fall/winter riding

[skully93]

Brr!

So today was the first really cold day. I did ride home in freezing rain the other day, and that sucked, but it was still over 45 degrees.

Let me give a little background:

@ 3 days a week I have a short 5 mile commute, which will soon shorten to about 3. I can take nearly any temp for that time in standard gear with long underwear. 99% of the time I do this on my Buddy

@ 2 days a week I have a 40 mile each way commute. Part of it is a 65mph freeway, and as Ericalm stated in another post, no one goes 65. I've hit 90 and still had a tail. The rural highway runs along the Flatiron part of the Rocky Mountains, so wind gusts are common in the spring/fall.

Today it was 30 degrees, and humid (at least for the desert climate here). brr!

I geared up. I put the giant windshield back on the Scarabeo. I hate the look, but it does keep the wind off. Added some heated grips, and then bought Tourmaster pants. I feel like an astronaut in them, and they suck to walk in, but as a 3 layer overpant, I'm at least warm.

I have to say, if you have a long commute, heated grips rule. Mine just wrap around the handle. I like them OK but I will probably eventually do proper grips with a more tunable control.

[RoaringTodd]

My commute is slightly over one mile along a deserted industrial highway. I just grin and bear it... I draw the line at precipitation. Just hate getting wet.

[Tazio]

Here in southern California it just gets better. Not so damn hot.

[ed85379]

I have tried heated glove liners before, but they just made my hands too inflexible. So this year I am considering heated gloves. There are just so many options out there, and they're so expensive, I'm not sure where to start. Hrm...

I tried handlebar muffs last year (hippohands), and while they do keep my hands a LOT more comfortable than just gloves, it can be difficult to get my hands into them quickly, if, for example, I need to scratch an itch. They make taking a hand off the handlebars for a moment while actually riding effectively impossible, or at best, very dangerous.

[ravenlore]

Three-ish miles in town. I can layer and wear a balaclava until we get snow that stays. i

[craftynerd]

This'll be technically my second winter riding (winter of 2011-2012 wasn't really a winter, since it was something like 50 or 60 degrees in January, which doesn't happen often in the midwest) - since the longest drive I'll have to make is a little shy of 4 miles, I plan on sticking to the following gear:

• Insanely warm winter jacket, likely with my warm weather riding jacked shoved underneath
• Scooter kilt, because damn, that thing is warm and keeps me dry
• Gloves (with glove liners if it gets really cold)
• Possibly a full-face helmet - my scooter shop-owning friend suggested that it might be better for winter riding than the three-quarter helmet I usually wear
• Warm winter boots with decent tread

[Tocsik]

Yeah, it was chilly this morning, skully!
I had to dig the cold weather gloves, face mask and Respro Foggy Mask gear out of the closet this morning. I rode in with my heated grips running but the tip of my right thumb gets really cold and painful despite that. I think I may have damaged it in the past with some minor frostbite and it's just never been the same since :\
I also threw on my tech gear base layer (top and bottom!) but didn't zip in the Winter jacket liner yet.
Here it comes! Cold weather riding.

Everyone watch out for those slippery leaves this time of year, too.

[ed85379]

• Possibly a full-face helmet - my scooter shop-owning friend suggested that it might be better for winter riding than the three-quarter helmet I usually wear

Absolutely. A full-face is 1000x warmer, kept warm by your own breath. Of course, get ready for fogging up when you're stopped.

I switch from my 3/4 to my full-face modular Vega as soon as it is below 50 degrees. My face gets pretty cold at 60mph even at 50 degrees, but much lower than 50, and the temps at speed (~10-15 degrees lower) end up below freezing.

[uklemond]

Brr!

I have to say, if you have a long commute, heated grips rule. Mine just wrap around the handle. I like them OK but I will probably eventually do proper grips with a more tunable control.

What grips do you have? I need some and that will make the difference to if i commute my daily 40mph each way or take the train.

[Tocsik]

... Of course, get ready for fogging up when you're stopped..

Seriously, this thing works great. Not for modular helmets, though.

[ed85379]

... Of course, get ready for fogging up when you're stopped..

Seriously, this thing works great. Not for modular helmets, though.

I wish that site would show a photo of one installed, because I don't really understand how it works, or why it wouldn't work on a modular if it works the way I assume it works.

[ed85379]

... Of course, get ready for fogging up when you're stopped..

Seriously, this thing works great. Not for modular helmets, though.

I wish that site would show a photo of one installed, because I don't really understand how it works, or why it wouldn't work on a modular if it works the way I assume it works.

Hmm. It might work.

[Tocsik]

Well I'll be darned. I thought with the way it attaches to the inside of the cheek pads that you wouldn't be able to lift the chin bar on a modular.
Cool.

[Stitch]

Won't your eyes freeze when it gets down into the teens?

[hal888]

Won't your eyes freeze when it gets down into the teens?

There are limits to equipment, and everyone has different tolerances. I can usually ride until the temperature drops below 30' F. My face remains warm with a balaclava and scarf, but my arms and legs start to feel it.

[skully93]

Uklemond, I got these:

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/oxfo ... Mgod4zoAEw

They make ones that you fully replace your grips with, I just wanted it to be removable for now. Good deal for $70

[SockyTX]

Oooooowheeee¡! My first chilly morning commute of the season. Thermometer read 48 degrees. My commute is only 6 miles and I'll usually ride down into the mid 30's so long as it's not raining.

Stay warm and scoot on

[TVB]

The only reason I haven't been riding in the cold the past 10 days is that the scooter's been in the shop (and then I was out of town without it). Hopefully I get it back on Monday. [See "Buzzing at high speed" thread for details.]

I wear a 3/4 helmet with a face shield and a cloth tube that covers me from nose to collar (like a balaclava with the top cut off). I'm sure it's not as warm as a full helmet, but having the face shield open to the air cuts way down on fogging. In fact, I used to use more of a face-hugging brow-to-chin windshield on my helmet, which was warmer (on paper) but got so foggy that I'd have to ride with it up, which was a lot colder (on the road). So now I have a fixed 3/4-shield that protects my eyes, and the 3/4-balaclava, to go along with my 3/4-helmet.

[Dirvin]

I ride year round in Boulder County, CO. My commute to work is 3 miles, which makes it bearable. As long as the roads are clear, which they are most of the time, I'm comfortable down to about 18-20 degrees. Full face helmet with Turtle Fur balaclava underneath and Noj neckgaiter; Cortech lined jacket; polarfleece base layer and a couple other layers if necessary; good gloves; and windpants. There you go. Cold weather scooter warriors rule.

[Stitch]

I wear a full face helmet. Cortech jacket (forget what model, it's armored, rein proof, has a liner, and feels like a suit of medieval armor). Sweatshirt. $20 leather insulated gauntlet gloves, jeans, $15 snow pants, and those $10 walmart snow boots. I'm good down into the teens for 45 minutes at 55mph. Once it drops below ten degrees I am done. Absolutely done.

[tspinning]

I'm two (awesome) weeks new to the scooter world, but a 9 year veteran of year-round bicycle commuting in New England (Burlington, VT & Boston - avg of 2 miles each direction) and am looking forward to this winter. I just got a new job and will be doubling my commute to 4 miles each way and decided it was time to upgrade to mechanized transportation.

I've got a 3/4 helmet (but am already considering an upgrade to full face or hybrid) and all my trusty snow gear from years on the bike, only downside is it's not in high visibility colors. Last year/season I upgraded my jacket to a Marmot Zion (2012) and have never experienced this level of water/ice/snow OR wind resistance. The level of waterproofing is wild, and I'm excited to test it out at higher speeds! Was a little pricey, but worth it if it continues to perform well, either way I'll report back later this season.

My plan is to ride unless it's actively snowing or there is a high chance of ice accumulation during my workday. Hope the Buddy 125 isn't angry about living outdoors year round (Prima Cover just arrived yesterday). The good folks as ScootersGoGreen told me ride till my fingers fall off, and be aware of road conditions but there shouldn't be an issue with cold weather commuting, here's hoping they are right!

[ed85379]

Hope the Buddy 125 isn't angry about living outdoors year round (Prima Cover just arrived yesterday). The good folks as ScootersGoGreen told me ride till my fingers fall off, and be aware of road conditions but there shouldn't be an issue with cold weather commuting, here's hoping they are right!

I am another Boston rider who rides until my fingers fall off, though so far, I haven't ridden below 33 degrees, mostly because I'm afraid of ice. I did just buy a pair of heated gloves though, so hopefully I will ride colder this year.

If you have a yard to park your Buddy in, I recommend the Cycle Shell. I've been protecting my Blackjack for a few winters now with it, and it's brilliant. The snow never touches the scooter itself. Well worth the money.

http://www.cycleshell.com/

[RoadRambler]

That cycle shell is sweet!

[TVB]

My plan is to ride unless it's actively snowing or there is a high chance of ice accumulation during my workday.

Also keep an eye out for overnight accumulation, of ice and/or frost. If there was snow (accumulating or not) late in the day, it can melt and then refreeze on the pavement, especially in low spots (such as the grooves that car wheels press into tarmac over time). On the other hand, frost can survive well into the morning commute on the high spots between those grooves.

My rule is a hearty "if the roads are clear, I ride"... but know when to throw in the towel and take the bus or a car. When in doubt, I make a habit of putting my feet down and checking traction at stop lights and such.

[Robbie]

Leaves, leaves, LEAVES.......Wet leaves.....think of them as little ice patties just waiting for you to apply a brake or make a quick turn on them.

Cold doesn't concern me that much.....just the wet leaves.....or sometimes frost covered leaves....same results though....unplanned body hit against a planet.

By all means, gear up for warmth but look carefully at the road.

Rob

[TVB]

Leaves, leaves, LEAVES.......Wet leaves.....think of them as little ice patties just waiting for you to apply a brake or make a quick turn on them.

Yeah. That was my first experience with my scooter ending up on its side: a 5mph turn, on wet leaves.