Staying warm on a bike

I've just seen this article about staying warm on a bike. It suggests that the best solution is to maintain your core temperature using a heated waistcoat, giving you a nice warm blood supply to your fingers. He says that this is better than using heated gloves/grips which only treat the symptom, not the problem.

http://www.survivalskills.clara.net/..._skills_17.htm

It sounds like a good theory, but I'd like peoples opinions before splashing out on an expensive heated waistcoat, as they don't come cheap.

[G]

Makes sense providing you have good circulation, otherwise use both.

I have a gerbing heated jacket that i use on really cold days, but i still have my heated grips on because it doesn't warm up my fingers.

Anyone used this?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...eece&doy=13m11

Was thinking it might be worth a try for £20...

[fizzwheel]

I find several thin layers work best, especially if they are proper base layers and a good fleece.

I rode about 60 miles last year in well below freezing conditions, -5 or -6 I was toasty warm all the way to work that morning.

If you keep your core temp up your extremeties i.e hands and feet wont get cold

Tights & silk gloves

Looks like its worth a try at £20. If nothing else, its another layer.
I'll be popping into Maplins tomorrow.

[Luckypants]

Agree with fizz. Staying warm on a bike is the same as staying warm in any extremely cold situation. Keep your core body temperature up, so your body does not withdraw circulation to the extremeties where blood can cool.

Several layers are best. Use a proper wicking thermal base layer to keep you dry and comfortable, backed up with some thin fleeces. Always wear long sleeve on your underlayers too and make sure these cover the wrists where blood is close to the surface and can cool, making the hands cold. Long johns/woolly socks rock.

Originally Posted by Biker Biker

Tights & silk gloves

So that's the evening wear sorted........

My body never feels cold though on the the bike. The wrost affected parts are my extremities, feet, hands and face. But if my body is already warm would it make any difference heating it up more?

[yorkie_chris]

A long sleeved shirt over my T shirt, tuck that into me jeans, then the leather jacket and a big fleece over that, with decent socks on and the hotgrips on I can ride for hours like that with very little chilling.