Snow riding - keeping warm

[McDuck]

Yo. After coming back from AK last night it was bloody cold- around freazing at the max (at times). I think i was even snowed on at one point. Anyway i was frozen by the time i got home, i had to put my hands down a girls back to warm them up

Anyway how do you folkes who ride where it is actually cold keep warm?

[Patch]

buy a decent pair of winter gloves for a start.
poly pop undies - wool is too itchy
hoody under helmet half balaclava thing, with breathing tube in it - helps to avoid fogging visor as well
neck warmer
wearing ya wet weather gear over leathers does help keep the wind chill factor down

heated grips do help I believe - never had them myself

don't ride great distances and don't get too tired as fatigue does not help any, eat properly etc etc

[McDuck]

Can anybody point me to GOOD winter gloves with an approxamate cost?

[Patch]

I'd budget in the 2-3 hundy range. I've found the italian stuff very good. As you only use them for 2-3 months of the year, you should look to get about 4-5 years use out of them.

[mazz1972]

A vote for heated handgrips from me. Will only keeps the underside of your hands warm in the kinda temps you are talking about, but better than totally freezing hands.

Polyprop vs wool thermals - I'd go for merino thermals anyday as they don't get stinky like polyprop can. Re itching, itt varies from person to person as some people don't tolerate wool touching their skin. Mine (Thermerino) and hubbys (Icebreaker) are fine.

[Nasty]

Can anybody point me to GOOD winter gloves with an approxamate cost?

I spent a couple opf hundy on my winter gloves ...

Also lining what you are wearing with newspaper apparently works real well .. .keeps heat in and stops the cold.

[lostinflyz]

Everytime i go to the brass monkey i pack lots of booze to warm up at the end cause you always end up wet, cold or miserable no matter how good your kit is. you get kinda used in to it i find. but a few beers once home brings back the smile.

[rat biker 08]

thinsulate gloves i use them all the time good pair not cheep but work good.

[Meekey_Mouse]

I spent $200 on mine as well... My hands still freeze lol but I've got real bad circulation, there cold even when I'm not on the bike!

[T.W.R]

Silk gloves as glove liners under a decent gauntlet gloves is a good start, don't like heated handle bar grips personally (feels like holding on to the handle of a shovel)
Good quality Hunting/Tramping thermals
Micro fleece H/T long sleeve top with zip up collar and H/T bush pants keep things warm under the leathers along with what ever other items of preference.
Riding suit over the top of that if it's really

HuntTech or Swazi apparel do a full range of thermals and micro fleece garments of varying ratings from 2-4season or lowland-alpine grade items
Hunting & Fishing do cheaper budget items that work well but have less durability but they also do combination packs at good prices.
Cabelas Outdoor fitters have a good range of items too (predominantly online/mail order suppliers, but have a large store in ChCh now)

[Skyryder]

Yo. After coming back from AK last night it was bloody cold- around freazing at the max (at times). I think i was even snowed on at one point. Anyway i was frozen by the time i got home, i had to put my hands down a girls back to warm them up

Anyway how do you folkes who ride where it is actually cold keep warm?

There is simply no way to keep warm in the cold. Thermals will stop the bone cold feeling. Hands and fingers. Came across an interesting idea some time back. Wooly liners, then a latex glove over the liners then your leather gloves.

The theory being that the latex liners prevent heat loss in the fingers and also stop wet and dampness that can seep through the leathers onto the liners. The latex provides a barrier for both heat loss and waterproofs the wooly gloves. Have not tried this myself so don't know it it works.


Skyyrder

[clint640]

I'd budget in the 2-3 hundy range. I've found the italian stuff very good. As you only use them for 2-3 months of the year, you should look to get about 4-5 years use out of them.

I'd spend $100 on some heated grips & $100 on some winter gloves, you'll be warmer than with just gloves no matter what they cost, unless you get those heated gloves which look nice but around $350 IIRC. Then a neck warmer & a rainsuit over the top of my cordura gear with the liners in & a few layers of polypro & fleece underneath & snow is sno problem at all.

TWR is a bit right about hot grips being like holding onto a shovel though. I just fitted some 'Dual-Star' elements to Rosie's bike - they fit under normal grips & work well. I might replace my Daytona ones with some of those & my fav Renthal grips before next winter. You have to order them from the states I think, but only like $60 delivered.

The good thing about heated grips is that they're there for those summer cold snaps when you left your warm gloves behind too.

Cheers
Clint

[yamafitter]

Over here in the Great White North (Canada) on the really cold days I plug in with my Webber heated gloves, vest and chaps under my AeroStitch suit. I ride an FJR1300 and the alternator is just strong enough to keep everything powered up. Since I am also a skier I also have some high quality undergarments that help wick away any moisture and a good quality microfleece shirt. I don't ride too long into the winter season since were I live they dump salt on the roads to melt the ice. I have found through others experience that salt and motorcycle alloys do not mix well.

[jamiey]

A good base layer under your gear, Merino wool gets my vote

[xgnr]

Poly props top and bottom
Thick socks
Fleece shirt or jersey
heated vest (if ya lucky enough to have one)
Lined jacket
Wet Weather suit if bad bad rain or really cold

Fleece Neck warmer
Balaclava
Silk Gloves+Winter Weight Gloves + Rain-off outers if wet
heated grips a must

Sheepskin seat cover

Phew... taking a piss is a challenge lol