For those who ride in the winter - how do you keep warm?

I work the graveyard, and get off at 6am. It's about 50-60 degrees when I'm riding home, and freezing. I have my leather jacket, helmet, leather gloves (no vents) and jeans - but my legs freeze and it's still cold. I feel less stable while shivering and riding.

This will be my first winter season, and I plan to continue to ride as long as the weather permits me

 

I hear ya man. I've been riding my bike to work since the gas has sky-rocketed and I leave my house at 6:30 am. It hasn't gotten to the point that I shiver, but my legs (upper thigh mainly) gets pretty damn cold. Its a good wake up call for sure though.

My suggestion would be long underwear under your pants and of course more layers under your jacket.

My question would be what about your neck? and my hands get a little chilly due to the vents on my gloves....any suggestions there?

 

Thermal underwear underneath jeans and/or cotton-lined running pants over depending on how cold.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hybridcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I hear ya man. I've been riding my bike to work since the gas has sky-rocketed and I leave my house at 6:30 am. It hasn't gotten to the point that I shiver, but my legs (upper thigh mainly) gets pretty damn cold. Its a good wake up call for sure though.

My suggestion would be long underwear under your pants and of course more layers under your jacket.

My question would be what about your neck? and my hands get a little chilly due to the vents on my gloves....any suggestions there?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

get winter gloves - the Alpinestar sp3's are what I have - full leather no vents, keeps my hands toasty

 

Buy a good pair of thermal underwear, helly hanson makes awesome ones but they are very pricey, but its what i wore on the rigs under my coveralls and it was -20 to -30 on a daily basis, they are very thin and will fit underneath all your clothes and you can take em off once you get to work, I also have an insulated joe rocket kevlar jacket that has is 100% weather proof, i wear my long underwear (tops and bottoms) a tshift and a sweater and jeans, if you wanna go even further buy a pair of joe rocket pants that are waterproof (anything waterproof doesn't breath very well so its good for insulation)...

 

my thing is my jeans fly up and expose my leg

 

Try some slip-overs or chaps then. I double layer my legs to stay warm.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .paul &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my thing is my jeans fly up and expose my leg</TD></TR></TABLE>

I had that problem until I got real boots, now the boots are taller than how far my jeans ride up.

For expecially cold weather I use warm up pants over my jeans.

 

Under Armour Cold Gear should do you well. It helped when coaching outside in 30 degree weather

Brian

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Brian*E30 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Under Armour Cold Gear should do you well. It helped when coaching outside in 30 degree weather

Brian</TD></TR></TABLE>

have you tried them on the bike?

 

i wear windbreaker sweat pants with some nice lining underneath my jeans to stay warm. also you need to wear motorcycle boots to stay warm too.

sweatshirt under the jacket too if you can.

 

Yeah, I've noticed that now that the weather is getting cooler, my upper body stays plentry warm with a long sleeve shirt under my leather jacket, but my feet and legs get really cold pretty quickly, its about time to start throwing some long johns on for riding.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .paul &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

have you tried them on the bike? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I have.

10x better then thermal underwear. Last winter I used to layer up the thermals with silk leggings and all. I was bundled up like the kid from a christmas story.
The under armour is better because it hugs your skin and is much better at blocking out the wind while keeping the heat in. Good stuff.

There is a open group buy type deal at http://www.r6messagenet.com for underarmor also

 

I've heard that underarmour stuff is simply awesome, for both cold and hot weather riding.

 

Thermals work good but start with a ski bib, they work awesome and are not as expensive as motorcycle only gear. you can pick up a set used or last years goods for really cheap, they cut the wind and are fully insullated usually. the biggest thing for me when I was young and had to ride daily was my chest area getting cold, the bibs/overalls worked. Inner golves will be your friend to. silk/polyester thin gloves that go inside your other gloves. And one of the most important things is the scarf . you can get a good 6" to 8" wide scarf and wrap it around and under your helmet strape, tuck the front if it up into your helmet and it works perfect. I am sure now days they have dedicated head scarfs though

 

Yeah I almost forgot. I rock a scaf in the cold also.

I let one end out so it can blow over my shoulder though. Chicks dig it.

 

I am so getting a scarf that will trail a little behind me while a ride LOL

thanks for the tips guys

 

A scarf is so metrosexual, but I bet it makes the chicks moist.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jlacoy82 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A scarf is so metrosexual</TD></TR></TABLE>

Perfect for Paul.

 

lol, 50-60 is freezing, haha. Me and projectf4 used to ride in 35* weather. Now THATS cold.

50-60 is practically perfect.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mag00n &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lol, 50-60 is freezing, haha. Me and projectf4 used to ride in 35* weather. Now THATS cold.

50-60 is practically perfect. </TD></TR></TABLE>

It was hovering around 2-4 degrees celius here in the north last night. It was a bit chilly.

FYI 2 degrees is 35.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Apocalypse &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Perfect for Paul.</TD></TR></TABLE>

isn't it I only strive to grab your attention

 

Obviously we have folks that have never ridden in the cold before. Scarfs we're invented for a reason, and it wasn't fashion...but if the limit of your knowledge is television then I forgive you
Rock a scarf

 

I have to fix up this old honda I have and wear those goggles with the scarf - then i'd be set.

 

hey... when that 32 degree wind starts blowning up under your chinny chin chin, you'll say,"That Blazingly fast old fool with the really nice motorcycle collection knew what he was talking about... Hum"