To winter commuters....

[That-Kid-O]

What do you wear when riding in those cold and sometimes rainy days during the winter?

I will be using my bike alot more this winter for uni and wanted to know how you guys get along and how to protect myself from the cold...

[Stelmer]

Whilst I don't commute, I still go for long rides in Winter. I have found several methods of keeping the cold out for a few hours, depending on how cold it is.

I have found that Army Goretex over trousers worn under decent textile trousers helps to keep the cold out and the crotch leak down.

Fleece top under the jacket.

Goretex Socks. Though the feet are exposed and will get cold no matter what. I want heated boots lol...

Hi-Vis for the miserable days.

Heated Grips. They make a big difference IMO.

Most of all, decent textile kit in the first place. The rest mainly is comfort and another insulating layer. Most times my textile gear will keep me warm for a while. First to go is the arms and then feet & hands.

[bigwill]

the best things i have found are my shitty akito textile trousers over whatever im wearing that day, a good jumper with my hi vis bomber jacket on top. those things are proper water and wind proof, dont let no cold in and keep ya that little bit more seen. and cost next to fuck all.

and most importantly in the mornings before going out..... a bowl of porridge!!!
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[bunglehaze]

To be honest I have worn leathers pretty much all the way through the last 2 winters with decent textiles on the rainy days, all I stick under the leathers is an EDZ undersuit and a t-shirt/long sleeve t.

I also wear summer gloves most of the year too and rarely have a problem.

cheers

leigh
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[Alexio]

Definitely get heated grips if you can! The hands and the feet are the most important things to keep warm in my opinion. If you don't you will be in much pain. I really, really wish I could have had heated grips last winter but instead I made do with an amazing £70 pair of Joe Rocket gloves. I was told they are one of the most insulated pair of gloves I could buy and I well believe it! Some kind of foil layering inside, but with them my hands haven't gone numb since.

The right fairings can help too.

[D O G]

Depends on what your commute is like.

I will have to do a 28mile commute over winter, pretty much all of it is motorway.

Muffs are a must IMO, but not Oxford ones as they are total shit, as I have found out. I will also be adding heated grips soon.

The key is also keeping your core warm, so many layers, and if you are still feeling cold a heated vest.

The wind is always going to be the 'killer', you need to keep that out with some impervious layers. A newspaper up the jacket is always useful for that, if you really are on a budget!!

[Devils Advocate]

Good textiles will keep you warm even in the harshest of cold climates....but the hands and fingers are a different story.I`ve yet to find a pair of gloves that did the job in the cold.It`s the worst part of winter riding imo.
Last year i had to keep stopping every few miles and stick my hands over the exhausts to get feeling back in my fingers!

[Paulington]

Last winter on the 50cc I would wear a t-shirt with a leather jacket over it.

Bottom would be some jeans + some waterproof trousers (some polythelene things) and some motorcycle boots.

Hands were just some RST gloves.

Kept me warm and dry.
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"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[bikedemon99]

[D O G]

[D O G]

[Paulington]

Well my commute is around 8 miles or so I believe?

However I would go on rides that were about 30 miles in the same gear which took me about an hour and a half in the same temperature and I stayed warm. The stuff I wore kept the wind out so I stayed warm.

Also, hardly some 'macho bollocks'. I was answering the question from the OP with what worked for me.
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[MaybeGuy]

my gear doesnt change throughout the seasons.
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Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[Stelmer]

In Winter I get cold and have difficulty keeping warm. This is despite being someone who despises heat in all seasons.

For me, it's a fine line between comfort and necessity. If I was commuting i'd just wear textiles over my work clothes. It works for small rides to Squires which is the same as the average commute.

If raining or particularly chilly then I will boost the waterproofness and windproofness with breathable overtrousers under the textiles. For some reason they are more effective underneath in protecting against the cold.

The main things that make you cold in Winter is the wind and the rain. Keep both out and your ride will be more pleasant. I used to cycle and a pair of overtrousers over jeans was enough at sub 20mph.

I cannot keep my feet warm though. Even with umpteen layers of socks.

[The Original Muzza]

I'm an odd fellow, I wore the same in winter as I do in summer. T-shirt with textile jacket over it. I was shivering my little nipples off by the time I arrived at uni cold and wet, hands were actually blue.
Towards the later stages of winter I bought a windstopper balaclava and some thermal sealskin glove liners.
Summer's worse, if I'm in full gear I am actually dripping wet.
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From then on, I and the bicycle feelings deeper.

[Digitalize]

Going to pick up some boots and some better over trousers (If thats what theyre called) possibly leather, not really sure. And stick the lining in my jacket. Im already thinking of Winter Gloves, the Gauntlets are great when its sunny, but when its getting a bit late, my fingers are already getting cold!

[That-Kid-O]

slightly off topic... I want flush mount LED indicators on my bike... how hard are they to fit myself if i ordered online?

[iooi]

Pretty much the same as in the summer....

Just put quilted lining in jacket, and i'll wear my quilted waterproof trousers all the time.
And my winter gloves.
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[Ichy]

I've got Rev'it textiles that I really like, kept me warm and just about dry during some 8 hour rides last winter. Hands and feet are still a problem. Heated grips work well and I was recommended some alpinestar gloves but never got around to buying them. No idea what to do about my feet though?

I'd be interested in what Stinky and the 'pup have to say, one rides for something like 25 hours a day and the other lives in the Arctic Circle.

[Moo.]

For cold feet, you know those little chemical warmers things you get in camping shops.. do you think you could fit some of them if your boots? Like mini water bottles
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[Ichy]

How big would your boots need to be to fit them in with your feet. I like the idea though don't know how long they would last? I need heated boot liners. https://www.freepatentsonline.com/4180922.html. Can you buy them? Not the pansy battery operated ones, I want some I can plug in.
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[Whosthedaddy]

[stinkwheel]

Technical base layer (top and long johns from ski shops).

String vest with tight t-shirt over it (traps loads of air).

Morino wool sweat top.

Neoprene "parlour top" (a thin, very waterproof smock) worn under leathers.

Leather jacket.

Leather Jeans.

Standard issue towelling infantry socks.

British army Assault boots.

Dutch army goretex trousers.

Hein gericke double cuffed gloves.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/IMG_2543.jpg
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/IMG_2568.jpg

EDIT: I don't believe in multi-purpose garments, they tend to be moderately good at everything, moderately waterproof, modersately warm and moderately protected is not good enough.

I wear leathers to protect me, waterproofs to keep me waterproof and thermals to keep me warm. If you are too cold, add more layers, not thicker ones.
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[craigs23]

Aplinestars Dry Star jacket, Dry Star gloves, silk under gloves, Spada armoured trousers, Sidi Black Rain Evos, a neck warmer and my Arai.

Didn't like the heated grips on my Hornet....heated my palms too much but little else.

[nowhere.elysium]