Modern Vespa

Hi, I'm going to be riding through 1-2 degrees celsius weather later this week, (grapevine, CA, north of LA).

on the way I up I wore, jeans, a mesh jacket, and full "Freeze-out" thermals underneath and I was FREEZING. I mean FREEZING, and temp was 10-13 degrees celsius (thats 50-55 f).

How the hell am I going to prepare for 32-35?!

I thought about getting a Termoscud but that window passed as it would have had to have been shipped in from europe and I plan on going back down sometime this weekend.


Are heated glove going to be a must? Should I just buy another motorcycle winter jacket and pants?

Or should I just go to REI, get winter stuff, and wear it over the mesh jacket and jeans I already have?


I own the Columbia, Glacier to Glade II jacket, which can fit over the mesh armored jacket I have (Dainese air frame). Will that be adequate warmth?

http://www.rei.com/product/855842/columbia-glacier-to-glade-ii-interchange-3-in-1-insulated-jacket-mens


Trying to avoid a closet full of moto gear if possible.

I don't think having different sets of gear for winter and summer is too much motorcycle stuff. I'm pretty sure a lined, armoured jacket will be better for warmth than putting a regular jacket on over mesh, and this probably won't be the only time you have to ride in cold/wet conditions, so it's a long-term investment. Being cold on a bike is bloody miserable, as you have discovered!

I have heated grips, which I love, but if you don't want to go down that route a pair of inner gloves can help; I just got a cheap pair from a sports shop. When it's really cold I sometimes use the one-shot heat packs, also from sports shops, tucking them into my glove over the back or palm of my hand.

Good luck!

Grabber hand and body warmers work good. Put some in gloves and toes. Get body pads and buff head and neck warmer.

I agree Huskyteer.
I wear bib type snow pants when it's really cold (For me), wind proof/water proof and insulated.

My brother had a tip for scooting in icy weather - stuff a newspaper down the front of your jacket.

I have a pair of sheepskin mits for cold weather ( the wool is on the inside), and in freezing weather I wear them over my gauntlets.

Mike

For legs and lower torso, try rain trousers over corduroy. The rain trousers will keep cold air out and body heat in. Don't need expensive rain trousers (e.g. "motorcycle") any poly/PVC ones will work . Corduroy is a better insulator than denim. Worked great for me riding in 30ish temps in WA state when I lived there.

For upper body, I had an N-3B military arctic parka that had been issued to me when stationed in northern climes, which may not be easy to get on short notice.


Get a rain suit large enough, and wear the jacket over all your other upper body apparel. What you wore was insufficient probably due to no wind barrier.

And, Layer, layer, layer.

Get 'REAL" motorcycle outfit such as stuff Aerostich sells. Lacking that, long johns, rain pants and jacket, over the wrist gloves/mitts.

Best on several years of trying with lined mesh jacket...they are junk, only good for freezing.

Big Vespa windshield, cut so you can see over, provides great protection.

Rubber overboots help feet stay warm.

get some goretex winther clothing. I have garments from the brand Dane and even at -2°C I didn't feel the cold. I have three finger gloves from the same brand, great to keep your hands warm.

My opinion is that a Gore-Tex-containing garment is not required for engaging in rather sedentary activities, such as riding, in temps around 1-2°C. This rather expensive material is valued for it's ability to allow water vapor to pass through, keeping the wearer dry, while keeping wind and rain from coming back the other way. If one is not doing something aerobic, any good windproof material will work. Gore-Tex by itself offers very little in the way of insulation.
If one is going on a brisk hike, on the other hand, Gore-Tex can be pretty groovy stuff!

I just went through the Grapevine yesterday up the 5 on the way to Hanford. I was in my Tourmaster Transition jacket, jeans with my over pants on over, a pair of waterproof riding boots and my Rev'It gloves. I also wear a full face helmet and I left Ventura county at 7 am, was in Tejon Ranch around 8:15, and in Hanford around 10:30 after some rest stops. It was in the high 30's to low 40's from the Grapevine up to Coalinga. I was perfectly comfortable the whole ride.... I was riding my BV350 btw

I really don't think you'll need any crazy gear or anything. Just standard cool weather type attire, and be sure to layer as it'll keep you warmer when necessary and you can doff it once it warms a bit

In my experience, warm overpants and winter weight gloves are critical to staying warm in cold weather as Techenigma notes. If you feel you need to gear up but don't want to spend the money for winter motorcycle gear, you can often find bargains on snowmobile gear or insulated overalls that will do quite nicely for occasional use.

My first thought is you have to do more to for a wind barrier....before I invested in warmer gear, I found that a pair of nylon overpants for running helped a bunch, then went on to a pair of insulated ski pants. Same with gloves. No armor in my insulated gloves, but did a nice job of keeping my fingers warm. As mentioned above, even a cheap rain coat or shell over your mesh can do wonders. Obviously you won't win any points for style, but you won't freeze your butt off either.

My MSF instructor was a fan of snowboarding gloves, good warmth/cost ratio, FWIW

I love the military surplus gear and it's usually dirt cheap, so if you can find an Army-Navy type store near you, check out what they have as far as insulated overalls. They may even carry non-surplus stuff like Carhartt or Dickies. Look for insulated coveralls and glove liners there, and don't forget a scarf or Buff for around your neck. In a pinch, latex work gloves also work well under your heavy gloves. Don't dehydrate either and match any coffee that you have with a glass of water. You'll be stopping a lot, but that will help warm you up too!

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Looks like the highs are around 50 when I play on going back. Thanks for the heads up.

I'll just make sure to leave SF early and get to that area around noon. I've been accustomed to going at night time- when it drops super low. I'll just go during the day and save some money.

My last long trip (for me) of 130 miles taught me the importance of having gloves that are long enough to cover the cuffs of my jacket. Shorter gloves, even warm ones, didn't keep the wind from creeping up my sleeves.

If nothing else get something on top of the mesh jacket to stop the wind from hitting your mesh. Even with an inner liner the mesh will be colder than a lined fabric jacket.

I love when I read that a fellow scooterist in California has problems with the cold. Welcome to the rest of the world....well, part of it anyhow.

1. Keeping hands warm is easy enough, go to a good MC shop.
2. Lots of layers of stuff mentioned already.
3. Knees. The shop above has also pull over knee pads of synthetic material that keeps cold away from knees. My knees are never cold.
4. Get a tall windshield. No cold (only from behind your shoulders, so keep them wrapped warm).
5. Get warm things for your feet. Same shop as above.

I ride daily, when it doesn't snow. Germany can get cold. Usually below zero in Winter.

Instead of I-5 take the 101 or PCH. It normally is 10-30 degrees warmer. Safer and in the case of PCH the prettiest damn ride in California.

My summer temps are around mid-40sC, so in winter when it drops down to 2*C or so like you're talking about, it hits me HARD!

Winter I wear small light latex kitchen food-handling gloves under my normal leather gloves, they make a huge difference, only the thumb tips go numb then. As mentioned rain trousers over tracksuit pants to keep the wind out and make a thermal layer. A scarf wrapped around and tucked into your leather jacket stops wind down your neck, and also thermal layers your chest. If all you have is a mesh jacket, you can always get a quilted "puffy jacket" like you will find on construction sites and trade sites all over the world, there's a good reason for that, and wear a weave wool jumper under that and you're done. When I was a poor struggling teen we used to stuff layers of newspaper under our jumpers and just ride..........

No-one will think you're dorky looking, they will just shake their heads in amazement that you're out there at all!

Layers.

Mine,

Merino wool long johns and LS Shirt, Wool insulates even when damp and merino wicks well.
Cotton LS shirt, cotton jeans/trousers.
Untralight packable goose down sweater.
Cordura nylon riding jacket with insulated liner.
Ski bibs.
Trekking wool socks with added liner.
Merino wool buff
silk or synthetic liner gloves a must IME

By all means layer. Cold can disrupt your concentration. It's easier to remove a layer to cool down then add a layer to warm up. Keep your core temp up. Frostbite is a concern at those temps.

EDIT just noticed you're talking C. But same general rules apply.

Get some paddling pants and a jacket. Their waterproof and keep the heat in. Wear them over something warm and your golden. Plus you can use them as rain gear. They fold down to nothing. Used to ski in mine and was always warm. Good luck

You've been warm to long...

Jeans and a mesh jacket...for me, that kind of gear gets retired when it dips below 70. Great for 70 up to triple digits, but that type of gear is most effective at shedding heat. The zipper vents on my jacket (not mesh, but has venting) get shut at 70F and I start using a middle layer somewhere between 50 and 60, depending on the day/distance.

Two recommendations: get the wind-chill out of the equation and get a layer between you and your outer gear. If you have thermals, that might work short-term, but only if you have an outer layer that's wind-proof or at least resistant. However cheap or expensive (can also read single-use or permanent solution) you go is totally up to you.

For me at 50F, this is what you'll usually find me wearing.
The mesh shoes are traded for unlined leather. The regular jeans are either worn under a pair of wind-proof (current pair is unlined) overpants or traded for fleece-lined jeans. I add a layer (hoodie, polartek shirt, long-sleeve button-up, henley, something) between my t-shirt and jacket. Gloves are gauntlet-cuffed and without venting.

If all else fails, coffee shops make excellent pit stops. Winter is about the time I become a regular at the convenience stores I've designated way stations for my route. Hey, they have hot chocolate.

The paddling jacket and pants work great. When i lived here in the 80's i wore them and i use to commute at about 5am (coldest part of the day) into Honolulu. Doing the freeway at 70 and up made it in the 40's . I was warm as toast with just my scrubs under them. If it was colder you could layer under it and be warm . Used to keep my ass warm kayaking 30 degree rivers.

+1

My advice:
Overpant (i have the tourmaster-works great) you can take them off it it gets warm.
Goretex outer Armored jacket (i have an aerostich darien light)
Down jacket under take it off if you get warm - (REI 800 ct. down)
polyester pull over
polyester underwear - as suggested

You can remove layers to suit the temp.

On really cold mornings i long for heated grips and "hippo hands"

An electric vest makes a lot of difference, because it heats your core, so the blood is warm going back out to your extremities. There are a lot of companies that sell them on the internet, find the one that can get it to you fast. An old LAPD Motorcycle Patrol trick is pantyhose. They are cheap and will keep you surprisingly warm, but can be tough to explain.

Joe Namath wore panty hose on the field when he played for the Jets.

Im halfway between San Francisco and los Angeles right now.

Holy Jesus Christy my hands are freezing.

My body is okay because I have wind breakers but my hands are dying!



Should have purchased winter riding gloves! That's me being a cheapass biting me in the butt!

Hopefully that is a self-correcting mistake.

Heavyweight long underwear. I wear heavyweight shirt and a lightweight long underwear pant under my gear and I am perfectly warm. The only part that gets cold is my hands (thinking about heated glove liners).

Any outdoor store will sell heavyweight long underwear. REI happens to be my favorite.

Go to the nearest hardware store and buy two things: 1. a pair of large, heavy rubber gloves, the kind they sell for handling chemicals 2. a pack of hand warmer inserts. Put the inserts inside your glove & the rubber gloves over that, 'should be good to about 30F. Below that, you want electric gloves. Never wear mesh anything unless the objective is to cool yourself down. You might want to keep a pair of these around as the take little space & have the effect of wearing a level up in glove weight:
http://www.aerostich.com/ultralight-stretch-microfiber-glove-liner.html

I purchased the REI switchback gloves. http://www.rei.com/product/852555/rei-switchback-gloves

And it was FREEZING! I even had a shearling glove underneath them.

Have you guys seen the movie "The Mist" where in the end... well I won't spoil it but a similar thing happened to me.

I came down from SF to LA, and after the Lost Hills exit, the temperature dropped to 0 degrees celsius (from my Vespa gauge). My feet and hands started to freeze so bad I thought I think I was starting to get frostbite.

I was able to ride about 20 miles or so at 0 degrees C (at 70 mph) and just couldn't bare it. I dropped the speed to about 50mph but was still freezing.

I pulled over to the side of the road to try to warm up. I tried everything, including placing my feet on the exhaust.

I felt like I was either going to stay there all night and freeze to death or grind it out to the next gas station and get some shelter. Of course the next shelter was only 5 or 10 more minutes away unbeknownst to me (D'oh!). I laid in the bathroom with my feet against the wall and warmed up with the hand dryer.

The clerk gave me some plastic bags to put over my feet and I headed out. I mentally prepared myself to brave many more miles of 0 degree temps and the minute I step out of the gas station, the temperature rose back up to 10 degrees C and stayed that way for the rest of ride.

anyways I just bit the bullet and ordered a termoscud blanket AND the muffs.

I told you what you needed, but I guess you had to find out for yourself heated gear or heat packs to add to feet and hands, your riding too long in the cold for anything to help for a cold long ride<Electric> heated gear is what you need.

Dang it, I just now googled your grabber thing. That would have definitely been nice to have. I didn't even know such a product existed. I cant believe they dont sell those at gas stations.

the cold has a way to distract you and can lead to a crash. also your hands stop working so well, Most people that brag about cold weather riding are not riding 4600 FT Elevation and not riding 6 hours in 35 degs F, most are picking up beer or milk and back to MV to brag about it. do yourself a favor and get good gear and " Buffs" to fill the head/neck gaps

a nice rental uhaul van will keep you warm and toasty if you don't have the proper gear and prep for cold conditions

Get a tall windshield. I can deal with any weather as long as it's not blasting me in the face at 30-50 mph.

Also some tucano urbano big mitts, a thermoscud lap apron and heated grips.

Already have a tall windshield. I'm doing 1-5 degrees c at 70-80mph for 7 hours. Sucks.

175mhs' suggestion of the body warmers (wish I had known about those earlier) and the apron + muffs (just ordered them) should do the trick.


I'll let you guys know how that goes.