Sub-Freezing riders out there?

[MVent03]

So as I sit here at work waitning to get off at 10PM, I'm somewhat dreading the inevitable cold that will get to my hands before I make it to my door. Its going to be 31*F before I get to head out tonight and I'm wondering who else rides in sub-freezing temps?

I've been looking for a better solution to my current glove set-up but everywhere I read is considering 40*F, "cold weather".

LOL, I'd love to ONLY have to ride home in 40*F. Even TOURMASTER only has their Winter Elite gloves rated at 35*.

[ryott52]

It's been a pretty mild fall/winter here but there have been a couple Saturday mornings where I'm leaving for work at 6am and it's in the 20s. I've got a set of Coldwave gloves that seem to do the trick for my 9 mile ride to work, but the best cold gear purchase I made was a balaclava. Mine's made by Schampa, and it keeps my neck, ears, and face warm and free from the wind.

[jestercinti]

I ride down to 20* unless there is snow/ice then I take the bus.

My commute is 12 miles...all interstate. You bet it's cold.

Makes a man out of ya. Wear long johns and a balaclava under the helmet. Helps somewhat.

[Paulcet]

I have the Winter Elites as well, and under 35°F you do wish they were more substantial.  My 10 minute ride @ 20° is livable but not enjoyable.  Keep moving your fingers!

So, tell us how it went!

[MVent03]

Paulcet, do you use glove liners in the Winter Elites? My current cold gloves are good without liners to about 40*F. I put in liners for temps below that but that barely gets me to freezing.


I'm toasty everywhere but my hands. I know hippo hands are the ultimate against the cold but they're ugly and pricey. I also don't like the idea of having my hands stuck in a bag.

For what I'd spend on them I'd rather buy nice gloves but I cant find any reviews for actual long range freezing temps. . .   for anything.

[tialloydragon]

You could install handguards and keep the wind off your hands.  There are tons of different styles available, so you can look around and find ones that fit your taste in aesthetics.  Here are ones I found with Google:

http://www.barkbusters.net/products/storm.html

[MVent03]

Officially it was 31*F on my 30 min ride home. It wasn't bad for the first half but the second half is all countryside and it was getting sketchy towards the end. Took a few minutes for my right thumb to stop hurting after I came in.

No frostbite. I was getting concerned though. I think anything over 15 minutes in below freezing temps is going to be risky for me until I figure out a better solution to keeping my hands warm.

I like the bark buster idea. I think a set of those with some winter elites would do A LOT.

[Bluesmudge]

Hippo Hands and heated grips with uninsulated leather gloves works well for me.
At 40 degrees, sometimes my hands get too hot!

You really can't beat Hippo Hands. I think its worth the $90 so that you never have to worry about cold or wet hands again. Plus I feel good about supporting the company. Hand made in Canada.

[Slack]

Heated hand grips are the way to go.  With thick gloves and my hand grips cranked all the way up I have ridden the interstate for multiple hours in 20* temps.

Mine are Oxford brand, I think I paid around $70, and they have 4 heat settings.

[applecrew]

I frequently ride in sub-freezing weather, and it does have it's challenges. We've all found that our hands are the weak link to a positive cold-weather experience. I ride 35 miles each way, 90% of that is at freeway speeds, so wind is a huge comfort factor.
I've got a pair of KLIM snowmobile gloves, which are pretty warm and generally good down to freezing (YMMV - I'm pretty cold tolerant). Below that, it becomes harder. Fortunately for me, just past the halfway point in my commute that is a very long traffic light that gives me the opportunity to warm my hands on the motor.

The coldest morning was about 2 years ago and it was 9 degrees F when I got into the office.
Might get some hand-guards to break the wind some day.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

My drz does great in the cold, the bark busters help cut wind, but only slightly. Just above 30* today and she kicked up first try. It would be nice to have a windshield to hide behind sometimes, but I just throw on some of my shred gear and go. Usually just a performance hoodie and neck warmer with wind stop materials, and some gore-tex gloves/jacket. If its real cold maybe the clava. I guess riding in the cold temps isn't that bad when your commute is 4 miles round trip haha.. The cold barely gets to my legs by the time I'm pulling into the office. Also I'm usually out on the mountain rolling around in the snow on the weekends, so I'm a bit use to the cold.

For gloves get some quality gore-tex or leather. Anything with decent wind protection will do well. I bought a pair of Drop Gore-tex gloves off a friend($20), they work OK, but lack grip for throttle. Snowmobile gloves are a great idea applecrew! Will have to look into those

[jestercinti]

I ride down to 20* unless there is snow/ice then I take the bus.

I know I said 20*, but it was 18*F this morning and I rode.  Cold, and the battery was cranking at 50%.  It started though.

[EdChen]

I'll usually ride as long as there's no snow or ice out as well. I bought some low end Alpinestars gloves that aren't warm enough under 35 degrees.

I think that heated grips will be in order very soon. From the research that I've done, heated grips, heated gloves and hand guards are the way to go. I've also found that a balaclava or even a scarf can be huge for keeping your neck warm.

For one-off rides, those chemical handwarmer packets work good too, probably a good thing to have around just in case.

[DrtRydr23]

See this thread from about a month ago, http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=62153.0

[BassWoW]

lol that last link has my post as the last one....

In NH its around 35 -40 * as a high and 17-26* as a low-

Two weeks ago on my vacation I decided to buy some heated gloves..

I bought the Powerlet glove liners 129$ glove kit with wires and controller as well as a pair of first gear glove liners.

I can say that the powerlet glove liners fit under my gloves and so do the first gears... They're not bulky at all. Hell they're a godsend.

Powerlet- the heat at level 3 of 5 is perfect.
First gear- Heat at 5 full power is warm and comfortable but not perfect.

Powerlet uses a different type of heat than the first gear...first gear is completly wired heat.

First gear takes about 15 min to fully warm up and powerlet is within 20 sec.

I was lucky and found an xs on jafum clearence for 62$ powerlet kit. I saw it and took it on cyber monday!

They really are a godsend. I have no trouble riding to work and it feels so nice on your hands...kinda makes you want to get a whole set up.

I ride 55 miles to work and 55 back. 40+ speeds between backroads and highway.

also they go under my harley gauntlets which I have had my silk glove liners in  for 30* plus. but since the heated gloves its heated gloves then harley gauntlets and im good to go. power draw is 16 watts.

oh and returning my first gear gloves this week! 

[ohgood]

Officially it was 31*F on my 30 min ride home. It wasn't bad for the first half but the second half is all countryside and it was getting sketchy towards the end. Took a few minutes for my right thumb to stop hurting after I came in.

No frostbite. I was getting concerned though. I think anything over 15 minutes in below freezing temps is going to be risky for me until I figure out a better solution to keeping my hands warm.

I like the bark buster idea. I think a set of those with some winter elites would do A LOT.

Bark buster + huge cardboard taped on, + heated grips, + heated under wear, and chest, and socks.

Gold