Reviews - The Warmfront

On the 4th day of Christmas the Crankset gave to me:
A guest review of The Warmfront,
The 3rd Edition of the Cyclepassion - Bicycle Calendar,
Stocking stuffers from Three Story Press, and
Shimano and Campagnolo compatible "enhancement" brake HUDZ

The Warmfront
Its truly been some time since Matt Sodnicar approached me to do a review of his brainchild, The Warmfront. And once I received it in the mail, I knew exactly who I wanted to test it out, my friend and co-worker, Molly White.

Running with a Snuggly Shield
I can’t deny that I was a bit skeptical, when putting on what looked like a bib for oversized infants. And yeah, I got teased by my sister. But, she already raises an eyebrow at my need to squeeze in a run whenever there is a spare 30 minutes, so that wasn’t a huge deterrent. In my defense, I claimed that I was attempting my first run in a few weeks (benched due to a strained Achilles), and it was in very northern Michigan over Thanksgiving weekend. Big Brrrrr. So an added layer against the elements was pretty logical as far as I could see. I added the polar fleeced Warmfront under one long sleeved tech-shirt, and one thin running jacket. The cuddly factor was high before stepping out – and I was pleased to think that the high collar would protect my neck. But I was also conscious that I hate to get too sweaty after I get into the run (this is when I start shucking off layers or gloves – then making it a pain to carry for the remaining mileage.) I needn’t have worried.

The fleece bib provided the perfect balance – keeping me properly insulated, without overheating. The neck warmth was a big plus, but I was even more delighted that the Warmfront was long enough to drop to the perfect point that I could tuck just a bit into my running tights – without it being bulky. Thus, my belly button stayed super snug, which was fantastic for my run along Lake Huron. Of course, I seemed to be running into the wind the entire time, but that is probably due to my 3 weeks on the sidelines more than anything else. My gloves did come off, but not the Warmfront. A keeper for outdoor athletes just crazy enough to embrace the winter chill. In fact, this Christmas, I might just get one for my sister – it may be the trick to get her out there again!

Molly White is a native of Michigan. She is an adventure racer, triathlete, runner, and road and mountain biker. Molly's favorite race to date was the Mackinac Island Turtle Run - 10K, which she participated in this fall. She has also completed the Chicago Marathon. Molly is a remarkable woman and personality who fits all of her athletic passions in between her day job, and time with her boys.

A Cure for Cycling's Coldfront
For those who don't know me, I have the propensity to overextend myself especially with athletic endeavors. When I finally decided to take The Warmfront out for a spin, I was only about a few days removed from having shed the protective shackle known as my sling. I had "diligently" worn it for 9 weeks to aid the healing of my collarbone. Needless to say, I was "champing at the bit" once the doctor said I could begin "to do as much as my shoulder would allow."

With full knowledge of the possibility of re-fracturing the bone if I fell [the fracture requiring a full 6 months to completely heal], I decided to go and try out The Warmfront anyway. The weather on that weekend was finally reminiscent of winters past [cold and blustery], as the Midwest had experienced unseasonably warm weather up until then. To get the full effect of The Warmfront, I chose to fore go additional layers, opting instead for jersey and arm warmers alone.

The experience of using The Warmfront was exactly as Molly had described. But obviously, moving forward at a higher rate of speed than in running I could still feel the coolness of the wind. However, it wasn't as prominent in comparison to not wearing The Warmfront. The most telling sign that what I describe as a "fleece dickie" had worked is when I stripped off my bike gear to jump into a hot shower. The all too familiar reddish hue of my skin due to "wind burn" was evident in most places on my body except for that rectangular area on my torso.

I would recommended it if you are in need of an additional layer during the winter time or during those early morning summer/fall rides where you're somewhere in between about carrying a light jacket or vest because you know the weather will turn warmer in about two hours. It folds up easily, is light, and extremely packable in one of your jersey pockets.

To purchase one or to find out more, go to The Warmfront website and tell Matt you read about it on the Triple Crankset.