Cold weather ... what works?

[RustyAs]

In preperation for an upcoming trip ( see post in Touring) I took my wife on an overnighter to the Hunter Valley, just to get some Klms up for her. We left Syd for Newcastle at around 3:00pm last Sunday and, to say the least, it was particularly cool.

I had jeans on, but Denium as we know has the no thermal properties. my wife had Draggins on and the Kevlar seemed to keep out the cold a bit but by the time we got to Newcastle she was VERY COLD. although she had gloves her hands and fingers were freezing. we both had textile jackets with standard liners.

Just on dark we went from Newcastle to Cessnock, via Sugerloaf mountain, and then is was F#&%ing freezing the 25 min ride over the mountain then down through the flats was the coldest I've been for a long time.

My question is; just what is better for the cold? Forget the rain, getting wet regardless of what you are wearing is a given, but what is best for keeping the cold out. what types of Gloves, jackets, pants, boots etc. are best for keeping the cold out?

Cheers
Phil

[Smitty]

thermal under garments......
you wont feel the cold

[Ratmick]

A subject close to my heart living where I live.

A good jacket and pants with a fleecy liner helps. Thermal undergarments, best quality you can afford. Kathmandu and other better quality camping stores have sales on where you can get three sets for $60, which sounds expensive but they're worth their weight in mint Z900 parts. Also get a balaclava and a pair of under-gloves. Decent waterproof boots, Explorer socks and frequent stops to warm up every hour or two. The colder you get the worse your reactions become and the more sluggish your brain works.

If you're riding in cold foggy weather a waterproof outer layer is a must, denim just gets waterlogged, which cools you down even quicker even with thermal undergarments. Waterproof gloves for the same reason, cold clammy leather is a PITA. As a bonus some winter gloves come with a wiper blade on the index fingers which is great if you're riding in rain or fog.

Either way you're going to look like the Michelin man, but believe me it's worth it.

You can go the whole hog and look at an electric vest and heated grips.

Mick

[6maniac]

+1......

What he said ........ on bike .... Damart thermals are great, but exy ( $200 for long-sleeve top and pants )

+++1 for heated grips !!

Wool inner soles for boots are good !

[dilligaf]

+1
I've been wearing oxford chillout shirt and pants
http://www.oxford-shop.co.uk/item3279.htm
with thermals underneath if its really cold. have tiger angel element jacket and pants over the top
which are waterproof. ordinary gloves as I have HEATED HANDGRIPS.
need to dress in layers and with modern high tech clothing you can avoid the michelin man effect.
the oxford stuff is good as the insulation is on the front where you cop the wind chill but the back is
coolmax so you don't get hot and sweaty.
need a neckwarmer too.

[photomike666]

I just have a decent set of touring style leathers with a zip in under jacket and a set of thick gloves. Then I only need a t-shirt under the jacket. These leathers are much thicker and heavier than race leathers, really keep the wind and cold out, and I don't find them too restrictive. Mine are made by Rhino, are 14 years old and have proved reliable and tough.

If it gets really cold I wear a wind cheater under the jacket, and in extremes a singlet too. My winter gloves are thick and well padded (does lose feel on the bars though). Again in extremes I wear thin thermal under gloves, but this is rare. These I got from a BOC Gas & Gear for less than $10.\

I don't own thermal underwear, but sometimes wear thick socks.

When I was commuting to work and on the road at 4:30am, if it was really cold I wore a very thin balaclava. I found this really helped keep me toasty. The oly done sides were a slight stretch on the helmet and a kid in the servo saying, "look daddy, that man's a robber"!



OH, and HTFU

[z900/zx9]

Thermals are a must,the aldi ones arnt bad and pretty cheap,Heated gpips also a good idear plus a good neck warmer.Leather is always going to be warmer than kevlar jeans and if treated with the right stuff pretty waterproof.

[Damon Z1000]

Someone had to say it......... A car is the best!

[6maniac]

Someone had to say it......... A car is the best!

You wouldn't think an ex Pom would be that soft !!!

HTFU!!

[zxsixr03]

A neck warmer alone will keep the upper body warm keeping the cold air out and keeping warm body heat in, keep any eye on the Aldi sales the Mrs and i scored some lined touring pants for cheap as as with thermals as well you or the Mrs won't feel the slightest bit of cold.

[4th]

newspaper, no its not a joke at those unfortunate to be homeless, it is best thing to block the wind off your skin which is what freezes you

icebreaker360, best underpaper thermals http://www.icebreaker.com , yes they are kiwi but best thing to come out of NZ

[mike-s]

Have to agree on the neckwarmer.
Also a jacket that stops wind penetrating the upper chest as well as layered & lined gloves are a big help when you get into the colder climates too.
Another preference of mine is pants that are watertight, particularly around the crotch and lower leg are handy too (former is handy if the carb air intake is under the seat as that can make your bits rather chilly, not so much an issue on ram-air bikes... )
Regardless of the weather boots that are watertight help big-time too.

[oldman]

All of the above. It, however does no good unless you can stop the cold air from penetrating your insulated clothing. I wear all sorts of layers of different cold weather gear with water proof, (rain gear) over the top and ride in -5 degree C weather when there is no ice and stay fairly warm. The hands and the feet usually get cold because the rest of the body is unprotected especially the head. Like an old backpacking saying "if your hands and feet are cold put on a hat". Jim Beam works when you are through riding but never drink it while riding in the cold as it brings the body heat to the surface and that heat is disipated by the 100 kph wind rather quickly.

[javaman]

One thing: HAND GRIP HEATER

I rode mt Hotham near winter (snow on the ground), tassie etc. with summer gloves and summer jackets. Wouldn't leavo home without it.

[Supafrog]

may sound odd...

but i've also found that medical gloves under other gloves helps with the chill and wet factor.. My choice as i wear the drimesh gloves on long trips as i hate wearing gloves at all due to the lack off feedback i get when wearing gloves.. but under any gloves would work too ... bike gloves -> medical gloves -?> thermals in that order,.,,

Or Just get heated grips!