Learning to wrap up..... the hard way

[Nick 50]

Well today finally came round. After waiting weeks for the day I can finally go and pick up my first ever bike (gz125) today was that day.

The only issue was it was in York and I live in Sunderland some 75 miles away. Me in my foolish exuberance thought, no biggie, I'll just ride it home. At this point i'll point out my experience amounts to a CBT and a 2 hour lesson.

Checked the weather, sunny not a spot of rain.... great!! Well except the max temp was predicted to be -1C.

It can't be that bad surely??????

HOLY MOTHER OF F*&K!!!!

2hr 30 mins later I made it home.

Had to make 2 stops. The first 1 in a very small service station not particularly enjoying half a cup of coffee. I say "half a cup" as the other half was literally shook out the cup with the ferocious shivering!!
Managed to warm my hands up just about (not my legs though) and set off again, it was getting dark, my visor was misting up.

It was utterly soul destroying seeing a sign saying "Sunderland 8 Miles" and knowing I had to stop for the 2nd time to warm up. I got to a point where my hands and arms were so cold I couldn't even tell whether I was holding on to the bike or not.

Spent 30 mins in McDonalds hugging a cappuccino knowing home was literally about 10 mins ago. Bit the bullet and jumped back on and finally made it home.

That was 2 hours ago and my legs still haven't warmed up properly!!

Lesson severely learnt!!! Will be shopping tomorrow for thermals, heated grips and decent bottoms even though low on funds!

Even though it was like riding through the Anti-Hell I still loved it

The dogs went nuts when some weird helmetted bloke came in the back garden with some weird blue thing.

[von1papen]

Yep its freezing, were you wearing normal jeans? I've had similar experiences last year myself when I was starting off

Occasionally for short trips I'd still wear kevlar jeans in winter but thats with long johns underneath!!!

IMO textiles are the way to go for winter, I'd often wear boots, textile trousers and leather jacket too if its dry and I can't be arrsed with the bulky armoured Spada textile jacket.

For year hands get bar muffs (because 99% of the reason your hands are cold is wind chill and these cut that out), cheapo heated grips work wonders too!

Lots of layers work well, I'd always have a T shirt, jumper then my bike jacket (leather or textile).

I'd also advise a shemagh as a scarf as they're brilliant for insulation around the neck, so much so that combined with a wool headover I've been able to wear my open face helmet quite happily through the cold and even snow showers.

[doggone]

You can get by to start with just by wearing extra layers with something windproof on top, like cheap waterproofs.
On a day like today even with the best gear you would struggle to stay comfortable on a long ride. Wind Chill!

[instigator]

Thankfully (due to my work) last winter and it looks like this one too, I'll be in much sunnier climates so I wont need to worry about getting cold on the bike too much. I always ride in Jeans though knee caps get cold but my legs dont suffer in general too much.

[ninja_butler]

75 miles through Winter weather on a 125? I can well imagine you were freezing your ass off after just 10 miles! Well, lesson learned I hope.

If you ride in Winter you must ride prepared for the temperature to drop. The wind chill factor is the worst thing; if the wind picks up it intensifies the cold like you wouldn't believe. You should also be careful not to be lulled by daytime sunshine if you intend to ride back home when it starts getting dark.

Really you shouldn't have left McDonald's quite so soon, you should have given yourself a full hour to warm up properly. Also (and this is something I learned from personal experience) you might have taken the opportunity to stuff your socks with toilet paper to help keep your feet warm.

[Pete.]

Your arms will ose a lot of heat which means cold blood delivered to your fingers - so keep your amrs warm.

If you are tight on funds then your legs will stay warm just by wearing a pair of tracksuit bottoms over your regular trousers/jeans/tracksuit bottoms. I do this at work when it's very cold. Okay, you won't have much crash protection but you'll be nice and warm.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[janner_10]

I always use the lesson of lots and lots of layers - 3 pairs of socks - thermals top and bottom - pair of diesel gloves, thermal gloves and then my bike gloves - I was out for about 3 hours today and my hands and toes were still bastard cold. Although the frosted views across the cotswolds were awesome.
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[soforene]

[Clanger]

Ahhh...welcome to winter riding...bit cold eh?? Especially oop norf where winters are properly cold.

The key is layers...and with your freezing hands, the best thing to do whilst riding is hold the engine/or frame...and it helps keep your hands warm* (disclaimer: although do wear leather gloves before doing this).

Standing on your pegs and sitting down will help with the flow of blood to your legs, and stretch your legs out regularly will help too.

My Dad used to stuff newspaper down his jeans and only wore a waxy type jacket and open face helmet (in the old days), so you are not the first biker to find out about riding in the cold!!!

Riding makes you feel alive, right??


*disclaimer included just incase some little irk who never uses his own brain takes this literally...!!
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[kiddakidda]

Whilst I was doing my DAS I didn't want to invest to heavily in clothing so I trawled the Bay for 'end of line' jackets, Trousers etc from brands such as Weise and Buffalo. Thats the route I recomend you take as I think I managed to get a decent jacket, trousers and boots for less than £200.00. Add to that some base layer and you should be able to keep yourself warmish for the next couple of months.

I think you mentioned heated grips as well? If you can, then get some. You still get cold spots on your hands but they do make a massive difference. Good Luck

[Kingstondavo]

In future, if you do ever stop for a warm-up, leave your gloves on your exhaust, will be toasty warm when you put them back on... which will last all of 60 seconds in this weather but it makes quite a bit of difference
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Current Ride - 2010 Hornet 600

[kiddakidda]

Dude,

Your story is making me shiver even though I'm sat in my warm house in front of my laptop

[multijoy]

Muffs for the win. Yeah, little bit gay, but they'll save your hands - I can cope with chilling down generally, but when your hands get too painful it's soul destroying.
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[moppy]

Rode around for a year without any kit whatsoever Damn foolish thing to do and I was bloody freezing when it was winter, but hey, I was an idiot.

Trawl eBay, you can get some really good deals. I got a leather jacket & some trousers for £50, bought another pair of trousers (JTS!) with thermal lining and really nice build quality for £25 quid. Got some gloves too for fairly cheap. All I need now is boots.

Btw, I've got some trousers up for sale (not my size - one of the perils of buying from eBay) so if you want some waterproof armoured RSR trousers (with some thermal lining ), gimme a PM. Will fit anyone from 28 to 38 waist depending on whether you want to wear jeans under them or not.

[kiddakidda]

Aint that the truth!!

[JoeDougieDoug...]

I have recently installed Heated Grips on my bike, they have already saved my hands in sub-zero weather Brilliant things! I had them on 100%, and after 5 minutes of riding, my hands were boiling hot, ended up at a nice toasty 25% Lovely. Well worth it.
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CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[Ichy]

I think you just summed up most new riders first experience of winter riding

Always keep an eye out for aldi/lidl specials on thermal stuff. Every now and them they also sell wind beater stuff. Worth every penny. If you survive this winter then look out for winter wear bargains during the warmer months.


tip #1: Wedge a spare pair of gloves under the carbs for a quick, but seriously shortlived, hand warm.
tip #2: Keep your kidneys warm.
tip #3: layers. It doesn't matter what it is, more layers is better.
tip #4: leather is pointless in winter. That is all.
tip #5: If you plan on riding through the winter then spend every penny you have on decent gloves and boots. Once your hands and feet get cold you will find it hard to focus on any thing other than the fact that your feet/hands are freezing.
tip #6: Despite the advice that some members may give you do not pee in your trousers, it's just wrong and your trousers will not last very long.
tip #7: As a backup rubber gloves under your normal glove do help and they are only 50p for two pairs from Sainsburys.
tip #8: Get a lift.
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[Nick 50]

Thanks for the numerous replies and all advice given, greatly appreciated.

I guess I have revived many a memory

My saving grace is I had decent boots which were goretex lined so my feet weren't too bad, but still need some thermal socks.

I was only wearing normal jeans DOH!

There is a second-hand clothing shop in Newcastle which i'll be paying a visit to on Monday plus I have a few items on e-bay which i'm bidding on.

[TheSmiler]

[kiddakidda]

[doggone]

If it's close fitting as it should be, you won't be able to wear much extra layers under (but can still wear insulating layers over the top)
It still keeps the wind out which is half the battle.
I find padded leather jeans with thermals under are warm enough, but the jacket is more likely to be textile in winter.

[TheSmiler]

[Ichy]

[trikeschick]

Checkout JTS for bike clothing - a lot cheaper but still good stuff. It isn't just about being warm, but protected too.
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"Light travels faster than the speed of sound, which is why some people appear bright until they speak"

[JustGraham]

well done for persistence

summer will soon here