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Sound RIDER!
BASE LAYERS by ANDIAMO!
No matter what season it is, wearing base layer clothing
when you’re riding your motorcycle yields far more comfort than any kind of
cotton underwear.
Simply put, there are few times on a bike when cotton is
really comfortable. If it’s cold, raining or you’ve perspired at all, your body
heat will quickly disappear via the moisture and you’re on your way to
hypothermia. If is hot out, cotton will only amplify the discomfort of warm
weather, it gets hot and sticky and downright annoying. Basically cotton and
motorcycle riding don’t mix.
In 2005 we began testing various brands of base layer
clothing in search of one that was best suited for motorcyclists. Most brands of
base layers like Under Armor, Columbia Sportswear and the many knock-offs you
can get at outdoor gear stores are great for active sports like skiing and
football, but not for riding on a motorcycle all day. During one phone call to a
major manufacturer, the sales director stated that the company had no intentions
of entering the "Leisure" sports market, referring to our motorcycle world.
OK. So we went forward and came up with our own base layer
clothing that we have worked hard to make superior to any other brand of base
layers on the market. We tested lots of fabric combinations and came up with one
that retains body heat longer than the others, but doesn’t let the user overheat
either. We also inserted a pad into the crotch, which has been very popular with
our sales of padded riding skins over the summer of 2005.
During the summer of 2005 we began stocking padded riding
skins by Andiamo!, a clothing company that created their padded skins to "turn
any pair of shorts into cycling shorts." Aimed at the bicycling market, the
skins proved to be great for motorcyclists too because they wick moisture away
from the body, reducing fatigue and eliminating annoying wet underwear
discomfort. When it was time to create our base layer product we turned to them
for guidance, final design and manufacturing.
We tested it down to 40 degrees and found it allowed an
average rider to maintain body heat for up to an hour on the highway without
stopping to warm up again. In room temperature situations, it regulated the
exterior body heat so that overheating was non-existent. Overheating is a major
drawback with most polyester, polypropylene and wool base layer products.
The fabrics and design of our base layers are a
phenomenon that can’t be ignored. If they aren’t covered over by another fabric,
but allowed to hit cold air head on they will release any heat they’re storing.
The rule of thumb is that if you plan to stay warm with base layer clothing,
you’ll need to wear something over it for it to be effective, in this case that
might be your motorcycling jacket and pants, a polar tech vest, or your jacket
liner.
Riders who wear ‘active sports’ base layer clothing know
the unpleasant overheating effect they get when they head indoors for a meal,
arrive back at home, or otherwise. With our new Sound RIDER! base layers we
eliminated that by not brushing the surface area of the interior of the layer.
Instead you simply step inside, remove your jacket at room temperature and let
the base layer manage your body heat, keeping you from overheating.
When conditions outdoors drop into the 40s and you plan
to ride for a long time, we advise you look into a heated vest and gloves. And
best of all, the SR! base layer allows the heat to transfer from the electric
gear smoothly and evenly across your body’s surface. If you enjoy riding
with frequency during the cold months check out electrically heated gloves,
jackets, pants and socks from
Gerbing's Heated Clothing out of Union Washington. For those who ride
now and then on cold days, a low cost alternative is the new air activated
heating vests from TechNiche.
While our winter base layer product is higher in quality
and features the padded crotch, we managed to keep the price below what you
might expect. For a pair of long johns the price is just $44.95, the matching
long sleeve top is just $34.95.
Take a test ride! We guarantee you’ll like them or we’ll
give you your money back. We also welcome your feedback and comments.
Sound RIDER! base layers by Andiamo! are available now
from the Sound RIDER! store
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