How to stay warm
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How to stay warm
Was 36 degrees this morning (MN) and my hands froze as I rode to town. Am new to scootering and just beginning to get gear. How/what do riders wear to keep their body core warm and their hands, without losing the feel of the throttle and brakes?
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Re: How to stay warm
Layer layer layer.ucandoit wrote:Was 36 degrees this morning (MN) and my hands froze as I rode to town. Am new to scootering and just beginning to get gear. How/what do riders wear to keep their body core warm and their hands, without losing the feel of the throttle and brakes?
Silk glove inserts.
Heated grips.
Lap blanket (or Prima Scooter Kilt).
Re: How to stay warm
Watch for frost on the road, even at temps that are "above freezing". Near-freezing moisture on the road can also reduce traction, so be careful on any pavement that looks wet (dark). Pavement with ice or snow on it... is trouble, because making a simple turn requires leaning, and leaning requires traction.ucandoit wrote:Was 36 degrees this morning (MN)
I wear a leather jacket with an insulated lining, and leather gloves over my armored gloves, which keep me comfortable enough in early/late winter.and my hands froze as I rode to town. Am new to scootering and just beginning to get gear. How/what do riders wear to keep their body core warm and their hands, without losing the feel of the throttle and brakes?
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Re: How to stay warm
This morning I wore:ucandoit wrote:Was 36 degrees this morning (MN) and my hands froze as I rode to town. Am new to scootering and just beginning to get gear. How/what do riders wear to keep their body core warm and their hands, without losing the feel of the throttle and brakes?
-A funnelneck fleece pullover with the neck zipped up under my
-GoGo Gear hoody
-my usual modular helmet (have not busted out the balaclava yet)
-River Road Ordeal gloves
I won a Termoscud a couple years ago, but i've never installed it. Nor have I thought about installing heated grips, because by the time it gets THAT cold, we've got snow on the ground, and that's a risk i just don't take. I'm not going to bet myself or my bike that there isn't a random patch of ice OR sand left by the salt trucks.
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+1 on the heated grips.
When it get really cold I usually just pee my pants to stay warm.
When it get really cold I usually just pee my pants to stay warm.
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Chill Chart
The chill factor and length of commute can make a big difference.
My wife does not ride below 40 degrees yet with if she rides on a calm day at 40 degrees, she is getting a chill factor of 26 @ 45 mph.
I have ridden just below 20 degrees and that is a chill factor of -2 @ 45 mph.
Short rides are one thing, then note the frostbite times show we could be in trouble if we rode beyond 30 minutes at those temps - again assuming it is a calm day.
My wife does not ride below 40 degrees yet with if she rides on a calm day at 40 degrees, she is getting a chill factor of 26 @ 45 mph.
I have ridden just below 20 degrees and that is a chill factor of -2 @ 45 mph.
Short rides are one thing, then note the frostbite times show we could be in trouble if we rode beyond 30 minutes at those temps - again assuming it is a calm day.
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#1 thing for me is my Tucano Urbano muffs
http://www.urbanrider.co.uk/bike-access ... eight.html
Totally worth the price I paid for them. I've ridden in 30-40 degree weather with high winds with my summer gloves and it's fantastic. I do plan to find something to put on the break levers to keep the cold metal from touching me but otherwise I cannot complain at all. I'm sure if it gets really cold I'll need liners for my gloves but these are great.
Loved them too when it started to unexpectedly pour rain (when it was 40 degrees out). I was warm and covered all at once.
I layer with my jacket and have various boots appropriate for riding I can use. My legs are the last to get cold so I kind of just go with whatever. But the one thing I could not live with out are those muffs I linked to above.
http://www.urbanrider.co.uk/bike-access ... eight.html
Totally worth the price I paid for them. I've ridden in 30-40 degree weather with high winds with my summer gloves and it's fantastic. I do plan to find something to put on the break levers to keep the cold metal from touching me but otherwise I cannot complain at all. I'm sure if it gets really cold I'll need liners for my gloves but these are great.
Loved them too when it started to unexpectedly pour rain (when it was 40 degrees out). I was warm and covered all at once.
I layer with my jacket and have various boots appropriate for riding I can use. My legs are the last to get cold so I kind of just go with whatever. But the one thing I could not live with out are those muffs I linked to above.
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3 Degree Chill - Not moving!
Did you say 36 degrees was cold?
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What are the bar end weights for?bluebessie wrote:#1 thing for me is my Tucano Urbano muffs
http://www.urbanrider.co.uk/bike-access ... eight.html
Totally worth the price I paid for them. I've ridden in 30-40 degree weather with high winds with my summer gloves and it's fantastic. I do plan to find something to put on the break levers to keep the cold metal from touching me but otherwise I cannot complain at all. I'm sure if it gets really cold I'll need liners for my gloves but these are great.
Loved them too when it started to unexpectedly pour rain (when it was 40 degrees out). I was warm and covered all at once.
I layer with my jacket and have various boots appropriate for riding I can use. My legs are the last to get cold so I kind of just go with whatever. But the one thing I could not live with out are those muffs I linked to above.
Yesterday it was clear, sunny and very cold, and I thought I'd go to Seattle and see what a cold weather ride was like. I had on a turtleneck, a flannel shirt, a thick fleece jacket, a Go-Go hoodie over that, and a hi viz vest. I also had on thermal longjohns. And a thick fleece scarf wrapped my neck and jaw up good. My core and neck and face were warm, but my arms and thighs got awfully cold. But my fingers! They were so insensate from cold when I got home that I had to wear my helmet into the house because they couldn't undo the strap snap.
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I wrote a blog post about this just last week for the Scooter Shop I work at
http://www.wickswheels.com/blog/?p=21
http://www.wickswheels.com/blog/?p=21
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The bar end weights are for styles of bikes (scooters and motorcycles alike) that have a certain type of handlebar - like the Vespa GTS 300 has metal on the ends and they make a muff to fit that.snoozy wrote:What are the bar end weights for?bluebessie wrote:#1 thing for me is my Tucano Urbano muffs
http://www.urbanrider.co.uk/bike-access ... eight.html
Totally worth the price I paid for them. I've ridden in 30-40 degree weather with high winds with my summer gloves and it's fantastic. I do plan to find something to put on the break levers to keep the cold metal from touching me but otherwise I cannot complain at all. I'm sure if it gets really cold I'll need liners for my gloves but these are great.
Loved them too when it started to unexpectedly pour rain (when it was 40 degrees out). I was warm and covered all at once.
I layer with my jacket and have various boots appropriate for riding I can use. My legs are the last to get cold so I kind of just go with whatever. But the one thing I could not live with out are those muffs I linked to above.
Yesterday it was clear, sunny and very cold, and I thought I'd go to Seattle and see what a cold weather ride was like. I had on a turtleneck, a flannel shirt, a thick fleece jacket, a Go-Go hoodie over that, and a hi viz vest. I also had on thermal longjohns. And a thick fleece scarf wrapped my neck and jaw up good. My core and neck and face were warm, but my arms and thighs got awfully cold. But my fingers! They were so insensate from cold when I got home that I had to wear my helmet into the house because they couldn't undo the strap snap.
It's a cooler day again and had no issues going for a longer ride with my summer gloves still. I actually ordered from the site I linked to and it arrived from the UK in about 3 days.
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+1 on the:
-silk glove liners
-handlebar muffs
-lap cover
-windshield
-neck muff/warmer/balaclava
-smartwool socks
-thermal under layer/jacket lining
I, personally, am a big fan of Tucano Urbano for handlebar muffs and lap covers... esp the latter. They are heavy duty, warm, wind and water proof. They also run 100-150 plus shipping, but you get what you pay for. The muffs are pretty cheap... maybe 20-30.
If you ask me, you can layer all you want, but adding the wind chill of riding to freezing or near-freezing temps means that no matter how many layers you have on, the wind will get you (and so will water if the sun has run away) IMO keeping yourself wind and waterproof are the best things to try and do.
If you're looking for a lightweight water/windproof jacket to wear over your other stuff, I recommend the brand XeroXposure (sp?) It's reasonably priced and has excellent weather protection (I think they originally were a snowboarding gear company and have expanded). Find them at places like Kohl's or Sears.
-silk glove liners
-handlebar muffs
-lap cover
-windshield
-neck muff/warmer/balaclava
-smartwool socks
-thermal under layer/jacket lining
I, personally, am a big fan of Tucano Urbano for handlebar muffs and lap covers... esp the latter. They are heavy duty, warm, wind and water proof. They also run 100-150 plus shipping, but you get what you pay for. The muffs are pretty cheap... maybe 20-30.
If you ask me, you can layer all you want, but adding the wind chill of riding to freezing or near-freezing temps means that no matter how many layers you have on, the wind will get you (and so will water if the sun has run away) IMO keeping yourself wind and waterproof are the best things to try and do.
If you're looking for a lightweight water/windproof jacket to wear over your other stuff, I recommend the brand XeroXposure (sp?) It's reasonably priced and has excellent weather protection (I think they originally were a snowboarding gear company and have expanded). Find them at places like Kohl's or Sears.
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I just made my first 9 mile trip to school on the new Buddy and OH MY GOD my hands!! Following this thread closely because I have to drive on a stretch of road that hits 40mp for a little bit and that was brutal.
Other than that I wore, warm coat, zipped. Tshirt, sweatshirt, scarf wrapped around face/ears, jeans and I was good. I had gloves on but they are just wayyy too thin. Will look into silk liners.
Thermometer says 28 winter hit the day after I bought my scooter.
Other than that I wore, warm coat, zipped. Tshirt, sweatshirt, scarf wrapped around face/ears, jeans and I was good. I had gloves on but they are just wayyy too thin. Will look into silk liners.
Thermometer says 28 winter hit the day after I bought my scooter.
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Meet your new best friend.evPocket wrote:I just made my first 9 mile trip to school on the new Buddy and OH MY GOD my hands!! Following this thread closely because I have to drive on a stretch of road that hits 40mp for a little bit and that was brutal.
Other than that I wore, warm coat, zipped. Tshirt, sweatshirt, scarf wrapped around face/ears, jeans and I was good. I had gloves on but they are just wayyy too thin. Will look into silk liners.
Thermometer says 28 winter hit the day after I bought my scooter.
http://scooter-wear.com/accessories/sco ... Gpw5_nF80x
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Definitely check out the tucano urbano muffs. I have them on my scooter and have ridden in 20s now with no issues at all.evPocket wrote:I just made my first 9 mile trip to school on the new Buddy and OH MY GOD my hands!! Following this thread closely because I have to drive on a stretch of road that hits 40mp for a little bit and that was brutal.
Other than that I wore, warm coat, zipped. Tshirt, sweatshirt, scarf wrapped around face/ears, jeans and I was good. I had gloves on but they are just wayyy too thin. Will look into silk liners.
Thermometer says 28 winter hit the day after I bought my scooter.
Even rode in the snow today (that was fun). Never need liners, but for the colder temps I did like my leather gloves a bit more than my summer gloves.
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I very much agree with the windshield recommendations.Cutting down the wind hitting you directly is a biggie.
Some will disagree due to "image" reasons but the warmest I have ever been while riding,sledding or doing any cold outdoor activity is wearing a one piece snowmobile suit.I simply have never been cold in the least.
Hope this helps a bit.
Tim
Some will disagree due to "image" reasons but the warmest I have ever been while riding,sledding or doing any cold outdoor activity is wearing a one piece snowmobile suit.I simply have never been cold in the least.
Hope this helps a bit.
Tim
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For me it's been down jackets on top of everything else. It was 13 degrees when I rode last week and after that I decided to get an even longer down coat to cover my knees. Beyond that I was super warm everywhere else.BuddyLicious wrote:I very much agree with the windshield recommendations.Cutting down the wind hitting you directly is a biggie.
Some will disagree due to "image" reasons but the warmest I have ever been while riding,sledding or doing any cold outdoor activity is wearing a one piece snowmobile suit.I simply have never been cold in the least.
Hope this helps a bit.
Tim
During night time though I'd rather be a little cold and just layer up under my riding jacket with reflective piping on it. Much safer than my darker down coats, but for daytime riding the down is amazingly warm.
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Base layers. I like Terramar and Columbia's Omni-Heat line. Moisture wicking is important.
The Corazzo Underhoody is great as well.
Leather is good at stopping wind, but not so great at locking out the cold air everywhere it can creep in. A really good technical textile jacket will do this better, IMHO.
My Rev'it has tons of adjustments and drawstrings and attachments to lock out air and water and it all works really well.
My gloves were a weak point riding in sub-freezing temps. Again, leather with silk liners. Just not (nearly) enough to lock out cold. They did okay in at-freezing temps riding slower, in city. (Chicago, not LA!) But on a long, high speed ride at colder temps, with wind whipping in, they were almost useless. Again, go for textile, good, warm lining like Thinsulate, drawstrings to keep out air.
And, finally, I got a helmet with a pinlock insert for anti-fogging and it's the best solution I've used. Keeps me from having to crack open the shield to de-fog.
In general, remember that circulation and blood flow are important to staying warm. Change positions occasionally. Flex your hands often. And if you need to, pull over and do jumping jacks on the side of the road. Please leave your gear on and make sure someone is there to get video.
The Corazzo Underhoody is great as well.
Leather is good at stopping wind, but not so great at locking out the cold air everywhere it can creep in. A really good technical textile jacket will do this better, IMHO.
My Rev'it has tons of adjustments and drawstrings and attachments to lock out air and water and it all works really well.
My gloves were a weak point riding in sub-freezing temps. Again, leather with silk liners. Just not (nearly) enough to lock out cold. They did okay in at-freezing temps riding slower, in city. (Chicago, not LA!) But on a long, high speed ride at colder temps, with wind whipping in, they were almost useless. Again, go for textile, good, warm lining like Thinsulate, drawstrings to keep out air.
And, finally, I got a helmet with a pinlock insert for anti-fogging and it's the best solution I've used. Keeps me from having to crack open the shield to de-fog.
In general, remember that circulation and blood flow are important to staying warm. Change positions occasionally. Flex your hands often. And if you need to, pull over and do jumping jacks on the side of the road. Please leave your gear on and make sure someone is there to get video.
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Adding weight to the end of the bars helps reduce vibration to your handssnoozy wrote: What are the bar end weights for?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJyCV7omY0c
Everyone saying layers is spot on, and don't be afraid to invest in some specific ( and sometimes pricey) cold weather gear.
Everyone saying layers is spot on, and don't be afraid to invest in some specific ( and sometimes pricey) cold weather gear.
Speed is only a matter of money...How fast do you want to go?
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I'll be honest I bought those first and then returned them. I could have gotten them to work with some alterations but for the price it wasn't worth it to try. A lot of air got in and with the turn signals it just kind of didn't fit at all on the Buddy. I wanted to like them but...PeteH wrote:I picked up the Scootr Logic handlebar mitts on Amazon. If I work up the nerve, I'll give 'em a try. Right now we've got a lot of wet leaves on the road, but if things clean up, I'll get on the road.
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