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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1449333410 Message started by Steve H on 12/05/15 at 08:36:50 |
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Title: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Steve H on 12/05/15 at 08:36:50 Does anyone out here wear chaps in the cold? Do they keep your legs warm? What do you use to keep your legs nice and warm during those cold weather rides? I've got some good cold weather gloves and a good, heavy lined leather jacket. I had a great cold weather riding suit, well still have it. But, due to the properity around my mid-section, I can no longer wear it. It's thick, insulated and quilted, covered with heavy waterproof nylon. Now, since I can't wear the suit anymore and can't spend the few hundred on a new one right now, what does everybody do? I will ride in just about any temperature as long as there's no snow or ice to deal with and I can stay warm enough. Around here, we generally see lows in the the upper 20's to low 30's with a couple of cold snaps during the winter down into the teens. It's very rare to see anything below the teens here. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Serowbot on 12/05/15 at 08:59:34 If you can get over the "assless chaps" stigma,.. they do help. ...but, I only ride down to high 40's temps. Add long johns below 50f... The handy thing is, you can take them off, and put them on, without getting arrested as a sex predator... ;D... You size them by your thigh measurement, not waist. and, if you want them to look good, buy a size smaller than you measure. The smaller size, gets the waistband below your beltline rather than above it. Also, less flapping in the wind. 20's and 30's,.. I want a car... ;D... |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by raydawg on 12/05/15 at 09:17:04 I ride in wet and cold here in the PacNorWest. Granted my ride is rather short, 10 miles each way with a ferry ride to break up the long haul :D and I am not doing super slab speeds, but what I have found that works great is a ski bib for the bottom, and a good rain jacket on top. I have a 3 year old First Gear Splash jacket that allows for layering underneath, and keeps me very dry, But, after 3 years this will be its last year of use. The ski bibs ( bought for @ 30 bucks on amazon ) allow for boots, so they are not a problem to slip on and off, and they have elastic in the foot/leg openings to keep out snow IF you fall while skiing which work great to keep the rain from blowing up your legs. Mine are lined too, adding warmth, and a heck of a lot cheaper than buying motorcycling designed gear. Keep it off the exhaust and you are good. Oh, BTW, I have a First Gear Thermo Suit, it is fantastic, however, I get too warm wearing it, and I have ridden in the twenties with that, and wind chill factor, I have never been cold, or wet, but it is like wearing a sleeping bag with arms and legs. Also. I am not going to ride anymore under 32 degrees, just to dang old to mend if I ever fall, come close, however, the little girl was easy to keep up, as the BIG harleys went over, in some black ice we ran into :o |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Kris01 on 12/05/15 at 09:37:52 I've heard panty hose works great but I'm not doing that! ;D I'll sometimes wear a pair of flannel pajama bottoms under my normal pants if it's below freezing (or close to it). It does wonders to retain heat. I don't get cold unless it's seriously cold weather blowing through my clothes. I wrap up with layers up top to keep warm. I do need some decent gloves though. Cold hands are sometimes the only thing keeping me from riding. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/05/15 at 11:04:23 I roughnecked in some bad weather, negative ten on night, and I was dressed up for it, but being busy helps distract the mind from discomfort. Kinda like why I chose a ten speed over the gym. I can be exhilarated by the near death moments enough to ignore the burning muscles, but on a machine, with nothing to focus on other than my own misery? No Thanks. So , chaps, are they worth it? They stop the wind coming from the front, but, they get cold and the cold comes through. The only way to be warm at speed is to be insulated And windproof, or, electrically heated. I got some insulated coveralls and sewed vinyl upholstery down the chest, and front of the legs. Chaps over that. Inside, well, layer upon layer, and chaps, outside the jeans. One of the best things I found was a large pistol zip up case, unzipped, with the vinyl out and the wool in, across the chest. Putting boots up on the engine helps. Cold, like ugly, goes to the bone. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Paladin. on 12/05/15 at 11:39:48 I have a Termoscud (http://www.tucanourbano.com/gb/scooter-leg-cover-termoscudr-r153.html) and neoprene handgrip covers. (http://www.tucanourbano.com/gb/easy-on-neoprene-handgrip-covers.html) I can ride comfortably at 50 degrees -- wearing golf slacks and without gloves. The have a leg cover (http://www.tucanourbano.com/gb/leg-cover-motorbike-gaucho-r118-9191.html) that should work on the Savage. I think I got mine from http://www.urbanrider.co.uk/ |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/05/15 at 12:13:45 I was interested in the same question of chaps. I have to wear a cotton underlayer beneath my jeans, and the wind still seems to get through and chill my legs, I was also thinking of something to catch the rain and mud before it drenches my pants. Does anyone have recommendations on cheap insulated leather gloves? |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by raydawg on 12/05/15 at 12:24:40 Again, re: gloves, ski apparel is much cheaper than riding gear, look at ski gloves, and tool, keep some cheap latex gloves with you when the possibility of weather exsist. You will be blown away at how much warmer your hands stay when water doesn't get to them as they soak through your gloves. Just toss when you take them off, they are cheap! |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/05/15 at 13:08:01 I roughnecked with men, real men, who wore pantyhose. Under Armour is the new pantyhose. One of the drillers I worked with was so strong he could hang two chain repair links in the door frame of the doghouse of the rig and do pull ups with his pinky fingers. I weighed almost 130 pounds and I could sit on his feet and grab his legs, and he could do a pull up with just his middle fingers. Now, only the sexually secure can envision a moment like that and not see a strange picture. It was worth the potential of the chance that someone would see it as strange, just to see such a feat done. This guys hands were so big that his nickname , though never used in front of him, was eleven peters. He had to cut the knuckles of new gloves, or, when he closed his hands , he would rip the glove. Now, You go question That mans sexuality because he wore pantyhose... Me? I value my life more than that... So, such a memorable person, I hit the internet, just called him and had a chat. He's 82, so, I was 28, and now I'm sixty,so, he was fifty or around that, and the old man I wrestled was six years older, and that dude was around 56,when we tangled up,up in the Nothing But steel and welded corners, doghouse, on that rig, more than an hour from medical attention, and that dude and I scrapped till we were both winded. He smoked a coupla packs a day and had his wind back before I did. He died six years ago, the world lost a good man. No, there was no argument, we were friends,and he knew that I wouldn't let him get hurt, and I knew that he wouldn't intentionally let me get hurt. It was just good natured rough housing. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by thumperclone on 12/06/15 at 09:18:00 40 deg F @ 40mph = 27 deg F they do block the wind chill effect insure they have quality ykk zippers |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Kris01 on 12/06/15 at 09:46:06 Out of curiosity, what formula are you using? |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by thumperclone on 12/06/15 at 09:52:52 I had to modify my numbers NOAA NWS wind chill chart |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by verslagen1 on 12/06/15 at 10:02:55 probably the one that the eurospace union used to put the beagle in orbit around mars. Wind Chill = 35.74 + 0.6215T – 35.75(V^0.16) + 0.4275T(V^0.16) T is the air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, and V is the wind speed in miles per hour. I get 27°F <corrected, left out a factor> |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/06/15 at 10:20:51 Check Wet bulb temperature |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by gerald.hughes on 12/06/15 at 10:25:05 Or real cold weather, nothing beats a snowmobile suit. Easy to get on and off over your street clothes. Keeps you warm and dry. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Kris01 on 12/06/15 at 10:55:38 Awesome! I love formulas! Thanks! |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/06/15 at 12:49:31 I had a snow mobile suit in Odessa. Dude was a salesman at Firestone, tires, yes, and, they had audio gear, including tuner/turntabe/8 track. I bought it from him. Years later, they closed. One day I see a BBQ joint, on the side of the road,on wheels, behind a truck. Dang if it ain't that guy.. come winter, this dude has another trailer, just outside of town,too, and he's selling winter work clothes to roughneck types. Entrepreneurial spirit and guts, I hope he did well. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by runwyrlph on 12/06/15 at 12:49:35 7B6D7A677F6A677C080 wrote:
See, I never get that... isn't the lack of a <ahem> "seat" the characteristic which distinguishes chaps from trousers? Just seems redundant, like calling a convertible a "roofless convertible"... Anyhoo, I have a pair of overalls like Carharts that I wear below freezing, seems to work pretty well for an hour or so. I don't often ride below freezing, but have a few times. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/06/15 at 12:57:16 Well, Now ya done gone and Dunnitt! Logic,, totally destroying the meaningless derision. Of COURSE theyze assless, that's what makes them chaps.. Imagine walking past the bunkhouse on a ranch, two cowboys, getting ready to ride the fence. You overhear... Uhh, hey, uhh, Billy Bob, would ya pass me muh assless chaps? |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by verslagen1 on 12/06/15 at 12:58:08 been thinking about a pair of these... http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/mens-flannel-lined-fire-hose-5-pocket-canvas-jeans-34506.aspx?processor=content |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Dave on 12/06/15 at 15:09:08 I can ride with flannel lined jeans when it is cold (50'ish) - but when the temps drop you need something top and bottom that is windproof. If I put my rain suit on it helps a lot....it keeps the wind from blowing through the woven fabric. The Sport Touring crowd has lots of clothing options - but ski and snowmobile clothing is most likely more affordable. Be sure to keep it away from the header and muffler. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/06/15 at 15:39:48 I just Despise commercials. I own no Duluth clothing. I will Stop the fast forward to watch Duluth commercials. I Want some of their stuff. Totally American.. My birthday is coming up, Hint, |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Steve H on 12/06/15 at 16:26:07 I had thought about snowmobile stuff but being in an area that averages 4 inches of snow per year, I don't believe I will find any of it. Ski stuff I hadn't really thought about. I will have to check that out. We have several ski resorts within a couple hours drive and ski stuff is in all the sporting goods stores. I'm not a fan of bib overalls at all so I really haven't looked at them. I looked at some carhart insulated overalls the other day though. The insulation was very thin and there was really nothing to try to seal out cold wind or anything. They looked just like regular overalls with a very thin lining. Insulated leather jacket and insulated gloves are taken care of. My jeans just let in too much wind and cold. During the winter I don't ride all that far but I do like to be sort of comfortable doing it. I hate coming home and my knees are extremely cold and a little stiff. An extra pair of socks usually does it for my feet unless I'm on a long ride. I like the look of the Duluth stuff. It looks to be good quality, well made clothing which is hard to find these days. Thanks for the link. I took a quick look around and I really like those alaskan pants. That might do the trick although I did see one review that said under 50 you'd want to layer. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by oldNslow on 12/06/15 at 19:15:19 I have a couple of pairs of the unlined Duluth fire hose jeans that I use as my everyday riding pants.I haven't tested them in a crash (hope I never do) but I believe they would be more abrasion resistant than ordinary denim jeans sliding down the road. They look pretty much the same as regular jeans when off the bike. The weave of the fabric is very tight and they are thicker than Denim jeans so they are actually pretty windproof. With a pair of poly longjohns under them I'm comfortable down into the mid 40s on extended rides. Like anything made of cotton though, they are worthless if they get really wet and they take a long time to dry. I keep an inexpensive pair of nylon rain pants in my saddle bag to pull over them in case I get caught in the rain. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by MMRanch on 12/06/15 at 21:11:51 I found a pair of insulated bib-overalls in Florida in March , nylon with the jacked to match. They have turned into my favorite cold weather gear. I Also found a pair of large cuff gloves with a zipper in the cuff that holds a "Rain Mitten" (warm) ;) $20.00 or so --- the nylon stuff was more like $60.oo ... but warm is Good ! I wore my chaps last Saturday because it was only down to 45 deg F and left them on all day (got up to 60 deg F), the nylon would have had to come off. ;) They both earn there place in the closet ! :) |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by WD on 12/07/15 at 22:03:27 Chaps work fine down to about 10F. Most motorcycle gloves are useless by 40F. Surplus store. German dispatch rider mittens are good to 25F or so. Norwegian, Swedish or Finnish dispatch mittens are good to around 5F. Russian versions are good to roughly -15F. Dispatch riding winter trousers and jackets from those countries are rated to even colder temps. Wool over sock, polypropylene liner sock. Polypropylene long johns for sub 30F riding. I'll ride down to 10F intentionally. Can handle colder but not fond of it. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by LANCER on 12/08/15 at 07:02:31 I have a pair of Wrangler flannel lined genes that are very warm in really cold weather. They work great on the bike; have ridden in the 30's with them, with and without chaps. Warm and warmer. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Tocsik on 12/08/15 at 09:47:13 I have a pair of Red Head fleece lined jeans that are great (pretty cheap at Bass Pro Shop). I wear a base layer under those for temps below 35 or so. Any colder and I throw ski pants over jeans. Those zip all the way up the legs so it's easy to take 'em off with boots on. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by springman on 12/08/15 at 14:53:57 I have a pair of riding pants from Jafrum which I bought about 2 years ago for around $50.00. They have some cheapo armor and a liner that you can remove. I wore them last week without the liner while riding in mid to low 40's temp at highway speeds. I was comfortable. What I have yet to find is a good pair of cheap winter gloves. The right bottom pant leg has been burned up a bit, but still good. ;D |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by KennyG on 12/08/15 at 21:00:46 I wear snowmobile gloves with Thinsulate and they keep my hands warm all winter in North Texas. It doesn't get below 40 degrees here very often. Kenny G |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Art Webb on 12/09/15 at 07:44:07 I haven't been riding due to temps below 50 at night I feel like a sissy ;D |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/09/15 at 07:46:06 If you put a brown jersey glove, that's what grandma called them, in a leather glove, dry, and that's good. Wet, nope.. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Kris01 on 12/09/15 at 15:34:46 I've done the Jersey glove thing but it just felt too bulky wearing 2 pairs of gloves. I felt like I didn't have the dexterity I needed to safely operate the bike. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by old_rider on 12/09/15 at 21:02:06 I have insulated assless chaps.... if it is real cold (below 30) and no ice on the road, I wear insulated underwear and the chaps.... good to go for an hour ride... then I have to stop to warm back up. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by rijopiatt on 12/20/15 at 20:15:22 My threshold is 30 degrees. I wear the following: Eddie Bauer or thin Smartwool socks in my engineer boots. Flannel lined jeans with leather chaps. Torso covered from the inside-out as follows: 1) Smartwool, long sleeve tee shirt. 2) Micro fiber , long sleeve shirt (no bulk) 3) Mid weight, zip-up fleece. 4) Aerostich heated bib 4) River Road textile jacket Neck protection is a silk scarf, tucked into the fleece. It's warm and acts as a gasket at the top of the jacket. I wear Buffwear around my neck also. It can be pulled up over my face and nose tucked under the lower rim of my goggles. I may sometimes wear a silk blend balaclava under my pudding bowl helmet. Hand protection is silk glove liners under Marmot wind and waterproof, gauntleted gloves ( non-bulky ) I ride naked (no windshield) and I'm good for an hour. Then its time to stop for something hot to drink. I've gotten 4 hours of saddle time this way. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Flint on 12/20/15 at 20:38:54 I wear Carhartt pants most of the time when riding. They have a double fabric over the knees. When it gets cool out I wear 2 pair of long johns as well. When it is cold I have a pair of airforce insulated bib overalls along with a nomex insulated flight jacket that I wear. If it is below freezing during daylight hours I find there is not much point riding due to ice on the roads. I would possably consider chaps but I hate the thought of being confused with the local Harley cult. :-/ |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by old_rider on 12/21/15 at 07:26:23 0C392D212E400 wrote:
Yeah, my leather jacket still has a big ol' Harley Davidson patch on it, and when I ride my Ninja I get a lot of looks and "where is your Harley?". I tell them I traded it in for the Ninja LOL!!!! ;D ;D 8-) |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Rodger on 12/22/15 at 07:12:55 Having a new bike this time year in Colorado, I looked at the local bike shops for cold weather gear but the $130 price tag for insulated pants started me looking elsewhere. Found these ski bibs on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032UJ2C2?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00 Have been out a couple times, and was reasonably comfortable --base layer: *poly-pro longjohns and top *wool boot socks *silk ski mask ("balaclava"), fits under helmet Jeans, tucked into boots Fleece vest Ski bibs First-Gear jacket w/liner Deerskin gauntleted gloves I'd like to find a pair of silk gloves or thin microfiber...my hands do get s bit cold after 10-15 minutes. Also, need to dig through my stuff to find my old electric vest. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/22/15 at 09:04:19 The electric system won't sustain electric clothes. Academy sporting goods has cold weather gear. |
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Title: Re: Chaps...worth it? Cold weather riding Post by Kris01 on 12/22/15 at 18:35:23 My helmet keeps my head warm enough all by itself. |
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