Tips from northerners on cold weather riding.

LouisianaMotocross
Edited Date/Time 11/20/2022 5:11pm
Can any of my northern mx brothers give some tips I might not be thinking of for this terrible winter stretch we are having in the south. It’s been highs in the 47-50 range and my hands feel like an ice cube after two laps. I know many on vital have experience riding in similar temps(or colder) up north.

Best winter glove?

Tips for keeping body warm while keeping good movement. I wore a jacket last weekend but it wasn’t that comfortable. I’m thinking long John’s this time with no Jacket.
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Hcallz5
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Hcallz5 11/16/2022 7:58pm
11/16/2022 7:58pm
Leather gloves are great for cold weather riding. Just got back from a ride last weekend and one of the mornings it was 27. Use the exhaust pipe to warm up your hands.

Riding a trail that is outside your ability helps. Cussing and picking up your bike will keep you plenty warm.
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Timo
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Timo 11/16/2022 7:58pm
11/16/2022 7:58pm
Just get out and ride in it, you'll get used to the 40's with regular riding gear and a hoodie.
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soggy
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soggy 11/16/2022 8:11pm
11/16/2022 8:11pm
LouisianaMotocross wrote:
Can any of my northern mx brothers give some tips I might not be thinking of for this terrible winter stretch we are having in the...
Can any of my northern mx brothers give some tips I might not be thinking of for this terrible winter stretch we are having in the south. It’s been highs in the 47-50 range and my hands feel like an ice cube after two laps. I know many on vital have experience riding in similar temps(or colder) up north.

Best winter glove?

Tips for keeping body warm while keeping good movement. I wore a jacket last weekend but it wasn’t that comfortable. I’m thinking long John’s this time with no Jacket.
Hand guards do a lot to keep the wind off your fingers.
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Bruce372
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Bruce372 11/16/2022 8:18pm
11/16/2022 8:18pm
When I cycled all year round in Illinois, I would add vodka to my water bottles to stop them freezing.
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Hcallz5
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Hcallz5 11/16/2022 8:23pm
11/16/2022 8:23pm
Also pick up a wind breaker so the cold doesn't go right through your clothes.
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wwdiii
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wwdiii 11/16/2022 8:23pm
11/16/2022 8:23pm
Hcallz5 wrote:
Leather gloves are great for cold weather riding. Just got back from a ride last weekend and one of the mornings it was 27. Use the...
Leather gloves are great for cold weather riding. Just got back from a ride last weekend and one of the mornings it was 27. Use the exhaust pipe to warm up your hands.

Riding a trail that is outside your ability helps. Cussing and picking up your bike will keep you plenty warm.
So that’s why I don’t get cold when I ride trails in the winter!!!
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erik_94COBRA
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erik_94COBRA 11/16/2022 8:25pm
11/16/2022 8:25pm
This weather sucks. (Houston area)

I have a set of roomy gear I can wear a base layer under for sub 50 deg weather. Below 40 means I drink beers in the garage.
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CraigCrashes
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CraigCrashes 11/16/2022 9:01pm
11/16/2022 9:01pm
Latex rubber gloves under your MX gloves help a ton
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jmo443
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jmo443 11/16/2022 9:03pm
11/16/2022 9:03pm
Latex gloves under your riding gloves. But you have to make sure your hands don’t sweat. And a lot of the newer gloves that just slip on will slip off when wearing latex gloves under. Hand guards work great to block wind too like the guy said above.
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jmo443
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jmo443 11/16/2022 9:04pm
11/16/2022 9:04pm
CraigCrashes wrote:
Latex rubber gloves under your MX gloves help a ton
Looks like you beat me as I was typing. Old school trick.
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profeshenal125 11/16/2022 9:18pm
11/16/2022 9:18pm
For ice riding I wore thin type long johns, thin snow pants, knee shin guards, shift Enslow bagy pants . Top 2 thin layers of pull ovr shirts. Tape ove mouth guard on helmet, winter gloves. Thin face mask. Doing figure 8,s or small turn tracks . You get soaking wet sweating. 2 degrees and In a hurry I,ve cut 1 gal jugs and tie wrapped them on the bars. It doesn’t work for high speeds to well they move around.
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RPM68
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RPM68 11/16/2022 9:40pm
11/16/2022 9:40pm
profeshenal125 wrote:
For ice riding I wore thin type long johns, thin snow pants, knee shin guards, shift Enslow bagy pants . Top 2 thin layers of pull...
For ice riding I wore thin type long johns, thin snow pants, knee shin guards, shift Enslow bagy pants . Top 2 thin layers of pull ovr shirts. Tape ove mouth guard on helmet, winter gloves. Thin face mask. Doing figure 8,s or small turn tracks . You get soaking wet sweating. 2 degrees and In a hurry I,ve cut 1 gal jugs and tie wrapped them on the bars. It doesn’t work for high speeds to well they move around.
I think I'm proud I understood that...
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Stewyeww
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Stewyeww 11/16/2022 10:30pm
11/16/2022 10:30pm
Multiple thin layers instead of 1 thick layer, latex gloves, a wind buff or something around your neck, rain jacket and pants will help keep the wind off.
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ns503
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ns503 11/17/2022 2:52am
11/17/2022 2:52am
47-50 is cold?

Woohoo
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ns503
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ns503 11/17/2022 2:58am
11/17/2022 2:58am
But more seriously. The first place cold bugs me is the face/head. Helmet & goggles can be kinda leaky around the edges. Maybe get a thin balaclava. Or a dual sport helmet with a shield. The rest of the body is kinda simple - layer up. +1 the windbreaker or shell mentioned above. And heavier gloves. Could even go to the extent of sledding gloves on the thinner side - with longer cuffs. Wind up the sleeve is kinda chilly too.
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Titan1
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Titan1 11/17/2022 4:59am
11/17/2022 4:59am
40’s is my favorite weather…I ride normal gear (and I only own vented gear)….when it’s in the 30’s I’ll put on a windbreaker…which I usually end up taking off once my heart rate gets up.

If you are cold at those temps, you aren’t riding hard enough. Lol
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wrc777
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wrc777 11/17/2022 5:07am
11/17/2022 5:07am
sandtrack315 wrote:
https://www.100percent.com/products/brisker-glove-black-black

I shove hand warmers on the top of my hands as well.
quadzrulebro wrote:
These gloves are the hot ticket for sure.
Those are the best gloves I have used in any weather. Perfect for 50 degrees. If they didn't get hot in the summer I would probably wear them year round.

There is also a waterproof version but they feel weird on my hands so I have never bought them to see how they feel on a bike.
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profeshenal125 11/17/2022 5:14am
11/17/2022 5:14am
profeshenal125 wrote:
For ice riding I wore thin type long johns, thin snow pants, knee shin guards, shift Enslow bagy pants . Top 2 thin layers of pull...
For ice riding I wore thin type long johns, thin snow pants, knee shin guards, shift Enslow bagy pants . Top 2 thin layers of pull ovr shirts. Tape ove mouth guard on helmet, winter gloves. Thin face mask. Doing figure 8,s or small turn tracks . You get soaking wet sweating. 2 degrees and In a hurry I,ve cut 1 gal jugs and tie wrapped them on the bars. It doesn’t work for high speeds to well they move around.
RPM68 wrote:
I think I'm proud I understood that...
Haha yeah I probably shouldn’t post after driving across 6 states 5 had high winds with snow blowing horizontal into my face. The quick transition into winter is a shock. But I Love the November winds and scary sky. Tune into weather band you hear. Warning gale force winds 30 foot waves in Lake Michigan, small vessel warning, etc. a lot of ships went down in this unique weather. Including the Danial J Morrel in Nov 66 Dennis Hale an orphan from Ohio was the only survivor of 29 men. He was afloat for 2 plus days b4 rescued. I met the guy 9 yrs ago. I told him my mom went out of laber so my parents left the hospital and went for a drive. And watched your ship come into port on 11-18. His ship sunk on the next ld. Imagine hearing a 900 ft ship break in 1/2 . Best survival story ever he has a book.
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agn5008
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agn5008 11/17/2022 5:22am
11/17/2022 5:22am
ns503 wrote:
47-50 is cold?

Woohoo
I didn’t wanna be the one to question it but jeez. 47-50 degrees most of us northerners are wearing our regular riding gear still. Maybe 2 riding jerseys instead of 1 or a very light wind breaker/coat. At those temps we certainly haven’t broken out the winter gloves and long John’s yet 😂
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FilthyGrungy 11/17/2022 5:29am
11/17/2022 5:29am
The latex glove trick is legit. From my perspective, if its 35 and not windy, you are good to go in the woods with minimal change in apparel. about 5 min of warm up riding and my body is cooking. The kid wears long underwear under his gear indoors.

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Spoonguy
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Spoonguy 11/17/2022 5:35am
11/17/2022 5:35am
Tusk grip heaters and hippo hands. Klim face mask, brisker gloves. Ride into the low 20s with kold kutters.
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soggy
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soggy 11/17/2022 5:41am
11/17/2022 5:41am
Titan1 wrote:
40’s is my favorite weather…I ride normal gear (and I only own vented gear)….when it’s in the 30’s I’ll put on a windbreaker…which I usually end...
40’s is my favorite weather…I ride normal gear (and I only own vented gear)….when it’s in the 30’s I’ll put on a windbreaker…which I usually end up taking off once my heart rate gets up.

If you are cold at those temps, you aren’t riding hard enough. Lol
40’s in a humid climate is much colder then 40’s in Utah. I agree 45-55 is ideal in Utah.
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dl117
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dl117 11/17/2022 5:42am
11/17/2022 5:42am
there are a few companies that make a "thin" snocross glove, fxr has one and does fly, we will wear them when its cold, but the latex glove trick like numerous people have mentioned works also.. We get to ride indoors in the winter, but its still colder than you have now.
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sandman768
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sandman768 11/17/2022 5:44am
11/17/2022 5:44am
50 is great riding weather! Warm those hands up off the silencer… all about the hands….
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snillum
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snillum 11/17/2022 5:57am
11/17/2022 5:57am
Fly has a neoprene glove that helps block the wind from going through your gloves to your fingers. I have used them on the road bike as well and they do alright. Otherwise, squeeze the bars as tight as you can so that the arm pump semi numbs your hands.

For wind breakers, make sure it has vents in the back so it doesn't collect sweat and moisture in your shirt. Road cycling companies ( Specialized, Pearl Izumi) have pretty decent cool weather vented wind breakers/jackets that help with staying warm but not getting so hot you sweat then get cold because you are wet.

Other things that are worth paying money for are good base layers. A good base layer helps with wicking moisture but keeping your body temp stable.

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jridout12
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jridout12 11/17/2022 5:58am
11/17/2022 5:58am
40-50's is the best riding weather in my opinion. The dirt holds moisture better and I don't sweat like crazy. But I usually just go out for a 15 minute warmup and my hands usually get pretty cold then I go back in and warm them up and they will be good for the rest of the day. I don't know why but it works for me
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GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 11/17/2022 6:02am
11/17/2022 6:02am Edited Date/Time 11/17/2022 6:06am
At 45-50 I just wear a thin cycling wind vest or maybe the full jacket.

When it gets into the 30's I add a thin balaclava, merino wool base layer, and TLD Swelter gloves.

I love riding in the cold. Give me temps in the 40's over 100's any day.
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