How cold will you ride

[G]

You guys in Wisc and Mich don't get the wind we get up here in the flatlands. It blows here every day. You can take that two ways I guess. There are only about 14 trees in the whole county. Anyway if you figure in windchill it is just about always 20 or 30 degrees below most of the time. If we waited for it to be 10 above we wouldn't ride much at all. A person gets used to it I guess. It is always a treat to go to Wisc because it is about 10 to 15 degrees warmer ambient with NO wind. You will never see 8 inches of snow piled up on a fencepost in NW Minn. It is common in Wisc and Mich.

 

[slimcake]

Was up in the U.P. last year during both "polar vortexs" Big whoopie. If you know how to dress. Was interesting to see the couple from out east at Krupps stuffing folded up beer boxes inside their jackets for wind protection....

 

[towtruck]

age 30 - any weather any time
age 40 -nothing below zero if possible - would not back out of a trip though
age 50 - march riding is nice! april even better!
looked at the UP history -best base is usually around March 10th, plus less traffic
as my body and my gear age, I am really liking spring riding! off trial holds up long after the trials go brown

 

[bigvin]

Towtruck~ That there was funny!

Gauntlets are truly amazing and are really worth every penny!
Since "electric" shields, hand-warmers, gauntlets and the new technology gear,..
it sure is something on how light and WARM the stuff can keep you these days.
But "I" won't START if it is more than 10 below at my age. Like most of ya,.. if you
are in the middle of the ride, well,.. ya have to suck it up,.. but I seem to always
have a problem keeping the chest to neck area warm. No matter WHAT I put on.
I have to feel "mobile" enough or I feel "choked" off. So this area in the extreme
cold seems to always be a problem.
I've been in a group where it was so cold once,. that a jacket a dude was wearing
just turned to like "glass" and crumpled in places, and a snowmobile seat cracked.
In the "old days" (before electric shields) I went into the Bug Bar to thaw off the wool
"face mask" that was ice-frozen to my eyebrows and beard.
Talk about PAINFUL!!

Don't want to sound like the old man of wisdom here,...
But if YOU are going to go out in a GROUP, and you know YOURSELF that you are pretty much
taken care of,... please check over some of the OTHERS that may not be as "knowledgeable".
You may just be saving your friends life by giving them a helpful tip or two.
You don't have to come across like a know it all,... just someone who wants to make sure everyone
is going to have a great time, but is still protected. It doesn't take long for something to go very wrong!
Cold is Cold!

BBbbbbbrrrrr.
Where is my Coffee!

Think Snow!

 

[Magnumb]

Till my eyelids freeze to my eyeballs.

Rode this week and it was about 10 below at one point and could not see very well due to freezing shield, did not make it much further after that. Tried cat crap anti fog grease and it didnt work at all.

 

[G]

Usually the reason shields freeze is because of the heat of your breath or heat of your face. That is why there are vents on most helmets. Evacuate the heat and problem solved. Time to experiment a little. None of the wonder goo ever worked for me either. Try cracking the bottom of the shield a tiny bit to get some air moving through there.

 

[indy_500]

Wind chill was -30 at Tog Tuesday morning. When I got the sled started up water temp was at -9! Didn't dress a whole lot warmer than I normally would and was warm all day with Klim uninsulated jacket and bibs.

 

[gary_in_neenah]

The longer we go without snow...the colder I'm willing to ride.

 

[buddah2]

.....,.. but I seem to always have a problem keeping the chest to neck area warm. No matter WHAT I put on.

One hyphenated word for you........Tek-Vest.........not only will your chest stay warmer your torso will be protected from unexpected impacts......also has a removable collar for really cold days.

I've got a wind-kini on my sled (it's what it came with) and I haven't felt the need to spend the $$$ on another windy......YET

 

[sweeperguy]

I used to ride with a sheild, I have glasses, thought goggles were for the kids that had to look cool. tried that cracking the sheild open in -25 to get fog to clear. Frostbite on my face just below my right eye. Started to heal, but then got infected. Missed work on 2 snowfalls. I still ride at 20 to 30 below but now with goggles and klim arctic balaclava. Has built in breath deflector, along with the one in my helmet. No fogging and the long neck bib on the balaclava keep neck and chest toasty warm. With proper gloves boots jacket and dress in layers can ride any temps. I have 3 or so balaclava's for different weather conditions.

 

[whitedust]

Fog Zero paste is only anti fog stuff that worked for me on my glasses....never leave home with out it & carmed wax anti chap for high on cheeks in sub zero.

 

[fusion]

0 to -10 range is it for me. I won't bother with anything below that. It isn't comfortable, worth the hassle, or fun to me. JMO of course.
I got frost bite on the cheeks from the Modular Helmet where the exhaust ports are, about 8 years ago. That day it was -20 or so.
After that I said 'no more of this'!

 

[snobuilder]

Well the extra tall windy arrived today for the axys and I found the gauntlets for my partners sled ...good to go come Monday.

 

[ac600sp]

I've been riding when air temp is -27. That was when I was younger. Now I don't like riding when it's close to zero.

 

[EXCESSIVE FORCE]

Never cancelled a ride due to low temps. Even with the cold temps i was able to put on 4700 miles last winter,but that was on my barney sled.I'm not sure about the wind protection in extreme cold temps on the pro-cross sled yet.......

 

[snobuilder]

Never cancelled a ride due to low temps. Even with the cold temps i was able to put on 4700 miles last winter,but that was on my barney sled.I'm not sure about the wind protection in extreme cold temps on the pro-cross sled yet.......

Nice year EF...someone mentioned hydration and I would add nutrition in general.
I think you is burnin extra calories stayin warm.

We was headin back to WI after 220 miles and 90 more to go at -10 last year when we stopped in Sagola for a warm up and some much needed grub.
It's those types a rides that get you thinking about how prepared you is.

 

[jakester]

I will ride till I see the balls fall off a brass monkey!!

 

[POLARISDAN]

Some people refer to them as "hippo hands" or "elephant ears".........fit over the hand grips and shield your hands from the wind......unless you were just being sarcastic?

nope..didnt know thats what they were called..guess i dint know u put them on and take them off

 

[Builder Bob]

Bear Paws,
You could make them, go to Denny Kirk, or a few others.
As mentioned, some could cause issues, as these will cover the Kill switch.
Don't leave home without them.

 

[Skylar]

Id just as soon sit in the cabin, then ride when its colder then -15. Screw that!