OK,
So I've been riding since August of this year and try to get as much riding as possible. It has been getting very cold here in New England. I've been riding in 50 degree weather no problem but this morning when I decided to take the bike to work, it was 30 degrees out. I decided to take the city roads instead of the highway but even through the city riding, I was very cold by the time I go to work (20 minutes). The most problematic for me is the knees getting very cold. It's been 5 hours since my ride and my knees are still cold.
How many of you ride in below freezing temps? What are your ideas on staying warm? Any thoughts or comments?
I took it out below freezing once. It was so miserable that I have never bothered again. Last winter I did, but I don't really go out in the high 30's anymore.
The only things that bother me in the cold are my hands. Your extremities get cold because your core body temperature drops (your body is pulling blood from your extremities to try and keep your core warm). Keep your core warm (layers), and that will happen less.
-Will
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i dont mind riding in the 30's if i've got good leg and neck protection. my jacket keeps my chest n arms warm, but unless you specifically buy wind/rain proof legwear and cover your neck up, you will be freezing after about 20 minutes
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Debating getting some winter gloves. Thats really the only part that hurts. Heard good things about Cortech Scarabs
Def gotta layer up. I am in the NE too and once the temps start getting below 40s I just default to long johns as another layer, even if I'm taking the train in. Good rule of thumb... once you get down around freezing I don't think you can wear too many layers. But you gotta keep the hands warm.
I'm up in Canada and the past couple weeks it's normally been 25-35*F; I still ride to work every day etc (only short rides though; nothing longer than 30 minutes normally). I wear my Puma 1000 boots (no ventilation is actually a plus for once), riding jeans + thermal leggings, then tshirt, sweater, and fleece under a regular Belstaff leather jacket. Balaclava and some 30 year old insulated leather snowmobile gloves finish it off.
Been using this combo for 3 years now (I ride until the snow starts, normally the beginning of December) with quite a bit of success. I keep saying I'll buy heated grips and/or some of the motocross-style handle guards or whatever they're called... but haven't felt the need really.
Debating getting some winter gloves. Thats really the only part that hurts. Heard good things about Cortech Scarabs
Def gotta layer up. I am in the NE too and once the temps start getting below 40s I just default to long johns as another layer, even if I'm taking the train in. Good rule of thumb... once you get down around freezing I don't think you can wear too many layers. But you gotta keep the hands warm.
those insulated gloves only do so much, i have a comparable pair of gloves; a* apex drystar. i mainly bought them because they are waterproof but they have some thinsulate.
it really doesn't do much. its better than nothing but like i said, doesn't do much. it took me a bit to get acustomed to thicker gloves and less control feel.
if youre going to keep your hand warms heated gloves are the way to go; something i cant afford.
i got some nice winter gloves from CycleGear a while back, and they keep my hands warm in sub-40 weather, but because of all the insulation padding on them, i cant grip the bars as easily, and my hands cramp up on long rides
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Riding in cold weather.
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