Cold Weather Riding

[oldndumb]

I have no need for electric vests but I know that there are many riders that do, so I thought I would pass this on, since it seems to be a new product. I learned about it from a webBikeworld review.

This design uses a carbon material instead of the usual wires and the price includes the controller.

I might get one if I decide to ride north of Tallahassee this winter.....not.

www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=259&cat=59

Note: The site says they are temporarily out of stock. No idea if that is current info or not.

[WardenRoss]

I ride every day, year 'round and tour quite a bit. I recommend the Gerbing heated jacket liner and their heated gloves. The heated jacket liner is MUCH warmer than just a vest, at least on the Sprint where your arms are in the wind. The jacket liner also has a very high heated collar which will cover your neck.

The heated gloves are a Godsend. They plug directly into the jacket sleeves. I can easliy ride in temps down to 15 degees. They are a great combo.

http://gerbing.com/

[pelon717]

I was checking these out on the fizzer forum. The price is good and I like the elastic sides but it draws 19 more watts than my Widder (52 vs 33) so I think I'll stay with it.

Heated vests are great BTW. I wish I would have bought one sooner than I did. I've been using it for 2 years now and have turned into quite a sissy. I rarely ride without it once the leaves begin turning. Maybe someday I'll get a bike with a hefty charging system and I'll wear the full heated suit and gloves.

[LoVel]

Originally Posted by oldndumb

I might get one if I decide to ride north of Tallahassee this winter.....not.

north of Tallahassee? Don't let those 60 degree temps keep you from riding OND. Go ahead and buy the heated vest.

[R100Pilot]

Ha! Living in Tallahassee, I've already ridden a couple of sub-30 mornings. No need for electric clothing, but LOTS of layers.

[oldndumb]

Originally Posted by LoVel

north of Tallahassee? Don't let those 60 degree temps keep you from riding OND. Go ahead and but the heated vest.

I hope I don't have to go north of Tallahassee until next Spring.....my blood has gotten too thin and I've got sand in my shoes. But, if I did have to ride to cooler climes, I would definitely get an electric gloves and vest/jacket.
Which reminds me, this is a thread on how to improve your charging system in case you have not see it already. I plan on doing it to my bike come the next rainy day.

www.triumphrat.net/modifications-workshop-talk/68040-weak-charging-system-the-solution.html

[F4sSprintST]

Well, I used to ride all year 'round in MICHIGAN

My chest wasn't much of an issue. I found the hands, feet, knees and the seal around the neck the critical areas

Electric socks, gloves would be great.

[mick-f]

Usually I carry the electric vest with me unless the tempreture is going to stay at least 10 degrees above my age. That would have to be 69 degrees!

Mick F.

[KitNYC]

There's a review of the vest in question here:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/heated-m...nergy/vest.htm

I know what I want for xmas!

Cheers,
-Kit

[kkleinert]

Originally Posted by F4sSprintST

Well, I used to ride all year 'round in MICHIGAN

My chest wasn't much of an issue. I found the hands, feet, knees and the seal around the neck the critical areas

Electric socks, gloves would be great.

I'm so glad you brought this up. There is an interesting study that's been done about the cold effect and how body core temperature affects the blood flow to the body's extremities. The knowledge gleaned from the study came in pretty handy for those of us flying around South Korea in the winter with not much more than flight gloves on our hands in the back of an open helicopter.

Long story short, when your body core temp starts to drop, it starts to shut the flow from the extremities which makes sense. Your body regulates heat very effectively through the hands, head, and to a limited extent, hands (sweaty palms anyone?). You can, however, keep your core temp elevated tricking your body into keeping the warm blood flowing to the fingers and toes. This is not to say that a heated vest will keep you from getting frost bite or that your fingers won't get cold; it just lengthens your safe exposure time.

We did this with battery operated vests (The North Face Summit Series) and it worked great.

-Keith