikeclelland.com

Sources: Wilderness Medicine Newsletter and Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities, www.soloschools.com



Rights and Permission:
Permission is granted for reprints as long as: no fee is charged for those reprints, no changes are made without permission, and the writer and artist are credited as listed here.

Stay well,
Robert

————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Hurricane Sandy


Our neighborhood was spared (assuming nothing more happens).  The electricity is on this morning and there wasn’t any flooding in our neighborhood which is in a high area of Brooklyn. When the wind dies down, I may go out and look around the neighborhood, but otherwise I plan to spend the day repairing and tuning bikes — my own bikes for a change — and doing things around home that I kept putting aside during the busy season.  That should be nice.  Feel very lucky.

Stay well,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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New Jersey Transit, recumbents on board

A customer wrote me:”Any knowledge about if New Jersey Transit will allow it [an HP Velotechnik Grasshopper fx] on the train?”

To summarize, as of now, standard frame bikes are permitted on NJT.  “Collapsible” bikes are permitted.  It appears that non-collapsible non-standard frame (recumbent?) bikes are not permitted.  It appears that a folded Grasshopper fx is permitted as would be a collapsed Cruzbike Quest, however individual conductors have discretion.  It appears that a Cruzbike is a thingamajig and not a bicycle.

NOTE: The rules may change over time. If you have expert knowledge or personal experience with NJ Transit that is at variance with what I’ve written here, please send me a comment with specifics, if possible, to help me keep this blog entry current.

Here are the current NJ Transit rules.  Also copied below.  Verify the current rules at the NJT website.  This blog page does not track the current rules in real time and may be out of date when you travel.

Before all else, what is a bike?

Here is NJ Transit’s definition of a bicycle, in case you weren’t sure if you were riding one:

39:4-14.5 Definition

“Bicycle” means any two wheeled vehicle having a rear drive which is solely human powered and having a seat height of 25 inches or greater when the seat is in the lowest adjustable position.

Source: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/bike/regulations.shtm

 

Bicycles on Trains (as of May 22, 2013)

– Collapsible bicycles are permitted on all NJ TRANSIT trains at all times.

– Standard-frame bicycles are permitted on many NJ TRANSIT trains as described below:
. On weekdays – Bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains on all lines except inbound trains that end in Hoboken, Newark or New York between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and outbound trains that originate in Hoboken, Newark or New York between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. These trains will be designated by a bicycle symbol in public timetables. Trains on which bicycles are permitted may accommodate up to 2 bicycles on each single-level rail car and up to 8 bicycles on each multilevel rail car subject to crowding or the accessibility needs of other customers.

. On weekends – Bicycles are permitted on all weekend Raritan Valley, Gladstone, Montclair-Boonton, Main, Bergen County, Pascack Valley, Port Jervis, and Atlantic City Line trains. These trains will be designated bike trains and will accommodate up to 12 bicycles per train. Larger groups may be accommodated with advance reservations by calling our Group Sales Department at 973-491-7220. Bicycles are also permitted on all Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line and Morristown Line trains with the exception of trains ending in New York between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. and trains originating in New York between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Trains on which bicycles are permitted may accommodate up to 2 bicycles on each single-level rail car and up to 8 bicycles on each multilevel rail car subject to crowding or the accessibility needs of other customers.

. On holidays and business days before holidays – Bicycles are not permitted on trains (with the exception of the Atlantic City Line) on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, day after Thanksgiving, Sunday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Bicycles are not permitted on the day before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but are permitted on the holidays themselves.

. Other times – Bicycles are not permitted on substitute bus service during rail service outages.

When I first wrote this entry, the published rules were unclear as it relates to recumbent bikes.  At that time, one conductor told me that recumbents are fine and another told me they were not.  Another told me that all bikes were prohibited on rush hour trains (I hadn’t realized I was on one) and that particular conductor said he’d have to “let me off” at the next station, about 70 miles from where I had intended to start my weekend bike camping trip.  (What?  Please say you don’t mean it!)  Fortunately, I had a Grasshopper fx folding recumbent and he let me proceed as long as I folded it and stowed it out of the way.

Neile Weissman, a NY Cycle Club ride leader and bent rider, has worked hard to make it possible for cyclists to take bikes on NJ Transit.  Still, individual conductors have a great deal of discretion.

The current rules clearly give conductors the right to bar ‘bent riders from taking their bikes on NJT.  You can not — and should not — argue with the conductors.  If you want to change the rules, then you need to actively advocate for better ‘bent access.

Go to Port Authority board meetings and speak during the public comment period for increased bicycle access. You can contact New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition if you would like assistance in preparing a statement or would like other advice on presenting at a Port Authority board meeting. Personal stories make very compelling testimony. (By the way, the people who attend these meetings can be quite interesting. It is time well spent.)
The schedule for the Port Authority’s board meetings is here:
http://www.panynj.gov/corporate-information/schedule-upcoming-board-meetings.html

General guidelines for taking your recumbent bike on any train in the region.

Make sure you have a bungie cord or rope to secure your bike.  Cover the chain ring.  If you must take transit, take a short wheelbase ‘bent.  Even better if it folds.  Do what the “nice” conductor says and always be cooperative and polite, even if he or she tells you to take your bike off the train.  It’s understandable if you don’t like it, but on-board is not the time or place to try and make a stand, and your issue isn’t with the conductor anyway.  Take it up with the people in the NJT office…politely.  Give them every reason to say “yes.”

Please try and remember that when you’re riding a ‘bent, you’re representing all bent riders.  If you’re polite and cooperative, you make us all look good and that may be one of the best pathways for us to gain better access on transit.  If you’re something other than polite, you’re ruining things for yourself and everyone else.

If you have a recent story about taking your ‘bent on NJT which may help others negotiate the system, please send it to me as a “comment” on this entry.

Have fun, stay healthy, and maybe get a folding bent,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Cruzbiking the city.

For my city beater bike, I’m now riding a Cruzbike Sofrider 8-speed.  I feel I’ve graduated to a new level, now that I feel comfortable taking it in NYC street traffic.  (It took me about 7 hrs. of off-street/in-park riding to get to this point.)  As much as I prefer high-end machines and components, the CB Sofrider makes a pretty good city bike for many reasons: not too expensive, has a tight turning radius, good head height in traffic, fairly lockable, room for fat 26″ wheels, space for fenders, satisfactory front/rear suspension, and if the components get stolen or vandalized, who cares.

The SofR handles our lovely potholed streets pretty well.  I just need to resolve the cargo-carrying issues.  I can’t use most seat-post mounts such as the 20 lb capacity Topeak which Sofrider easily accepts because it isn’t strong enough for cargos I often carry (e.g., groceries, hardware, whatever).  To make it lockable, I pitlocked the front and rear wheels.  This seems to be the best way to secure it though there are still lots of bolts a thief could undue, though in (un)doing so, he (or she) would render it unrideable.  An errant child could also vandalize the seat cushions.  Whatever.  I can’t worry about everything.  There’s a chain-sized hole in the middle of the frame which makes it easy to lock the bike to the streetscape.  So, all in all, not bad at all but I really must address the cargo issues or else the bike will be relegated to only cargo-free runs.

Another Cruzbike out the door.
Yesterday, another tentative but happy customer took home a Sofrider.  I gave him an hour lesson and within that time he became quite competent.  I think he’ll enjoy it.  I wasn’t sure, though, if he fully appreciated how nice a bike it was.  I think the low price throws off some people and they feel they’re getting a bargain-priced bent as opposed to a bent that’s been carefully specced to give the max bang for the buck.  It’s actually an extremely capable bike.

For me, probably what I enjoyed most, besides seeing a new rider “get” the Cruzbike, was seeing the Sofrider’s current spec and how it reflected the company’s attitude towards its riders.  In the current edition, CB upgraded some components in the drivetrain.  The gears were faster to setup and shift better than the old system.  I also appreciated the new wheelset, since this is one of those things that your average beginner rider would not necessarily know how to judge.  Some manufacturers skimp on the wheelset to expand the profit margin even if it’s at the expense of ride quality.  And, too often, bike reviewers don’t say much about the wheels.  The previous Alex “Subs” — a stiff, light and aerodynamic rim — were rather nice, surprisingly good, even, for a bike at this price, but the new model came in with the Alex G6000 Cross rims (review) and Maxis slick tires.  (Should’ve taken a photo. Didn’t. Too busy. Sorry.)  It further supports CB’s credentials as a bike maker who seems to genuinely enjoy making good bikes, even if they look weird.  (It still throws me to see the drive wheel in the front and the SofR’s MTB Y-frame isn’t as pretty as CB’s other designs.)

There’s something particularly notable about this drivetrain upgrade that, again, your average new rider wouldn’t think about.  Some background: most manufacturers reserve the right to change components mid-season just in case they can’t get a certain component at a certain moment.  I’ve seen lesser manufacturers abuse that “right” by downgrading bike components or even frame materials.  It may or may not be to improve profits, but it bugs me when they don’t bring the bike back to original spec because there’ll be reviews out there saying the bike comes with this or that brand of whatever when in fact it’s shipping with something else entirely.  More ethical manufacturers will substitute an original component with — often — a slightly cheaper component as a temporary stop-gap till the supply starts running again, after which time I’ll see the original spec return.  In this case, what I appreciated seeing from CruzB was that they actually improved the wheelset.  Whether this is temporary or “permanent” — nothing is permanent — I don’t know, but either way, the wheels on that new arrival were better than those on my demo, bought in spring 2012.  As a rider, I really appreciate this attitude and generosity.  It reflects a courtesy and respect towards the end-rider, and demonstrates a sincere interest in seeing their riders move to a higher level.  Good job guys.

My experience with CruzB continues to be positive.  For riders who want a fast bent at a competitive price, they really should consider a Cruzbike.  There’s a learning curve, yes, but it’s worth it.

Have fun, stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Escape New York Registration Now Open!

Very possibly the next generation of recumbent riders shown here after a past year’s Escape New York.

The registration for New York Cycle Club’s “Escape New York” ride is now open!

Sign up, ride, and have a blast.

http://nycc.org/eny

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Of course recumbents do hills.

Standard frame (or “diamond frame”) riders often ask me how recumbents are on hills.  (Answer: “You pedal up them.”)  Yes, there is the disadvantage that you can’t stand on the pedals, but I don’t need to since I have mountain bike gearing.  And on those steepest hills, where I’d stand up and power through on a standard frame bike, on a bent I just sit and power through.  Same thing.  When I started riding a bent, I admit I’d sometimes have to walk up a hill.  I didn’t yet have a fine sense of balance or strong “recumbent muscles.”  But I haven’t had to walk up a hill in years.  I just ride up.

I was thinking about this the other day after riding through Harriman State Park, from Garrison to Camp Nawakwa on Lake Sebago and back again to Garrison.  We had taken the train up to Garrison and started riding from there.  It’s a 46-mile round trip that begins with about 15 miles of steady climbing, without much more than a few yards of level road, then gives you a steep down, a long uphill false flat, more hills than I can bother remembering, and then you hit Lake Sebago.  The camp’s road is then a series of very steep un-graded hills, more up than down.  On the way back, reverse it.  Lots of down, some up, a long and steep uphill climb, and one very, very long downhill coast on a windy road with frequent blind turns where your brakes are very much your best friend.

The next day, no soreness.  Wow.  That’s a recumbent for you.

What were we riding?  There was an HP Velotechnik Grasshopper fx and a Street Machine Gte, with racks, fenders, and lighting systems.  They’re simply the easiest for throwing on a couple panniers for a day-ride and it’s always welcome to have the folding Grasshopper when taking the train.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Ticks. Thick with Ticks.

I just got back from a little two-day, one-night jaunt up to…let’s call it a “major wild area within a good day’s ride.”  My friend and I peddled, pushed and carried our bikes up an overgrown and flooded (therefore highly entertaining) woods road to a spot where we shouldn’t be, stashed our bikes and camping gear, and then spent a day hiking some beautiful unblazed terrain.

What a blast.  We had great weather, by which I mean sun, rain and fog.  And we had…great balls of tickage.  I’ve never seen so many ticks.  We picked maybe 30 off our clothes (that we saw) and three or four out of our bodies (those that we found, as of now) and discerned three different varieties including the infamous “crawling spec of dirt,” also known as the deer tick.

For Pete’s sake.  Talk about a dampener on your fun.  Give me rain or wind or mud, any day.  Hoping I don’t catch something from the little cesspools of disease.

Now I have to clean and sterilize all my clothes, camping gear and shoes and boots and panniers.  I’m wondering if I don’t have to pick over the bikes as well.  What a mess.  (But what good clean fun we otherwise had.)

I Recommend to others who plan to go out this year:
– Permethrin for treating your clothes.
– Deet

Learn more about ticks.  There may be ads on this page for tick resources and there are also some pages here, at the University of Rhode Island TickEncounter Resource Center.

Insect and tick-repelling clothing.

Stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Smoothing out those #%&! rough roads.

Between my place and Prospect Park, there is currently 400 meters of construction that will eventually result in a beautiful separated bike lane. This project was unfunded for some 20 years, till now, and has included laying new pipes, and piloting around a construction robot doing I don’t know what, and generally digging up a road that used to be fairly smooth by New York City standards.  As it is now, with the temporary patch jobs they do each time they finish a parcel of work, it’s the roughest #%&! road you can imagine.  Take a washboard road, add 50 speed bumps of all sizes and shapes, intersperse each speed bump with a pothole or two, throw on some gravel and rocks, and put it on an incline, and you’ve very nearly got this road (at this time).

Needless to say, I avoid it when I can, but it’s the shortest route to The Park.  A bad road is unpleasant on a standard frame bike, but with an SF, you can post (raise yourself off the seat).  On a bent, you can’t.  So, every few days, I’m reminded of what I like about fully-suspended recumbents or — if I’m riding an unsuspended bent — what I might have done to make this stretch more comfy.

Here are a few tips for smoothing out your own local worst road.

1. Full-suspension.  If you’re shopping anew, consider full-suspension recumbent bikes or trikes.  If you know you’ll be on bad roads, there’s no replacing the safety and comfort of keeping all wheels — whether two or three — in contact with the road at all times.
2. Steel is real.  Favor steel recumbents over (non-suspended) aluminum bents. While a steel frame can’t absorb potholes, it does have a marvelous capacity to absorb road vibration and this goes a long way towards improving control on bad roads.
3. Fat tires, baby.  Speaking personally, 1.5″-wide tires are my minimum for city tires and I like them at low pressure.  My favorite?  Schwalbe Big Apples. These are “balloon” tires.  They’re relatively light, flat resistant, grippy, have low rolling resistance, can run as low as 35 psi, and provide “built in” shock absorption.
4. Big tires, baby. 26″ wheels roll over the rough stuff better than 20″ wheels.  I realize that means we’re talking about high-racers and there are reasons why high racers are sub-optimal in the city, but there’s no getting around the benefit of big wheels.  If you decide to look at this solution, check out a Cruzbike Sofrider or Cruzbike Quest: big wheels without the typical high-racer’s seat slope.
5. Sling mesh seats.  While I love hard-shell seats for climbing hills, a sling mesh seat is comfort factorial on bad roads.

Would I put it all together?  Say, a fully-suspended HP Velotechnik Street Machine Gte or Scorpion fs, with Big Apple tires and an Ergo Mesh seat?  Or a dual-suspension Cruzbike Sofrider with 26×2.15″ Big Apples?  Yeah, I’d consider it.  At some point it may become overkill, but I’m not sure we’ve yet reached that point.

Stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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bicycling in NYC pre-car, post-safety bike — 1895-1905

A bent friend Dan (yellow V-Rex) sent this in:

—–

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lacy-schutz/bicycling-in-new-york-city_b_860531.html#s270488&title=Organized_Charity_Night

The Museum of the City of New York is digitizing its massive collection of photographs (some 62,000 over the next few months) and found several of interest about bicycling in the period 1895-1905. Of interest: a picture of Grant’s Tomb, a photo of Riverside drive that looks positively rustic, Long Island City (which was bustling at that time), and a personal favorite–the sport cyclists group riding down to Coney Island by way of the Ocean Parkway Bike Path. The Bike Path is the oldest in the country, opened in 1895 with a parade of some 10,000 cyclists.

No hipsters, either (there’s a guy sporting the prize-winning bike togs of the day).

—–

Best,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2011 Robert Matson

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So, you want to know more about RAAM?

The New York Cycle Club’s March 8th meeting will include a presentation about the Race Across America (RAAM), a ride famous with bent riders because it lets us race.
6pm.
NYCC Club membership and RSVPs required.

“George Thomas, Executive Director of Race Across America (RAAM) and 6-time RAAM finisher, will join NYCC’s March 8 Club meeting to deliver a riveting presentation on Race Across America.”

http://nycc.org/node/49910

Join NYCC and go.

Best,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply (TM)
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2011 Robert Matson