Staying warm on a bike

Originally Posted by thor

Anyone used this?

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

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

i wonder how long the batteries last?

[TEC]

Originally Posted by wyrdness

I've just seen this article about staying warm on a bike.....

Recognising the web addy I think I know the source of the comments The guy has a lot more experiance of cold weather than some think, having done the despatch rider for a few years and now an advanced instructor. What he says about keeping the core tempts up is right. I've spent many a winter bobbing about the north sea in a small boat where the object of the game was to stay warm and dry but still chase trawlers Soon found out that keeping the core warm meant not loosing use of fingers at the wrong moment

It took a few years but I eventually switched to wearing loads of layers to a Widder* and normal winter jacket, now feel much more at home on the bike in sub zero tempts Last year when I was doing 450 mile runs all through the winter and had no problems at all, the only addition I made was wearing a sweatshirt and a full rain suit if it was needed

*Sadly no longer imported by Riderhouse, who also had a very good bit about keeping warm on their website

I go by that idea aswell. If you are too warm in your body, then blood gets sent to the extremeties (fingers, toes etc) to cool down

SO I wear a t-hisrt, a thermal jumper and a normal jumper underneath my winter texxtile jacket. And I have the thermal lining in that, and the thermal lining in my textile trousers

Snug as a bug in a rug!

However, its still important to keep your hands warm using some good gloves; if your extremeties get too cold, then the blood is sent to the core of your body!

Keeping the wind off your hands keeps them warm...muffs are my saviour

Matt

[northwind]

I coat myself in seal fat.

Originally Posted by northwind

I coat myself in seal fat.

is that under or over your gear?

Fieldsheer XP Tour 3 in 1 textile jacket, wear it with the quited lining and long sleeved shirt at anything above 5 - 10 degrees and you sweat like a fat man in a sauna.

Anything between 5 and -2 and it's comfortable, but long motorway journeys will see the fingers geting cold.

Really cold stuff or long motorway runs need a base layer and thin fleece.

It's been waterproof for 12000 miles now and is fitted with Knox CE armour and back protector.

Not bad for 85 quid.

[Sid Squid]

Having used a heated waistcoat for a while I agree, it definitely keeps the temperature at the extremities up.
I find the greatest benefit is that you can be warm without excessive bulky clothes on, definitely makes riding in cold weather more pleasurable.

I've got this one: Exo Stormrider, I'd recommend the controller too, it gets too hot on full all the time.

All I know is i'm already cold and I am wearing my normal insulated kit, with waterproofs over the top. Heated gear might be the way to go.

for 20 quid, that vest looks like it might be a decent investment. Even if the batteries only lasted a couple of rides, if its kept you properly warm on a big ride then its done the job

i'm going to see how much colder it gets, atm i only wear a top under my leathers, and wore some longjohns the last time. pants gloves and ive been alright. Bit teeth chattering one a motorway adventure home, but not too bad

Originally Posted by Draper

for 20 quid, that vest looks like it might be a decent investment. Even if the batteries only lasted a couple of rides, if its kept you properly warm on a big ride then its done the job

i'm going to see how much colder it gets, atm i only wear a top under my leathers, and wore some longjohns the last time. pants gloves and ive been alright. Bit teeth chattering one a motorway adventure home, but not too bad

I checked the FAQ's which said its not designed for constant use and will only last 40-50 mins on constant. This seems fine to me, you can recharge the battery overnight, its does raise the cost to nearer £40 once batteries and charger are factored in.