Keeping warm in the south?

**Winston001** · 19th May 2009, 01:27

Just to be clear - here is what I wore on the trip:

Thickish acrylic balaclava - worked very well.

Katmandu Altica thermals top and bottom - fine

Wool socks - remained dry.

Cotton quality t-shirt

White windstopper top

Newspaper spread over my chest.

Nylon shower proof shell (thin)

Neckwarmer priests style with long drape front and back. Neck kept warm.

Good quality leather jacket - dry but felt cool despite not getting wet.

Yellow PVC jacket and leggings - remained dry at all times.

Sidi high boots - remained dry.

Winter gloves inside handlebar mitts - completely dry.

In hindsight two thermal layers would have been wise, plus a proper longsleeved shirt/skivvy under the top - but I'd been almost too warm going up to the rally which included the length of the South Island.

Go figure....

**BMWST?** · 19th May 2009, 08:08

I dont like wearing plastic stuff cos you feel "damp" all the time.That would be a query for me with codura gear on a long cold day.Leather breathes, does Codura?.Honestly wait till you have your grips..they make a huge difference,esp if you have a bit of wind protection for the hands.A thermal layer directly next to your skin also makes a huge difference

**Coldrider** · 19th May 2009, 08:51

A polartec polyprop such as made by Earth & sky with a zipper chinese collar, and a good quality woolen jersey, then textile jacket with winter insert.
Make sure no air goes down your back colar. Polyprop balaclava.

Do not wear cotton tshirt or shirt because the sweat created by the polartec singlet will capture the moisture & you will get cold.

It is the same principle when in a sleeping bag, less is best.

Remember your metabolism creates the body warmth, your clothing tries to retain the losses.

**CookMySock** · 19th May 2009, 08:59

Get the heated grips, but they are not a solution for long cold rides.

Thick singlet + polypropylene layer or two + heated liner + long dririder jacket. End of problem, you will never be cold on a bike again. Ever.

Steve

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 19th May 2009, 09:14

Originally Posted by Winston001

In hindsight two thermal layers would have been wise, plus a proper longsleeved shirt/skivvy under the top - but I'd been almost too warm going up to the rally which included the length of the South Island.

Go figure....

nay yah just getting old...

get a heated vest, leggings and socks...

**Winston001** · 19th May 2009, 11:44

Originally Posted by tri boy

Good gloves also treated with bees wax. (can't recommend this stuff enough).

I use Snowseal (beeswax) on all my leathers and totally agree with you.

**1tonne** · 19th May 2009, 18:39

Originally Posted by Winston001

Having enjoyed/endured a 13 hour trip in the current arctic conditions from Picton to Invercargill, I'm pondering more gear. Nothing I wore or did could keep me warm.

The first step is heated grips - being done.

I wear a leather jacket 100% of the time. Mates with textile jackets say they are warmer in the winter, plus waterproof (up to a point).

So.....do I get a cordura jacket, like the 1tonne http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...=&categoryid=2 which is a bargain at $135 compared with a good Motoline, Neo, or Dry Rider?

I already use Neo cordura trou all the time. Excellent, can't fault them.

Or follow the advice here and ante up for a good set of two piece leathers, say Quasi or 1tonne. $700. Or just good leather trou and add an 8inch zip to my current jacket.

I'm figuring that whatever I get, wet weather gear will still need to be carried.

Hi Winston.
If you purchase 1 of our cordura jackets I am sure you will be toasty and warm in the winter months. Just last Thursday I done a 500km trip and I was riding in the rain up until 8:30pm(Dark). My body was warm and had no problems with rain. Feel fre to check out other peoples comments on http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ghlight=1tonne
If you are interested in a 2 peice suit, our Black Hawk suit is a great sports/touring suit. It would be great for a trackday and also normal all year round riding. (Only problem is it is only as waterproof as any other leather jacket).
The GP Tech2 suits are great for racing but not that great for all weather riding as they have perferated leather. (These are great suits though) This is what Shaun Harris had to say about them "I would have happily raced in your leathers if I was going to carry on racing mate, the quality that you showed me of your product on boxing day was very good I thought.
I am not a leather design man, but have worn all brands from Kushitani to Daianese + some more, and what you showed me impressed me"
Cheers

**Gixxer peter** · 19th May 2009, 18:51

Silk shirt and long johns
merino shirt
merino jersey
homebuilt leather heated vest
Dryrider outers
heated socks
heated bars, good gloves and rain-offs (my wife has heated gloves)
chillout neckcover
lots of thin comfy layers, sometimes i get a bit hot even on the way to the brass, cold is not an issue
some say that it is a bit wimpy to use this gear but we can talk about that at the brass if you are brave enough to go because we will be there.(and be warm)

**Winston001** · 19th May 2009, 20:28

Originally Posted by Gixxer peter

Silk shirt and long johns
merino shirt
merino jersey
homebuilt leather heated vest
Dryrider outers
heated socks
heated bars, good gloves and rain-offs (my wife has heated gloves)
chillout neckcover
lots of thin comfy layers, sometimes i get a bit hot even on the way to the brass, cold is not an issue
some say that it is a bit wimpy to use this gear but we can talk about that at the brass if you are brave enough to go because we will be there.(and be warm)

I'll be at the Brass Monkey.

Gear - leather jacket......and black shearers singlet. Done.

**budda** · 19th May 2009, 20:34

Originally Posted by Winston001

Heated vests pah! ...but will just check them out for curiosity..

But I do like Triboy's shearers singlet idea.

Southern Man stuff.

Incidentally, Buffalo gear is now available on TM http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Lis...member=1469660 This jacket in particular looks too good to be true.. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-218689368.htm Edit - not sure if its the same and the Pertex shirts are not listed.

I must say that I'm a bit over the basic black (and blue) and prefer something with a bit of colour.

None of which really solves my basic question - quality leather with a rainsuit or cordura - and I expect I'd still have to carry a rainsuit anyway.

Enjoying the input team, much appreciated, more suggestions/sarcasm welcomed...

As I told you when you were looking around for a DooClattery Winston, Leather is windproof and waterproof ONLY when its on a cows arse !
Put a man-sized hole in it, and it WILL leak - the others have given you some good ideas and advice - all i would add is to try some of your local shops too.
You know the ones, where the guy behind the counter rides himself .......

**Winston001** · 19th May 2009, 20:59

Originally Posted by budda

As I told you when you were looking around for a DooClattery Winston, Leather is windproof and waterproof ONLY when its on a cows arse !
Put a man-sized hole in it, and it WILL leak - the others have given you some good ideas and advice - all i would add is to try some of your local shops too.
You know the ones, where the guy behind the counter rides himself .......

LOL all for supporting the local bike shops and I do.

Learned some interesting stuff here, in particular the Buffalo pertex shirts, and the Oringi range which never heard of.

**martybabe** · 19th May 2009, 21:56

Originally Posted by Winston001

Learned some interesting stuff here, in particular the Buffalo pertex shirts, .

I was gonna do the Cold duck rally but biffed it because the weather looked to shity to be stood round in all day. It wasn't till I read this thread that I remembered the old Buffalos, they would have been ideal. They didn't spring to mind because quite frankly the weather hasn't been anywhere near bad enough to wear them since I came over from the UK, well not in the north island anyway.

Shame you live so far away, you could have borrowed one, never mind.

Oh and that 1 tonne stuff is pretty good I reckon, I'm happy with mine.