Topic: Riding in cold

[Rsnip988]

What would be the minimum I should wear when the weather this weekend should be clear with a high of 45F?  heavy sweaters+jacket + insulated jeans? Full face helmet should keep the head warm enough?

I wanted to ride more this weekend but I want to make sure I dont get pnemonia

I want to be a "hardcore" "year round" rider, but not in the rain because i think that would be a little more danger than i feel like dealing with for now (unless of course i get stuck in it)

[Klark Kent]

cold tires on cold asphalt are just as caution inspiring as warm tires on warmer wet roads.  keep it as upright as possible even when it is just cold. (below 40F?)
keep the snippy side up
-KK

edit: to answer actual question- thermals thick pants long teeshirt short teeshirt sweater hooded sweatshirt leather jacket works for me until about 40F, then i start doing weird stuff like putting rubber gloves under my gloves (for windbreaking) and wearing a scarf.

[Gordon]

I dress like I would if it were 20 degrees colder than it is and I was going for a walk.  But in bike gear, of course.

[Rsnip988]

currently no bike gear so I shall indeed try to keep the "Snippy side up"     that made me laugh out loud

[dusterdude]

leather jacket,thermals and/or chaps,gore-tex and/or thinsulate gloves or mittens,along with your full face helmet.

[Einyodeler]

leather jacket,thermals and/or chaps,gore-tex and/or thinsulate gloves or mittens,along with your full face helmet.

Don`t forget the pants......please

I ride all year round and just as said above. When it gets below 40`s I switch to one piece long johns,remember to dress in layers.
Number 1 on your priority list needs to be a good leather or armored textile riding jacket and gloves.

[nickjtc]

Thnik about the bits that will get cold first, fingers and tootsies, and make sure that they are well insulated. Protect your neck since there is significant heat loss there. Keep your core (torso) warm. A heated vest works like a charm and is an inexpensive investment. Motorcycle specific outerwear works better than the other stuff.

Cold weather wooses like me prepare for every eventuality: heated grips, heated vest, motorcycle specific outerwear, full face helmet always, scarf, high (waterproof, laceless) boots, insulated gloves, longies etc etc. The coldest I've ever ridden in was -5c and I have no burning desire (sorry about the pun) to repeat it.

[dusterdude]

leather jacket,thermals and/or chaps,gore-tex and/or thinsulate gloves or mittens,along with your full face helmet.

Don`t forget the pants......please

I ride all year round and just as said above. When it gets below 40`s I switch to one piece long johns,remember to dress in layers.
Number 1 on your priority list needs to be a good leather or armored textile riding jacket and gloves.

damn,wondered my ass gets cold

[TwoTired]

Before I got the Vetter and lowers on my 550 and it became my MUCH preferred winter bike, I dressed for cold riding in this way.

Very thick socks or two layers of socks.  Red wing boots.
Levis with zip over ski pants (elastic bands and straps built in at the pant leg ends, keep the wind from blowing up your leg.)
Standard underwear w/T shirt.  Long sleeve shirt, then pull over sweater.
Fleece lined leather bomber jacket elastic cuffs and fur collar
Soft acrylic long wool scarf for neck and chin wrap.  ( no beard)
Bates Gauntlets
Full face Helmet

This was good and pretty comfy for a 30 minute commute at 6 AM in 30-40 degree dry weather.
This allowed me to work in a standard engineering office environment all day with the only MC attire noticeable being the boots.

When the Vetter and lowers arrived, things changed.  The sweater, and one pair of socks became optional, and often, too warm.  Then, the ride home frequently had the ski pants bungeed to the bike and the scarf folded in the coat pocket.

Years later, the well worn Bomber jacket was replaced by a lined Hien Gericke First Gear jacket.  No regrets.

Cheers,

[ProTeal55]

When I go for a cold ride I just wear whatever, and crank the heat (in my truck) !
(I don't ride when it is cold out, not worth the risk)

[nickjtc]

When I go for a cold ride I just wear whatever, and crank the heat (in my truck) !
(I don't ride when it is cold out, not worth the risk)

In all seriousness that is probably the best philosophy. Unless you have no choice that is!

I was doing a job in Red Deer, Alberta in  September 2000. I had the KLR650 at the time. Anyhoo, I woke up on the day that I had to get back over the mountains to BC, to see 3" of snow on the ground and the thermometer hovering around freezing. That was the first ride I ever did where:
1) I overtook a snowplough doing it's thing
2) I nearly froze to death with hypothermia, despite having heated grips and a vest.

I got off the bike in Canmore and had to stand for 15 minutes before I could summon up the energy to walk into the gag 'n' puke I had stopped at. Yes, I was foolish.

As soon as I crossed the mountains into Gods Country the temperature became 'normal' for a September.

[siter81]

smart a## remark=move to Florida.

Winter we don't need no stink en winter here.

[Uncle Ernie]

I've come to like fleece better than wool sweaters, and it takes up less room.  Synthetics insulate better than cotton.  Hiking/camping stores have these things.  I like Smart Wool undies. They cost a lot, but it's so worth it after one one ride of freezing your ass off.  Smart Wool socks are the best all year.  I think long underwear would be prefereable to flannel jeans, but those are a close second.
Plug holes air can get in- a neck-up is best, or a scarf of some kind.  Air will pour in your neck area, I promise.  Protect your hands.  If you get to where you can't feel the fingers, you are in for a world of pain when you get inside.  Silk glove liners help.  Some bike shopd have wht I call "disco gloves"- some kind of shinie aluminized material that is thin but really works.  Somethings you get what you pay for- good winter/ski gloves are worth it.

2 good catalogues to know about; Sierra Trading Post and Rider Wearhouse

[Stevien1]

If you can keep the wind out, you'll have chance at not becoming a popsicle.  Whatever you end up wearing, make sure the outer layer will cut the wind.  It's VERY painful when old man winter gets through to your hands and other limbs!  I rode to work in late Oct and forgot the winter gloves (doh!)- by the time I got to work (25 miles, in an hour's time), my fingers where almost blue!     I was "hugging" the engine at every stop, trying to thaw out......

 

[tsp37]

In cold weather and in my 3/4 helmet I fog the shield when I have to stop - so I flip the sheild up at the first hand free opportunity and push it back down after I roll off.  Seems like the full helmet would be worse.  With my martyr's brigade mask my face hasn't gotten cold, and I have ridden in the 30's F.

Ride around at 45 deg for a short trip and you'll figure out what gets cold and needs insulated.

[Rsnip988]

I dont plan on going anywhere when precip is a posiblility because that would be too risky, I'll take inventory of what i have and compare it to what you guys have listed here and work it out.....


thanks for all of the helpful responses