Happy Decembrrrrrrr

It's a mite chilly in the Bay Area lately -- about 40F when I started my commute this morning.

When I got into work, I bumped into coworker Matt, who was curious how I was staying warm. I ran through the list of winter gear I have, which made me think that that might make an interesting blog entry, too. So, without further ado, I present

Carolyn's Cold Weather Commute Gear

Full-face Shoei RF800 helmet
OK, let's be frank: there's not much to say about a helmet as it relates to cold weather. The vents do a decent job of keeping the visor unfogged -- I used to have a FogCity insert on my old clear visor, but didn't get a new insert when I bought my current visor. I haven't really missed it, so for now, no insert.

Columbia neck gaiter
A Christmas present from Andrea a year or so ago. It's black, fleece, warm, and keeps cold air out of my helmet and away from my cheeks/chin. What more could I ask for?

Gerbing
heated vest
Holy mother of god, I love my heated vest. Like the heated grips, this was originally a "luxury" item that I can no longer imagine living without. I have the variable controller (mounted here), which works really well for me. I'm one of those people with a perpetually whacked internal thermostat, so I like being able to reach down and tweak it when I get hot! no wait, cold! cold! now colder! now hot! too hot! etc.

FirstGear Kilimanjaro jacket
I bought this jacket off of Ebay for a disgustingly low price (about $120 brand new) as a backup jacket for the Alaska trip, but it's become my main winter jacket. First off, it's really comfortable. Second, the fleece inner liner is nice and warm -- and makes a decent sweatshirt off the bike. Third, it's nicely waterproof (I've since washed the jacket, but it hasn't rained again since I re-ScotchGard'ed it. I'm assuming it'll still be waterproof....). Fourth, it's roomy enough to fit over a sweatshirt and the Gerbing heated vest. This all adds up to the perfect winter jacket.

Helimot Buffalo 365 gloves
I was worried that these wouldn't work as winter gloves, just because they worked so well as summer gloves. I should know better than to doubt Helmut and the gang at Helimot -- these are true all-weather gloves. Of course, my fingertips still get chilly when it's < 50F out, but that's reasonable. With the heated grips, the Buffalo 365s are definitely good down to at least 40F (haven't tested anything colder, and I can't say I'm eager to, either). They work well in the rain, too -- the dye doesn't bleed all over, and they don't stay soaking wet and miserably stiff for hours afterwards, either.

Mountain Hardwear Windstopper pants
I wear these under my leather pants when it gets < 50F. I've never worn them under any other pants, so I can't really say how wind proof they really are (leather is, in and of itself, pretty darn windproof), but they definitely keep my legs warmer. The only downside is that they're a little baggy on me, so they bunch up funny at my waist -- I think this is a feature of being 5'1", though. Sigh.

Helimot custom leather pants
These poor pants have put up with so much shit from me, and they still keep smiling. They've been worn in 120F summers, 20F winters, rain, hail, humidity, etc etc etc. Every once in a while, they spit off a zipper out of spite (I swear, I'm not getting fatter), but otherwise these pants are sheer perfection. In the winter, they're as warm as can be expected -- no bone-chilling air leaks along the seams -- and are wonderfully waterproof. In a downpour, the calf zippers let just enough moisture in to make something dye a little black line onto my calves (dunno if it's from my socks, boots, or the pants), but that's not that bad.

Daytona LadyStar boots
Again, these poor boots have been through just about every climate on earth now. They're great winter boots -- I've never had cold feet, and I never wear socks thicker than whatever I get on sale at Target. Even in 40F downpours, my toesies stay warm and dry.

So there ya go. That's all what gets me through winter. :)

Comments

[Stephanie]

I enthusiasticly second your statement on electrics. It's been as low as 36 during the morning commute and I have the long, breezy 92 bridge to contend with as well. I get to the point of composing amorous letters in my head to the mythical Mr. Gerbing because I have fallen so deeply in love with him for giving me such joy.
When I confessed that I become enamoured with him to my husband, Tony replied; "who hasn't???" ;)

[wookiee]

On cold mornings on the bike I wear:
Synthetic jacket with liner, neck warmer, winter riding gloves, flannel boxers, army surplus boots (the tongue is all one piece with the boot, so no air gets in), and occasionally the pants to go with the jacket, without the lining, if my jeans won't be enough.

[Jeffrey Peterson]

Didn't you have hand guards on the SV for winter riding?

I'm thinking next for me is the heated grips on the VFR, everything else is pretty good on my short commute (and one longer trip to Milwaukee during daylight hours) when it is below 40F I don't know how much it would extend the commute anyway. I try to keep the sportbikes off the saltly, crappy roads here in Wisconsin. Maybe I'll get a little dual sport some year to outfit with the heated grips/vest so I can ride more of the winter. Although with the road conditions here and the in-town traffic I probably shouldn't bother.

[Santa]

From 50 Years of Riding, 40 Years of Daily commuting on a Motorcycle
The Best combinations of Winter riding Gear I have found were:

Full Face Helment with Lockhart's Apple Warmer for Neck Protection
And/Or a Balaclava inside the helmet and covering the neck.
A Full suit of Gerbing Heated clothes ( Jacket & Pants ) for the
realy cold days or Long rides in the mountains.
Three fingered Leather Gloves inside of some type of Handelbar protecters
Wool Socks and Riding Boots (Tried electric socks and Thermal socks)
The Wool Socks worked just as good as the new fangled ones.
A good combination of comercial bib overhaul rain pants and my own
home made Rain Coat with no exposed seamds to leak.

For less sever cold (Above 20 Degrees stainary surface temperature)
Four Zone Parka, My own custome designed Leg warmers which cover
from the ankle to above the knees and strap to the legs with velcro.
Three fingered Leather Gloves inside of some type of Handelbar protecters
The Wool Socks and any pair of shoes or boots and Rain Gear above.
Rain gear worn over your normal riding gear makes a good thermal
barrior to help keep you warm on a cold day. I never go anywhere
without my Rain Gear anymore.

For those of you who haven't been caught unprepared yet here are
some Tips learned from many different riders over the years.
If caught in unexpected Rain or Snow while a long way from home
the Freindly neighborhood laundra mat can be a life saver it
can provide you all of the foul weather gear you will need to get
home.

We will start with the hands - Dry hands are Warm hands so dig two
bleach bottles out of the trash and cut a slit down the side of
the bottle from the Neck to the bottom. Then cut around the bottom
about 1/4 of the way Now bend out the plastic on an angle from the top
to the end of the cut on the bottom creating an opening about four
inches wide. Now remove the Mirrors from the handlebars and slide
the beach bottles over your handlebars and leavers and figure out where
you need to punch a hole to put the mirror back on. The Edge of the cut
in the bottle should be inline with your wrist when you are holding
the handlebar grip. The tighter you can keep this Mirror hole the
better the mirror will lock the bleach bottle in place. If you can
find a rag or string or a cable tie to secure the neck of the bottle
to the handlebars thats even better. Now that the hands are taken care
of We can move on to the Body. Take a lesson from the homeless Newspaper
makes good insulation to keep you warm. To water Proof yourself
pull the plastic trash bags out of the trash cans or beg some clean
ones cut a hole for your head and your arms so you can put the
trash bag over your head and poke your arms out the corners at
the top of the bag. For you arms use two more trash bags or one
large bag split in half put a hole in the corner for your hand to
stick through. If you do this before you put the other bag over your
head you can just leave the excess from your arms inside for more
insulation. Now give your legs the same treatment you gave your arms.
Except it works best if you dont punch a hole for your foot to stick
out but you have to be carefull when putting your foot down that it
dosn't slide out from under you causing you to drop the bike or fall.
It may not make you look the best but it works (over 300 miles once)

When riding in cold winter weather don't forget about the Wind Chill
factor 70 Miles an hour drops the temperature about 32 degrees below
the static surface temperature a dip in the road where cold air is
trapped can drop the temperature several more degrees. Thats how
I got my first case of frostbite.
Slow down a little and keep the rubber side down.
Have a great ride.

Santa

Noj's chin shield or Lockhart's Apple Warmer and balaclava
http://www.aerostich.com/riderwearhouse.store
http://www.snowshack.com/turturnecnec.html
http://backpacker.altrec.com/shop/dir/camp/49/177/
http://www.asianhats.com/html/products_detail.php?prod_id=225
http://www.hancockfabrics.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=8432
http://www.altrec.com/shop/detail/17400/0/?USPar&market=1
http://www.rockywoods.com/Patterns/2812.htm
http://www.yellow-turtle.com/store/?action=browse&CategoryNum=30908182311573847
and balaclava
http://www.gforce.com/products/underwear/balaclava_nomex.html
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=675115&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=660095
http://mountainwarehouse.co.uk/shop/privacy/error_no_session_cookies/1.html
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Search?vcat=REI_SEARCH&stat=7889&langId=-1&storeId=8000&textQuery=balaclava&x=17&y=15
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=2324&parent_category_rn=5227673&vcat=REI_SEARCH
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=47819568&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1&color=&img=/media/712527_321Lrg.jpg&view=large&vcat=REI_SEARCH
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=11472762&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1&color=&img=/media/675331_321Lrg.JPG&view=large&vcat=REI_SEARCH

The Weather Page
http://www.docharley.com/repair.htm

Electric Clothes
http://www.widder.com/
http://www.gerbing.com/

Scott Handlebar Warmers
http://icebike.org/Clothing/handprotection.htm
http://www.montanajacks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=743
http://www.montanajacks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=216
http://www.atvrider.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&User_ID=523742&st=1750&st2=-88132480&st3=-57875229&Product_ID=7080&CATID=93
http://www.atvrider.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&User_ID=523742&st=1750&st2=-88132480&st3=-57875229&Product_ID=7007&CATID=93
http://www.atvrider.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&User_ID=523742&st=1750&st2=-88132480&st3=-57875229&Product_ID=5775&CATID=93
http://www.atvrider.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&User_ID=523742&st=1750&st2=-88132480&st3=-57875229&Product_ID=6997&CATID=93

Three Fingered gloves
http://www.tramdock.com/tramdock/CMH0049/Toko-Arctic-Mitt.html?mv_pc=r107&CP=YahooShop&CMP=SPC-YahooShop&ATT=mittens&GCID=C14196x020&keyword=mittens
http://www.primateproducts.com/gloves.htm
http://www.skiershop.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=36_122
http://www.altimateboots.com/glo_3finger.shtml
http://www.roirecreation.com/brands/Hestra-Gloves/2004/Gloves/3045-ARMY-LEATHER-3-FINGER.php
http://www.aerocorsair.com/id88.htm
http://www.coltrisub.it/e_access.htm
http://icebike.org/Clothing/handprotection.htm
http://www.tramdock.com/tramdock/HES0002/Hestra-Army-Leather-3-Finger-Ski-Glove.html?mv_pc=r107&CP=YahooShop&CMP=SPC-YahooShop&ATT=skigloves&GCID=C14196x020&keyword=skigloves
http://www.roirecreation.com/brands/Hestra-Gloves/Hestra-Gloves.php

[Gail]

I am looking for an apple warmer for my husband. He had one years ago but gave gave it away. Now he wants to kick himself. He said that it was made of quilt type material and velcroed up into his helmet. Can anyone help me?

[Dave Blanton]

Help
Like gail, I am looking for a apple warmer. Had one years ago and loved it. If you have info or email address i would be very greatfull.

Dave Blanton
Louisville, Ky

[carolyn]

There are about 50 URLS in the comment two above yours -- have you looked at all of those?

[Dave Blanton]

Carolyn,
Still can not find any info on lockharts apple warmer. Are they still making this product. Does anyone have a old address or phone no. Going on long trip through the mountains up north and would really like to take a apple warmer with me.

Dave B.

[Mike R]

I live in Seattle and have a 7 mile/17 minute commute each way. It doesn't rain here as much as people think, but my typical winter commute is through a lot of mist, drizzle, and 35 - 45 degree temps. For my upper body, in addition to lots of layers, I like to wear my armored mesh First Gear summer jacket under my Tourmaster rain shell. I like having the armor at all times, especially in the winter when there are extra hazards, and the mesh traps warm air under the shell, so it's a great insulating layer. On rainy days, I like the lined leather chaps that I just found for $40 at a local thrift store! I have some bibs that keep me dry, but getting in and out of them takes almost as long as my commute (boots and all top layers have to go on after and come off first), whereas the full-length zippers on the chaps make them instant on and off. I have some fleece lined Carhart jeans that are great for cold days, and some flannel lined Carhart canvass work pants that are outstanding for those almost-raining drizzle days we have here in Seattle - they're super warm and the weave on the heavy canvass is tight enough that they block the wind and stay warm and mostly dry even if there's a few minutes of light rain.

[Mike r]

Oh yeah, the other thing I like about those lined canvass Carhart's is that they come in black as well as the standard Carhart brown, and the black ones actually look dressy enought that I can get away with wearing them in my office and other professional settings, so I don't have to hassle with changing clothes when I get to work.

[rye2008]

Try a NOJ QUIET RIDER.

Best of luck,