| Author |
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Tramp
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 10:58 am: | 
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Why not simply knock on the door of someone who routinely commuted on a motorcycle in sub-zero temps and Winter conditions for advice on warm, conventional non-electric gear that keeps a year-round COLD Winter rider warm?
In the "over 40 years of riding under my belt" that we share, JB2, many of mine have been every day, commuting on snowy roads and below-freezing temps to my Ski Coaching/Directing jobs.
My welcome mat is always out.
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Bikerjim99
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 11:15 am: |
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I, too, have about 40 years of riding, some of it year round. When looking at the big picture, some of us old timers suffer from medical problems that require heated gear, or not riding. Some of us don't. Some of us have a lower tolerance for cold. Some just want the technological improvements in clothing to be warm without bulk.
I am glad you have success in riding during cold weather, Tramp, without electric gear. If you can do it, that's great.
The main thing is to ride, and enjoy it. Just be careful on the icy roads. |
Ratbuell
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 11:33 am: |
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I guess my use of heated gear comes from three things:
1. low blood pressure - I get cold easily (and freak out the docs - EVERY time they checked my BP in the hospital this summer, someone tried to "get someone" to look at me, or push some meds on me...until I explained it's always that low, and they looked at past days in my chart and saw that yes, it's always that way. Guess I need more stress in my life, lol)
2. hands caught in a car door when I was a kid - fingers have pinched blood vessels and they turn white/green very easily in the cold - a great party trick, I can bang them with a beer bottle and not feel it, but not so helpful when trying to work a clutch or a brake.
3. personal belief in "work smarter, not harder" - I don't have a damned thing to prove to anyone else. I want to ride. I want to enjoy the ride, as easily as I can and as bulk-free as I can. Therefore...my clothing is electric. It's out there, might as well take advantage of it  |
Tramp
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 11:39 am: |
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While I don't have 'em, I respect and admire heated grips.
Bikerjim's advice above is sage.
Scariest thing about Winter driving, in my experience, is having out-of-control, tumbling vehicles flying at me in my lane (in a curve , and knowing that, on ice, I can't do much about changing direction.
Twice this happened to me (!!!) and, each time, all I could do was to continue forward and hope that the hurtling, rolling and bouncing SUVs would somehow miss me.
They have, so far, by some outrageous miracle.
or by simple virtue of the fact that they were hurtling toward me on curves, and hence continued in their straight roll forward, while I followed my initial path into the curve.... |
Tramp
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 11:41 am: |
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Ratbuell- You can achieve equal warmth with very 'un-bulky' clothes, without the added carcinogenic EMFs
(PLEASE don't use those seat-heaters in your car, right under yer 'nards) |
Froggy
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 11:51 am: |
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Tramp, you need a Snow Claw
10107%2C,%2C.htm,http://www.mv-motorrad.de/cosmosh op/lshop,showdetail,13240,e,1105803788-30287,,1010 7,,,.htm
Or
http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Self-Tapping-C arbide-Tire-Studs-p-19555.html |
Babired
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 12:02 pm: |
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Yeah and then Tramp will need some of these to go with the tires!
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/stov.html
K |
U4euh
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 12:18 pm: |
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Yes I agree that if you can do it, do it. I have been riding with a one piece snow suit for a while, Neoprene covers over my gloves, Big thick Thinsulate Red Wings, baclava, etc..... And yes I was probably warm enough to stay out way longer than what I should have. My biggest thing is seeing theseother riders getting ready to go, leave whatever. Hell the only thing they do is plug in and their ready, while I am still hold on guys, gimme a second...because I am putting on all the stuff that was entirely too hot to walk around in. But hey if it works for you |
Tramp
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 12:25 pm: |
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I'll tell you this- my fear of an early departure from this world may just curtail my hiway ice riding, hence. |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 12:44 pm: |
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Ratbuell, You described my finger issue exactly. I have three that I froze just enough to damage the blood vessels to the point that when they get cold enough they turn totally white and are completely numb(and useless). I don't drink coffee, but I have been known to buy a cup to put my hands around until it cools down a bit, and then soak my fingers in it until they come back to life. Then they will sting like hell for a while. 
My lower back does a similar thing since the time it was operated on. Heat is good. And from the time I smashed my knees in a dirt bike incident by going over the bars while riding on a railroad bridge, heat is good.
These are a few situations that cause me difficulty that I really like to avoid by using my heated gear!
Funny though, after I rode my Uly 730 miles back from the 24th homecoming with freshly broken ribs and both ankles sprained, now that they are healed, those parts don't get bothered by the cold.
Hey Rat, how are your titanium parts doing in the cold? He's been mentioning that we may be part of the fairer sex, but at least he hasn't used the infamous HTFU |
Jb2
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 01:04 pm: |
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TRAMP,
Until two years ago I used to pride myself in being the only motorcycle on the roads for months in a row during the winter. It was easier to climatize my body by riding everyday. In the last couple of years other priorities have curtailed a lot of my riding but I still ride year around. I don't even own a Battery Tender, I simply ride. Don't know that you'll ever catch me in NY. I have a trip planned but it will be in the F-150 carrying precious old school skins to their owners. I'm more of a red rock kind of guy when it comes to travel. You're more than likely to find me in a dusty old, one-horse town out west enjoying the lack of humans and a big cigar with nothing more than a bike and a duffel. 
JB2 |
Tramp
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 01:23 pm: |
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Etenully- I have titanium (and stainless, and gore-tex(TM) parts, as well as numerous past frostbites that make my hands exceptionally cold-sensitive.
JB2-
You'd be shocked at the propensity of one-horse towns here in the Hudson Valley, a stone's throw from NY city.
That being said, I understand completely re: true old mining towns, etc., in the vast American West.
paradise. |
Jb2
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 01:34 pm: |
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Paradise, both visually and mentally. |
U4euh
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 03:29 pm: |
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Scored the Tourmaster heated gloves on ebay for a steel, they came in today. WOW, I like this. The gloves themselves are warm enough(36 degree test ride) after about 20 minutes of riding I kicked them on high and 10 minutes later had to reduce to low. I'm hooked. |
Rainman
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 04:25 pm: |
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I commute and may get up to a 20-minute ride at the max, so putting on electric gear, hooking up and warming up seems like a lot. I just put on the insulated First Gear jacket and slide into the Tourmaster overpants, put on the Firstgear winter gloves, wrap a scarf around my neck and tuck it up into the helmet around my chin. Works to about 25 degrees, but again, I'm not cruising for several hours, either. |
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