View Full Version : How to keep warm and dry this winter?
I have HG two piece Hard Edge leathers, but it's getting a bit nippy in the mornings now.
I have the heated vest from Keis and waiting for the controller and insoles to arrive, I can just about squeeze in my leathers with the vest.
Having looked at my textiles I used to wear they are tatty and spilt at the seams, so I'd imagine useless for protection.
I am skint, so can't afford a set of decent textiles for winter.
Any one wear leathers all year and maybe a waterproof/windproof over suit? Is this setup warm enough for the minus silly degrees days ahead?
Looking at something like http://www.smcbikes.co.uk/oversuits/368460-spada-waterproof-oversuit-407-grey.html
I have a similar wetsuit, but that's all it is. It's lightweight & packs up to a small package. The Spada one you put the link to looks the same. There will be no warmth, just protection from the wind & rain.
Get a few layers on underneath.
Dicky Ticker
19-09-12, 08:41 AM
SORN the bike and use the car;)----sorry not really helpful.
I know I am being a bit premature but the cold tyres and icy conditions will be starting in a few weeks if the current weather trends continue and that is when we hear about all the "Offs" on here. It happens year in year out and I don't want to be one of the statistics
Yes,I am an old wimp:)
So, Skin > thermals > heated vest > leathers > pull over thing > oversuit?
Going to be like michelin man.
There will be no warmth, just protection from the wind & rain.
Which means you'll be warmer.
I've got the same Spada (or do I have the 307?), it does keep the wind out and you are warmer, but it also acts like a sail at motorway speeds.
Owenski
19-09-12, 08:55 AM
You'll be suprised just how much difference a kagool type top and bottoms keeps out.
I ride year round and the most I ever need to wear is
Bottom: Boxers, Thermal Pants, Riding Jeans and Waterproof Over pants, 2 pairs of socks.
Top: Work shirt, Flease, Bike Jacket and Wind Breaker
I also have a snood for my head and another around my neck although I'm replacing those this year with a single balaclava. My hands are inside some HG 2 finger mitts tightly gripping some heated grips.
That does me fine for 30mins of riding (15mins of motorway) although when entering the motorway you really feel the cold come in but once its in you warm back up again pretty snap.
SORN the bike and use the car;)----sorry not really helpful.
I know I am being a bit premature but the cold tyres and icy conditions will be starting in a few weeks if the current weather trends continue and that is when we hear about all the "Offs" on here. It happens year in year out and I don't want to be one of the statistics
Yes,I am an old wimp:)
I'm with you on that plan. Low sun also makes dicey riding.(Were difficult to been seen ).
Car isn't really an option, no parking. I'm a busophob. So the bike it has to be, 17 miles in the cold. Just need to keep warm for 40 min.
Dicky Ticker
19-09-12, 09:22 AM
17 MILES in 40 mins------you will get warm if you use a pushbike.:)
On a more serious note I have always found that thin layers[several] tend to keep me warmer than a thick layer. I have a quilted textile suit and I wear thermals plus an extra layer between and I have ridden to Scotland like this in the winter. It was cold but I could manage 150 miles between stops on a faired bike.
I've got the spada waterproof suit too but only use it in the rain cause I find it a bit of a pain to take on & off and unpack/repack all the time.
For the cold I have under armour 'cold gear' compression fit base layers £50 will get you some leggings & a long sleeved top as below if you hunt around. They aren't bulky so leathers slip over the top easy as you like :)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/19/une5e9av.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/19/a6u5uhyj.jpg
17 MILES in 40 mins------you will get warm if you use a pushbike.
Not sure a push iron is allowed on the motorway :D
I've got the spada waterproof suit too but only use it in the rain cause I find it a bit of a pain to take on & off and unpack/repack all the time.
For the cold I have under armour 'cold gear' compression fit base layers £50 will get you some leggings & a long sleeved top as below if you hunt around. They aren't bulky so leathers slip over the top easy as you like :)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/19/une5e9av.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/19/a6u5uhyj.jpg
Are they more effective than bog standard thermals? Enough to justify the cost?
Dicky Ticker
19-09-12, 09:38 AM
Just noticed you are wearing leathers--------textiles are DEFINATELY warmer in cold weather and will keep you drier in wet conditions.
Are they more effective than bog standard thermals? Enough to justify the cost?
Honestly dunno. My dad had a top for playing golf in winter and I borrowed it. Did the job handsomely so I got my own. I wouldn't pay full price, hunt around for deals etc. A top as shown is £40 rrp but can be found for around half that. Same for leggings
Not sure a push iron is allowed on the motorway :D
17 miles at 40 mins can't include a motorway.
I do 18 miles A12 20 mins ???
Just noticed you are wearing leathers--------textiles are DEFINATELY warmer in cold weather and will keep you drier in wet conditions.
Agreed. Textiles tend to be windproof & waterproof, & are also thermal lined (removable). It will probably work out cheaper as well, rather than buying lots of thermal layers. Although, it's a known fact that more thin layers keep you warmer than a couple of thick layers.
You could pop in one of those heat pads you boil then click to make them warm .
Agreed. Textiles tend to be windproof & waterproof, & are also thermal lined (removable). It will probably work out cheaper as well, rather than buying lots of thermal layers. Although, it's a known fact that more thin layers keep you warmer than a couple of thick layers.
I bought some Biker Gear Australia textiles last year, think it was £100 for jacket and trousers. Utter rubbish. Still had to wear thermals, a coat then the jacket and was still cold and got wet. Seams are splitting too.
Having bough the heated vest, insoles and controller my budget this year is even lower than £100 now.
Problem with the leathers is the flexible areas aren't leather and are not wind/waterproof, but feel much safer.
If your cold then your not concentrating.
Get a good textile. They are able to accommodate protection.
Ok the abrasion is not as good but good enough for commute speed .
I tend to mix and match.
For this sort of time I tend to wear leather trousers and a textile top.
Waterproof trousers over the leather trousers definitely help keep you warm, but you do start looking less than awesome. Meh.
As it gets colder I end up in neck tubes, Jumpers under the textile jacket, base layers under the jumper...
Do not underestimate the joys of a cheap set of hand guards / bar muffs. They may look a bit pony but they make a huge difference to how warm your hands stay.
Jambo
Already eyeing up the muffs. Only concern is getting in and out quick and easy to wipe the visor. Recommend any?
Sir Trev
19-09-12, 10:54 AM
I bought some Biker Gear Australia textiles last year, think it was £100 for jacket and trousers. Utter rubbish.
I'm afraid you do get what you pay for and in terms of all round flexibility from textiles a hundred beer tokens are not going to go far. If you cannot run to a reasonable textile jacket then as noted above a padded windproof over layer for the colder days will be a good addition to your arsenal.
Al_Sweetman
20-09-12, 10:27 AM
Been riding every day for the last five years (this year have just invested in a Triumph Stag for a "bike alternative" so limited winter usage there, too!) even in last years snow (dicey until you get on to the A-roads then much better, well the A34 tends to replace snow with accidents!)
I've sworn by this, even in -15 (which, to be fair, you're bloody cold in regardless ... when your Foggy Respro freezes it's not good!)
Top: Canterbury compression top, (poss Silk top too), "Bikers in Action" windproof layer, Fourth-element "Artic" top (very big and bulky unfortunately) with a HG Gore-tex textile.
Bottom: HG Gore-tex pants and jeans - never found the need for thermal trousers
Boots: Just my spidi normal boots (yes, they leak and yes, my toes go numb but they're too tight for anything else!)
Hands: Some old halverssons dry-level (ceased to be dry!) gloves with Klein heated inners.
Head: Snood and/or balaclava on biting days. Foggy respro? Can't swear by them enough.
That keeps me going on a 55-mile each way commute from Andover -> Witney, 4 days a week. I am thinking about splashing out on an Exo2 heated gilet this year though as last winter really was quite unpleasant during some parts. Basically, in that sort of weather, your fingers *will* get so numb you can't feel them and have to change gear with your palm whilst screaming silently to yourself, your toes *will* get so numb you have difficulty standing when you get off, and you will feel sick as you warm up. As long as your core stays warm, though, you're fine.
Cold core == cold everything == loss of concentration == crash.
Simples.
I've only scared myself once, and that was when I didn't dress properly and ended up with early-hypothermia ... It took me 2 minutes to work out whether I had to push down or lift up the left foot to change gear. Not good times!
+3 C or lower , I'm in the car .Better stuck in traffic heater up n radio on, than cold .
Yes I'm a soft southerner.
I know Hein Gericke are going through a rough patch so maybe this isn't viable anymore, but... I got my gear 6 months interest free. Go put that £100 you have as a deposit for a gortex jacket with high neck tube. I have the daylight hi viz gortex jacket and it really keeps out the wind and wet, a Helly Hansen long sleeve and thin fleece under the jacket had me pouring with sweat in -2C.
As for lower body I just layer up, thermals + jeans + cheap textiles + waterproof golf trousers from soccer sports.
Your feet well get very cold if you wear most motorcycle boots.
I would rather have very cold well protected feet than nice warm feet on the opposite side of the road to me and the bike.
Dave-the-rave
20-09-12, 07:38 PM
These will help keep the tootsies warm even if your boots are already waterproof.
Ya gotta get the size right though. If they're too big they'll bunch up inside the boot and
become a bit uncomfortable to walk on....
http://www.silvermans.co.uk/ProductDetails/tabid/89/Department/Motorcycle/Category/ACCESSORIES/Description/MILITARY+GORE-TEX+BOOT+LINERS/ItemId/10465/CurrentPage/0/Default.aspx
Gota say for your head/neck etc i wear a military surplus balaclava like this http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/ProvisionalIRAGalbally.jpg/250px-ProvisionalIRAGalbally.jpg Terrorist style... Very cheap but just so so very warm :D
barwel1992
22-09-12, 01:16 AM
as said by a few car, ill defo be in the car
but my winter garms used to be leather summer jacket with lining and a hoody on the outside and just my leather bottoms, and sidi boots for all 37miles one way, ohh and winter gloves at a push but really don't like them so usually it was summer gloves, used to have ice stuck all over me but mehh can always get warm at the other end and as a bonus i was never cold when off the bike lol
metalmonkey
22-09-12, 01:42 PM
Are they more effective than bog standard thermals? Enough to justify the cost?
Just go to Aldi and get the bike thermals from there, that my base layer and they work fine, then just layer up several layers is better than 1 or 2 big layers. To me the only way foward is with good gortex gear, it does really work. The cheap **** ain't much good as it doesn't breath which is no good when your working hard.
I got some Hein Gericke over the top waterproofs about 3 weeks ago for a grand total of £25 :) They seem to have done the trick so far.
My Sidi Boots are waterproof already (Been in a torrential downpour and really bad hail storm) and only way my feet got wet was from it running down the inside of my leg and into my boots.
My gloves are supposed to be waterproof Gore-tex Dianese (like f*** are they waterproof) winter gloves... they are cold and wet most the time.
Will be investing in some Icebreaker Merino Wool baselayer soon (Socks, Glove liners, Leggings and top)
http://www.natureshop.co.uk/Icebreaker
Not exactly cheap but I have been recommended this exact brand by 2 of my friends who swear by it.
barwel1992
24-09-12, 09:32 AM
I got some Hein Gericke over the top waterproofs about 3 weeks ago for a grand total of £25 :) They seem to have done the trick so far.
My Sidi Boots are waterproof already (Been in a torrential downpour and really bad hail storm) and only way my feet got wet was from it running down the inside of my leg and into my boots.
My gloves are supposed to be waterproof Gore-tex Dianese (like f*** are they waterproof) winter gloves... they are cold and wet most the time.
Will be investing in some Icebreaker Merino Wool baselayer soon (Socks, Glove liners, Leggings and top)
http://www.natureshop.co.uk/Icebreaker
Not exactly cheap but I have been recommended this exact brand by 2 of my friends who swear by it.
Carefull with glove liners if your gloves are allready a good fit then with the liner in its likely to cut the circulation to your hands making your hands even colder than gloves with no liners
If my hands are cold the gloves are fairly large with quite a bit of wiggle room, If its warm I have an issue putting them back on but I think thats due to the lining on the inside and clammy skin.
keith_d
24-09-12, 12:24 PM
Cold weather gear
1) Thermal socks, fleece jumper and thermal leggings inside my leathers
2) Hi-vis wind/waterproof jacket, and winter gloves on the outside.
3) If rains or gets seriously cold I'll put my HG waterproof trousers on.
But then I'm only 30 minutes from work.
Keith.
I really need to invest in some heated gear this winter! Need gloves as a minimum, might even go for the jacket if only to avoid the big mitten cabling.
Just picked up a http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/hein-gericke-cruise-daylight-gore-texr-performance-shell-jacke-schwarz-neongelb.html barely used for only 60 beer tokens.
My lord it is warm, didn't have the thermal liner bit in either, had to turn the heated gear off before I cooked.
Also got some muffs to fit, not sure I'll need them now, we'll see as the real cold comes.
Just picked up a http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/hein-gericke-cruise-daylight-gore-texr-performance-shell-jacke-schwarz-neongelb.html barely used for only 60 beer tokens.
My lord it is warm, didn't have the thermal liner bit in either, had to turn the heated gear off before I cooked.
Also got some muffs to fit, not sure I'll need them now, we'll see as the real cold comes.
Got one of these myself, the neck tube thing really keeps the heat in and the wet out.
It seems to. Need to keep an eye out for some trou that will zip to it now. My current ones only have a little flap at the back with w zip. Don't like not zipping together.
I have 2 pairs of cheap HG trousers and they both zip to it. Are all HG textiles zip compatible?
I would have thought so, looks like the same zip as my leathers which are HG. I have heard some none HG trousers can zip to it too.
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