doesyourriding suffer in the cold? how to keep warm?

[steppen22]

I just went for a trial run, before my re test in a few days, and it just wasn't happening for me. I started with good intentions but after 1/2 hour had to stop to put more socks on (I think I have about 6 pairs on - still numb toes!). My feet usually last out longer than my hands, but for whatever reason, the socks I put on obviously aren't up to much.

I ended up getting lost (never happens, really) and have spent 3 hours in colds so cold that rivers are frozen over.

I have woolen gloves under leathers, fingertips stuffed with cotton wool (fingertips usualy go first for me), two inner linings in my jacket plus t shirt, shirt, sweatshirt, trousers under leathers, and a back protector. It's really only my feet and hands that get cold but obviously that's the most important part of riding.

I found myself riding like a loon to get back once I found a recognised road (about 10 miles away from home). Squeezing through two lines of opposing traffic at well iover the speed limit. I must have looked like a maniac, but I had to keep moving. "weaving" through traffic and across lanes. Minimal observation, hands too numb to indicate properly, jesus, I would have failed thirty times over.

I was getting frustrated at every light that seemed to be red (in neutral, hands under armpits, worried a little about the shivering leg supporting the bike).

I am a little pissed off with all of this weather. I think examiners should show a little leeway for riders when it's as cold as this. It's very hard to ride perfect;y when your hands are going numb, etc.

I wish I got heated grips for xmas now, but it's too late to get them before the test.
All I can do is hope for nicer weather (unlikely) or get to the test centre 25 minutes early, and hope there's a radiator/take a flask etc. At least I'll start the test warm becuase, given that it's 10 miles away, my balls would be freezing by the time I get there.

I can't get in too much of a lather over the weather - shock horror it's cold in jan - obviously the weather does it's own thing. But I can't help feeling pissed off taking my test now, it somehow doesn't seem fair.

[b]How to keep warm?

Thanks.
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[TheDonUK]

buy better gear?

I have been riding every day in this cold snap with only the lidl/aldi cheap 7 quid gloves, and while my hands are cold its not so bad it affects my riding.

IMHO Examiners should not show a hint of leniency due to the whether. I dont agree that the test adequately prepares you for the real world but it shouldent only be conducted under ideal circumstances or what do you learn?

It is cold outside but im only in thermals and leathers, and tbh thats enough, stop riding in clothes made of crate paper and wipe away the frozen tears and get on with it, goodluck for your re-test
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[kitty kat]

I have just bought some waterproof boot liners from an army surplus store. Tested them out today, got thick socks on, then the liners, and my boots. Feet still warm
I have heated grips, handguards & winter gloves but the tips of my index fingers & my thumbs still get cold.
I wear a thermal top, 2 thin jumpers & a Norgi (also purchased from a surplus store) under my leather jacket, body is warm as are my legs with thermal layer under leather trousers.

You just need to wear the right gear and you should be relatively warm when riding.
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[tutton]

Just been riding 9-2:30
so 5 and a half hours.
and yes my riding does suffer in the cold, colder i get the more frustrated and nervy i get and fook things up.
Personally i just freeze, i had my Joe rocket summer gloves on today
But same old thread for bcf lots of layers with airspace so it gets warm. Good luck for the test
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[Clanger]

When I went out last winter, I wore two pairs of long johns under my HG trousers (with lining), the gortex waterproof socks (which are incredible), thermal top, hoodie, waistcoat, then HG jacket.

I was totally fine heat wise apart from my fingers... it was them that let me down, I did spend a fair bit of time clutching the engine to warm them a bit.

So went out and invested in some HG heated grips...but it still doesn't account for wind chill. If I rode all winter, I would get some of those wind protector things for the handlebars which you see on motorcross bikes - or opt for handlebar muffs (not attractive or stylish, but will defo keep your hands warm).
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[hellkat]

As a short term measure, warming the insides of your gloves up under the hot air dryer in the loos works quite well. Not sure that its good for chilblains, but it works for me when I get stuck out somewhere snowy or cold.

Seeing as how you know in advance about where you will be, maybe do a trial run to the test centre beforehand, check out the loos in the local Macdonalds, or the gas station or something, see if they have hot air dryers
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[iooi]

Perhaps try wearing less.
Too many cloths will make things tight.
Tight = faster transfer of heat.
loose = air which traps the heat.

Get some boots, decent leather boots will keep your feet warm with just normal socks in. Well mine do anyway.
Same on legs wear textile over trousers, quilted lining is nice. This will also aid keeping toes warm.

Hands are the hardest part to keep warm. Something like hand guards helps as would heated grips.
But my 40 min commute my cheap 2 year old gloves are still keeping my hands warm enough.
Find warming them up a bit before putting on helps a lot. Also when stopped put them near the engine to pick up a bit of heat.

Also try dropping your speed down a bit as 10mph makes a lot of diffrence to wind chill.
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[Walloper]

Two packets of Scots Porridge Oat-so-easy inside you. (The Golden Syrup one).
You'll be sweating like a rapist after 20 mins.
And it lasts an hour or more.
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[Itchy]

Well you could always piss your pants , that'll keep you warm for a few minutes...

But otherwise just get some better gear , wind deflectors/hand guards for off roaders are pretty cheap £10 for a set , and they work fairly well.

Ha you could always try Babyyam's method ie strap a tube near where the engine is hot , and connect the tube to the bottom of your jacket, if you get it right its like riding in a sauna (BMW man has a similar setup).
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[Serendipity]

[-Ali-]

the only thing that gets truely cold for me are my hands. Before next winter i intend on getting some heated inner gloves (so long as they go all the way to the end of the fingers) . I think this would be the best way to keep your hand warm as evern with heated grip/muffs the end of your fingers still get uncomfortably cold.

[neil.]

I've found the recent cold spell tough going on my 60 mile/day commute this week, but there's more you can do.

If you're on a 125, in this weather the engine never gets hot enough to burn you. When you stop at lights, reach down and put your hands around the engine block for a nice bit of warmth. You can actually touch it. It takes a few seconds for the warmth to seep through the gloves but it's nice when it does! Bar muffs are well worth fitting and I can say that the Oxford ones fit on the YBR as I use them. Wind chill is 99% of the problem.

Get boots with a breathable liner, like Gore-Tex as your feet won't sweat so much which would also make them cold.

You didn't mention your head but I find my neck/jaw get quite a thrashing even with my balaclava on. I just bought an Oxford Chill-out one to replace my cheap thin thing and it seems a million times better. As you lose a lot of heat through your head, good insulation is essential there.

I was in Tesco the other morning as was surprised when a random person in the queue openly said to me that she didn't know how 'us bikers' could do it in the cold and that she has a lot of respect for us as her hands were freezing cold behind the wheel of her car. I think there's an element of getting used to the cold that also helps.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[silverninja]

I had the baby out a few day's last week, I wore a couple jumpers under my jacket, the only prob I had was cold hands, prob cause I had summer gloves on.

just be carefull when getting on the power, I was nearly highsided exiting a roundabout, wasn't even trying to go fast but back wheel just lost it, think the car behind shit it more then me..

[Rob]

Well I stay warm with the following:
All in one underwear (not very sexy but warm!!)
Fleece
Neck warmer
Rukka jacket
Triumph Winter Trousers
Normal Socks
Daytona boots
Dianese winter gloves

Never been cold... used to suffer with cold hands so finally decided to get some courier mitts. Best purchase ever, no more cold hands or wet gloves in the rain! - They are tucano ones all furry inside! Nice! On mild days though my hands sweat like mad even with summer gloves and as the mitts aren't easily removed you end up too hot!!

Rob
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[Clanger]

[craigs23]

Before I used to wear half decent gear, I arrived at Uni cold, shivering, tense, drowsy and with a slight lack of clarity/attention.

Possibly minor symptons of hypothermia and certainly not good when trying to control a bike through rush hour traffic.

Only my fingers are effected these days. Tried heated grips last year but found them pretty much useless, the clearences on my bike are too close for bar muffs - I might try the latex gloves idea under the two pairs of gloves I wear already. I'm already wearing enough layers on my torso, and that keeps my body temp up okay.

[Walloper]

[thx1138]

I don't think it affects my riding, though I tend to make extra rest stops, to warm up again, before I get properly cold, maybe I'd stop every 50 or 60 miles if I started to feel chilly, instead of every 100 to 120 I would have to refuel. And I don't speed much.

I have heated grips, thermal socks, longjohns & top,that stay tucked in from Damart. With a vest, and a thin sweatshert as well as therrmal knee warmers, and balaclava, high leg bike boots, 2 piece zip together leathers. Oh and some (for me, and my tight budget) half decent gloves I spent £40 on.

Oh, and I might look like a humungous twat, but Iif it's cold enough I duck right down behind my fairing on my fazer, to reduce wind chill.

though If I'm juzt zipping about locally I don't wear all of that.

[Rob]

[iooi]

[Seb]

If I'm expecting a really cold ride, I'll preheat my Jet roads on the radiator for a few hours before I go. That and a thin glove liner makes for almost an hours worth of toasty hands before the cold gets a look in at motorway speeds.

If it gets a problem after that, I just pull over and warm my gloves up again with the bikes radiators.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[thx1138]

Yesterday some old bloke shouted at me in a carpark "I hope you're heaters are working mate"

Why, yes they are, thanks very much.

[Mord]

From top to bottom..
- helmet
- shirt
- fleece covering my neck as well
- water/windproof HG jacket
- silk undergloves
- leather AN gloves
- boxer shorts
- long leg cotton underpants
- jeans
- socks
- whool long socks
- boots

It's fairly warm for first 50 miles

[Walloper]