Gear for long trips?

[Gremlin]

Compression gear is normally one of my closest layers to the skin, thermals if I'm cold, then armour and outer layers over the top. Use layers so you can take off and on as you wish (but keeping core layer on - no-one likes naked bikers running around forecourts).

Advantage of compression gear is that it keeps the blood moving, depending on quality can even support correct posture a little, doesn't smell quickly and very fast drying. It also packs small, same as thermals.

For cold weather, make sure the outer layers are water and wind proof. If not, and they get wet or let wind pass through you're going to get cold very quickly. Being cold for 1-200km is fine, but not when you're doing 500-1000+km in a day. Your body will burn through energy trying to get you warm and you'll get tired surprisingly quickly.

[LBD]

pfffft DUNEDIN COLD HAHAHAHA

pfffft Central Otago cold HAHAHAHA

Ultrafine marino first layer....Icebreaker second layer top.... Fleece pants below and differing fleece weights for top.

For those 48hr rallys and long wet nights I resort to heated grips and vest

[Maha]

I use a Wool lined Oil Skin vest...keeps the torso warm as, nothing else comes close.
The lower half is covered by Revit Textiole pants.
A Marino thermal is worn I feel its needed.
But ultimately, a rain over suit is unbeatable.

[Gremlin]

I use a Wool lined Oil Skin vest...keeps the torso warm as, nothing else comes close.

I'll see your wool lined vest and raise you a heated vest... pretty sure it's better, especially with temperature controls.

[kiwi cowboy]

It is ... they need hot grips to survive down there.

Dont i know it.
I just bought a bike from down there and its got those heated thingys so if i was to try them out just to see if they work does that make me a pussy?.

[FJRider]

Dont i know it.
I just bought a bike from down there and its got those heated thingys so if i was to try them out just to see if they work does that make me a pussy?.

Only ... if you wear gloves too ...

But I have had my suspicions ...

[george formby]

I use a Wool lined Oil Skin vest...keeps the torso warm as, nothing else comes close.
The lower half is covered by Revit Textiole pants.
A Marino thermal is worn I feel its needed.
But ultimately, a rain over suit is unbeatable.

+1 on both. Merino is warm & stops the boys from gently stewing in their own juices. Cool on hot days too somehow.

An oversuit was the only thing that kept me going through Scottish winters & a North Sea divers woolly bear undersuit. The woolly bear would be overkill in all but the most extreme weather here.

Ooh, make sure you have a pee before donning said over suit, they are just as good at keeping liquid in & it can be really difficult finding the wee fella if your caught short.

[Gremlin]

Ooh, make sure you have a pee before donning said over suit, they are just as good at keeping liquid in & it can be really difficult finding the wee fella if your caught short.

I remember on my first Grand Challenge in 2008 I wore a leather one piece with a one piece rainsuit over the top. It was incredibly annoying trying to de-layer to go to the toilet... even had the rain suit around my ankles following me everywhere.

Two piece rainsuits are more practical but less waterproof. You choose your tradeoff I guess? I prefer to use full waterproof cordura pants, jacket often has mesh on the outer, so only use the rain jacket when riding, and also doesn't take up as much space as a full one piece rainsuit (not to mention far easier to take off and put on).

[Maha]

Ooh, make sure you have a pee before donning said over suit, they are just as good at keeping liquid in & it can be really difficult finding the wee fella if your caught short.

I remember on my first Grand Challenge in 2008 I wore a leather one piece with a one piece rainsuit over the top. It was incredibly annoying trying to de-layer to go to the toilet... even had the rain suit around my ankles following me everywhere.

Two piece rainsuits are more practical but less waterproof. You choose your tradeoff I guess? I prefer to use full waterproof cordura pants, jacket often has mesh on the outer, so only use the rain jacket when riding, and also doesn't take up as much space as a full one piece rainsuit (not to mention far easier to take off and put on).

The zip on mine goes right down past the point of 'oh thats not so bad, it reaches' length...

[george formby]

The zip on mine goes right down past the point of 'oh thats not so bad, it reaches' length...

Braggart. You obviously have no trouble with the dreaded up & over causing too much stretch.

[pritch]

Try a few sheets of newspaper down your top.Works well if im cold.

That works even better if the newspaper is wrapped around hot chips.

Reinvenenting the wheel is a favourite pursuit of some KBers. There are various thicknesses of insulation available from camping equipment stores.
"Skins" is a brand of underwear that is favoured by some, although I have no experience with that.

Oxford make two piece suits that fit over the insulation layer and under the cordura, goes by the name "ChillOut" I use the top and it works well
Drudi Design also does a line in this type of thing but you basically need to own an oil well...

Merino is another option. You pays your money and you makes your choice

I don't totally understand the comments about sweating in cordura. Both of my suits have ample vents which stay open over the summer months

[FJRider]

Braggart. You obviously have no trouble with the dreaded up & over causing too much stretch.

Yamaha riders dont have that problem ... however at my age .... I'm more worried about "shrinkage" ...

[george formby]

Yamaha riders dont have that problem ... however at my age .... I'm more worried about "shrinkage" ...

I have 2 yamaha's, a penchant for Merino but no over suit. The beauty of the "winterless" north. The speed I ride at now an umbrella is adequate when it rains.

[FJRider]

I have 2 yamaha's, a penchant for Merino but no over suit. The beauty of the "winterless" north. The speed I ride at now an umbrella is adequate when it rains.

I never discovered the true meaning of "rain" ... untill I visited the west coast of the south island. Then ... water proof ... was found to be a myth.

[GrayWolf]

From experience riding in English winters for almost 2 decades,
My personal findings were, thermal underwear, but in the UK you can get Damart, this is the stuff worn by Polar explorers and Everest teams. It would be expensive to buy here. One of the advantages is that it will remain keeping you warm even when it's wet. This is something that a lot of 'thermal wear' isn't up to. Merino would be a good choice, natural, light and it'll dry out very quickly too. Warm clothing of natural fibre as an 'over clothing', not too loose, not too tight. (Like the old style string vests, allow air to be around the body, but not allow it to move quickly). Wool is warm, but once it gets wet?? It weighs a bloody ton! Never tried Polar fleece so cant comment on its 'when wet' abilities for warmth and drying out.
Gloves? start with silk undergloves,,, the white ones (style) seen for formal wear like Opera's etc, then a pair of light thermal gloves if required.... Mittens ARE warmer than gloves, Period, so if you ride regularly in deep cold, they are advantageous. Otherwise, its PRICE/QUALITY... $60 gloves are NOT going to give the warmth or rain resistance of good gloves. If you can still find them, there used to be gloves (gauntlet style) that had a plastic overmitten stored in the wrist section. Sooky or not, handlebar muffs are the dogs testes coupled with heated bar grips?? Ya talking toasty warm!!!

Leather? isnt as warm in winter and once wet? Your screwed!!

Cordura? Again it comes down to price put bluntly. I have had Mobig, RJ, Dri rider etc etc in the sub $300 area for riding to and from work none in heavy rain have remain dry by the time I got home, 30k's approx. I can simply state they DONT keep you dry.
Quality jackets like high price Teknic etc are the only real option for serious distances. My experience to base that on was riding every weekend from Wellington to Napier & return for several months including the whole winter.
The jackets I own that did remain dryest and warmest were my Ixon jackets/Pants, sadly not cheap and Ixon are a bit unreliable for getting stock I was given to understand. My partner has an Ixon jacket with a removable polar fleece 'casual jacket' as a liner instead of the regular quilted one. She is a lizard as far as warmth is concerned, and she complains its too warm! I have no doubt Teknic and the other high quality manufacturers will give the same resistance, but its Quality that counts. 1,2,300 dollar jackets are budget items, and the construction/materials used will reflect this.