Winter Commute...Riding?

[Madguitarist!]

Being from a tropical paradise of Singapore, this will be my first biking winter experience. Planning to daily commute as well as weekend blats.

Questions:
1) For daily winter commute to work, does anyone have GOOD ideas for a 'suit' type job? That's how to wear a suit/tie under riding gear? Or leave a few sets of attire at work if possible?? Are leathers or codura warmer?

2) Casual riding (over 1-2 hrs), how to keep warm and toasty on longish rides but still feel comfy? Like are several layers of thermals a good idea instead of layers of t-shirts as thermals are thinner??

[Sniper]

Woes, just ride in shorts and jandels like the rest of my imaginary friends.

Nah, just kidding, best ask the others whats best to go over a suit but on option 2, I suggest getting a good set of thermals. I still have my ones from the army and they are marvellous. You want a fair set of layers on you but you sont want to bulk up so using T shirts as warmth never sort of made my day

[Devil]

Questions:
1) For daily winter commute to work, does anyone have GOOD ideas for a 'suit' type job? That's how to wear a suit/tie under riding gear? Or leave a few sets of attire at work if possible?? Are leathers or codura warmer?

Im not quite full suit, but do have to have dress pants and shirt. I take both in my bag and just wear normal cordura gear (warmer than leather with the liner etc.) Get changed at work. If its a shirt that doesnt crease easily, then ill probably wear it straight under my jacket.

[inlinefour]

AS I hate ties and shirts, I might not be the best one to reply. But at times life requires me to wear the shyte.

When riding in winter, I allways wear shorts and a tee shirt under my riding gear. With the lining in my gear I need no extra clothes except for a good pair of socks. If I needed to get some extra gear on once I get there I have 2 options: Carry it in a pack or have it waiting there. A shirt and tie etc probably would not travel well in a pack though. The only problem with wearing the stuff under the riding gear is that I often sweat, even in the middle of winter, with my spyke gear on...

[Jackrat]

Wear thermals,polar fleece ect.
Don't wear cotton tee shirts or any other cotton clothing next to your skin.
Cotton actualy draws heat from your body and will make you colder,even in layers.One of the BEST things out is Silk glove linners and bellaclavas.
I have a pair of Silk glove linners that enable me to wear the same light wheight gloves all year round.
I see you live in AK,(Go the blues )It doesn't get cold up here anyway mate,so you'll be fine.
Another little trick that works REAL WELL,if you can still buy them,is silk pantyhose.Better than any thermals or polar fleeces.
Just don't tell ya' mates about it

[James Deuce]

I leave a couple of pairs of Trousers and a pair of shoes at work and wear the shirt and tie under the riding gear. Usually wear a thermal undergarment under the shirt. I take fresh stuff in on a Monday and "dirty" stuff home on Friday, so I only need a bag two days a week.

[pritch]

I leave a jacket at work, ride in leather jacket with the work trousers, shirt and shoes.

If using the bike to commute in wet or very cold weather I would use cordura gear and boots with the shoes and trousers in a plastic bag in a backpack or tankbag.

[Storm]

Another little trick that works REAL WELL,if you can still buy them,is silk pantyhose.Better than any thermals or polar fleeces.
Just don't tell ya' mates about it

You're a very secure man to tell the internet that sort of thing JR

[pyrocam]

I dont need the jacket but I just put on suit pants and shirt under the cordura pants and dririder jacket (with liners)

If I needed a jacket I would proberly be a numbnuts and where it under the dririder jacket anyway

[Wolf]

Suit jacket on a hanger at work, good shoes parked under the desk. Non-crease work trousers and shirt under cordura jacket and leggings, calf length motorcycle boots with a waterproof gusset all the way up the zip. Thermal wear underneath everything if frosty - polyprop and other synthetics as I can't afford the silk liners. If travelling at motorway speeds in the frost, I wear lined waterproof mittens so my fingers don't freeze off.

It's no biggie to strip off the wet weather gear and boots, and throw on a pair of shoes. I don't wear a tie (IT professional, opposed to cutting off the oxygen supply to the brain) but if you tied one then loosened it enough to slip over your head at the end of the day you could leave it at your desk and quickly slip it on and tighten it the following morning. (more professional than the elastic ties)

I want to get my bike running before the worst of winter so I can commute - rather it bear the weight of the wet weather gear than me trying to walk 40 minutes (probably longer) in full wet weather gear.

[Madguitarist!]

Thermals/Silk 'leggings' seem the way to go! As well as cordura. Guess I'll be doing alittle bit more shopping the next few weeks!!!

Hopefully I get a nice BIG locker with the job......(interview coming Tue)...

My missus thinks I'm crazy since it would seem easier to hop into the car than to dress in full winter/wet riding gear which would take more time both ends of the journey....she does like the gas mileage/ dollar tho!!!!

[Wolf]

My missus thinks I'm crazy since it would seem easier to hop into the car than to dress in full winter/wet riding gear which would take more time both ends of the journey....she does like the gas mileage/ dollar tho!!!!

At first it took me ages to struggle into my wet weather gear - pull on leggings, slide the leg up, pull on boot, zip, pull leg down over boot, fasten cuff around boot, repeat last four actions for other leg, pull on jacket, fasten, tighten cuffs, pull on helmet, force glasses through opening, fasten D-rings, pull on gloves, realise keys are in trouser pocket...

Getting out of the gear was somewhat faster.

After a while you get practised and it takes bugger all time to get into and out of the kit.

You suit-up indoors and disrobe indoors as well, so even if you haven't got under-cover parking for the bike you are nice and waterproof, casually walking to the building while all the other saps are sprinting through the rain from their cars, splashing through the puddles, getting drenched (and later tell you, as they sit by the radiator and steam, that it's "too wet" for you to be riding a bike - the truth is that they're jealous of your warm dry clothes and non-squelching socks and "misery craves company")

Cars and busses are al very well and good until you get out of them. Fine if you have an attached garage at home and underground parking in your office building (and don't decide to stop at the shop on the way to or from work)

The cost of running a bike over a car is great - I used to budget $10 per week running the LS400 into town and back for work. In the car it was bloody-near $10 a return trip!

If you're really lucky, like LiasTZ and I are, you might find you can get under-cover parking at work for your bike (where you may not be entitled to a car park, not being personally ordained by God or whatever the criteria) by virtue of being able to park somewhere out of the way where a car would not fit. You have to be upper management or higher to get a car park in our building but there is a gap between some support pillars and the wall that is too narrow for a car but we can fit bikes there - so we get free under cover parking with a security service - DAMN!

[Coldkiwi]

forget leather for winter commuting in auckland. You'll get drenched unless you want to use some waterproof overalls (pain in the butt and you'll get hot etc, but very effective)
Best way to enjoy the ride is breathable and waterproof Cordura type gear to beat aucklands occasional monsoonesque moments with a bit of extra room for a warm jumper underneath. Coming from Singapore, you'll probably want a polypro/silk balaclava soon too


Enjoy the roads!

[Lou Girardin]

You can't beat good textile gear with thermal liners for warmth and if you're really cold-blooded wear Oxford Chill-out shirts and pants underneath. If that doesn't work try slippers and a large hot buttered rum in front of the fire.