For most of my motorcycling career, I wore good ol? cotton underwear and T-shirts on every ride. That is, until I met Mario Winkleman, proprietor of LD Comfort, at the BMW-MOA?s 2016 national rally in Hamburg, New York. 

Winkleman explained to me that all these years, I had been suffering needlessly in the heat because of the cotton, and that his base layers would change my entire riding experience. To say I was skeptical would be a gross understatement, but some Iron Butt friends assured me that, indeed, ?I didn?t know what I didn?t know.? 

LD Comfort?s synthetic base layers are constructed of a proprietary four-way stretch anti-microbial fabric, which is comprised of 63% nylon, 23% polyester, and 12% lycra. This fabric combo draws sweat up and away from the rider?s skin and hugs the body?s contours for added support. But the main benefit of these garments is the cooling feature. 
Although it sounds counterintuitive at first, they?re most effective when doused in water and worn underneath a non-mesh jacket with the vents closed. To use them properly, the rider puts on the base layers under the jacket and pours water down the sleeves and into the neck area. Letting a minimal amount of air in with only the sleeve venting allows the water to slowly evaporate, cooling the air surrounding the rider. The company claims up to a 30-degree differential between the air temperature outside and inside the rider?s jacket.  

Dubious" Winklem...