[Nov 13, 2011] Open Rideout Sunday 13/11/11 (TN22 1AR, England)

Pleased to say that although I only led the ride to Rye for a short distance, I introduced those following to my favourite - a road with grass growing down the middle. [Hanna - it's OK, this one still had a bit of tarmac either side of the grass].

 

That makes a change for once...

 

I thought that but more like "you chatting my bird up!!!!!!!!!!
Les, arse of the weekend Hanna or Lammy from yesterday????

 

Excellent turnout peeps was good to catch up, hope the lesser powered bikes enjoyed things today

 

Lovely day out,gorgeous sunshine and the usual crowd and some very nice new faces. Sorry guys for not making it all the way to rye,couldn't stand the pain any longer.xx

 

Gutted I couldn't make it! Looked like a great day! Cracking weather for it too!

 

No comment, I'm not starting ww3.

 

Chicken!!! Never stopped you before!!!

 

Ok, H gets my vote but shhh..don't tell eh?

 

the more you ride, the more you acclimatise, I ride year all year and Im dressed like the breath of spring except for the coldest of days but you have to have decent gloves and good thermal socks, if your extremities are warm, you find its easier to keep the rest of your body warm. And a scarf! I dont often have one but what a difference it makes on the coldest days. And throw on an extra pair of opaque tights, it helps although some people dont recommend it because if you come off, it could take a layer of skin off.

 

If you keep your chest warm the rest will take care of itself as the vital fluids will warm when they get there, of course anything you can do to stop the wind chill (winter gloves etc) will help.
I only ever owned summer gloves and rode all year round. Did get some thermal socks for xmas one year but they didn't make a lick of difference after a 100miles or so.
An extra layer on my top and a neck tube was about the limit of my 'winter gear', stop the cold getting in and you stay warm.

And tights are awesome for keeping warm! No idea how a pair of tights would take a layer of skin off more than asphalt traveling at 50mph different to your ass though. Opaque is optional, any will work as it creates a microclimate. It's an old squaddie trick.
(And some women know about it too I think... )

 

There seem to be two very distinct schools of thought on how to keep warm: one says 'look after the extremities' with gloves, heated grips, maybe a balaclava, extra socks etc; the other says it's more effective to wear a heated waistcoat - and good gloves. I haven't ridden enough to offer my own penn'orth, but I am now very aware that getting cold leads to being too stiff to ride safely -> wobbly moments and potentially ...or worse.

I suspect that everyone whose age begins with a number higher than 3 will agree with me!

 

My approach is an absolutely windproof outer layer such as thin nylon hiking waterproofs. Biker jackets always seem to have gaps where the wind gets in, so wear them underneath. I hate fleecey things round my neck as they make me itch, but a silk balaclava is excellent. Very thin yet keeps the worst of the wind out, and it's just like wearing a pair of ladies knickers on your head (so I'm told ).

If you do wear tights don't wear them on your head as you'll give the cashier a heart attack when you go to pay for the petrol.

 

Buy the 2 piece base layer set from Lidl's (in stock last week) or something similar from Millets/.Ski Shop. Wear plenty of layers under your bike gear.
Silk inner gloves, and if you intend to do serious winter riding a heated waistcoat is essential.
Alternative is use the car.

 

I've known about the ladies tights thing for years with mates using them, I'd rather freeze me thinks.......
bugger that and the embarrassment if you have a big off and end up in hospital.........
As for the knicker thing Jim, I hope they are clean ones...... can you imagine a used gusset on ones head.......with the breeze of the open road forcing the odours up ones nose........ Or it a kink thing?????

Stockings and suspenders for the spring then?.........

 

No Dave, just you're a kinky sod! Its all coming out now.........

 

As squaddies we used to raid the local's washing lines before going out on exercise in winter.

 

What -for anything lacy?

 

You'd be surprised what we found ourselves with once we got back into the light!