Kelly’s Korner: Looking and Feeling HOT In Cold Weather
Last Updated: November 30th, 2020
As I write this, the late October mercury continues to hover at an exasperating 90 degrees. Still, I have faith that more seasonable weather soon will arrive. And when that happens, I’ll be hunting down my heated gloves and berating myself for not yet replacing the heavy riding gear I undergrew a couple of years ago. Looking ahead to the inevitable cool down, then, let’s talk about the gear that makes riding bearable, if not comfortable, in inclement temperatures and conditions. I think this will come in especially handy for women facing their first winter of riding.
You may laugh at the idea of heated gloves in Arizona; once upon a time, I did as well. But as it turns out, I need them. When my hands won’t wrap around the levers or the throttle because they’re too cold to move, it’s a problem. I seem to lose body heat on a bike at around 60 degrees. So I use electric gloves that tend to burn the tops of my hands rather than leaving them frozen. We can’t win every battle, people. If you’re curious about heated gloves, do some Internet research, talk with a long time rider or two and a gear supplier, and then try on some pairs in person. Rechargeable lithium ion battery-powered gloves may work best if you don’t want to suck too much of your bike’s power or be tethered to a cord. The drawback is that the battery won’t last as long as gloves that use the bike’s energy. Heated liners that fit inside your favorite pair of gloves are another option. 
While none of these choices are inexpensive (or, if they are, you’ll get what you pay for), consider that you stand to use these heated gloves or liners every year for the next many number of years.
There also are heated jackets and liners. I’ve yet to go this route. When it’s only mildly nippy, I wear a very attractive pair of Hot Chillys thermals under jeans. On top, I wear a fleece jacket under my regular Scorpion jacket and, if there’s wind, I’ll wear the jacket liner under the fleece. When it comes to feet, I wear a pair of calf-high pantyhose under a pair of long socks, just like back in the days of living in snow. Layering works wonders.
But when the weather turns frigid and I still decide that riding, not driving, is a swell idea, well, it’s time for me to revisit what I need to keep the cold where it belongs while also protecting my limbs. Fortunately, manufacturers have developed winter gear that contains armor while promoting warmth and resisting water. Some features to look for:
- A removable liner;
- Water proof/resistant material;
- Design that keeps rain from getting between your gloves and wrists, or from dripping down your neck; and
- A collar that keeps your neck warm but that doesn’t interfere with being able to turn your helmeted head.
That’s all good stuff. Unfortunately, a quick Google search shows me that riding clothes manufacturers fail to understand two basic realities:
- It’s 2014; women comprise a sizable riding demographic with buying power.
- We want to look as female in winter as we do in summer, while maintaining riding safety integrity.
I’m not asking for much here — really, I don’t want to look like I posed in a cotton candy ad. I would, though, like to maintain some semblance of feminine allure in the dead of winter on my bike. A touch of color, and a form-fitting tuck here and there would be most welcome. In my now too-large winter riding gear, I look like a space-age version of the Pillsbury Dough Boy and from what I can tell, that’s going to remain the case with the new gear. Of course, I’ll take what I can get because if I’m going to ride, it’s going to be with a safety-first attitude. However, manufacturers, I ask you, must safety look so freaking boring for the ladies?
Ride warm this winter, everyone. Reach out to me at kellyteal13@gmail.com if you have questions!
For the Entire TEAM Arizona Newsletter Content, CLICK HERE
