just wondering, im about to head off to a 30miler @ 14degrees right now, feels like -1.
wearing a T shirt
Scoprion XDR jacket and pants
gerbing heated gloves
I commute year round so long as the roads aren't snow covered. Granted I only travel about 8 miles one-way, it can get very cold. I wear a heavy leather cruiser jacket, snowmobile gloves, neck warmer, my bucket, insulated over pants and thick socks in my boots. On the sub-freezing days I do go for a ride, I dress the same but put on a set of Under Armor pants and long-sleeve shirt. I stay nice and warm, YMMV.
NO.
i will not do that ever again. Highway is an ABSOLUTE NO. I was cold. Bearable? yes, but would I do it again? no.
14 degrees at 80mph = -18 degrees windchill temp.
Gerbings could not keep up. and my neck was frozen even with a thick scarf. my helmet also lets in too much air and my eyes are cold.
25 degrees is my limit for highway.
and i will only ride the single digits if it is NOT highwayspeeds.
man that was make the beast with two backsing cold.
on the plus side, i saw another rider, a harley guy.
Cold? California...50s maybe!?!? [laugh] [cheeky]
i was out this AM- DT Bost to Burlington - was 10 degrz.
Gerbings microwire glove liners were sweet. No hand issues.
Feet cold and brain freeze.
Ice in face shield.
Do able -but cold.
Only fools and people that have no cages ride this time of year in the northeast.
You guys have my sympathy. ;D
Coldest has been in the 30's (yes in California), usually Rev'It textile jacket and Gerbings heated liner over a couple of layers, Dainese pants and boots, summerweight gloves [roll] with heated grips. Not enough but doable.
Coldest without any heated gear/grips has been in the 40's, same jacket, pants, boots and gloves with an extra layer underneath. Also not enough but doable.
Quote from: somegirl on January 30, 2010, 06:16:37 PM
Coldest has been in the 30's (yes in California), usually Rev'It textile jacket and Gerbings heated liner over a couple of layers, Dainese pants and boots, summerweight gloves [roll] with heated grips. Not enough but doable.
Coldest without any heated gear/grips has been in the 40's, same jacket, pants, boots and gloves with an extra layer underneath. Also not enough but doable.
I saw someone with hippo hands, they look ugly as hell, but you get full control over your bike casue you can wear summer gloves underneath. added with heated grips, it should be perfect.
But if Gerbing heated liner + multilayers is not enough, then maybe try another jacket tahts more windproof. I dont have a heated liner and 30degrees is actually pretty toasty with my quilted liner and windguard.
you should check out the firstgear Kilimanjaro in ladies trim. $139 @ newenough.com
Quote from: He Man on January 30, 2010, 10:53:54 PM
I saw someone with hippo hands, they look ugly as hell, but you get full control over your bike casue you can wear summer gloves underneath. added with heated grips, it should be perfect.
But if Gerbing heated liner + multilayers is not enough, then maybe try another jacket tahts more windproof. I dont have a heated liner and 30degrees is actually pretty toasty with my quilted liner and windguard.
you should check out the firstgear Kilimanjaro in ladies trim. $139 @ newenough.com
Thanks for the suggestions, the idea is to put heated grips and handguards on the XCountry and I should be nice and toasty (we also need to add the pigtail for the heated liner).
When I have the Gerbing on, the issues are mostly my hands and feet; but I also have a problem in that my front gets too cold and my back gets too hot. It would be nice if they had more heating elements in the front rather than the back, although in my case it's definitely exacerbated by wearing a backpack for commuting. The backpack makes it easier to haul my stuff to customer sites; I never have an office in which to park my gear. I'll check out that jacket too.
i think i already told you this, but mookie made his own heated gear and says it works quite nicely.
(http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/3186889/2/istockphoto_3186889_man_on_fire.jpg) ;D
Quote from: He Man on January 31, 2010, 10:57:00 AM
i think i already told you this, but mookie made his own heated gear and says it works quite nicely.
(http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/3186889/2/istockphoto_3186889_man_on_fire.jpg) ;D
I thought that was Rameses?
No wait, he made a heated bike.
no it was a flame broiler. BBQ grill
My personal limit was 20 degrees. OMG cold! thank god for NorthFace
wow so the gerbings gloves were no good that stinks, i was thinking of getting them.
i have ridden in 20s and the teens with a jacket and riding pants and boots and waterproof insulated gloves that really dont work well in anything under 40 de4grees so i'm hands are frozen in 10 minutes so i don't ride in this weather more than 10 minutes. lol.
Quote from: sbrguy on February 01, 2010, 06:09:42 AM
wow so the gerbings gloves were no good that stinks, i was thinking of getting them.
i have ridden in 20s and the teens with a jacket and riding pants and boots and waterproof insulated gloves that really dont work well in anything under 40 de4grees so i'm hands are frozen in 10 minutes so i don't ride in this weather more than 10 minutes. lol.
they are not usable in 40s. the glove will get to hot without a regulator.
do mind that im riding in what would be -18 weather. i dont think the gerbings were desgined for that. ive done 10 degree comuting jaunts, under 40mph. the gloves are toasty.
if you arent going to be routinely riding in negative degree weather, id buy them.
Quote from: sbrguy on February 01, 2010, 06:09:42 AM
wow so the gerbings gloves were no good that stinks, i was thinking of getting them.
i have ridden in 20s and the teens with a jacket and riding pants and boots and waterproof insulated gloves that really dont work well in anything under 40 de4grees so i'm hands are frozen in 10 minutes so i don't ride in this weather more than 10 minutes. lol.
They do work pretty well, just not as cold as he was riding. I've had them for some time. Very nice for cold rides.
I rode year-round in Chicago for eight years... 6 of those years without heated anything.
Had some Joe Rocket winter gloves (dunno the model, they are puffy) with liners, leather pants with long underwear and (dirt bike) knee/shin guards and a TourMaster coat with liner and sweater and long underwear shirt. Often wore a Balacava under my helmet.
I'm sure I looked like the kid from A Christmas Story... but it all did the trick.
I was often cold, but not enough to keep me from riding.
In 2006 I wised up (and started feeling my age) and bought a Gerbing's heated jacket liner.
Holy cow! I shoulda bought one years ago. So good. So warm.
I also got the over-pants to go with my TourMaster jacket. What a great combo to wear in the winter cold.
Yep.
coldest ever was down in the 40's/high 30's
wearing essentially the same gear I use today... in hawaii...
what i meant was when i was riding in the teens and low 20s for 10-20 minutes i was freezing by the 10 minute mark, at around 30-40 i'm "ok" and will get cold sooon after.
as long as the gloves are good for say riding 10-20 minutes in 20-30 degree or higher weeather at commuting and some highway speeds that is what i'm looking for. guess they are n ot really that good if you are going for 1 hour at 85 and its in the low teens.
It's just not worth it when it's that cold. Fatigue sets in-it's hard to ride.
Quote from: MrIncredible on February 04, 2010, 09:30:37 AM
It's just not worth it when it's that cold. Fatigue sets in-it's hard to ride.
if your commuting it isnt that big of a deal. just make sure all 5 senses are in good working order.
I usually won't ride unless it will be at least 50 during the day. My concern is not so much for my personal comfort but I worry my tires will not warm up enough to provide good traction. I've probably ridden in temps as low as 35 but when you figure wind chill it's pretty dang cold.
Quote from: He Man on February 04, 2010, 10:50:37 AM
if your commuting it isnt that big of a deal. just make sure all 5 senses are in good working order.
It is with our commute.
I find when I am very cold I tense up a lot which affects my riding ability.
Quote from: He Man on February 04, 2010, 10:50:37 AM
if your commuting it isnt that big of a deal. just make sure all 5 senses are in good working order.
Sense of feel goes downhill quick, visor fogs up, can't see well, so you open it, then your nose starts to run, so you can't smell burning oil etc, and my ear are already blocked with earplugs. I could probaby ride by taste, if snot wasn't flowing into my mouth from my runny nose.
It's just....not fun.
i could ride by taste if everyone was using biodiesel from fried chicken.
i have a great set of silk/polypro thermals and Gaerne boots which rock.
Gloves I haven't made the leap to heated. I use those insta-heat packs on the back of my hand and nitrile garage gloves under the moto glove. they hold heat pretty well.
silk balaclava under the jacket and helmet and i'm good to about 35-40 for a while. if the insta heat packs stop, i gotta quit.
Something I will not do without in cold weather is merino wool. I have some duofold polypro/merino wool tops and bottoms that are fantastic. The great thing about them is even when it gets warm, they transfer so much moisture away from your body they stay dry and comfortable. I will crosscountry ski at -20F if there isn't much wind and this stuff keeps me warm and dry. Dry being almost more important when you are active. There is a Norwegian (I think) company called Ullfrott that makes some of the most outstanding merino wool cold weather gear and the company, Icebreaker, also makes some very adaptable merino wool gear.
I will start riding the monster at 38F morning temperature and hope the day gets warmer. Duofold merino wool tops and bottoms, wool sweater and Vanson leathers and I am cool but functional.
Another couple of cool features of Merino wool is that it is pretty much itch free due to the smaller diameter of its fibers and it is naturally odor resistant. The stuff will take a lot of use before it starts to get ripe.