Cold weather clothing

[Nath]

Yesterday I paid a visit to my local army surplus store to sort out some warm riding gear. I bought:

Arctic weather over-mittens (£5)
Thermal under-trousers (£2)

The mittens have really done the trick and I've finally solved the problem of cold finger-tips that been paining me. The under-trousers also work really well and significantly reduce the 'cold knee syndrome' that comes from riding an unfaired bike


What good tips can people share for staying warm in the freezing temperatures we've been enduring for the past few weeks? Wearing several pairs of socks and loads of T-Shirts/Jumpers are obvious so don't need mentioning.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[loply]

I usually fair okay with normal jeans (underneath) + draggin jeans, and my leather bike jacket with the winter liner zipped in.

Then again, im nuts.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[ginguar]

Get yourself a fog city so you can ride with all your helmet vents closed and your visor shut.

[mr.z]

Hey hey! would that be anchor army supplys in notts? or the ripley branch?

They have very different stuff at each.. (personally tend to go to ripley as its easyer to get to, dont like ridieng in notts unless i really have to!)

Don't suppose you have a pic of the mittens as i might be interested in some myself if they are doing the trick and not fouling the controlls



Said it before numerous times but the best bit of winter gear i have is a goretex balaclava..

Recharegeable heat pads are good too for when it gets REALLY bad, then put them wherever is cold, throw away ones are availble but haven't used them before, would be good to keep on the bike for emergencys maybe...

Somebody (wont name names) suggest tights for keeping warm, can't say ive been inclined to try it though
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[TheShaggyDA]

Tights are great
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[Andy C]

ok, this is what i wear and i dont get cold or wet EVER!!! (although can get hot very quickly)

Chest area
T-shirt
jumper
wooly jumper
flease
Teknic winter jacket (warm and waterproof!)

legs
Tracksuit bottoms
2 pairs of jeans
Peterstorm water proof trouser (work 100% and can be very compact-only wear when raining or looks like its about to)


feet
Socks
Sidi rain evo boots (also very warm and waterproof)

head
Thermal balacava (works very well!)
Beiffe helmet

hand
Inner thermal gloves
Leather gloves
Dispoable petrol station glove in between these when raining!

i travel 40 mins each way and sung and cosy all the way!! although when you get to where you going i need A LOT of space to store it all!!

so key i think is layer and waterproofs on outside!
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99 RS125 --> 02 SV650s --> 03 Speed Four --> 92 RXS100 --> 93 CB400sf --> 01 CB600f Hornet

[mistergixer]

On my 40 minute journey to work i've been wearing:
T-shirt
Jeans
Trainers
No gloves
No helmet

I find a car to be a much better form of transport in the winter.

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Space Monkey #7
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[Nath]

Mr Z, I went to the one in Nottingham, by the Cattle Market. Didn't realise there was another one - Is it worth going for a look around the Ripley store? I love looking around all the weird stuff in the Nottingham one

The mitts deffinately seem to do a good job of keeping away the wind chill, and they don't make it too difficult to use the switchgear. The thumb is a little bit to big really, but despite never having ridden in mittens before I didn't have any problems with them. I first went to Hein Gerricke looking for some over gloves/mitts, and was really surprised that they don't have them because when it's below zero you really need that third layer on your hands Pic is below, with a glove next to them to get an idea of the size(though my gloves are size small )

I reckon the trouser liners for £2 a pop are bargain of the century. They also had the waistcoat type bodywarmers for 2 quid as well - I should have bought a load at that price! The trousers are paticularly good as they only go down to boot-height, and they can be unzipped so you can put them on without removing yer boots as well.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[mr.z]

Yep, its kinda hard to explain where it is unless you know ripley, will quite happly show you where it is sometime.. they have more clothes there, (good water proof gear too) its a blimin huge place too, and they have landrovers and loads of cheap (and suppriseingly good) tools, the notts one has more wireing bits and bobs, do prefer that one tbh but notts road are all crazy..

The trouser liners look cool, (for £2!).. mind they had a full under suit thing with fleece lineing and a hole for if you need to pee, amazeing!

The mits look good too, i'll get me some of those, worth a go at that price! thansk for posting the pic saw them before but didn't give them a second thought to be honest, could get miffs but these would be better to cope with i recon..
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Cillit-BANG]

I was in there the other week looking at exactly the same stuff, thinking, hey they could be good for on the bike... but i bought a big green woolley jumper instead, cos that's what I went in for!

I did notice on those gloves, and the other 1's in the same bin, (the fleece lined ones) that there seemed to be an extra portion for maybe a 2nd thumb?! Spent a good few minutes trying to work that one out, any ideas lol?

[mr.z]

Its for the trigger finger, seeing as they are army surplus.. quite snazzy

confused the hell out of me for a while too
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[gimpy limp]

get some heated wire, resistor, relay or fuse sew in a pocket to your trousers and wire them up to a cigarette lighter. Trouble is those things get really warm so might be best building it up with thermal insulation of some sort (cut up hot water bottle). You could sew it straight into the trousers but if you had a pocket or pouch for it you could do the same for your jacket where your kidneys are if your legs are not too cold swap it over.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7890/heatedpad0084fq.jpg
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[McGee]

Thats a pretty damn good idea
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[stinkwheel]

Be very careful with your maths if you are making heated items out of resistor wire. I know someone who set fire to his handlebars while riding the bike due to a little ohms law embarassement in his home made heated grips.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Cillit-BANG]

Slightly OT, but with regards electric blankets (picture above reminded me!)

If anyone has an electric blanket, do you find that when it's on, if you hold your lips very very gently on your S/O's face, your lips feel like they are buzzing at a high frequency?