First winter - gear advice needed

[blatz]

Coming up to my first winter on 2 wheels and I’m starting to wonder what I might need for the extra cold and wet weather.
I currently ride with an Ixon textile set (jacket and pants) plus some waterproof Gaerne boots and a pair of summer Dri Rider gloves.
My daily ride is across the bridge in to the city from the North Shore (about 25kms).
Riding home last night I noticed my hands were the coldest, then arms and top half of chest. Legs and feet were sweet. Bare in mind I wasn’t using the zip in liners on the jacket or pants.
I’m weighing up what I need to invest in to get me through winter. Reading a similar post about gloves it seemed the best option was go for glove covers that are completely water/wind proof and stick with the better protection you get from a summer/racing glove. Heated grips was also suggested…
In terms of jacket and pants, I know my Ixon stuff is pretty good in the rain, haven’t had a leak yet but haven’t ridden in really heavy rain. Do people use rain proof jackets/pants over textile stuff as well?
I want a set of leathers for their safety, but have been told the sport style I’m after is colder than textile. Can this be eliminated by wearing a good rain proof over jacket and pant? What else is recommended? Neck warmer? Thermals?
:blink:

[Maha]

Your gear seems to be doing it ok so far..thermal as a minimum coming into winter.
The best' bit of kit' you could ever invest in is a rain suit.
Cuts out everything, wind chill/rain etc...
Even though your daily commute is not that long, you cannot afford to get cold, you will start to concerntrate on that rather than what you should be.

[Quasievil]

I want a set of leathers for their safety, but have been told the sport style I’m after is colder than textile. Can this be eliminated by wearing a good rain proof over jacket and pant? What else is recommended? Neck warmer? Thermals?
:blink:

Yes a over suit is the answer, then youre dry (dryer than most textiles) and certainly safer.
get a neck warmer to this area allows alot of cold through and covering it is essential in winter. a layer of thermals is also another good idea.:yes:

[Maha]

If you have an old beanie laying around, cut the lid off and theres your neck warmer, does me good....:yes:
Biking on a budget?....im your man....:corn:

[mattian]

Make sure you get some decent winter gloves! I used to commute every morning across the harbour bridge in the middle of winter, early morning. I tell ya what!! My commute was only 30 mintues and I wore Dri-rider winter gloves and I still could not feel my fingers after I got off the bike.

[sinfull]

Do you read the paper ?

[blatz]

Do you read the paper ?

Yes. Have I read it since Sunday? No.
Am I missing something...probably?

[blatz]

Make sure you get some decent winter gloves! I used to commute every morning across the harbour bridge in the middle of winter, early morning. I tell ya what!! My commute was only 30 mintues and I wore Dri-rider winter gloves and I still could not feel my fingers after I got off the bike.

Won't those glove covers that say they stop wind and rain be enough?

[sinfull]

Yes. Have I read it since Sunday? No.
Am I missing something...probably?
As far as warmth goes yes !
Try saving the world for ya chest morra ! If your good you'll get the sport in both arms, the weekend is the shiz cause ya can use "whats on" to stick down ya crotch !
Catching up yet ?

[blatz]

As far as warmth goes yes !
Try saving the world for ya chest morra ! If your good you'll get the sport in both arms, the weekend is the shiz cause ya can use "whats on" to stick down ya crutch !
Catching up yet ?

Haha ok, I'm with you now

[Maha]

As far as warmth goes yes !
Try saving the world for ya chest morra ! If your good you'll get the sport in both arms, the weekend is the shiz cause ya can use "whats on" to stick down ya crotch !
Catching up yet ?

More 'biking on a buget' tips....
We used that paper down the front one night not so long ago.
Someone turned up here around 9:30 pm in a t shirt and hoodie, he still had an hour or so ride, so the Sunday Star Times was put to good used.

[sinfull]

Haha ok, I'm with you now

Onto it ! Yeah every stich hole, zip tooth, seam is a leak ! The obvious is ya gloves,
No amount of money is gonna fix that but a bit of kiwi #8 wire will ? Rubber mat that rolls over the nuckles and glued to fingers on an old pair of gloves ? (ok i just thought of that, but hey HELLO)
The bread bag over the socks before ya put the boots on ?
Ummm Newspaper i've slept under and know it works on the bike lol Usually in emergencies !
Mrs swears by that waterproof hiking gear ya can get (name escapes me), totally windbreak and water tight, wear it under ya textiles, ya know ya textiles gonna get wet and ya gonna sweat if ya muckin around, But who sweats (or mucks around for that matter) in winter ?
She wore the top half in torrential rain and southerly crap into wellington yesterday and was warm from the crotch up lol ! Gonna go out and get the leggings to match now ! Call her a commando biker now i do lol !

[Maha]

I also have a lined oilskin vest and nothing gets throught that......at all.

[Mom]

She wore the top half in torrential rain and southerly crap into wellington yesterday and was warm from the crotch up lol ! Gonna go out and get the leggings to match now ! Call her a commando biker now i do lol !

Probably IceBreaker or the like. I am a fan of merino and wear leggings year round. Keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. It was cold up this way yesterday, well certainly a LOT colder than it has been. I zipped in my thermal liners and replaced my gloves with something a bit warmer. Put on a layer of merino thismorning and hey presto instant warmth. Problem, I reduced the layers on the way hom tonight but was sweltering in places...Oh the joy :banana:

[sinfull]

was sweltering in places...Oh the joy :banana:

Will you stop thinking KB orgies while your riding please, gonna cause grief somewhere with all that swelt !

[mattian]

Won't those glove covers that say they stop wind and rain be enough?

Possibly. I have never used them so, I couldnt comment about them. I assume that those in conjunction with your gloves might be enough.

[DrunkenMistake]

A tea spoon of harden up.

Nah just kidding,
I usually ride with a Rev'it textile jacket motorad boots and jeans, and Spada summer gloves, but when it rains or if its super cold I biff on some water proof pants its usually enough to cut the wind and keep ya warm, my legs dont feel the cold, only when they get wet I feel it.
My jacket can be very cold some mornings, I have the thermal lining but its to much of an effort to zip it into my jacket at 6am every cold morning then ride home at 4pm when its hot with the lining in, so I found its easiest to take the liner out and wear a hoody under my jacket, it leaves the jacket in about the same size, so no tight spots etc, and keeps ya warm, if you get a cold head you put your hood under your helmet and your good, just make sure you can turn your head and that the hood when not worn doesnt effect you from looking up, left and right.

As for your gloves, either invest in some under gloves, or some thin wool gloves, I have some old fingerless gloves which I wear under my leather summer gloves, its a little tight but I do about 10km to get to work, so its bearable but if it a try, just make sure it doesnt fatigue your hands otherwise you could invest in winter gloves or oxford hot grips at $100,

My old helmet didnt have a chin liner that sits under the bottom of the helmet so the wind used to whip up under my helmet into my face, and due to the fact that I live beside the harbour here in dunedin, it can be fucking cold, So I have a windproof balaclava, worked like a charm, I use it now sometimes, it just tucks under your jacket keeping your neck etc toasty as well.
I hope this helps you out man.

[blatz]

A tea spoon of harden up.

Nah just kidding,
I usually ride with a Rev'it textile jacket motorad boots and jeans, and Spada summer gloves, but when it rains or if its super cold I biff on some water proof pants its usually enough to cut the wind and keep ya warm, my legs dont feel the cold, only when they get wet I feel it.
My jacket can be very cold some mornings, I have the thermal lining but its to much of an effort to zip it into my jacket at 6am every cold morning then ride home at 4pm when its hot with the lining in, so I found its easiest to take the liner out and wear a hoody under my jacket, it leaves the jacket in about the same size, so no tight spots etc, and keeps ya warm, if you get a cold head you put your hood under your helmet and your good, just make sure you can turn your head and that the hood when not worn doesnt effect you from looking up, left and right.

As for your gloves, either invest in some under gloves, or some thin wool gloves, I have some old fingerless gloves which I wear under my leather summer gloves, its a little tight but I do about 10km to get to work, so its bearable but if it a try, just make sure it doesnt fatigue your hands otherwise you could invest in winter gloves or oxford hot grips at $100,

My old helmet didnt have a chin liner that sits under the bottom of the helmet so the wind used to whip up under my helmet into my face, and due to the fact that I live beside the harbour here in dunedin, it can be fucking cold, So I have a windproof balaclava, worked like a charm, I use it now sometimes, it just tucks under your jacket keeping your neck etc toasty as well.
I hope this helps you out man.

Thanks man. Definitely seems like the rain proof over pants/jacket are the go plus something for the neck. Will have a play with a few options for gloves but don't think I'll go with heated grips.
Was just reading a thread about the Qmoto leathers, looking forward to my trip down to Hamilton in the near future.

[Quasievil]

Thanks man. Definitely seems like the rain proof over pants/jacket are the go plus something for the neck. Will have a play with a few options for gloves but don't think I'll go with heated grips.
Was just reading a thread about the Qmoto leathers, looking forward to my trip down to Hamilton in the near future.

Dont buy any gloves dude tho, I think I have a pair or two you can have for free with your leathers !

[blatz]

Dont buy any gloves dude tho, I think I have a pair or two you can have for free with your leathers !

Oooh that's kind of you. They're not handroids are they?

[Quasievil]

Oooh that's kind of you. They're not handroids are they?

No but they will serve the purpose ok for you

[blatz]

No but they will serve the purpose ok for you

Haha I had to try

Just zipped my liner in to my textile jacket after 6 months of riding without it. Surprising how much movement it restricts on the ride to work. Might have to go with a standard jumper underneath to reduce the bulkiness.

[R-Soul]

I got an XXL flouro waterproof roadworkers jacket for $40 from the extras shop (behind the Mitre 10 Mega in Albany). It is huge, fits over my leathers, is REALLY visible in wet weather, and is completelty waterproof. Works like a charm.

If you have any fairings, you probably dont need too much pants wise.


Also, for winter, make sure you get the visor liner that sticks on the inside of your visor - it acts like a double glazing, and is the best to prevent fogging (which is a big problem when its really cold).

[blatz]

Will have to have a look at that, thanks R-Soul. I'm in the market for a waterproof fluorescent bag cover first though as all my riding in the dark will be with a pack on. Saw a nice one on torpedo7 but they have sold out. Been to a few stores like pack and pedal but none have what I'm after.
Think I might just chop up the old fluoro vest I have and stitch/velcro them to the pack for now

[FJRider]

TV one said the temp in Auckland was 8 degrees today ... good god ... you poor buggers must be freezing ... :killingme

[DrunkenMistake]

Oh no! not 8 degrees!

Was 2.0 in my room today... :L its now a lil under 1 haha.
Thats summer temperature :D

[Berries]

Was wondering how cold it got on the north shore. Put the liner back in my jacket this week. Might have to dig out the winter gloves and Jamie Whitham neck warmer soon.

[Ratti]

Kathmandu have a good line of wind proof/water resistant gear that fits nicely under riding gear. Horribly expensive tho so check out a good second hand store like Savemart to buy them way cheaper.
Dont dismiss hotgrips, after your first wet winter I predict you will love them.

[blatz]

Dont dismiss hotgrips, after your first wet winter I predict you will love them.

Haha that's what people have been telling me. I'll see how long I can resist

[awa355]

Haha that's what people have been telling me. I'll see how long I can resist

I'm going to get a set of heated grips this winter. Have three pr of heavy winter gloves and none are comfortable. They are too thick between and around the fingers, and too thick across the inner palm. Makes it hard to wrap around the handgrips and to unflex the fingers when reaching for the levers.

I find using a pair of lighter gloves gives me a lot more feedback and I feel I have far more control of the bars.

If buying gloves DEFINITLY try them on first. Most of my 'bombs' have been bought thru Trade me without trying them first. But I'm learning:innocent:

[R-Soul]

Or checkout this:

http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/R7JKHN0MW