Cold days upon us!

agnes · 15 Sep 2010 at 08:35

Well, this morning I woke up and it was bloody chilly! 7C!!!!

So, anyone got any winter projects lined up? I want to do one, but have no idea where to start lol.

ags

Fireskull · 15 Sep 2010 at 08:47

Yea its getting cold already

Rode to work on monday in my BKS suit, damn fully vented race suits lol I was freezing, time to find the windblocker jacket...

My winter project is to still get the SV sorted, then possibly get started on the Africa twin see if we can get that thing going again...

agnes · 15 Sep 2010 at 08:56

I was tempted to pick up a Cagiva the other day... Selling for £600, engine had a few probs but nothing that couldn't be fixed with a cup of tea, spanner and a hammer! lol

Looked like this.... (Not original Dakar bike lol, just a copy)

And know what you mean about cold, I only have a 1 piece leather set and a overall for when it rains... Can get bloody cold!

ags

Dogbreath · 15 Sep 2010 at 09:26

I really like this weather (when it's not weeing down), lovely cool crisp mornings, stay nice and cool in my textiles and both the bike and the car have noticeably extra grunt. Only thing is I find it depressing how quickly it starts getting dark - I think I might suffer a bit from S.A.D. to be honest!

DanTheMan · 15 Sep 2010 at 09:31

It's going to be my first winter commuting on 2 wheels. The cold and dark don't bother me, it's just the bloody rain, I don't think it's stopped raining for the past 4 days here.

I have to say, my waterproofs have done a surprisingly good job so far.

Felix · 15 Sep 2010 at 09:45

Its been bloody cold in Scotland for the past month and the gale force winds meant I drove instead... Back to the bike tomorrow as the pope is visiting and traffic is going to be chaos.

apatia77 · 15 Sep 2010 at 10:26

My first winter on 2 wheels too, I'm not scared of cold but of cold+rain

Rain is my worst enemy atm.

I must go to local bike store asap and get winter gloves and rain proof jacket and trousers as the kit i've got atm is not water prof

agnes · 15 Sep 2010 at 10:39

For those doing their first winter commute on a bike, drink a tea or something hot just before you head off... Does wonders

I commuted over the last couple of winters and I can tell you, after a while it gets to you. The cold mornings at 3C or below just kill you...

After 25 miles your hands are numb and painful, you can't feel your face. Several times I was in agony from the pain from my fingers and had to take 5 mins in the toilets running them under cold water (cold is better, not hot...).

ags

apatia77 · 15 Sep 2010 at 11:10

agnes said:
For those doing their first winter commute on a bike, drink a tea or something hot just before you head off... Does wonders

I commuted over the last couple of winters and I can tell you, after a while it gets to you. The cold mornings at 3C or below just kill you...

After 25 miles your hands are numb and painful, you can't feel your face. Several times I was in agony from the pain from my fingers and had to take 5 mins in the toilets running them under cold water (cold is better, not hot...).

ags

That sounds like a horrid experience. I only commute 9 miles and it takes about 30 minutes as it's in London area. But I am not going to let myself go through pain like this, no way! I rather get hand muffs

agnes · 15 Sep 2010 at 11:15

apatia77 said:
That sounds like a horrid experience. I only commute 9 miles and it takes about 30 minutes as it's in London area. But I am not going to let myself go through pain like this, no way! I rather get hand muffs

I'm a stubborn git lol, all I wore was track leathers (all I own, safest option for me hehe), waterproof overalls to block wind (does bloody wonders!) along side none vented leather gloves with inner gloves.

I never wore or will wear textile gear. Just can't with the Ducati 748, the seating position is far too 'tucked in'.

ags

Fireskull · 15 Sep 2010 at 11:24

Yea spending the money on decent winter gloves is a must, though to be honest I found on reaaaaly cold days the Hein Gericke Lobster finger gloves to be the best!

Other than that, decent winter buff with the wooly bit keeps your neck warm and keeps the wind from coming up your helmet.

And I am the same as you agnes, for the last few years I still wore my full leathers with just a windproof shirt thing underneath and always had a 1 piece waterproof suit in my bag.

coltpython3 · 15 Sep 2010 at 11:29

wow. even in winter i sleep with the windows open. still get hot.

Flukester · 15 Sep 2010 at 11:36

Cant wait for snow again, I actually enjoy the challenge... will try not to fall off this year

Have a HG performance shell suit that keeps me warm whatever... makes it a pleasant expereince except when sliding down road

Fireskull · 15 Sep 2010 at 11:51

coltpython3 said:
wow. even in winter i sleep with the windows open. still get hot.

So do I but when you've got windchill of -20 your nads will never come down

agnes · 15 Sep 2010 at 12:09

coltpython3 said:
wow. even in winter i sleep with the windows open. still get hot.

Think it's at 30 mph you take off 7C... Something like that, so on a bike, on a dry winters day going down a A road at 90 when the temp is 3C can mean your hitting winds of -20C... Bloody cold. Like you, I leave my windows open as well. But it's a different ball park lol.

ags

apatia77 · 15 Sep 2010 at 12:11

I'm not sure what I'll do when the temperature will get close to freezing as I'll be too scared of black ice and obviously any snow on the roads is a no go for me too, I will probably ask you once we will get to Dec/Jan for some advice. Thankfully you only get so much snow in SE England

agnes · 15 Sep 2010 at 12:39

apatia77 said:
I'm not sure what I'll do when the temperature will get close to freezing as I'll be too scared of black ice and obviously any snow on the roads is a no go for me too, I will probably ask you once we will get to Dec/Jan for some advice. Thankfully you only get so much snow in SE England

Black ice is always a huge risk, but you can avoid that by sticking to main roads, not totaly avoid, but will decrease the chance of running into some.

Best trick is to simply take your time and read the road.

ags

Griffo · 15 Sep 2010 at 13:24

agnes said:
Think it's at 30 mph you take off 7C... Something like that, so on a bike, on a dry winters day going down a A road at 90 when the temp is 3C can mean your hitting winds of -20C... Bloody cold. Like you, I leave my windows open as well. But it's a different ball park lol.

ags

Damn, never thought/knew of those numbers. Motorway speeds must be... well, agony.

p.s. Flukes, love that photo still!

Knubje · 15 Sep 2010 at 13:41

apatia77 said:
My first winter on 2 wheels too, I'm not scared of cold but of cold+rain Rain is my worst enemy atm.

There is only one thing worse than cold + rain and that is cold+rain+dark.

My first ever night ride experience was on the way home from work (15 miles, incl motorway) and it was ****ing it down and pretty damn cold. The clocks had just gone back and I wasn't expecting it to be dark that night. Good times were not had. Sucked the fun outta riding tbh.

kippermitten · 15 Sep 2010 at 13:50

Gah some of you need to man up! ;-)

Its not the weathers fault your cold - get the gear right and you can ride all year round with no cold/wet issues.
When the temps hit 0 last winter I had a uniclo base layer t shirt, a long sleeve t shirt then my Frank Thomas textile jacket with the inner refelective thingy, legs were FT sallopettes with jeans underneath. If the rain was lashing ill put a rain suit over that.
Gloves - Hein Geriche winter tourer gloves with a thin silk liner.
Helmet - a couple of thin neck warmers work fine.
Layers help massivley as does proper wind stopper kit.
I started to use Specialized amber lense mbt glasses as well, helps fogging and means less chance of something in the eye with the visor up plus at night the amber gives a good contrast, really helps.
Also, light...get better bulbs and adjust the angle of the beam.

Job = good un.