layering clothing for colder riding...

kmrcstintn · Post by **kmrcstintn** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 3:42 pm

got the urge to ride to work today...temps in the lower to upper 40's with wind 5 to 10 mph & gusts up to 20 mph; I'm wearing...

medium weight hunting socks, 2 layers on the bottom under my jeans (a thin wicking garment & lightweight thermal hunting layer), 2 layers under my heavyweight (generic Carhart style) winter jacket (a lightwiehgt thermal hunting layer & a long sleeve heavyweight shirt), oversized snowmobile gloves with a separate glove liner that fits decently, and finally a fully enclosed modular helmet...

it works well for jaunts 10-15 miles long and I guess I could ride about 45 minutes to 1 hour continuously before the cold air finally takes it's toll; I have military issued heavyweight undergarments, heavyweight hunting socks, insulated boots, sweatshirts, and disposable hand warmers if I really want to stretch my riding season...

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 4:17 pm

It's about that here, and once it hits Jan, it's not uncommon for me to commute in 10 degrees.

Short trips: long johns jeans, boots, baclava, glove liners, maybe an additional hoodie if needed. Heavy duty gloves

Long trips (assuming there is no ice on the road...):

Heated grips on the big bike, overpants (insulated AND water layers if needed), heavy sweater under the jacket, heavy socks under the boots.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 4:40 pm

my best kept secrets are SILK undergarments, they heavyweight stuff is awesome. Also, as anyone who rides in the cold knows keeping the wind off of you. They are ugly, but big windshields and hand covers make all the difference on long trips. Shorts trips? Pile it on and ride

...and first rule of winter survival? cotton kills. I love my cotton, but not in the cold weather, NEVER a a base layer.

dkw12002 · Post by **dkw12002** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 5:55 pm

I ride year around in Texas. I wear several shirts and sweatshirts and of course gloves and a full face sealed helmet. My feet and legs don't really get cold so nothing special to wear there. I rode this morning at 45 F with a wind chill with 5 layers. Works well. Remember to let your scooter warm up a little longer too and start out slow. I start the bike, then start layering. By the time I am ready to ride, so is the bike...2 minutes of idling or so. Engines like the cooler temps.

jrstone · Post by **jrstone** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 6:41 pm

I have a set of Freeze-Out base layers from Cycle Gear. I have been pretty happy with them. I normally ride anytime it's over 40 degrees.

vdeschamps · Post by **vdeschamps** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 7:12 pm

I have been riding a motorcycle year round for four years in temperatures as low as 8 degrees. I am happy that the Buddy blocks a little bit of the wind due to its design.

I ride to work and like to dress well so this is what I do:
- face: balaclava when it's really cold; otherwise scarf or neckwarmer
- top: undershirt, dress shirt, v-neck sweater, big coat and sometimes I add a NorthFace full zip fleece sweater.
- bottom: #3 Patagonia underpants, dress pants
- feet: two pair of socks or one heavy winter pair
- hands: Gerbings heated gloves

Hope this helps!

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:00 am

I believe I've mentioned this before in this forum, but I would recommend using fleece (and specifically wind shear fleece if you don't mind spending some extra dollars) and a base layer for cold/wind protection.

A tip I learned from a long time fishing guide who thought it would be a good idea to hit 80+ mph in his boat at Percy Priest Lake in Nashville with unseasonably cold temps (30's). After that experience I've used fleece with an outer layer of wind protection many times. You really can't get much warmer than that. Also, neck gaiters do wonders in protecting typically exposed skin.

Rob

kooky scientist · Post by **kooky scientist** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 1:31 am

get one of these and you can ride all year.

http://scooter-wear.com/tucano-urbano-usa

I have one and many layers of warm stuff helps me ride 365 days a year in Salem, MA.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:21 am

Back when I rode bicycles to work, in the winter I would wear, from inside to out, a t-shirt, a very light sweater, an insulated flannel shirt, a heavy sweater and on top what Sears sold as quilted and zippered underwear top. I never used to get cold on my legs, so just a couple pair of socks and I was good from 40 below to 70°. You're right, layers are the way to go!

Tomato Bisque · Post by **Tomato Bisque** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 4:48 pm

Wow, don't I feel like a big ninny complaining about how cold it is now in Los Angeles!

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:58 pm

Tomato Bisque wrote:Wow, don't I feel like a big ninny complaining about how cold it is now in Los Angeles!

I should hope so.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:04 pm

Tomato Bisque wrote:Wow, don't I feel like a big ninny complaining about how cold it is now in Los Angeles!

Don't feel bad, I have more jackets now that I live in Phoenix than I ever had in my life!