Cold morning ride - what gear?

**cc rider** · 7th July 2014, 02:37

Originally Posted by skinman

... either base or mid layer, both if below 0 deg.

Is there ratings for 'layers'?

**Jantar** · 7th July 2014, 14:09

I'm a bit of a softie these days and don't ride if it is colder than -6 at the start of the journey. I also don't ride if there is black ice, and the GSX stays at home it there is compacted snow, but the DR is still OK.

I wear full leathers if the temperature is below 10 C and add icebreaker thermals if I am going to be riding for more than an hour in below zero temperatures. What to wear depends on both the temperature and the length of time you'll be out in it.

For this journey, I wore icebreakers next to the skin, flannelette shirt, jersey, kevlar jeans, thick socks and full leathers. I also wore a full scarf rather than just a neck warmer. http://www.jantars.com/motorcycling.php

**awayatc** · 7th July 2014, 17:39

Originally Posted by cc rider

Is there ratings for 'layers'?

Yes there is for merino....

lighter weights ...base layer

then add different layers on to suit conditions.......

great stuff merino

(plenty of cheaper ones on trade me...opshops etc)

**cc rider** · 7th July 2014, 21:35

Thought you meant layers of a material that made up a 'rating' range of a particular product.

**Erelyes** · 7th July 2014, 22:50

Originally Posted by Berries

Do you kill it first?

During is far better

Originally Posted by Jantar

For this journey, I wore icebreakers next to the skin, flannelette shirt, jersey, kevlar jeans, thick socks and full leathers. I also wore a full scarf rather than just a neck warmer. http://www.jantars.com/motorcycling.php

Pic doesn't work on that page =/
So was that leather pants OVER kevlar jeans?

Things I have learnt:
- If your gear is shit, thermals won't fix that. With my old textile jacket I'd be wearing thermal, work shirt, merino jumper, then the jacket and STILL be cold.
- While you CAN make leather warm, it does mean wearing a lot more stuff than if you just had decent textile gear on.
- No matter how good your gear is tho, it's still nicer having two sets. It seems to me that any leathers that will fit lots of warm weather clothing underneath will end up too loose in summer. Solution: two sets of leathers, or one set of leather and one of textile.
- You can get a huge improvement by fixing the weakest link. When I first left this morning I had forgotten my scarf and my neck was farkin cold, with the rest of me a bit cold as a result. I stopped, put scarf on, resumed. Comfortable all over.
- But on the other hand, keeping a warm core will work wonders. I wore my summer/vented gloves this morning and my hands were a fine - they got to that stage where they're a little cold, but you can't feel it / don't notice it cos the rest of you is warm, and they didn't go numb, stiff etc.
- Naked bikes are colder. WAY colder at 100k. Barkbusters/hippo hands and a screen will fix that mostly. Hot grips are nice but I wouldn't bother until you have the barkbusters/hippos.

**Motu** · 7th July 2014, 23:27

Originally Posted by awayatc

great stuff merino

(plenty of cheaper ones on trade me...opshops etc)

Mine have very low necklines and pastel shades, I don't wear a scarf as my jacket has a separate neck warmer thing. As they are a base layer, no one knows until the bedroom.

**Berries** · 7th July 2014, 23:36

Originally Posted by Erelyes

When I first left this morning I had forgotten my scarf and my neck was farkin cold, with the rest of me a bit cold as a result. I stopped, put scarf on, resumed. Comfortable all over.

Ha ha. Walked down to the road at half six this morning and it was just wet, although I could see ice on some cars. Within 200m of leaving at half seven the road glistened quite badly and I realised that I had probably fucked up. But you can't go back can you? Needed to get petrol this morning but given how icy it was when I got in to town I figured it would be best not to in case I had to pick the thing up. You know it is cold when that is a consideration. Had to go out on a job later and watched a cyclist lose it right in front of me on George Street.

Anyway, gave my excellent Belstaff winter gloves 15 minutes on the radiator and had my neck warmer on. Other than that it was normal work trousers, which were a bit drafty, and then my textile jacket with winter liner over my workshirt. Only 15k's to commute. Going to Queenstown on Wednesday which may mean I put some long johns on under my jeans and throw the wind/waterproofs on over the top. Then it will probably be a case of stopping at every pie shop on the way to warm my hands.

**unstuck** · 8th July 2014, 06:26

Originally Posted by Berries

Ha ha. Walked down to the road at half six this morning and it was just wet, although I could see ice on some cars. Within 200m of leaving at half seven the road glistened quite badly and I realised that I had probably fucked up. But you can't go back can you? Needed to get petrol this morning but given how icy it was when I got in to town I figured it would be best not to in case I had to pick the thing up. You know it is cold when that is a consideration. Had to go out on a job later and watched a cyclist lose it right in front of me on George Street.

Anyway, gave my excellent Belstaff winter gloves 15 minutes on the radiator and had my neck warmer on. Other than that it was normal work trousers, which were a bit drafty, and then my textile jacket with winter liner over my workshirt. Only 15k's to commute. Going to Queenstown on Wednesday which may mean I put some long johns on under my jeans and throw the wind/waterproofs on over the top. Then it will probably be a case of stopping at every pie shop on the way to warm my hands.

I was in queenstown yesterday, the wind was real fresh, and I had my long johns on and a pair of tracksuit pants over the top of my leathers and could still feel it.

**Jantar** · 8th July 2014, 10:53

Originally Posted by Erelyes

......So was that leather pants OVER kevlar jeans?

Things I have learnt:
- If your gear is shit, thermals won't fix that. With my old textile jacket I'd be wearing thermal, work shirt, merino jumper, then the jacket and STILL be cold.
- While you CAN make leather warm, it does mean wearing a lot more stuff than if you just had decent textile gear on.
- No matter how good your gear is tho, it's still nicer having two sets. It seems to me that any leathers that will fit lots of warm weather clothing underneath will end up too loose in summer. ......

Yes, leather over the jeans.
This argument of textile vs leather for warmth has come up many times, but you need to be sure just what you are comparing. If you are comparing touring textile to unlined racing type leathers then textile will always be warmer. But if you are comparing touring textile to touring leathers then there isn't much in it and often leather will be warmer.
I have 2 leather jackets, 1 fully lined and one with removable lining to make it cooler in summer. I also have 1 textile jacket that I only wear in the hottest conditions. The textile is the coldest of my 3 jackets to wear in winter.

That does not mean that I am claiming ALL textiles are cooler than All leather, or visa versa. I bought the textile jacket for riding in outback Australia as it was light weight and only a step up from merely being a mesh jacket. On the other hand, I bought the fully lined leather jacket as was a touring jacket, lined with thinsulate and quilted padding and rated for cold weather rinding.

The thing with buying any riding gear is to ask yourself "what kind of riding will I be doing, and what weather conditions will I be riding in?" Then buy the gear most suitable for that purpose. Add additional layers for colder riding than your norm, and remove layers for warmer riding.

**buggerit** · 8th July 2014, 13:29

one of these down the front of your jacket will keep u warm all over

**Metastable** · 8th July 2014, 15:57

So what's cold?

Like others have said, windbreaker as the over layer and fleece or something poly as the bottom layer. Avoid cotton. Up in these parts -20C is where I draw the line as far as commuting on the bicycle. With engines I only have track and dirt bikes that aren't street legal, so I'm not commuting on them anymore.

**RJC** · 8th July 2014, 16:28

I wear a merino base layer, wind proof long sleeve jersey designed for mountain biking and my textile jacket. It was -7 when I left dunners airport the other week and had no problem with being cold.

**Big Dog** · 8th July 2014, 18:52

Originally Posted by Metastable

So what's cold?

Like others have said, windbreaker as the over layer and fleece or something poly as the bottom layer. Avoid cotton. Up in these parts -20C is where I draw the line as far as commuting on the bicycle. With engines I only have track and dirt bikes that aren't street legal, so I'm not commuting on them anymore.

I can't claim to have ridden in -20, but I sure can attest, as cold as it gets here it is usually warmer to be cycling than riding a motorcycle in the same weather.
down to about 0 I usually wear a singlet and shorts... below that if I get wet I put on a parker to hold some of the heat in my core. Still bloody overheat if I am giving it fair effort.