800 Mile December Bike Ride, Need Gear Advice

[ANGRYCivilian]

Around the end of November/Beginning of December, I'll be riding from WV back to FL and am looking for some gear advice. I need to pick up a full face helmet, some base-layer clothing, and insulated gloves. Anyone have any recommendations?

[Tirehouse]

Around the end of November/Beginning of December, I'll be riding from WV back to FL and am looking for some gear advice. I need to pick up a full face helmet, some base-layer clothing, and insulated gloves. Anyone have any recommendations?

Take a car...it's warmer.

[Ranger Ron]

Around the end of November/Beginning of December, I'll be riding from WV back to FL and am looking for some gear advice. I need to pick up a full face helmet, some base-layer clothing, and insulated gloves. Anyone have any recommendations?

Fly, it's faster.

[ANGRYCivilian]

haha.

I can trailer the bike back, but I'd rather ride it...I think. I've only done local central FL riding, nothing long distance or in cold weather.

[Maggot275]

Preparation-H..... lots of it. :D

[Tater Nuts]

If your using clipless pedals invest in a pair of neoprene overbooties with cleat cutouts, if your using upright bars versus roadie stuff, the handcovers that mount on your bars are more versatile than gloves plus you can move your hands out of them if you start to overheat. During winter bike patrol I had better luck with a baclava or neck gaiter than full face helmets. Use a dry wax chain lube rather than a grease type. Spray the frame and bottom bracket area with PAM cooking spray to prevent road ice buildup.

[Oto-Man]

Preperation H, Gold Bond (Green bottle not the yellow one) Powder, condoms and a 115lb. female hitch hiking stripper...

Good luck...get some pics the scenery should be great!!!!

[ANGRYCivilian]

If your using clipless pedals invest in a pair of neoprene overbooties with cleat cutouts, if your using upright bars versus roadie stuff, the handcovers that mount on your bars are more versatile than gloves plus you can move your hands out of them if you start to overheat. During winter bike patrol I had better luck with a baclava or neck gaiter than full face helmets. Use a dry wax chain lube rather than a grease type. Spray the frame and bottom bracket area with PAM cooking spray to prevent road ice buildup.

Thanks, Ranger Tater Nuts. I mean motorcycle, though. Although, I do use the dry wax chain lube and Pam on my mountain bike. The Pam is awesome for just spraying the bike down after a ride.

[Old Grunt]

It's been years since I've done any riding, so there's probably a lot of better stuff on the market now, but these things worked for me.

First, get a Headsock. It is basically a balaclava with a foam rubber face shield. Even a full face helmet will not give you enough protection from the cold if you have to ride for any length of time. Headsocks are inexpensive and work great.
Next, see if you can find a freezer suit. They are worn by workers in refrigerated warehouses and you can usually find them in places that sell industrial work clothes. They don't look as cool as a set of leathers, but they work and you're going to have to shell out some serious dollars for a set of leathers that provide the same degree of protection. They're also relatively inexpensive. If you can't find a freezer suit, Cabelas sells pretty much the same thing for hunters, although the ones from Cabelas will set you back a little more.
That only leaves your feet and hands, but these are the parts that are on the leading edge of the wind stream and furtherest from your heat core. Try a good set of Thinsulate lined gloves and boots, and a pair of polypropylene socks worn under a set of wool ones.

[RangerJurena]

haha.

I can trailer the bike back, but I'd rather ride it...I think. I've only done local central FL riding, nothing long distance or in cold weather.

Holy shit, only local central florida and now your going to WV? in the Winter? I rode with the Patriot Guard yesterday and the temperature here in Dallas fell into the 50's, I froze my ass off.

I'm not the sharpest tack in the box, but if it was me, I'd reschedule this until Memoral day or something.

Make sure you give us updates along the ride, IF your fingers thaw out in time to type.

[Jim]

Box it and find a reliable shipping company. Or wait until next summer. Of course, if you were a winter Ranger, it wouldn't be a problem.

[ANGRYCivilian]

Here's the gear I'm looking at so far:

HJC CL-Max Flip-Up helmet (I have to wear glasses)
RoadGear Boss Gloves
Therma-Silk glove liners

I still have the poly-pro balaclava, and I have a fleece neck-gaitor. I also have a pair of Matterhorne ATD's, and an OK jacket. As long as I layer properly, I think I'll be alright.

Last time I went up there (January), I saw this guy riding a BMW touring bike on I75. He had ice all over him. It was cold and snowing. If that fucker can do it, so can I.

[Tater Nuts]

If your using clipless pedals invest in a pair of neoprene overbooties with cleat cutouts, if your using upright bars versus roadie stuff, the handcovers that mount on your bars are more versatile than gloves plus you can move your hands out of them if you start to overheat. During winter bike patrol I had better luck with a baclava or neck gaiter than full face helmets. Use a dry wax chain lube rather than a grease type. Spray the frame and bottom bracket area with PAM cooking spray to prevent road ice buildup.

Thanks, Ranger Tater Nuts. I mean motorcycle, though. Although, I do use the dry wax chain lube and Pam on my mountain bike. The Pam is awesome for just spraying the bike down after a ride.

In that case (motorcycle) wear leather, grow long greasy hair, and take meth.

[RangerJurena]

Here's the gear I'm looking at so far:

HJC CL-Max Flip-Up helmet (I have to wear glasses)
RoadGear Boss Gloves
Therma-Silk glove liners

I still have the poly-pro balaclava, and I have a fleece neck-gaitor. I also have a pair of Matterhorne ATD's, and an OK jacket. As long as I layer properly, I think I'll be alright.

Last time I went up there (January), I saw this guy riding a BMW touring bike on I75. He had ice all over him. It was cold and snowing. If that fucker can do it, so can I.

I spent 7 years in BN getting in trouble for refusing to give into this type of thinking..a better train of thought, while driving your car in bermuda shorts with the heater on is, "look at that dumb ass".

[EvilCouch]

Here's the gear I'm looking at so far:

HJC CL-Max Flip-Up helmet (I have to wear glasses)
RoadGear Boss Gloves
Therma-Silk glove liners

I still have the poly-pro balaclava, and I have a fleece neck-gaitor. I also have a pair of Matterhorne ATD's, and an OK jacket. As long as I layer properly, I think I'll be alright.

Last time I went up there (January), I saw this guy riding a BMW touring bike on I75. He had ice all over him. It was cold and snowing. If that fucker can do it, so can I.

What's a flip-up helmet got to do with wearing glasses?

I have a full-face and wear glasses. I just have to take my glasses off before I put my helmet on or off.