Questions for cold weather riding

[Uncle Pollo]

It is improbable that I will ever see the temperatures in which you guys are riding, yet I have a curiosity about the layering-gear that you wear.

For example:

Base layer

Electrics

Insulation

Shell - water/wind

That I think I have right, not very complicated.

But what kind you guys are using with 10 degrees F?!?!?

[BikePilot]

I've ridden in 10 deg F weather. Its not common in VA but usually have a few single didget days a year. I commute year round so my "base layer" is usually just street clothes, then I toss on a heated vest, then a sweat shirt, then my gear. Gear consists of a waterproof/armored jacket, pants, boots and gloves.

Right now those are specifically a Joe Rocket comet jacket, olympia ranger II pants, alpinestars GPS III Plus boots, alpinestars jet road gloves and an old BMW heated vest. My commute is 100 miles round trip and I stay fairly comfortable with that setup:)

[ZZR_Ron]

Long Underwear.

Then the electrics, and my Joe Rocket Jeans.

North49 Arctic Suit over that.

Weather Spirits snowmobile boots. Warm, but you can still shift with them.



Cold? What cold?

[vegasphotog]

Originally Posted by ZZR_Ron

Cold? What cold?

Exactly Ron.....at minus 10ºf you start to feel it....I only have electric grips and get by....best component for me is the hippo hands...

[ZZR_Ron]

Originally Posted by akphotog

Exactly Ron.....at minus 10ºf you start to feel it....I only have electric grips and get by....best component for me is the hippo hands...

I hadn't tried hippo hands until yesterday, when my friend Steve rode up. They seem to work great.

Another thing: He dropped the bike a couple of times, and the plastic
handguards were warm enough (inside the Hippo Hands), that they
didn't shatter.

The last time I dropped mine in that weather, the handguards
shattered like glass.

I was just using those little single use heat pads, you rip them open, and they get warm. Have to hook up the grip warmers soon!

[vegasphotog]

Originally Posted by ZZR_Ron

Have to hook up the grip warmers soon!

The problem for me with JUST grip warmers is that the outside of my hands, which bear the brunt of the cold do not get warm. And, at -10ºf the grip warmers do not seem to really do much, but with the hippo's it all works nicely...actually, I think the hippos by themselves do far more that heated grips by themselves. IMO only though.

[Alcan Rider]

With the combination of Hot Grips and Widder electric gloves I'm able to keep my digits toasty down to -10F with the Heat-Troller turned on about 25%. 50% is as high as I've ever had to turn them (both come off the same controller) down to -20F. For -30 I'm guessing they'll get close to 100%.
By layering with the right combination of clothing there's been no need for the electrics so far down to -20. But that's just been in an hour or so of riding. With extended time/distance that could change. And past experience has shown that on an all night ride my metabolism drops off in the wee hours so the need for supplemental heat rises.
At present my feet are the least comfortable at below zero temps, but that's probably because I'm wearing the same boots I wear all summer - just adding warmer wool socks. More research and testing to be done in that area.

[Alcan Rider]

Originally Posted by Vstrommancer

It is improbable that I will ever see the temperatures in which you guys are riding, yet I have a curiosity about the layering-gear that you wear.

For example:

Base layer

Needs to be one of the fabrics that wicks moisture away from the skin. Should fit pretty snugly. When you towel yourself dry, it's the contact with the skin that lets the towel absorb moisture. Same with your undergarments - you want them to be in contact with your skin.

Originally Posted by Vstrommancer

Electrics

Here's where personal choice comes in. If you'll be riding in mild temperatures, say 10F and above, a heated jacket should be enough. But when it starts to get COLD! you'll want a lot more insulation outside of your heat-producing garments. Therefore a heated liner of some sort is what I've found to work best, with the insulation layered over that.

Originally Posted by Vstrommancer

Insulation

The Polartech fleece that I was trying out just didn't cut it. Had better results with a Cabela's quilted Thinsulate jacket that has pretty good loft. Newly acquired - and as yet untested - is a "-60" jacket from Northern Outfitters. This is sized so as to hold the Widder vest snug against my torso for maximum heat transfer.

Originally Posted by Vstrommancer

Shell - water/wind

Windproof is critical. Most insulation layers are not windproof, they depend on their ability to breath for much of their insulative value. Any air movement through that insulation will probably result in cooling.

Originally Posted by Vstrommancer

That I think I have right, not very complicated.

But what kind you guys are using with 10 degrees F?!?!?

When it's that warm out, the usual - long-sleeved tee shirt, insulated sandals, mesh gloves.

[Wheeldog]

I wear polar weight "skinz" long johns with quilted long johns over them. Then polar flece shirt pants. I was weaing Carhartts arctic lined coveralls, but just got a Trans Alaska suit to replace them http://tinyurl.com/yj7hkg I haven't tried out the trans Alaska suit.......but people who have used one say they are MUCH warmer than Carhartts and it is windproof.

I wear wool sox in Bunny Boots, leg and neck gators to keep the wind out. My grips are heated with Hippo Hands......I am still working on gloves that work well.

Over the top of that I have a First Gear Kilimanjaro Jacket and HT over pants.......I want to have armor.......3XL fits well over my gear. I got the First Gear stuff used on the forums to save some bucks.

When buying cold weather gear, stay away from down and cotton. Be sure all your gear breathes. My Joe Rocket Balistic jacket/pants are worthless in the cold. They don't breathe and moisture builds up. After a couple hours the liner gets damp and you freeze.

I get my cold weather gear at Cabelas, for the simple fact they have good stuff and sponsor Iditarod. You can get good stuff at places like LL Bean and REI too.

[ZZR_Ron]

Originally Posted by akphotog

The problem for me with JUST grip warmers is that the outside of my hands, which bear the brunt of the cold do not get warm. And, at -10ºf the grip warmers do not seem to really do much, but with the hippo's it all works nicely...actually, I think the hippos by themselves do far more that heated grips by themselves. IMO only though.

I'd like to try the heated gloves, as well.

Those little rip 'em open and use 'em hand warmers work ok, but you have
no control over the heat..then your hands sweat, and you get that wonderful clammy feeling. yuk!

[Vagabond]

Originally Posted by ZZR_Ron

Cold? What cold?

I laugh at the cold!

[dfc]

Most of you guys are tougher than me. I am a bit of a freezy guy, been ridin now in the 20-30 range here in MN. 40 mile round commute. On colder days I use the Combat touring boots,Carhart flannel line jeans.Firstgear over pants(air type with rain pants inside), t shirt with gerbing liner and gloves. Old Hein Gericke scout jacket I've had forever and a neck gator.I'm gonna be looking at a Belstaff Discovery this winter.

I'll ride til the snow and Ice get here.

[Vagabond]

Originally Posted by dfc

I'll ride til the snow and Ice get here.

That doesn't even stop some of the guys up here!
I've kissed the tarmac one time too many in the winter. Now, when it gets icy (cold = no problem), the two-wheeler gets parked because I don't bounce like I used to

But when I do ride in the cold, this is what I wear.
1. Base layer

2. Thermal layer (includes heated vest)

3. Outer layer Riding jacket/suit

4. Balaclava, windblocker for helmet. Good wool socks with wicking base layer on my feet + riding boots. Rain covers also block a lot of the cold air from your feet.

MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO EXPOSED SKIN!

Make sure that your gloves aren't too tight. Too many layers on you hands can lead to arm-pump at the least, and at the worst, with reduced circulation, frostbite. That's why heated grips are worth their weight-in-gold when it's cold. Hand/brush guards help greatly too.

That's my $.02

[friar mike]

Originally Posted by Vagabond

I laugh at the cold!

so do I parked in my recliner in front of my woodstove.

[steve gs]

Another type of clothing you might want to consider is that for cool weather/winter cyclists.

I made the switch several years ago and though expensive the bulk is reduced and I am warmer. Try www.worldcycling.com for an offering of top line gear and do a search on the net for the best prices. I'm sure there are many road and mtn cyclists here that can attest to the superior clothing now available and how it can be a benefit to us too.