Staying warm ?

[Sibbo]

I just got back from a little 100 km ride, early evening but not really cold... down to 5 C or so in valley bottoms . My old DriRider jacket with liner isn't enough by itself but with a section of yoga mat foam inside it's fine even to quite low temperature.

I have a set of those Aldi quilt lined overtrousers and they aren't really good enough. I've had to stan in front of the fire for half an hour and my legs are still chilled . Boots ? An old pair of fireman's leather boots , OK but I'm going to get something better.

Gloves and heated grips take care of my paws .

What do you use ?

[Gryphon]

I use leather chaps over my jeans. Leather isn't warm, but it takes the wind out of the equation. Once you remove the wind, your quilt lined trousers should be fine. Of course it will clash with the BMW image. That would normally require Aerostitch riding gear.

[SteveD]

Thermals Sibbo, for when it's real cold. Then it's just a matter of staying dry and keeping the wind out.

Of course, there's electrically heated gear etc, but long socks/thermal pants & long sleeved shirt and something to keep your neck out of the wind.

Gloves...good gloves/keep the wind off 'em.

Jeff and Charlie have their systems, tried and tested in our coldest regions.

Our coldest must be summertime to some of the cold our NA boxerworkers sometimes see though.

[Zombie Master]

5 C? Your worried about 5 C. That's your problem Ole Seeb, you live a coddled existence.

[Major Softie]

I have a heavy windproof fleece jacket from Duluth Trading that I use as the liner under my First Gear leather jacket. That works really well. Only the top of my thighs really get any wind blast on my legs, so they're fine with jeans for short periods. When it's really cold, I'll stop and put on my Technics overpants. When I know it's going to be cold as I leave the house, it's heavy fleece lined jeans under the Tecnics pants. With a balaclava and heated grips (Held Steve's Gloves) I can handle any temp I ever ride in for a couple hours. If I was going to be doing 8 - 10 hours near freezing, I'd want an electric vest to keep the cold from tiring me and making me drowsy.

[dougie]

There's lots of good clothing and clothing combinations.
What I have always enjoyed are the "in a pinch" stuff for whenever you are caught out later on a spring night than you expected.
Example - Used to ride 60km to work starting before 6am on very chilly spring mornings. The right gear for that was way too much coming home at 5pm when it had been sunny all day and was well over 20C. A few layers of newspaper covering my chest was all it took. Tossed them in the bin when I got there.
You can get lots of useful stuff at convenience, grocery, or drug store that works "in a pinch".
Newspaper. Big garbage bags. large pantyhose (not kidding ). Plastic vinegar/juice jugs to make hand guards.

[Sibbo]

I've been there Dougie, my best discovery is a chest liner for under my quite old jacket made out of 3/8'' foam. It's perfect !

But as with MS, it'ss the top of my thighs that get cold and stay cold for some time after I get home .

Jeff, Charlie, what do you do ?

[Airbear]

G'day Peter

Before my snow rides last year I bought some Aldi 'Snowboard Pants'. They were again on sale in June I think, but not available now. I think they cost $40 or so, and are significantly warmer than the Aldi Motorcycling pants. Here's the only image I could find on the net ...



They are waterproof but breathable, windproof, Thinsulate insulated, lightweight and very comfortable. They have zip closure and good elastic around the ankles. The only problem I found was that they have zippered vents on the inner thighs and on my first ride in heavy rain and then snow there was very cold water trickling towards the family jewels. I sealed them up with silicone and they are good. Thermals under the jeans make a difference too.

[hzbloke]

Bubble wrap down the front of the jacket works for me. Just a variation on a newspaper and keeping the wind out but also very useful for wrapping bottles of wine in the panniers. I doubt if it will work as an airbag though.

Every winter the army used to send blokes to spend a week playing in the forests around here. The local clothing store invariably sold out of large size pantyhose. I presume it was for the cold.

[Airbear]

Bubble wrap down the front of the jacket works for me. Just a variation on a newspaper and keeping the wind out but also very useful for wrapping bottles of wine in the panniers. I doubt if it will work as an airbag though.

Every winter the army used to send blokes to spend a week playing in the forests around here. The local clothing store invariably sold out of large size pantyhose. I presume it was for the cold.

Ray, I will presume you found out about the pantyhose shortage because you needed them for the cold too.

Hey Sibbo, maybe you could tape up some bubble-wrap pants.