Cold Weather Riding

[dip]

Getting geared up to ride from maryland to TN next week. I hear the temps are expected to drop going through mountains. I have tried to purchase appropriate cold weather riding gear - short of electric gear, can't afford it right now...my only concern is my hands; i have a lot of gloves and still haven't found right ones to block cold. I can ride as long as my hands don't get cold...last pair were by aerostitch but last week i was out late in the evening and temps dropped a little. I was ok - had glove liners but if it had been any colder i probably would have been cold. bought a airhawk cushion, beakaway cruise and some heat pax too - any other cold gear, equipment must have suggestions would be appreciated.

[nsmorgan]

I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but I've found it to be true, riding a motorcycle or skiing or fishing while standing in cold water: keep your torso warm and it's a lot easier to keep your hands and feet warm. Of course, you want good gloves, but your body will have a lot more warmth to respond to your extremities if you have a good thinsulate or down vest and some long underwear under your coat. Keep your vital organs warm and you can use good lined gloves and socks, you don't need electric. Have a great ride.
Neill

[dogdoc]

My hands are the first to get cold even with tons of layers on the upper/lower body. I use Fox Creek leathers thinsulate lined guanlet gloves(heavy duty) and your hands will still become cold if you ride long enough. Wind chill is a brutal enemy

[ourtime]

sounds like your up for a long ride

they dont make a perfect winter

glove yet.......

i rode last year in20's

in 1 hour.s time my hands were numb /red
good luck.....

[Scoot]

I wonder how much heated grips would help? And would it be worth the trouble to change out for cold weather season to the summer season grips?

[Scoot]

Here is another option

Homemade Wind Deflectors
For Your Hands


http://www.gadgetjq.com/hand_wind_deflect.htm

[dip]

someone suggested purchasing under armour which, i did. wore it today but it was dang hot thought i would burn up - couldn't wait till i got home. one things for sure i'll find out next week. think i'd by the heated gloves before the grips...don't want to go through a lot when seasons change. heck it's an extra 30 minutes to layer up in the winter.

[Idaho]

Mittens always keep your fingers warmer than fingered gloves. I have seen leather gauntlet gloves with a pull over mitten that fit over the fingers and wondered if they would be any better. My gauntlets are insulated with thinsulate and when it gets really cold I wear a thin pair of cotton liners under them. I also figured out that if I keep my fingers loose on the grips and flex them occasionally to keep blood flowing that my hands can last a lot longer. It has a tendency to get cold once in a while in Idaho.

[jayc]

In addition to gloves, when we ride for work in the winter, I bought a pair of those glove liners that have a little pouch on the back of the hand. You then insert one of those Hot Hands packs in the pouch. Seems to help. The liners I got at Sports Authority and the packs are pretty cheap at Wally World.

[dano]

I've been told that these gloves are real good, even down in
the teens on a bike. I ordered a pair and they are well made.
Not been cold enough to wear them yet so I can't personally
attest to how warm they are but like I said, others swear by them.
http://www.muckbootsonline.com/Manzella_Tundra_Gloves_p/mzm005.htm
Ride safe,
Dano
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/omega5m14/me2.jpg

[dank]

I ride in Michigan in the 30's frequently and suggest three things for you r hands: First, Tour Master Winter Elite gloves. They are very warm and allow reasonable dexterity. I also carry heavy leather cross country ski mittens with a thick wool liner. Not as good for controls, but quite functional and great as the temperature drops. Finally, if those aren't doing it, also get some of the chemical heat packs that deer hinters use. Slip one in each glove or mitten.

As noted by others above, make sure your torso is warm. That is the essential first step. Heavy wool socks for your feet also help, as does underarmour or some less expensive but similar product.

ALSO: if it is in the 30's to low 40's, no matter what you do, unless you have a heat input from electric gear, you will lose heat and suffer hypothermia over time. You cannot avoid it. So plan to stop, get some coffee and pie, and restore you core temperature. I find I need to do so every couple of hours at those temperatures if I am to remain safe. Mid-40's or above and the gear handles it for me well enough to just stop for lunch to warm up on an all day ride.

I love cold weather riding. Hope you have a great ride.

[dip]

thanks all. your suggestions were very much appreciated. dano - i've pretty have purchased most of the items you've suggested so i guess i'll see how it all works thanks all. will let you know how it goes when i get back.

scoot i looked at the covers, but figured if i'm going to buy equipment vs apparel i think i'll save up for the electric stuff - thanks for the suggestion though.

[ringadingh]

I dress as if Im going snowmobiling in the cold weather, I use snowmobile pants and a sweatshirt, along with a full face helmet and a polar fleece collar around my neck, make sure you dont have any drafts around your ankles, wrists and neck and you should be very comfortable. Ive ridden into the mid 20's in Dec & Jan with no problems.

[bobzinger]

I always wondered about heated grips...because when my hands get cold it's my knuckles, you know, the part in the wind. My palms rarely get cold.
I have a pair of Olympia cold weather gloves, that unless it's under 45 degrees my hands sweat, which eventually make them even colder.

[jayc]

I dress as if Im going snowmobiling in the cold weather, I use snowmobile pants and a sweatshirt, along with a full face helmet and a polar fleece collar around my neck, make sure you dont have any drafts around your ankles, wrists and neck and you should be very comfortable. Ive ridden into the mid 20's in Dec & Jan with no problems.

Nothins worse than being all bundled up, ya have to turn your head and you get a leak in your clothing barrier.

[stonechief]

Getting geared up to ride from maryland to TN next week. I hear the temps are expected to drop going through mountains. I have tried to purchase appropriate cold weather riding gear - short of electric gear, can't afford it right now...my only concern is my hands; i have a lot of gloves and still haven't found right ones to block cold. I can ride as long as my hands don't get cold...last pair were by aerostitch but last week i was out late in the evening and temps dropped a little. I was ok - had glove liners but if it had been any colder i probably would have been cold. bought a airhawk cushion, beakaway cruise and some heat pax too - any other cold gear, equipment must have suggestions would be appreciated.

First understand that the more surfaces the wind and cold reach, the colder your hands.

I use a leather gauntlet type riding mit. This has a thumb secion and a finger section. Keeps much warmer than 5 finger gloves.