This week, you will eat. And by eat, we mean a lot. And after you eat, you’re gonna have to work out. Thusly, we hollered at Gillian Fealy, owner of Live Grit, a new triathlon shop in the West Loop, to find the latest in cold weather performance gear. Stretch it out.
“The general rule of thumb,” Fealy says on layering for arctic temps, “is base layer to absorb sweat, thermal layer to stay warm and outer layer to block the wind.” Pearl Izumi’s Thermal Run Top fits comfortably and features thermal fleece fabric for breathability and warmth. For your wind shell, Fealy recommends the Sugoi Versa Jacket because of its removable magnetic sleeves. “Easy to take on and off and you never have to stop during a workout.”
The CW-X Pro Tights have targeted compression to increase blood flow to the muscle and reduce fatigue. An essential during the winter months. For those who need extra joint support, Fealy suggests the Stabilyx Tights for their built-in stabilizers around the knees, hips and pelvis.
“This watch is pretty intense. It does everything.” Fealy’s talking about the just-released Forerunner 920XT triathlon watch from Garmin. Takes care of running, biking and swimming. Converts to a bike computer. Killer features like text-message notifications straight to your wrist. It also monitors recovery time and other vital metrics.
Nota bene: Need a spot to ride this winter? Live Grit’s got you covered with indoor cycling sessions all season long. Check the schedule here.
Seconda nota: Yesterday, we ran a piece on Michael Jordan’s sneakers. A few of you wrote in to say that Chicagoans don’t say sneakers. Your correspondent, a lifelong Chicagoan, respectfully disagrees. But we want to hear from you. If you ever have any questions, comments or concerns, shoot us a note: tips@insidehook.com. We’ll holler back with all due haste.
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