COLD WEATHER SUCKS! - I rode to work tonight.. burrrr - Page 2

ruralhipster · 02-20-2007, 06:07 AM

Riding when it's a couple degrees below freezing isn't to bad if you are prepared.

1. wear some longjohns under your pants and your rainpants overtop
2. get winter gloves or heated grips.
3. wear a balaklava and a neck roll.
4. thermal socks and good boots
5. a warm sweater/fleece under the jacket

You tend to get coldest in your extremities or anywhere skin is exposed to the windchill so cover these areas up well. By keeping your head/body warm with a balaklava and sweater you make sure that your body doesn't protect itself by shutting down bloodflow to the hands, feet, etc. thereby staying reasonably comfortable on the bike.

IF it's cold and wet do yourself a favor and leave the bike at home

UberGoober · 02-20-2007, 08:15 AM

Uh, I have some bad news for you. Unless something drastic happens with the weather (like a warm front moves in during the night) it will actually be COLDER in the morning. That's because the temperature has had all night to keep going down and an hour of weak sunlight in the morning will not warm things up that quickly.

I used to stand night watches when I was in the merchant marines and when we were taking on fuel, that meant I stayed out on the deck all night in case there was a fire. I can tell you about the cold from hard experience. I've stood there many a night waiting for the sun to come up only to find it didn't make a whole lot of difference. It makes me cold just thinking about it.

The cold and a motorcycle can be a dangerous combination if you aren't prepared. You're going to want to scrounge around your work for extra clothes (sweatshirts, cover alls or whatever) and get some layers on. 45 minutes in the cold can be pretty dangerous. Lay off the coffee too, the caffeine will affect your blood vessels and make you even colder. Get ready to take a long hot bath when you get home - even then, if you are like me, you will spend the rest of the day feeling that deep-down cold.

sckego · 02-20-2007, 08:59 AM

I've been commuting on my bike all winter, except for days when the roads iced over. Lowest it got was 19F last Friday... yeah, it was kinda chilly.

I also picked up a new VFR in NC the last weekend of January and rode it back here to TX. Stopped overnight near the GA/AL border, and from there all the way back to TX, it was between 32 and 40... about 12 hours worth of riding in temps barely above freezing. Finally, once I crossed the TX border, it got into the low 40s.

My cold weather gear consists of a thick Cortech textile jacket, usually a sweater underneath, a balaclava, and some snowboarding pants over my normal pants. I've discovered that snow gear works excellent in the cold (duh!)...

dubbs693 · 02-20-2007, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmkreutzer

Uh, I have some bad news for you. Unless something drastic happens with the weather (like a warm front moves in during the night) it will actually be COLDER in the morning. That's because the temperature has had all night to keep going down and an hour of weak sunlight in the morning will not warm things up that quickly.

Yea normally that would be true.. But a warm front did move in early AM..

When I woke up this mornin 8AM it was already 40* and when I went to sleep round 2AM it was 15*...

I'm in NY so our weather is basically the same..

The coldest I've ridden in, probably mid teens to low 20's..It's my first season so I just can't stop riding..I bought and installed heated grips and it definitly makes it a million times better. DO IT if you live where it gets cold.. So worth the 20$ and an excuse to get new gel grips.. hehe

Tuffguy #2 · 02-20-2007, 09:57 AM

Heated vests and grips are your friend. Just dial your heat in.

R1oldguy · 02-20-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lownuff

Well i have this head band thing im using to cover my neck, it's doing a damn good job by the way. And im wearing a hoodie under my leather jacket so i'm not too bad there either..

honestly, its just the legs. So i'll have to wear thermals next time as well as some jogging pants haha

If its just the legs than get some cheap rain or ski pants. You don't want the wind blowing through them.
When i had to ride in the cold a while back, I put on my thermals and ski outfit and it wasn't too bad.
Just watch the sand and salt on the roads now though.

stlboarder · 02-20-2007, 10:54 AM

The coldest I rode in was 10*. Yeah it was a bit nipply.

lownuff · 02-20-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmkreutzer

Uh, I have some bad news for you. Unless something drastic happens with the weather (like a warm front moves in during the night) it will actually be COLDER in the morning. That's because the temperature has had all night to keep going down and an hour of weak sunlight in the morning will not warm things up that quickly.

I used to stand night watches when I was in the merchant marines and when we were taking on fuel, that meant I stayed out on the deck all night in case there was a fire. I can tell you about the cold from hard experience. I've stood there many a night waiting for the sun to come up only to find it didn't make a whole lot of difference. It makes me cold just thinking about it.

The cold and a motorcycle can be a dangerous combination if you aren't prepared. You're going to want to scrounge around your work for extra clothes (sweatshirts, cover alls or whatever) and get some layers on. 45 minutes in the cold can be pretty dangerous. Lay off the coffee too, the caffeine will affect your blood vessels and make you even colder. Get ready to take a long hot bath when you get home - even then, if you are like me, you will spend the rest of the day feeling that deep-down cold.

Well, it WAS actually WARMER when i got off. I rode home with no problems and wasnt even that cold. It was actually a nice ride. That of course was AFTER i got the bike started..... the battery was sorta umm, sluggish and I couldnt get the bike to crank over fast enough...... so had to jump it. Guess i need a new batt... :p

lownuff · 02-20-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sckego

I've been commuting on my bike all winter, except for days when the roads iced over. Lowest it got was 19F last Friday... yeah, it was kinda chilly.

I also picked up a new VFR in NC the last weekend of January and rode it back here to TX. Stopped overnight near the GA/AL border, and from there all the way back to TX, it was between 32 and 40... about 12 hours worth of riding in temps barely above freezing. Finally, once I crossed the TX border, it got into the low 40s.

My cold weather gear consists of a thick Cortech textile jacket, usually a sweater underneath, a balaclava, and some snowboarding pants over my normal pants. I've discovered that snow gear works excellent in the cold (duh!)...

All I can say is, YOU ARE A FUCKING BEAST!

That's one long ass cold ass ride man....

UberGoober · 02-20-2007, 08:14 PM

Yep,　cold does wierd things to batteries. I'm glad you got home safe and sound, it is easy to get crossed up by the cold.

SloppyJoseph · 02-20-2007, 08:20 PM

No worries it was a nice 68 degrees here today. Just incase you were wondering!!

lownuff · 02-20-2007, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmkreutzer

Yep,　cold does wierd things to batteries. I'm glad you got home safe and sound, it is easy to get crossed up by the cold.

Thanks dude.. yeah lesson learned i guess...

krmaplcmn · 02-20-2007, 10:42 PM

man, i would kill for some nice 40 degree weather. i just bought a bike i'm dying to take out, but the street in my neighborhood is still iced over, trapping the bike in the garage.

as soon as that ice melts, i don't care if it's twenty outside, i'm at least taking her around the block.

Endorphine · 02-20-2007, 11:24 PM

The first day i got my bike home, it was 35 out, and i rode down the street in a hoodie, and helmet, i learned quickly that it was wayyyy too cold, it's gonna be 50 here on sunday, probably going to go for a short ride.

binx_19 · 02-21-2007, 12:35 AM

there was a day i rode to work, when i got off i had to scrape my wind screen...