Bar Mits

[Jackson]

Anyone have any experience with these or this type of winter gear? Might be a good (cheap) time of the year to stock up on winter items.

http://www.drybike.com/

http://www.drybike.com/mainimage.gif

[piperj]

-VA

OK, saw the title, couldn't resist...

See who all gets the joke...

Seriously, don't know that I would want my hands that "bound up" when on singletrack, looks like it would be great for a commuter...

[allencb]

Cathy M has a set. I borrowed them on one of the colder rides this season. They work really well and don't "connect" you to the bike as much as you'd think. They're a bit of a PITA to get into though.

Chris

[Dirt]

If you've got chronically cold hands in this area, they're great. I don't know about those specific mits, but I used ones like them when I lived in Colorado and Minnesota.

For me in this area, they're WAY too warm. I'd use them on rides where the temps were consistantly below 5 degrees. Anything warmer and my hands would sweat first, then freeze.

Pete

[Squirrel Girl]

-VA

OK, saw the title, couldn't resist...Wah, hah, hah! Something I might have expected from Saxman!

Anyway, is there some reason these things would be better than, say, gloves?

[Dirt]

Anyway, is there some reason these things would be better than, say, gloves?

They are MUCH warmer... at least they can be. Like I say, I know nothing about this particular incarnation.

Pete

[Squirrel Girl]

Like I say,We were kinda posting at the same time, so I didn't read your "warm" posting when I wrote my question. But I still like the idea of gloves. So long as I pick the correct ones (thickness) out of the pile, I've never had cold hands. But then I don't ride below about 30 or so (or at least not too much).

[Dirt]

We were kinda posting at the same time, so I didn't read your "warm" posting when I wrote my question. But I still like the idea of gloves. So long as I pick the correct ones (thickness) out of the pile, I've never had cold hands. But then I don't ride below about 30 or so (or at least not too much).

Agreed. For most humans, the bar mits (-va) would be overkill for this area. Only people with chronically cold hands would use them. Most people use them in conjunction with gloves of some kind. That is one reason why they have more potential for warmth.

Pete

[Squirrel Girl]

Agreed. For most humans, the bar mits (-va) would be overkill for this area. Only people with chronically cold hands would use them. Most people use them in conjunction with gloves of some kind. That is one reason why they have more potential for warmth.

PeteGeez. If you need bar mits (-va) over gloves, brrrrrrr!!!! What would you do with the rest of your body? Like you lips and eyeballs? I can see wearing appropriate jacket layers and so on. But if you have to wear gloves and Bar Mits (-va), I think I'd just grab a cup of hot cocoa and a book and dream of Arizona.

Speaking of which, a friend mailed me a page out of last month's Smithsonian magazine with a review in it. A new squirrel book came out! Yippie! Amazon here I come!

[Dirt]

Geez. If you need bar mits (-va) over gloves, brrrrrrr!!!! What would you do with the rest of your body? Like you lips and eyeballs? I can see wearing appropriate jacket layers and so on. But if you have to wear gloves and Bar Mits (-va), I think I'd just grab a cup of hot cocoa and a book and dream of Arizona.


Layering is the key to warmth. wicking layer against the skin, insulation layer(s) go next. Wind cutting layer goes on top. Eyes are protected by goggles when it is that cold.

I wore relatively light gloves with the bar mits (-va). Anything more than a mid weight glove caused too much sweat...even in frigid weather.

Later!

Pete

[allencb]

A new squirrel book came out! Yippie! Amazon here I come!

A(nother) book on squirrels? Is there that much to write about? Hmm. Got a link?

Chris

[Squirrel Girl]

A(nother) book on squirrels? Is there that much to write about? Hmm. Got a link?

Chris
Are you crazy? You just want to know more about 'em so you can shoot more of 'em! :eek:

[Squirrel Girl]

Layering is the key to warmth. wicking layer against the skin, insulation layer(s) go next. Wind cutting layer goes on top. Eyes are protected by goggles when it is that cold. Nice theory on the layering. But in reality I just buy wicking layers and put 'em on till I'm comfy (and take 'em off till I'm comfy). For instance, I virtually *never* wear a wind cutting layer. It just causes moisture to build up, even goretex. Today, I figured with 20 mph wind and higher gusts, I'd break my "rule" about not wearing a wind breaker while riding. Wrong. I hardly went anywhere at all before taking it off, and just thowing another wicking layer on in it's place. Perfecto.

The woods just buffer the wind, so it isn't too bad. But not so nice that I won't complain about it! I want nice weather!!!! :p At least it didn't rain and the temp wasn't as cold as last weekend (my futile attempt to not be too negative).

[allencb]

Are you crazy? You just want to know more about 'em so you can shoot more of 'em! :eek:

I'm genuinely interested in what would be contained in such a book.

I not only like to eat gentle woodland creatures, but I also like to learn about them as well. :)

Chris

[piperj]

Oh Barbara...

You have to check out the shirt I just got my son from Old Navy...

http://home.comcast.net/~jtpiper/sgw.jpg

[Squirrel Girl]

Oh Barbara...

You have to check out the shirt I just got my son from Old Navy...Yay, John, you're spreading the good word about squirrels to the next generation!

If the weather ever improves we should have a joint metro/Richmond ride sometime.
:)

[Dirt]

Nice theory on the layering. But in reality I just buy wicking layers and put 'em on till I'm comfy (and take 'em off till I'm comfy). For instance, I virtually *never* wear a wind cutting layer.

That works in Virginia. I do the same thing many times. It doesn't work very well in -20 degree temps with gusty winds. Most of the time when I was out in that kind of weather it was snow shoeing or xc skiing, but occasionally it was cycling for short periods.

Later!

Pete

[Pinoy Rider]

Tom, maybe someone can make a low powered version of what they use for snowmobile handle bars. Night snowmobile ride in vail, grips were all heated. My hands were very cozy the entire trip. I had to turn it down. The rest of my body was a different story though.