What are people using for underclothes, gloves, face/neck protection?
Lemme know whats good and what sucks..
well sacramento is getting cold in the morning, i leave by 6:45 - 7:00 am for school and it can be cold, so i am getting a "face mask" that also covers my neck, and then I am getting glove liners for my gloves *unless i can find ones cheaper new, mine are almost 2 seasons old*. I also need to get warmer socks, and I need to probably wear a sweater underneath and wear my "over pants" to keep warm in the morning.
So far its bearable, i could use a neck protector of sorts, but its not bad. I need gloveliners though, cause my gloves get cold in the morning and my fingers freeze by the time i reach school, some days its warmer so its better but in generally gloveliners would be a good idea. The thinsulate material on the inside isnt keeping me too warm thouhg.. so i need to think of something.
A guy suggested to go to a Snowmobile place and get electric handgrip warmers, they install over the grip and easy to take off if needed. So I am thinking of it. Also i probably will need to put my windshiled back on as the days get colder just to keep me warm. I need to get a better windshiled this one is a peice of crap ebay item (45 bucks)
The_Good_Guy said
Quotei leave by 6:45 - 7:00 am for school and it can be cold
here in alabama, at 6:45 its around 70 degrees. the lowest its ever gotten in my area is only like 2 below. i dont ride if its 40 degrees or lower. even then im rapped up in otton and leather.
At the local duck's Sporting Goods I got a neck protector from the skiing section that was a fleece neck and a thing top. The thin top doesn't mess up your helmet fit and the fleece keeps your neck warm. It's not as nice as the fleece coif I found but it was less than 1/4 the price.
To protect my legs from the cold I wear leather pants over jeans or sweatpants. My leather jacket with the liner in and something to cover the "armpit vents" does upper body duties and I have some leather riding mittens with Thinsulate to keep my hands warm. This rig lets me ride as long as the roads are safe.
well when i leave the last couple of days its in the 50's.. mid-upper 50's.. the bike is covered by dew.. I sometimes am a little tired at night to put the bike cover on so i put the disc lock on and hit the sack.
Right now I wear what I need to wear to work under my gear and a fleece sweatshirt that zips up and has a high collar, usually Kahki's and a dress shirt. My problem is around my neck and face, the air comes right up there and its pretty chilly. My hands also get a bit stiff from the cool air. The gear I wear is a 2 piece leather suite so the rest of me is warm.
For cold/wind protection while backpacking I always use the three-layer setup. It seems to make sense that it would translate well to riding, except that you don't have the weight considerations that hikers do (so you can consider more materials, like leather,etc.) I have ridden wearing all of my hiking gear already, and it's very comfortable.
Wicking Base-layer - skin-tight layer with good wicking properties (cause lets face it, if you're wind-proofed, your getup will only be somewhat breatheable at best, and you will probably sweat under your clothes).
Insulating Middle-layer - self-explanatory (I like to go with synthetic fleece 100-200weight polartec is good stuff, and cheap)
Wind/Waterproofing Outer-layer - Goretex if you're loaded / Conduit, Hyvent, or leather if you're not.
I have worn capilene/fleece/Conduit at 30 degreesF in 65 MPH winds before for hours and not gotten cold. And the bonus is that backpackers gear is designed to be pretty form-fitting to make carrying a pack easy, so the added bonus to bikers is that you don't turn into a giant sail at highway speeds!!
for face/neck.. my favorite is the neoprene face and neck wraps sold at downhill ski supply stores. They are very effective and very low-profile, so they shouldn't mess up your helmets fit too much.
For face/neck, I just got a aerostich wind traingle that's ultrasuede on one side and windproof/goretex on the other - so nice for those foggy and cold days alone the coast, much less the rain. Beats my ratty bandanna or ski mask by a mile! Outside of that, I wear standard synthetic/breathable (polypropelene or similar) long johns and turtleneck for underclothes. Add a warm fleece vest or wool sweater (I find most fleece pullovers too bulky) and my leather jacket with liner.
Though it doesn't get really cold around here (40s are about the lowest I end up riding in), the wet coastal air and wind can make it feel *much* colder than the air temperature. Good warm clothes are a must if you want to ride year round on the coast or in the mountains.
Don't forget the high-viz gear!
QuoteDon't forget the high-viz gear!
yet another reason I love to shop at backpacking outfitters! Most products for backpacking have at least one bright color choice. I always buy gear in red or orange... primarily so that i don't get shot during hunting season :o but It works just as well to help prevent getting T-boned or rear-ended on the road :thumb:
Agreed on the bright colors.
1. Polypropylene, lots of it. You can get for any part of the body you desire. A must for a long trip. And yes, it wicks. A+
2. A tube-scarf thingy that I got from the hunting section of Wal-Mart for 5 bucks. Shaped lower so it tucks into the jacket, long enough top so that you can pull it up and buckle it under your chinstrap. Seems to be made of sweatshirt/fleece material. A++
3. Sno-Seal. Beeswax product that waterproofs leather boots/gloves. Been using it for years, a great product. Life is good when you can see the water beading off your gloves like a new paint job LOL. Work it into the seams especially well. A+
I use an arab scarf to keep my neck warm (I actually use it all year round since a stone chip hit me in the throat at about 80 mph and very nearly took me off the bike). The scarves are huge square things that I fold in half diagonally. It then wraps around your neck and reaches way down your chest too for that little extra wind protection.
Other than that I just use my usual leathers with cheap (but effective) waterproofs over the top.
Dressed like this I ride in below zero temperatures - when it's dry of course.
I have the thinsulate liner in my jacket as well as extra layers like a sweatshirt etc. I have one of the head/mask do-hickies.. liners for my gloves... but they make my gloves a bit tight. So my hands still get cold. Leather pants with patagonia long underwear under them.
It was at 45 degrees this am when I left (6:40) and I am still (8:45) in my leather pants trying to get my core warm enough to change into my jeans. :roll:
Quote from: vtlionFor cold/wind protection while backpacking I always use the three-layer setup.
Yep...what he said...plus pay special attention to the extremities...hands, feet, head...where you lose a lot of heat, and circulation is poor. Additionally, wind is totally your enemy, so that outer layer should not have any leaks.
Saw this the other day...it might become my new outer layer.
http://www.motorcycleapparel.net/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MA&Product_Code=Firstgear+Thermogear+1-Piece+Suit&Category_Code=Firstgear
No armour, but wow what a price.
I put on tights, jeans and goretex wind pants. If it's really REALLY cold I'll also put jogging pants on over top of that.
I will were a long sleeve t-shirt, and a long sleeve sweat shirt under my insulated gortex riding jacket.
I bought an expensive pair of goretex ski gloves and an insulated balaclava. I will also wear a neck tube thingy.
IF it's REALLY cold, that will only give me about 45 minutes riding time without a hot chocolate break.
I mean jogging pants between jeans and goretex pants
...proof read...proof read....
Or you can make your own electric vest (http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/heatedclothing.html)...
I wear an electric jacket. I have an electrical harness hooked up to my battery and the jacket plugs into it. You can also get gloves that hook into the jacket and beyond that you can get pants too. I only have the jacket and it is amazing!!!! I can ride comfortably in very cold weather and I don't look like the stay puffed man doing it. It's light weight and comfortable to wear. I got a deal on my jacket for $120. Gerbing is the company that makes it and they get good reviews on there products. Harley Davidson sells electrics which are made by Gerbing. That would be my suggestion to you if you are really serious about extending your riding season. :cheers:
Quote from: WozDressed like this I ride in below zero temperatures - when it's dry of course.
Hey, Woz, that's zero centigrade, right (32F) ?
Yeah, it is centigrade (we don't really use farenheit in the UK)