When do you call it quits for the winter?
11-09-2011 | 11:17 AM
#64
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I'm a Gerbing heated gear believer, with both Gloves and a jacket liner. Year round commuting. It's great stuff, though to be safe, I do throw the bike on the battery tender over the weekend to make up for low charging situations in traffic. It's 104 watts running gear full on, and less if using the digital temp controller at less than full blast. Couldn't be more pleased. 
11-09-2011 | 04:08 PM
#65
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Welp, down here in So Cal, our riding season is kinda short. We only get about 350 days a years of good riding.
Seriously though, I usually only ride on pristene days. It's not worth it to go out when it's cold, or rainy, or windy(like right now). This winter however, I plan on tearing down my bike, going through everything, possibly freshining up the engine with some JE pistons and 4 exhaust cams, and a new set of plastics (ZX7 or RC51, not sure yet). I may also do a USD front end. I just gotta pray that my job holds out well enough. We are in jepordy of loosing one of our contracts, and if that happens, the flying is going to get rather skinny. No more Lifeflight's, just charters. Fingers crossed.
Seriously though, I usually only ride on pristene days. It's not worth it to go out when it's cold, or rainy, or windy(like right now). This winter however, I plan on tearing down my bike, going through everything, possibly freshining up the engine with some JE pistons and 4 exhaust cams, and a new set of plastics (ZX7 or RC51, not sure yet). I may also do a USD front end. I just gotta pray that my job holds out well enough. We are in jepordy of loosing one of our contracts, and if that happens, the flying is going to get rather skinny. No more Lifeflight's, just charters. Fingers crossed.
11-09-2011 | 06:26 PM
#66
Connie Demico does toad?
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Lakeway
Here in Lakeway Tx. I ride all year, even when it was 100-110 for 90-someodd days in a row. We would start early to beat the heat and hope to be home early only to ride all afternoon anyway.
11-09-2011 | 09:12 PM
#69
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Yeah, when it gets to 110*, the bike stays parked in the garage, and I stay parked on the couch with a cold beer.
11-09-2011 | 10:01 PM
#71
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From: altoona, pa
oh yeah, west of the rockies is dry. Our high humidity is more uncomfortable. It's like an oven @110deg, but not as much sweating than us at 25deg less. I remember coming south out of the mountains into Phoenix and it was 30 deg hotter in the low desert.
11-09-2011 | 10:09 PM
#72
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From: altoona, pa
I'm a Gerbing heated gear believer, with both Gloves and a jacket liner. Year round commuting. It's great stuff, though to be safe, I do throw the bike on the battery tender over the weekend to make up for low charging situations in traffic. It's 104 watts running gear full on, and less if using the digital temp controller at less than full blast. Couldn't be more pleased.
11-10-2011 | 08:08 AM
#73
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 54
From: Durham, NC
I've got the Tourmaster jacket liner and gloves. Which the controler is included with the jacket and gloves. It's an extra $80-90 for Gerbing's jacket. I just don't like the controls hanging down. It's comes with a velcro strap that wraps around your upper leg and holds the unit. It does heat well and I usually run it on med. or low at 34 to 40 degrees.
11-10-2011 | 10:00 AM
#74
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Yeah, I have an older jacket liner, with full sleeves, and the neck heats up beautifully. The newer jackets have micro wire elements, which heat even more evenly. I think I will be passing my older liner onto my wife and upgrading. The newer style, allows you to use their dual channel controller, providing separate controls for glove temp and jacket temp. The Gloves (I have the G3 model) and jacket come with battery hookups, but ultimately, you'll want either a single or dual channel controller (thermostat). It's the bees knees. Once you get your core temp maintained, you don't really have a problem with cold legs or feet, as your body isn't pulling all your blood to your core to maintain temp. Lifetime warranty on all electrical wiring/elements. Based in Tumwater, Washington. I love supporting them...
Check it out at Gerbing's Heated Clothing // The World's Warmest Clothing!
I don't work for em, but man, it's definitely made riding a year round proposition for me.
-R
Check it out at Gerbing's Heated Clothing // The World's Warmest Clothing!
I don't work for em, but man, it's definitely made riding a year round proposition for me.
-R
11-10-2011 | 11:03 AM
#75
Senior Member
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,934
From: altoona, pa
I've got the Tourmaster jacket liner and gloves. Which the controler is included with the jacket and gloves. It's an extra $80-90 for Gerbing's jacket. I just don't like the controls hanging down. It's comes with a velcro strap that wraps around your upper leg and holds the unit. It does heat well and I usually run it on med. or low at 34 to 40 degrees.
Yeah, I have an older jacket liner, with full sleeves, and the neck heats up beautifully. The newer jackets have micro wire elements, which heat even more evenly. I think I will be passing my older liner onto my wife and upgrading. The newer style, allows you to use their dual channel controller, providing separate controls for glove temp and jacket temp. The Gloves (I have the G3 model) and jacket come with battery hookups, but ultimately, you'll want either a single or dual channel controller (thermostat). It's the bees knees. Once you get your core temp maintained, you don't really have a problem with cold legs or feet, as your body isn't pulling all your blood to your core to maintain temp. Lifetime warranty on all electrical wiring/elements. Based in Tumwater, Washington. I love supporting them...
Check it out at Gerbing's Heated Clothing // The World's Warmest Clothing!
I don't work for em, but man, it's definitely made riding a year round proposition for me.
-R
Check it out at Gerbing's Heated Clothing // The World's Warmest Clothing!
I don't work for em, but man, it's definitely made riding a year round proposition for me.
-R
11-10-2011 | 08:41 PM
#79
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From: altoona, pa
It could be 100 with dry air and you'll sweat if you're doing manual labor and shortly after you stop working, you will quit sweating. At 80 with high humidity, you will be soaked just sitting there.
If you're heating a house in the winter, more humidity allows you to feel more comfortable with lower temps than with dry air.
11-11-2011 | 09:13 AM
#80
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From: Saint Paul, MN
definitely not true for me, dry heat is much less uncomfortable. I'd prefer 95 no humidity to 80 high humidity every time.
It could be 100 with dry air and you'll sweat if you're doing manual labor and shortly after you stop working, you will quit sweating. At 80 with high humidity, you will be soaked just sitting there.
If you're heating a house in the winter, more humidity allows you to feel more comfortable with lower temps than with dry air.
It could be 100 with dry air and you'll sweat if you're doing manual labor and shortly after you stop working, you will quit sweating. At 80 with high humidity, you will be soaked just sitting there.
If you're heating a house in the winter, more humidity allows you to feel more comfortable with lower temps than with dry air.
11-11-2011 | 05:01 PM
#81
Greenmeansgo!
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Joined: Jul 2008
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I'm in SoCal but don't ride during the winter. For me it's about precipitation and traffic. It's just too uncomfortable to ride in cold rain. I get distracted by the discomfort and lose focus, and my gloves don't keep my hands dry, so that's a problem too.
The other issue is dark. Riding in the dark is fine, and riding in rush hour is fine, but riding in rush hour when it's dark just scares the **** outta me. na ga doot, wouldn't be prudent. So when DLS ends, I need to be out by 4 PM to keep riding. Not always an option with work.
The other issue is dark. Riding in the dark is fine, and riding in rush hour is fine, but riding in rush hour when it's dark just scares the **** outta me. na ga doot, wouldn't be prudent. So when DLS ends, I need to be out by 4 PM to keep riding. Not always an option with work.
11-11-2011 | 07:16 PM
#82
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Nath,
I find that my Gerbing G3 gloves have just as much dexterity as my Joe Rocket winter gloves, and are much warmer. There are two cords near the cuff of my jacket liner sleeves, and pigtail on each glove. I put on the jacket, attach each glove to its pigtail and pull em on. Sure, they're heavier weight than a summer glove, but not as thick as say, a ski glove. Besides, they don't have to be, when your core temp is being maintained nicely by the jacket.
-R
I find that my Gerbing G3 gloves have just as much dexterity as my Joe Rocket winter gloves, and are much warmer. There are two cords near the cuff of my jacket liner sleeves, and pigtail on each glove. I put on the jacket, attach each glove to its pigtail and pull em on. Sure, they're heavier weight than a summer glove, but not as thick as say, a ski glove. Besides, they don't have to be, when your core temp is being maintained nicely by the jacket.
-R
11-11-2011 | 10:53 PM
#83
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,934
From: altoona, pa
Nath,
I find that my Gerbing G3 gloves have just as much dexterity as my Joe Rocket winter gloves, and are much warmer. There are two cords near the cuff of my jacket liner sleeves, and pigtail on each glove. I put on the jacket, attach each glove to its pigtail and pull em on. Sure, they're heavier weight than a summer glove, but not as thick as say, a ski glove. Besides, they don't have to be, when your core temp is being maintained nicely by the jacket.
-R
I find that my Gerbing G3 gloves have just as much dexterity as my Joe Rocket winter gloves, and are much warmer. There are two cords near the cuff of my jacket liner sleeves, and pigtail on each glove. I put on the jacket, attach each glove to its pigtail and pull em on. Sure, they're heavier weight than a summer glove, but not as thick as say, a ski glove. Besides, they don't have to be, when your core temp is being maintained nicely by the jacket.
-R
11-15-2011 | 02:00 PM
#85
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 321
You feel like you're sweating more in high humidity because the air is already full of water so the water on you doesn't evaporate quickly.
November 15th and I rode comfortably (warm gloves, long sleeve shirt under riding jacket) in Wisconsin today.
01-06-2012 | 07:23 AM
#88
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Just for the sake of discussion, I've been under the impression that it can work the other way too. Here is the reasoning:
When you do sweat in low humidity, the bodily function is effective and so once you're cooled off enough your body doesn't need to sweat as much.
When you sweat in high humidity, the cooling effect of evaporation isn't as strong, so say for every ounce of water that you sweat, instead of it all being used for evaporation cooling, some of it just turns into water drops. Then your body feels as though it's efforts to cool itself aren't working as well, so it sweats even more to try to compensate. In other words, sweating in 95 degree weather with no humidity is more efficient than sweating in 95 degree weather at high humidity. At least this is how I've understood it.
That being said, growing up in Colorado, the most dehydrated I've ever been was snow camping.
When you do sweat in low humidity, the bodily function is effective and so once you're cooled off enough your body doesn't need to sweat as much.
When you sweat in high humidity, the cooling effect of evaporation isn't as strong, so say for every ounce of water that you sweat, instead of it all being used for evaporation cooling, some of it just turns into water drops. Then your body feels as though it's efforts to cool itself aren't working as well, so it sweats even more to try to compensate. In other words, sweating in 95 degree weather with no humidity is more efficient than sweating in 95 degree weather at high humidity. At least this is how I've understood it.
That being said, growing up in Colorado, the most dehydrated I've ever been was snow camping.
01-06-2012 | 08:41 AM
#89
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From: altoona, pa
Additionally, I'm a bit of an addict who needs a fix and anytime I can get out there and slide around a bit during the winter months, i appreciate the opportunity to put a smile on my face.
01-06-2012 | 09:37 AM
#90
Old and dangerous
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 604
From: DFW Texas
One reason I like living in DFW Texas. I've put 325 miles on my new (old) '98 SH in 2012 so far.
I was out testing highway gas mileage at 80 mph the other night and when I got home after a 90 minute ride, it was ~36 and I could see my breath as I was refilling the tank. I had layered up, but not enough, and the last 20 miles were spent in somewhat agonizing cold pain. Last night I did a 60 mph test and it was about 10 degrees warmer. That and I threw on another layer, made for a very warm ride. Too warm actually.
About the only time I won't ride in the winter is when it dips below 35 or so, or if the weather is nasty. That usually doesn't happen for more than a couple weeks in late December thru early February, when we occasionally get snow, but usually just ice. So far this year it's been very mild, with my oak tree just recently dropping its leaves after Christmas.
Ah, but it takes a hardy soul to ride on our 110+ summer days.
You gotta want it!
I was out testing highway gas mileage at 80 mph the other night and when I got home after a 90 minute ride, it was ~36 and I could see my breath as I was refilling the tank. I had layered up, but not enough, and the last 20 miles were spent in somewhat agonizing cold pain. Last night I did a 60 mph test and it was about 10 degrees warmer. That and I threw on another layer, made for a very warm ride. Too warm actually.
About the only time I won't ride in the winter is when it dips below 35 or so, or if the weather is nasty. That usually doesn't happen for more than a couple weeks in late December thru early February, when we occasionally get snow, but usually just ice. So far this year it's been very mild, with my oak tree just recently dropping its leaves after Christmas.
Ah, but it takes a hardy soul to ride on our 110+ summer days.
You gotta want it!
Last edited by rz_racer_69; 01-06-2012 at 07:46 PM. Reason: Added picture from today's ride.
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