szegerely wrote:I just thought I would let people know about my solution(s)
I really suffer on cold rides, so much that I had almost decided not to do any riding on cold days.
Last September I bought some Hotronic insoles and Hestra heated gloves. I have used them right through the winter and they have completely transformed my cycling. It was quite an investment, but I doubt I would have ridden through much of the last six months without them. The best day though was a really miserable wet day when I punctured. My hands got a bit cold changing tubes, and on any other day I would have begun to suffer, but putting the warm gloves on was akin to settling in front of a warm fire.
The insoles have a 4 setting function, and I have only had to resort to level 3 for a short while, but level one keeps my feet warm without overheating quite well most of the time.
I don't use the heating elements in the gloves all that much, but find a quick blast of heat from time to time keeps the gloves (which are really beautifully made in any event) warm for ages
Thanks for this, szegerely. I hadn't really thought to explore the idea of heated gloves and insoles, mainly because I didn't imagine the power source would last long enough. But, your experiences sound really positive.
In the 1970's heated gloves and insoles came out for motorcycles. Being unwilling to part with cash, most of which would go to marketing, packaging, etc (and being a Yorkshireman, I admit), I decided to make some. I got an old heated blanket, and stripped out the elements. Onto the back of an inner glove, I sewed a length of element in a zig zag and going up/down each finger. I glued a "snake" of an element onto a normal cork insole. I wired each extremity up the inside of my Belstaff two piece and out to a plug just under my saddle. It worked a treat, and it transformed my winter riding, as you describe. Too hot for continuous use. But, no more stops at motorway areas to stuff stiff, insensitive fingers under the hot air driers!
