When is it to cold?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,118
Likes: 1,146
From: Directly above the center of the Earth
I ride *all* year, especially since the bike is all I have, so when I need to grocery shop and it's 20 degrees farenheit, I have to go. So long as there's no ice or snow on the roads, I'll ride. Heated glove *liners* (WarmGear from http://cozywinters.com ), these allow me to wear any kind of 'outer' glove I want to.
I've got a nice Schampa balaclava that they don't make anymore (it's one piece, now you have to buy two things to get what mine does), it's wind and water proof and keeps out the cold really well.
A nice fleece jacket that fits under my leather jacket (I usually layer a t-shirt or long-sleeve thermal t-shirt, then a long-sleeved shirt of some kind like a flannel or sweat shirt, then the fleece jacket and then the leather jacket and then my cut and a fleece scarf to keep any more wind from sneaking into the jacket at the neck.
Long handles on under a pair of jeans and then the chaps does my legs just fine.
A good set of insulated, waterproof steel-toe loggers and wool socks keeps the toes nice and warm.
I cover the eyes with a pair of Halcyon Mark 9 goggles with the tinted glass lenses (work perfectly for sunny days and still can see at night just fine, no need to change lenses) http://classicpartsltd.com . Extremely comfortable, any fogging dissipates real quick and cover the eye hole in the balaclava perfectly so no cold air gets into my eyes to make them water up.
Initially it takes a few minutes to gear up for a ride, but once done, it's there and easy to gear back up if you've stopped anywhere for longer than a few minutes. With this setup I rode something like 60 miles one way in 24 degrees and was comfortable and could have gone the rest of the day without a problem (it was a PGR mission IIRR).
I've got a nice Schampa balaclava that they don't make anymore (it's one piece, now you have to buy two things to get what mine does), it's wind and water proof and keeps out the cold really well.
A nice fleece jacket that fits under my leather jacket (I usually layer a t-shirt or long-sleeve thermal t-shirt, then a long-sleeved shirt of some kind like a flannel or sweat shirt, then the fleece jacket and then the leather jacket and then my cut and a fleece scarf to keep any more wind from sneaking into the jacket at the neck.
Long handles on under a pair of jeans and then the chaps does my legs just fine.
A good set of insulated, waterproof steel-toe loggers and wool socks keeps the toes nice and warm.
I cover the eyes with a pair of Halcyon Mark 9 goggles with the tinted glass lenses (work perfectly for sunny days and still can see at night just fine, no need to change lenses) http://classicpartsltd.com . Extremely comfortable, any fogging dissipates real quick and cover the eye hole in the balaclava perfectly so no cold air gets into my eyes to make them water up.
Initially it takes a few minutes to gear up for a ride, but once done, it's there and easy to gear back up if you've stopped anywhere for longer than a few minutes. With this setup I rode something like 60 miles one way in 24 degrees and was comfortable and could have gone the rest of the day without a problem (it was a PGR mission IIRR).
Road Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 3
From: Mass.
So, I'm riding to work, it's mid thirties and I'm on the EG with lowers. I have the FXRG, full face and chaps, heated grips on and lovin' the ride. Doing about 75 and this guy on a Sporty, no windshield, no chaps, skull cap helmet goes blowing by me..........he's my hero, I am such a puss.....heated grips and all. ;-)
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Depends on what you mean by a ride.
If it is just to work (for me about 40 miles round trip) then it really is not too cold. Roads may be too bad, but temps - I've ridden in the single digits.
Long trip about mid 30's - my wife and I went on a anniversary trip a couple of years ago it was cooler than freezing in the mornings and got up to about the low 40's. It was a good trip but morning until it heated up was awfully cool. Of course now I have added a heated seat.
BTW: For cold weather those thermacare wraps are great if you do not want to invest in heated gear or just get trapped in having to take a long trip in the cold. You can get a two pack back set. Use one to wrap around your middle and cut up the other to drop in boots or gloves/pockets.
If it is just to work (for me about 40 miles round trip) then it really is not too cold. Roads may be too bad, but temps - I've ridden in the single digits.
Long trip about mid 30's - my wife and I went on a anniversary trip a couple of years ago it was cooler than freezing in the mornings and got up to about the low 40's. It was a good trip but morning until it heated up was awfully cool. Of course now I have added a heated seat.
BTW: For cold weather those thermacare wraps are great if you do not want to invest in heated gear or just get trapped in having to take a long trip in the cold. You can get a two pack back set. Use one to wrap around your middle and cut up the other to drop in boots or gloves/pockets.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: BC, Canada
Just parked mine two days ago. temps are between 16 and 32 now, but the reason I parked her is they called for snow yesterday and we got it.. so no riding till spring now as they use salt all winter on the roads here.
Steve
Steve
