Cold Weather Gear

[JeremySmith]

OK, I'm back with more questions. I need to start commuting 80+ miles a day on my 'S, as my truck (Dodge dually w/ the V-10) is getting awfully expensive to drive around. I'm in northern Indiana, and the winters aren't usually too bad, just really cold and wet. So, I need you guys to give me some recommendations. I won't have the bike in snow or on ice, but as long as the roads are salt-free, I'll be out. I need a jacket, pants, boots, gloves, and tires. What do you guys use?

[turnerm]

For synthetics, I think the Aerostich line is pretty darn good.
The 1 piece Aerostich Roadcrafter is nice cause it keeps wind out and its really quick to put on and take off. It fits easily over work clothes.
My new favorite for winter is the Darien jacket, because its big enough to fit over lots of layers. And its long so it keeps elements out, like rain and wind.
The Darien pants are the most comfortable that I have used. And they're waterproof too.
The best windproof jacket I own is the Vanson, but it doesnt fit many layers under it and its not waterproof.
For cold conditions, you should get heated vest or liners.
Gerbings is the best around.

[lennie]

i wear the Clover wind and waterproof gear with removeable liners. works well all year round.

use their gloves as well and the diadora waterproff boots.

[Andy U]

I've had the Aerostitch two-piece since last spring and it works real well. I, like many others, think if I could do it again I'd go with the one-piece. It just looks a lot better because there isn't much over-lap of material in the mid-section. Not a big deal, though. I thought the versatility of two-pieces would be desired for times when I want to meet people for lunch, but it's an inconvenience to take the suit apart just to go to lunch or run errands. Better to keep a spare jacket (whatever you're replacing) at work for the short mid-day jaunts. Bad news is Aerostitch is very back-logged and they may quote you 10-13 weeks for delivery. The stories about rain soaking the crotch are unfortunately true but otherwise a great suit. It's purely dernier nylon and armor so can get chilly on longer rides or cold days. Count on layering underneath and/or get the Gerbing's (see below).

Now that it's gotten cool (for us Calif. people!), I'm also riding with the Gerbing's jacket with primaloft. Can't say enough about this jacket...it's truly amazing and you'll wonder how you did without it before. Their lead seems to be about 2 weeks but I had to go through one cycle of getting a different size so over-all it took about a month to feel the warmth!

Good luck in your choice!

Andy

[motoman]

I'm using the Cycloak jacket from Reima. Veddy nice! Zip out liner. More stlylish than Aerostitch. Put a Gerbing under that and you can ride till the snow stops you.

Had a Darien. Also very nice, but a bit boxy? It's just a goretex lined cordura shell. Which is what you want. But lots of people make that now, so can't see paying their high prices. Even the Joe Rocket Ballistic and the Tourmaster something or other will be fine with fleece underneath.

Also picked up a pair of Gericke Overland pants for $130. Veddy nice! Plus a slight Euro look. Again, zip-out liner.

For boots, I'm looking at Sidi Strada, or Alpstars Sebring. But I have big feet (48+) so they are hard to find.

Olympia makes great gloves for all seasons. Or get the Gerbing gloves and plug 'em into your jacket. Who needs heated grips?!

Also try Schampa.com for, get this: a dickey! Actually a pullover heavy thing. Really works! Amazing how important it is to keep heat from escaping up from out the top of your jacket.

Also balaclava perhaps? At some point it just gets too damn cold, and by the time you put on all the gear, you could just go skiing! Or do a Michelin Man commercial

[doberman]

Try some synthetic sports underwear, too.
Works for me.

[Len]

I'm all kitted out in Heine Gericke which is fine gear. The only prob is the odd damp crutch. I don't complain too much about that as I never found anybody who can make completly waterproof trousers. Why is that?

Rukka also has a very good name here in the uk. All the magazine jocks use it. But then they can claim it back on tax.

As for skiing I've been far colder on the bike than I ever have up a mountain:-)

[Malc]

I use:

Dainese gortex jacket, the outside pockets are not waterproof but otherwise fine.
Dainese gortex trousers, no leaks and warm.
Summer Aplinestar boots with gortex sox.
Alpinestars waterproof gloves.
Gialli heated jacket.

I ride 80 miles a day whatever the weather, I think the coldest commute so far this winter was at -5 C, wearing a cotton work shirt under the Gialli I had no problems at all.

Tyres are Continental Contiforce, equal to 020's and cheaper. For the mileage you intend doing don't get talked into a sport tyre.

Malc

[ismothegizmo]

Cycloak is great as it's a Finnish product and developed according to local weather conditions/requirements. I guarantee we have enough bad weather to do the "laboratory" testing. Cycloak is a marketing name for Yoko brand in the US. They have a supreme selection of allweather bikewear. I use the Yoko Evolution Jacket and pants and have never looked back. Check out your local dealer at http://www.cycloak.com/index2.html (Evolution)

Ismo

[Nitro]

Only one chice: ROADCRAFTER.

Cool

[Boxertrix]

Aerostich is the most convenient way to travel as you can get the one piece on and off in seconds. The aint that warm though so make sure you can get plenty of layers under the suit to geep warm. Or you could always get a heated waistcoat?

Boxertrix

[hjr1100s]

Like Malc I ride whole year in similar wheather conditions (all **** from the sky that wasn't dumped on England comes down in Holland...).

I'm in BMW gear: boots, trousers and jacket ('Seattle'). All goretex and very durable. It will last until it's fashionable for the *third* time. Don't need any more layers 'cos my ride to office only takes 30 minutes. It has a nice fit, soft/flexible protector pads, detachable high collar, nice details like rubber coated buttons, waterproof pocket and sleeves wich will go over your gloves while the lining will go underneeth. BUT ... it's quite expensive.

HJ

[Kam]

Long tour, bad weather, work commute...the roadcrafter is well suited to all of these. I also have the aerostitch heated vest which is damn hot when it's on. For chilly weekend rides in fair weather it's hard to beat the vanson srx jacket and pants. Absolutely windproof, and less bulky. The best synthetic underwear (trust me I ice climb!) is made by Patagonia. All different weights for summer and winter. Socks, smartwool or bridgdale. No winter gloves, we have heated grips!

www.aerostitch.com
www.patagonia.com
www.mgear.com a good all around outdoor gear site

hth

[Bart Jacobs]

Hi there,

Live in Belgium. Most of the time rainy weather and cold. Use gortex suit (SPIDI) but on top I prefer a Raintec suit (BMW). Good against the rain and dirt that cars throw up. Resembles a sailing dry suit. Makes you visible (yellow and gray+ reflective bands)
Wasn't too fond of the explicit colors in the beginning but now after 30000 km on 1,5 years I appreciate it the more . It can be

Bart




Bart

[adrianw]

Hi,

I use the BMW kit as well

Touren Jacket
3/4 length Gortex / Kevlar + something else (burns at 450C)
Jacket has a full zip for trousers. (also has half zip)
Has two outer zips to help with the wooly jumpers.
Has storm cuffs to fit the wrist of the gloves under(toasty)
Has Vent zips that run the length of the arm.
Good Shoulder and elbow/forearm protection.
Has Spine protector, but doesn't seen that impressive
8 pockets, four of which waterproof

Seattle trousers
Has full zip for jackets.
Good knee/shine/hip/upper leg protection
2 pockets

Kalahari Boots (My favourite)
Gortex Softroad boot.
Good shine/ankel protection
Rachet mechaism to bolt you in.
Nice steel attachments on the toe for kicking car panels in with or just leaving a trail of sparks behind the bike to warn the car drivers to back off. Classy stuff. Surpisingly effective too, must be a big trail.

BMW Winter Gloves
Gortex/Kevlar gloves.
They get watterlogged but the water doesn't make it inside the glove to your hand as long as you use the storm cuffs on the jacket correctly.
Not enough padding for the indicator paddles the stiching tends to go on the thumbs, which is a little disappointing.


The jacket and the boots I particularly like, but the whole lot help me with my 25,000 miles a year. The stuff is also consipcous enough to be alble to work at clientsites with.

The outer waterproof pockets on the jacket don't pass the rizzla test.

Yes it can be expensive, but the dealers occasionally have a clear out, I got the boots for 100 sterling reduced from 170. The jacket and trousers were more like 650 sterling all in.

As for water proofing until, I developed a hole in the seem of the trousers next to my left bollock I wouldn't get wet. Now I do a bit. The jacket in genral is fine, but if you don't get the collar stuff attached to your neck correctly then you'll get a wet shirt.

I would recomend it over that Italy Dinaisty stuff.

Regards,

Adrian.