I'm ready for winter!

ender07 · Post by **ender07** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 4:31 am

This will be my first winter with a scooter so I wanted too save up a little money and buy some decent but inexpensive outerwear that can protect me against the biting cold of Wisconsin winters.

I plan on testing these further once it starts to get really cold, but while commuting every morning the past two weeks have been about 38 degrees or so out, so I'm getting a feel for how cold things are starting to get. I figure I will persevere until snow or ice start to accumulate because while scooting around town is fun, I'd rather not die.

So far I just received my Road Toad Frog Toggs rain/wind suit to wear over my other layers to keep out that wind that cuts straight to the bone. I got some black leather gauntlet style Raider riding gloves from Amazon and so far they do the trick nicely! Finally I got a Under Armor headmask as well as a regular old neoprene half mask so I don't free my face off while riding.

I think total with shipping I paid about $60 bucks for everything (minus the under armor, I had that already) all shipped straight to my house! I think this stuff along with the obvious layering of clothing and a good winter jacket, I might actually make it all winter when the roads are clear!

Good luck to all the other idiots like me who choose to ride in super freezing temps, and yes...I am very jealous of all of you who live in warm enough climates not to have to experience this!

persephonelily · Post by **persephonelily** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 2:48 pm

I just acquired a gorgeous pair of pink suede gloves with cashmere lining from my workplace (sample sales are awesome) and they are SO WARM! Very thin, so I can feel the hand grips through the material, but they cut the wind chill like mad! I just wish I could wear them on days like today, when it is windy and cold. But I don't want to ruin them with rain, which it is supposed to do all weekend.

Rusty Shackleford · Post by **Rusty Shackleford** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 5:20 pm

If it gets really cold, there's always motorcycle gear made for this application. I have a one piece riding suit I wear when it's below 45*F and I want to go out riding. Gauntlet style gloves cut out all wind, provide excellent crash protection, and come lined and unlined. This may too extreme for some folks, but others may benefit. Just throwing it out there.

KeLynn · Post by **KeLynn** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:33 pm

I'm getting ready for winter too! I basically only had a mesh summer jacket, so I bought two new armored jackets (one cute GoGoGear one that is perfect on its own when it's about 60, so when it's colder than that I layer with a down vest and/or sweater, and I found an ugly-but-warm one on sale for $44 so I picked that up for the days that's not enough) and some Joe Rocket gauntlet gloves that are still in transit. And an enormous hot pink scarf (it's just a big circle you wrap around your head a few times, so no danger of it coming loose and flying off). I need windproof overpants too - I've always just worn jeans but the wind is coming through so strong even now, and it's only September! But for reasons I can't explain, I just can't make myself pull the trigger on even the $150 ones. It's like socks or pillows for me - I know I need them, I should just buy them, but for some reason I just don't want to spend the money on them even when I'm spending money on everything else!

I'm a bit worried because I get cold really easily. I buy winter outerwear rated for temperatures about 30-40F below what my city's climate actually is in the winter, so I have no idea how I'm going to deal with the extra chill scootering brings! But I'm really hoping I'll be able to last through the winter, even if it's just a ride on the weekends.

persephonelily · Post by **persephonelily** » Sun Sep 30, 2012 2:36 pm

New gear is going to have to be put on hold for a while until we get my husband's accident expenses under control. I'm going with layers and skulking at Goodwill for gear.

BootScootin'FireFighter · Mon Oct 01, 2012 2:47 pm

The windshield is another great winter accessory. Keep the bulk of the cold air off your chest, solves a lot of problems right there. Big respect for the OP and those in real winter climates who still ride. We have a mild winter here, but nothing like the Great Lakes and upper plains.

ender07 · Post by **ender07** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:55 pm

BootScootin'FireFighter wrote:The windshield is another great winter accessory. Keep the bulk of the cold air off your chest, solves a lot of problems right there. Big respect for the OP and those in real winter climates who still ride. We have a mild winter here, but nothing like the Great Lakes and upper plains.

Thanks for the props! So far the gloves have kept my hands nice and warm while cutting through the wind with ease and the Frog Toggs suit has done wonders with keeping the wind from blowing straight through my pants! I still have yet to get a day under 30 but I'll keep updating once I get there!

ed85379 · Post by **ed85379** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 9:47 pm

Rusty Shackleford wrote:If it gets really cold, there's always motorcycle gear made for this application. I have a one piece riding suit I wear when it's below 45*F and I want to go out riding. Gauntlet style gloves cut out all wind, provide excellent crash protection, and come lined and unlined. This may too extreme for some folks, but others may benefit. Just throwing it out there.

I have similar gloves that I wear for the winter, and they did, in fact, save my hands in an accident. However, once the temp gets blow about 40, my hands still turn into ice.

Last year, I tried battery powered heated glove liners. But between they poorly made battery packs, and the liners making my gloves extra-tight and therefore lost dexterity, this year I'm trying another route. The liners did keep my hands perfectly warm though, when they worked.

Just earlier today I ordered a pair of HippoHands handlebar muffs
http://www.hippohands.com/
They have models specifically for Genuine scooters, which I was very happy to discover. I almost can't wait for winter so I can try them.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:34 pm

Tourmaster makes a GREAT silk gloveliner and balaclava. VERY thing and you can keep them in a jacket pocket. MANY fall nights it makes the difference between freezing and getting home okay, and when winter really hits it gives one more layer!

Tazio · Post by **Tazio** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:52 pm

I'm ready for winter also. It's 106 here, way to hot to ride.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 2:08 am

ed85379 wrote:Just earlier today I ordered a pair of HippoHands handlebar muffs
http://www.hippohands.com/
They have models specifically for Genuine scooters, which I was very happy to discover. I almost can't wait for winter so I can try them.

ed, stop it, stop it right now. Let's enjoy our autumn and hope we get the winter we had last year

ed85379 · Post by **ed85379** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 2:25 am

siobhan wrote:
ed85379 wrote:Just earlier today I ordered a pair of HippoHands handlebar muffs
http://www.hippohands.com/
They have models specifically for Genuine scooters, which I was very happy to discover. I almost can't wait for winter so I can try them.
ed, stop it, stop it right now. Let's enjoy our autumn and hope we get the winter we had last year

I absolutely hope we get a similar winter to last year, because there was no snow. It was still plenty cold though!

Even before "winter", it will soon get very cold for my morning ride into work. It comes fast.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:36 pm

This is the tough time to ride, although it is my favorite time of year. Beautiful warm afternoons, stop at a friends house for dinner, ride home and its 40 degrees!. Makes me pack more gear, but at least I'm ready.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:50 pm

I'm in total agreement with Viney, LOVE this weather however, working out doors so many years I've lost untold jackets, sweaters, gloves and hats taking them off as the day warms and leaving them behind at the job-site.

There is plenty enough room in the pet carrier, as you well know, for an extra layer or two and warmer gloves, the benefit there that being situated above the engine they're pre-warmed!!!