Tips from northerners on cold weather riding.

LouisianaMotocross 11/17/2022 6:04am
11/17/2022 6:04am
ns503 wrote:
47-50 is cold?

Woohoo
I know it sounds crazy and like us southerners are pansy’s in the cold but it’s really a shock to our system(or mine at least)when the high is only in the 40s. My hands are the big thing as the cold makes them go numb. I know lsu played Arkansas last weekend and the high was in the 40s and the lsu team had all kinds of stuff to keep warm. Twitter had a field day with them but it’s just not what we are accustom to.

Thanks for the tips. I am going to try some this weekend.
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swordfish
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swordfish 11/17/2022 6:16am
11/17/2022 6:16am
Heated grips. Cheap and easy.
Neoprene gloves.
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wrc777
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wrc777 11/17/2022 6:21am
11/17/2022 6:21am
Costco has some long underwear called 32 heat that works well under your standard gear in that 40-50 range. It doesn’t get too hot like normal thermal underwear can. That plus brisker gloves works for me. If it gets down to freezing I try not to ride unless it is sand. The top layer of dirt melting with the layer underneath still frozen is slicker than ice. Sand doesn’t do that so much. So you southern guys watch it if is freezing for a few days and you get a 50 degree day.
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HarrowDrag 11/17/2022 6:27am
11/17/2022 6:27am
On behalf of the Pacific Northwest-
Suck it up!

40-50 degrees is prime for the bike and moisture content.
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Ed_C29
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Ed_C29 11/17/2022 6:48am
11/17/2022 6:48am
Rode in southern Wisconsin this past Saturday. Mid 30’s out and snow flurries but the track conditions were great! Hands get cold first moto but once you get riding you’re plenty warm.
4
onewheelwheaties 11/17/2022 6:58am
11/17/2022 6:58am
wrc777 wrote:
Costco has some long underwear called 32 heat that works well under your standard gear in that 40-50 range. It doesn’t get too hot like normal...
Costco has some long underwear called 32 heat that works well under your standard gear in that 40-50 range. It doesn’t get too hot like normal thermal underwear can. That plus brisker gloves works for me. If it gets down to freezing I try not to ride unless it is sand. The top layer of dirt melting with the layer underneath still frozen is slicker than ice. Sand doesn’t do that so much. So you southern guys watch it if is freezing for a few days and you get a 50 degree day.
I second the 32 Degree stuff and brisker gloves (or FLY equivalent) for winter riding too. For $10 the 32 Degree stuff from Costco is every bit as good as my Under Armour and other expensive brand stuff. If it is below freezing then I may throw on my enduro jacket/vest and neck buff too. If it is in the single digits I'll throw on the latex gloves as well but my hands typically get too sweaty to keep them on for more than a warm up ride.

Vests are better than jackets in my opinion since you don't get the arm restriction but it still keeps your core warm, unless you're riding in below freezing temps or doing long transfer sections.
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kb228
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kb228 11/17/2022 7:12am
11/17/2022 7:12am
Heated gloves, windbreaker, normal gear. Balaclava for your neck. Works good in 20-30 deg temps.
1
Banzai551
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Banzai551 11/17/2022 7:21am
11/17/2022 7:21am
Thin latex medical gloves and "under armour" cold weather base layers. If in a pitch and broke, a old pro football trick was to wear nylons under football gear.
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aees
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aees 11/17/2022 7:55am
11/17/2022 7:55am
Electrict/insulation tape the clutch and front brake lever, in combo with handguards. Can ride around freezing point with that combo in normal mx gloves
2
ridinginthedust 11/17/2022 8:04am
11/17/2022 8:04am
snillum wrote:
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...
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.

https://www.flyracing.com/products/331717?sku=371-14107
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Coach529
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Coach529 11/17/2022 8:17am
11/17/2022 8:17am
I have never found a pair of "cold weather" gloves I am happy with the fit. I use latex gloves under normal moto gloves. Tape your levers.

Down to the 30's I am fine with normal non vented moto pants. I wear Under Armor Heat Gear tights year round with knee braces.

For my upper body, at 40-50 I add a vest. Below 40 I add a grid fleece crew neck (First Lite Klamath).

If I am still cold with the Klamath and a vest I will add a wind breaker.





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Forty
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Forty 11/17/2022 8:18am
11/17/2022 8:18am
Part of riding in the cold is just doing it, once you've hit the track or trail your body responds. The most difficult part for me is just getting out of the truck and on the bike and moving, once that happens the ride takes over, body responds and if you've underdressed or overdressed you'll know soon enough.

Each time you ride in the cold after that you'll have more data from the previous ride and can adjust accordingly.

Like most have said, your hands are the first to suffer as you're squeezing the blood out of them, and they are at the front, taking clean cold air. Layer with a glove that breaks the wind and also hand guards to break the wind.
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wwdiii
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wwdiii 11/17/2022 8:22am
11/17/2022 8:22am
snillum wrote:
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...
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.

ridinginthedust wrote:
https://www.flyracing.com/products/331717?sku=371-14107
Just bought a pair of those Flyracing gloves off Amazon for 25.44, had an Amazon gift card so they were free. We drop about 2k a month with Amazon or more, get all kinds of gift card and points.
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GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 11/17/2022 8:29am
11/17/2022 8:29am
snillum wrote:
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...
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.

ridinginthedust wrote:
https://www.flyracing.com/products/331717?sku=371-14107
Those look like a great middle ground between normal gloves and bulky neoprene, which can be overkill. I really just need a wind breaker for my hands most of the time.
2
ARM670
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ARM670 11/17/2022 8:30am
11/17/2022 8:30am
ns503 wrote:
47-50 is cold?

Woohoo
LouisianaMotocross wrote:
I know it sounds crazy and like us southerners are pansy’s in the cold but it’s really a shock to our system(or mine at least)when the...
I know it sounds crazy and like us southerners are pansy’s in the cold but it’s really a shock to our system(or mine at least)when the high is only in the 40s. My hands are the big thing as the cold makes them go numb. I know lsu played Arkansas last weekend and the high was in the 40s and the lsu team had all kinds of stuff to keep warm. Twitter had a field day with them but it’s just not what we are accustom to.

Thanks for the tips. I am going to try some this weekend.
We do outages at a steel mill in Northwest Ohio and they bring a crew in from Alabama, its funny the 1st week of April we are dressed light as the weather is warming up but the guys from Alabama are dressed like its in the negatives and they are bitching how cold it is. Its what your used to.
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lugnut262
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lugnut262 11/17/2022 8:58am
11/17/2022 8:58am
Hand guards are a big help. Have had good luck with the 100% cold weather gloves. Anything thicker bothers me as you lose feel of the bars. Exhaust for warming up the fingers is always a huge help.

As far as keeping the body warm, I prefer a vest or a windbreaker for the weather you are dealing with. Less bulky than a jacket or sweatshirt, cuts the wind nice and keeps the core warm.

Make sure to let your bike warm up properly!
1
suspensionguy 11/17/2022 9:18am
11/17/2022 9:18am
Handguards, 100% brisker gloves and fly long johns are really good too.

We primarily ride in the winter here in Central Oregon. My hands often go numb but once I get them back warm I’m good for the day. Planning on riding today and the high is 34, the dirt will be killer.
2
Luke_Richards 11/17/2022 9:25am
11/17/2022 9:25am
suspensionguy wrote:
Handguards, 100% brisker gloves and fly long johns are really good too. We primarily ride in the winter here in Central Oregon. My hands often go...
Handguards, 100% brisker gloves and fly long johns are really good too.

We primarily ride in the winter here in Central Oregon. My hands often go numb but once I get them back warm I’m good for the day. Planning on riding today and the high is 34, the dirt will be killer.
High of 34? Damn does the ground not freeze
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sam83
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sam83 11/17/2022 10:03am
11/17/2022 10:03am
Handguards, a hoodie, taped levers, and latex under gloves is good into the 20’s. Harder you ride the easier you’ll stay warm
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wrc777
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wrc777 11/17/2022 11:07am
11/17/2022 11:07am
sam83 wrote:
Handguards, a hoodie, taped levers, and latex under gloves is good into the 20’s. Harder you ride the easier you’ll stay warm
Use the plastic arc levers and you don’t need tape.
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M1000
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M1000 11/17/2022 12:01pm
11/17/2022 12:01pm
Spoonguy wrote:
Tusk grip heaters and hippo hands. Klim face mask, brisker gloves. Ride into the low 20s with kold kutters.
This right here. Get yourself some heated grips. Plug 12v battery, and stay warm. Might ad/hoc some snowmobile/ATV handlebar heater apparatus (heater controls….they do get warm…blisters sometimes so hot).
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yak651
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yak651 11/17/2022 12:27pm
11/17/2022 12:27pm
These Klim gloves work great. They are thin and goretex so pretty wind proof. Use them snowmobiling also until below zero
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MotoCoUSA
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MotoCoUSA 11/17/2022 1:20pm
11/17/2022 1:20pm
The best thing I've found no matter what I put on that works for me is I just ride until I can't feel my hands, let them defrost and get feeling back, then I'm good to go the rest of the day. Just works. Run handguards, I've found the Fox legion thermo gloves to work best for me, and if its below 30 Ill rock a shell jacket - other than that just a hoodie.
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Yzf916
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Yzf916 11/17/2022 1:42pm
11/17/2022 1:42pm
From a fellow southerner. Latex gloves. I always have a box of 100 on the shelf in the garage for working on the bike. Oil changes, filters, greasing, etc. And always throw a handful in the gear bag this time of year.
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fins227
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fins227 11/17/2022 1:50pm
11/17/2022 1:50pm
Just keep your hands warm. Latex gloves break almost immediately in my experience. I like they grey wool gloves moose sells.
1
suspensionguy 11/17/2022 6:56pm
11/17/2022 6:56pm
suspensionguy wrote:
Handguards, 100% brisker gloves and fly long johns are really good too. We primarily ride in the winter here in Central Oregon. My hands often go...
Handguards, 100% brisker gloves and fly long johns are really good too.

We primarily ride in the winter here in Central Oregon. My hands often go numb but once I get them back warm I’m good for the day. Planning on riding today and the high is 34, the dirt will be killer.
Luke_Richards wrote:
High of 34? Damn does the ground not freeze
Sometimes, but that makes it like Velcro, it was like this .. turn track I burnt in close to home…


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wrc777
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wrc777 11/17/2022 7:00pm
11/17/2022 7:00pm
suspensionguy wrote:
Handguards, 100% brisker gloves and fly long johns are really good too. We primarily ride in the winter here in Central Oregon. My hands often go...
Handguards, 100% brisker gloves and fly long johns are really good too.

We primarily ride in the winter here in Central Oregon. My hands often go numb but once I get them back warm I’m good for the day. Planning on riding today and the high is 34, the dirt will be killer.
Luke_Richards wrote:
High of 34? Damn does the ground not freeze
suspensionguy wrote:
Sometimes, but that makes it like Velcro, it was like this .. turn track I burnt in close to home… [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/11/17/577227/s1200_36E3B40C_EE48_47C0_B6BF_C367606A3E47.jpg[/img]
Sometimes, but that makes it like Velcro, it was like this .. turn track I burnt in close to home…


Sand or decomposed granite?
cable
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cable 11/17/2022 7:22pm
11/17/2022 7:22pm
You actually want to go out a little cold as your body will get warm and sweat. thats worse. thats how we dress for winter mountain biking or skiing. just figure out what works for your hands and feet. mud guards on bars help a ton
2
Cygrace74
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Cygrace74 11/17/2022 7:39pm
11/17/2022 7:39pm
Evs has an extremely thin thermal I use for cycling and moto under my jersey under 50. If it’s 40ish I wear a very thin windbreaker. Hoodies under 40 but usually get too hot after a couple laps
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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 11/17/2022 8:19pm
11/17/2022 8:19pm
When it comes to riding in truly cold/riding in the snow type conditions…?

Sled gear (snowmobile gear)…
Especially gloves jacket and pants.

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