Staying warm in winter without staying home.

[Mister Moo]

bump...

Not heretofore mentioned but something I've used with great results in moderate cold and rain - 3/8" neoprene divers gloves, slightly oversized, with Thermax or polypropylene liners. DuPont Thermax hollow polyester microfiber, if you can find it, makes tremendous glove liners, longjohns and socks.

[Jed]

I have a bunch of NRS HydroSkins and the like. I don't wear them for riding because they work best as what they are designed for - a thin neoprene wetsuit. They work great in cool water but I find them too hot and clammy for drywear. It's as if they just don't have a wide range of temps that they work in unless you are talking about water sports.

I use technical mountain climbing gear when it gets cool > cold > really cold. Poly-Pro or Merino wool next to the skin, then insulation layers, my normal cool weather riding stuff and a wind & water-proof shell as the outer layer. Mix and match, play with the thickness of the insulation depending on the conditions.

I really should try out the heated gear sometime, but if you are opposed to that it's quite possible to go with full passive clothing and still stay warm down below freezing. The layers are thicker than heated but there's nothing to break, short-out or malfunction and each individual piece is automatically multi-purpose. YMMV

cheers,

[Las]

I commuted every day ( that there was no snow, ice, freezing rain) all last winter, on an F800r for most of it, with heated grips and Lee Park's gloves with Outlast. The temps went as low as 9f. I can't say that I was toasty, but I had no major discomfort. The Lee Parks are two different kinds of leather. The palm sides allow the heat from the grips to work and to charge the outlast liners. They also allow me to work my Scala Rider. The gauntlets easily fit over my jacket cuffs and the gloves are easy to get on and off. The uppers are wind proof and thicker- I have Gerbings gloves, but never needed them. This year, I
may try handguards when the temperature really drops. I could not recommend thse gloves more highly.

[Mister Moo]

...I really should try out the heated gear sometime, but if you are opposed to that it's quite possible to go with full passive clothing and still stay warm down below freezing...

I shiver these days when I just think about a long, cold ride. I used to be OK with no windshield and temps below 45*f but that was about 25 years ago. After moving from street- and sport- to touring bikes with (large) windshields and fairings I just can't hit the IGNORE cold air button anymore. Advancing age (and losing a lot of fat) probably plays a big part in it. So I got good with layers and I was OK for six or eight hours at 30-something degrees. I've had luck with:

*Pategonia "micro puff" pants http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/mic ... 4047-1-155; under
*wind/water proof poly riding pants;
*microfiber skullcap;
*Rocky Cornstalker boots x 800gram Thinsulate/Goretex;
*woven Thinsulate-lined polyster jacket;
*wool sweater; and
*Thermax glove liners, socks and underwear.

It's bulky but who cares when you're comfortable? Fingertips were always the first to hurt but, by them, it was time to gas up, drink something hot and have a stretch. Worst problem with the passive clothing deal for me isn't making it work; problem is touring from cold to warm zones and finding a place to store all that jazz.

After nine years on a GL1800 I am stunned by how comfortable an R1200R with 20" windshield is in cool, wet weather. Today, the 45*f, rain, wind and 70mph half-hour drive to work was fine with rainpants, sweatshirt, Goretex jacket and gloves. Amazing things for me about the BMW are:

a) how much of a difference heated handgrips make; and
b) how effectively wind management is handled with tank- and frontend design.

Nevertheless, after the feeling of elation generated by my first-ever heated handgrips, I am throwing in the Thermax towel and going electric this winter. This will be my first Gerbing season; starting and, I hope, ending with gloves and a jacket liner. More to come from the perspective of someone who never wore heated clothes, even on snowmobiles.

[MikeVA76]

I've been riding all year for 3 seasons now with a 70 mile round trip in northern VA. In 2010 I purchased Rev It Sand jacket and pants. I have Sidi on road boots with winter socks. Rev it winter gloves and I use under armour cold gear as a base layer including the head scarf. Heated grips and hand guards keep the fingers comfortable, I've gone down to near 0F with wind conditions and always been ok. Is it toasty, not really, but nothing hurts. Granted my Versys had better heated grips then the BMW does so that may change this season. Never wanted to add the complexity or cost of heated gear. Though that may change if this winter is as bad as predicted.

Mike

[Mister Moo]

OK - after 45 years of riding I finally caved and got electrified x Gerbing EXtreme jacket and T5 gloves. Age concedes cost to comfort. The gear works brilliantly if you first know a near-snug fit is essential. I think a jacket liner would make better sense for most folks compared to the armored, heated outer-coat. Some riders criticize the T5 gloves as too bulky but I am good with them.

Two hours x tall windscreen x 70mph x 35* didn't make a dent over thermal bibs and a long-sleeved t-shirt. No going back.