After years of watching women with long hair (and men with a full head of hair) struggle to get their caps on, I realized that those of us who are follicle challenged are at a severe disadvantage. Even a cursory examination makes it obvious that those heavily haired heads have more insulation. In fact the R-value of any insulation is expressed as the thickness of the material divided by the thermal conductivity. Assuming all hair has the same thermal conductivity, then the R-value of a full head of hair is greater than the R-value of those few strands left standing.
In cold water OW swimming hypothermia poses a real risk. Failure to stay warm can result in a swimmer abandoning the swim. Since all athletes should be able to compete with a level playing ground, I propose that in any OW race where the water is below 70° F, swimmers without a full head of hair should be permitted to wear a wig under their cap as insulation. In the alternative, if all competitors agree, the heads of the haired ones can be shaved.
I think you have a slippery slope here! I'll use myself as an example. I began voluntarily shaving my head many years ago. Now, some will tell you I was going bald already. Frankly, that's not how I remember it!
In any event, could a swimmer voluntarily shave their head in exchange for a higher R-value wig? Would the R-values of all "swimwigs" be the same? How would you test, and monitor these results? Would the "swimwig" have to have an "approval sticker" indicating it was a properly sanctioned model?
I think you have a slippery slope here! I'll use myself as an example. I began voluntarily shaving my head many years ago. Now, some will tell you I was going bald already. Frankly, that's not how I remember it!
In any event, could a swimmer voluntarily shave their head in exchange for a higher R-value wig? Would the R-values of all "swimwigs" be the same? How would you test, and monitor these results? Would the "swimwig" have to have an "approval sticker" indicating it was a properly sanctioned model?
