Re: [Paddlewise] cold water gear

James Lofton wrote:
> 
> rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote:
> >
> > I saw over at rec.boats.paddle where someone addressed the cold water
> > dress issue in an interesting way.  He said that it is like how he
> > motorbikes, i.e. he dresses for the potential _fall_ not the _ride_. I
> > know some on this list prefer motorcycling in sandals and shorts without
> > helmets, etc. and that is their right.
> 
> Mr. Diaz, I've been reading ever piece of mail that gets sent out here
> for a couple or three years, and I don't ever recall reading anything
> from anyone that mentioned that they liked to ride a bike with shorts and
> sandals..,  without helmets yes.
> If, you may have mis read one of my post on the subject, I'll gladly re
> send it to you.
> 
> Just a subject that is close, as I've been a biker for longer than a
> kayker, and I don't speak from a chair, but from many miles on one. Most
> without a helmet, all with shoes. :-)

James,

I did not say that you or anyone on the PaddleWise list suggested that
any of the helmetless ones among you were also in sandals and shorts.
I was serving up an analogy.  If you recall that analogy also took in
rollerblading without helmet and knee/elbow/wrist pads when this has, to
my recall, not been brought up in PaddleWise.

I like how Larry Bliven put it when he threw in the snowboarding analogy
and used the phrase "dress for chaos."

I am certain that you have reasons, satisfactory to yourself, for not
dressing for chaos when motorcycling and not donning a helmet.  I know 
that many of those bikers who refuse to wear one do so because they 
object to such helmet wearing being mandatory.  I can't remember which
nearby state did or did not have a helmet mandatory law (Connecticut?)
and not wearing one was a form of protest.  There may be other reasons
why bikers might choose to go helmetless.  Motorcycles for some lend
an aura of individualism and freedom and helmets can detract from
this self-image such bikers may wish for themselves.

Dressing for chaos often goes against tradition of an activity.  For
example you see it in canoeists who paddle flat water.  At one point,
PFDs were awkward awful things to wear and canoeists who are the earliest
of recreational paddlers of this century (also folding kayakers) developed
a culture that did not include PFDs.  Also, these early paddlers did
not have the benefit of neoprene and dry suits and now watersports
polartec.  So they used woolens and rain gear if paddling over cold water.
That was as far as they would go in dressing for chaos.

Certainly traditions have developed in an activity such as canoeing
and an aura in others such as the individualism and freedom represented
for some bikers.  But tradition and aura do not make them right
in ignoring the dress for chaos point.

What I find interesting is how sometimes dressing for chaos takes on
an aura intrical to the self-image of the sport.  For example, I hardly
ever see a jet-skiier not dressed in thick flashy colored neoprene.  
Even in the heat of summer they are generally in at least a shorty 
neoprene suit with short pants legs at the bottom and short sleeves.
In fact it shocked me about two weeks ago to see a couple on a jet
ski in just T-shirts and shorts, so accustomed have I become to
it being a neoprene clad clan.  That clan also is absolutely faithful
to PFD wearing at all times on their machines.  And if given an
opportunity they wear the stuff around on land when going for a
hotdog or drink.
 

ralph
 
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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