First cold ride

4112 Views 15 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Matao87, Mar 28, 2013

crunchybutternut

Discussion Starter · Mar 21, 2013

Finished the MSF Basic Riders Course (everyone should do this, it's awesome!) this weekend, got my license on Monday, and been loving it ever since.

Today I decided to take the bike to the gym, even though it was a little cooler than yesterday. Only a little more than a 15 minute ride, but my hands and neck were hurting to much when I got there from the air. Definitely need better gloves. It was about 34F when I went and 36F on the way home. Actually stopped halfway home to warm up for a minute.

My jacket is warm, but definitely need to figure out something for my neck and get better gloves.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Skyway6

· #2 · Mar 21, 2013

congrats on passing and your first cold ride. Too cold for me. Too close to freezing temps and chance of black ice. plus if you running stock tires (and especially new stock tires) be extra careful. Stock tires not too good at those temps.

my cut off temp for riding is 5c/41f and if it was below 0c/32f overnight i will not ride unless the noon temp is 8c/46f or higher

Reactions: 1

Skyway6

· #3 · Mar 21, 2013

back a few years ago when i had my Piaggio X9 (460cc maxi-scooter) i went on a winter ride in town. It was around -4c/25f over night so i waited until noon. Sun and temps around 9c/48f.

everything was going great. did not plan on going too far just a scoot around town. Rode about 3km/1.8m to the highway. After about 4min and 2km i started to notice the grass way off on the sides was white. Told myself it was just road dust (lots of construction at the time) but shortly thereafter the outside temp gauge on the dash dropped from 9c to 5c and the shoulders of the hwy were sparkly white.

oh crap i think. frost!! what the hell am i doing here 90kph on a frosty hwy. so i decide it best to get the hell off at the next exit. 2nd oh crap moment. The exit ramp is a long looping curve to the left. The entire surface looks shiny black like a coating of ice. I made it around very slowly and headed back home.

so that is why ever since then my rule is no riding if overnight temps below freezing and 5c or greater day time temp

See less See more

Metalstorm

· #4 · Mar 21, 2013

Heated grips, heated vest and something to block the wind from funneling down the neck goes a long way

Sent from Motorcycle.com App

crunchybutternut

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 21, 2013

Skyway6 said:
congrats on passing and your first cold ride. Too cold for me. Too close to freezing temps and chance of black ice. plus if you running stock tires (and especially new stock tires) be extra careful. Stock tires not too good at those temps.

my cut off temp for riding is 5c/41f and if it was below 0c/32f overnight i will not ride unless the noon temp is 8c/46f or higher

It is actually a sunny day, so I thought that would help. Still pretty chilly though.

katedwolf

· #6 · Mar 21, 2013

Was 29 degrees in Memphis this morning when I hit the commute at 5 am and a balmy 36 on the way home with snow in the forecast.

Heated gloves are my life saver. Sedici Hotwired gloves picked up at local Cycle Gear store.

crunchybutternut

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 21, 2013

katedwolf said:
Was 29 degrees in Memphis this morning when I hit the commute at 5 am and a balmy 36 on the way home with snow in the forecast.

Heated gloves are my life saver. Sedici Hotwired gloves picked up at local Cycle Gear store.

Did you install a socket on the bike yourself? If so, do you have a link?

katedwolf

· #8 · Mar 22, 2013

crunchybutternut said:
Did you install a socket on the bike yourself? If so, do you have a link?

No socket. They run off the battery. Wires attach to battery, I ran them out the left side of the seat and plug into the wires that go in the jacket. 10 minute install. Check out Cyclegear . com and google the reviews for sedici hotwired heated leather gloves most are +

RMartie9

· #9 · Mar 27, 2013

You could also wear some latex exam gloves under your riding gloves. This will keep the cold air from directly contacting the skin and your hands should self insulate being in the latex.

rjones91

· #10 · Mar 27, 2013

I use Hot Hands inside my gloves, helps keeps my hands warm.

Jibbs9

· #11 · Mar 27, 2013

You should always take the speed you'll be going at into account on rides on 'cold days'. I will ride my bike to the gym as long as its above 25 degrees because its a 2 mile jaunt down the hill in residential speed limits, and a quarter mile of 35 posted (so of course I always go exactly 35 on that nice straight quarter mile

). Anyway, I know I wont be going fast enough most of the way that I'll be exposed to dangerous windchills.

Here's a good windchill chart: NWS Wind Chill Index

Remember, you going 25 mph in calm wind is the same effect as you standing still in a 25 mph wind gust. Keep that in mind while reading that chart. Frostbite and hypothermia are two very real dangers while riding in below 40 degree weather and not wearing proper gear for it. Its good to hear everyone suggesting proper gear for the cold weather, definitely helps keep us all safe and healthy to ride another day

Reactions: 1

Neal376

· #12 · Mar 27, 2013

i rode in freezing temps all winter. my 3/4 length tourmaster was best suited for this. that, my joe rocket textile pants, and a scarf was all I needed. my icon patrols were rubish. I want to invest in heated hand grips.

dont try to push the limits of the bike in the cold. the roads are dirty, and the tires are not grippy in these temperatures. I low sided on a right hander riding like an idiot on freshly salted roads

Pitts

· #13 · Mar 27, 2013

My feeling is if there's traction, then it's riding weather. It's similar to the sailing folks mantra that says there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes. So for me, winter riding when it's below freezing means I'm wearing my Gerbing extreme element pants and jacket with a dual temp controller so I can manage my gloves separately from my jacket/pants. Gerbing G3 gloves plug into the jacket so no extra wires. All the Gerbing stuff comes with a battery pigtail for wiring it up and all your left with is deciding where you want the plugs. I've been 400 miles in freezing weather with this rig and it's all toasty and warm inside.

When it's transitional, I put a Gerbing jacket liner under my Rev'it Tarmac mesh jacket and again, I'm all toasty. No, I'm not a Gerbing sales guy but going with all the same gear made sense to me if I'm wiring the bike for it and I can switch between my two bikes with the same gear.

bcoli2674

· #14 · Mar 27, 2013

crunchybutternut said:
Finished the MSF Basic Riders Course (everyone should do this, it's awesome!) this weekend, got my license on Monday, and been loving it ever since.

Today I decided to take the bike to the gym, even though it was a little cooler than yesterday. Only a little more than a 15 minute ride, but my hands and neck were hurting to much when I got there from the air. Definitely need better gloves. It was about 34F when I went and 36F on the way home. Actually stopped halfway home to warm up for a minute.

My jacket is warm, but definitely need to figure out something for my neck and get better gloves.

Find a turtle fur, fleecy, neck roll. I found one at a bike shop and they're awesome. keeps the wind from blowing down your back and up into your helmet.

Cortech Scarab gloves. I've had them for years and they rock.
http://www.revzilla.com/product/cortech-scarab-winter-gloves?utm_source=product&kwd=&adtype=pla&kw={keyword}&gclid=CLaDkuiJnrYCFcqd4AoddA4Aqg

jscott1

· #15 · Mar 28, 2013

Jibbs9 said:
You should always take the speed you'll be going at into account on rides on 'cold days'....

Wind chill is the real deal. I live here in Houston where freezing temperatures are almost non-existent. So I thought I wouldn't need warm clothing...WRONG!. What I found is that at 70 mph any temperature below 60F will feel like freezing. So basically you have to prepared for freezing temperatures no matter what on even a moderately cool day.

And it's crucial to keep the wind off of your body. The weak areas are where the gloves meet the hand and the neck as you have discovered.

Matao87

· #16 · Mar 28, 2013

I commute everyday, 30 minutes each way on my bike. Coldest commute so far was 12F degrees. Average day is right around freezing (30-35) in the morning. I wear Underarmor base layer, my work shirt, two synthetic fleeces (one I wear at work too) and my riding jacket. I wear my work boots and work pants with my riding pants over top. I bought winter riding gloves at the local shop that are great. Thinsulate insulation, waterproof and they even have a little face shield wiper built into the thumbs! Nothing around my head/neck other than my helmet.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.