What gear for what weather?

[SWriverstone]

This conversation was already started in blackbuell's Eureka Springs weather thread...but what the hell, I thought we could have a separate thread for it.

I'm still sorta mulling this one over as this time of year, we could be seeing extremes. It might be 60s in the morning and 80s at 3pm in Arkansas...but we're riding all the way down the Blue Ridge Parkway, meaning altitude, meaning it could get COLD. (Temps in the 40s wouldn't be unusual at all.)

My biggest decisions (as are many others I'm sure) are:
a) mesh or textile jacket?
b) heated liner or not?

I'm leaning now toward my mesh jacket with both windproof/waterproof liner and quilted liner. But then again, my Gerbing jacket liner isn't any bulkier than the quilted liner...so...

Obviously I don't want to be lugging along more warm stuff than I'll actually use...but sure enough, if I don't bring it, I'll need it!

Scott

[glory racing]

Mesh jactet with rain liner and the heated liner.  Then you will not need the quilted liner and the space you save from not bringing the guilted liner will make room for your rain gear.  The chances for heat and rain are more likely than the potential for brief periods of cold.  FYI...Tomorrow it will be 90 degrees.

[garry]

I can only take one jacket and it will be my mesh summer jacket. I roast in my AST when it's over 80. That means separate raingear (PITA one-piece Triumph suit) eating most of one saddlebag. I'll take a nylon windshirt and fleece shirt for extra insulation under the jacket on cool mornings. The fleece shirt will be nice for hanging out at night if it cools off too.

I'll probably toss in a pair of long underwear, just in case. Wish I had packed it last year for ESTN. Like you say, it can be quite cold in the morning in the mountains.

[RickC1957]

My heated vest lives in my top case. My motto "Don't leave home without it!" When I was in AK last May, I wore my perforated leathers, used the vest and long sleeved T until it got toasty. If it gets really cold, rainsuit over that. I was good to go.

[ray916mn]

For those kinds of conditions on a trip I use a 1 piece Aerostich, waterproof windproof softshell jacket and electric vest. Softshell jacket and electric vest gives you something to wear off the bike when you're not riding.

I never bring the insulated liners that come with any of my jackets on trips if cold and/or wet are possible. Electrics are much more versatile on/off the bike in my experience.

[sprocket]

IMO making sure you stay hydrated should be at the top of your list, as "Glory Racing" stated vented gear and rain gear will be the norm.

[jimmy]

Our group is coming down from Canada.  How far south of the Canada / USA border will we need to travel before all the snow has melted in the low lying or shady areas?

[Cablebandit]

I'm going the textile jacket route with a rain liner.  I figure I'll pack my heated vest since it takes less room than the insulated jacket liner, plus it's warmer.  I'm also packing some long john bottoms in case it gets really nippy in the morning.  Riding to work this morning it was just above freezing, but it should be in the upper 70's this afternoon.  The key is gear that has a wide comfort zone with minimal futzing around.

[SWriverstone]

Our group is coming down from Canada.  How far south of the Canada / USA border will we need to travel before all the snow has melted in the low lying or shady areas?

You shouldn't get far before snow disappears...there's not a trace anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic states...not sure about farther west...
Scott

[jimmy]

You shouldn't get far before snow disappears...there's not a trace anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic states...not sure about farther west...
Scott

Thank you sir!  I'll look you up and buy you a cold one at the meet.

[DredheadV2.0]

Our group is coming down from Canada.  How far south of the Canada / USA border will we need to travel before all the snow has melted in the low lying or shady areas?

Once you get south of Peoria, IL, the nightly frosts will have abated somewhat.  Here in Chicago we still have the occasional snow squall.  The climate is actually not all that different from Yellowknife.

[Mac]

I can't remember where I read it, but the article said something to the affect that ambient temp rose 1 deg F per each 100 miles traveled south.

[jimmy]

I can't remember where I read it, but the article said something to the affect that ambient temp rose 1 deg F per each 100 miles traveled south.

Wow! 100 miles south = 1 degree F.  How flippin' hot is it at the South Pole?!  

[mxvet57]

Our group is coming down from Canada.  How far south of the Canada / USA border will we need to travel before all the snow has melted in the low lying or shady areas?

i was up in Canada 2 week's ago and i did see snow in some parking lots. (shady areas)

[Yankee Dog]

Mesh jactet with rain liner and the heated liner.  Then you will not need the quilted liner and the space you save from not bringing the guilted liner will make room for your rain gear.  The chances for heat and rain are more likely than the potential for brief periods of cold.  FYI...Tomorrow it will be 90 degrees.

+1

This is the way to go. A couple of years ago up in New Hampshire, we found ourselves in 38f in the morning.  95f by the afternoon as we worked our way South.  The Joe Rocket Phoenix with rain liner and Gerbing liner stood us well.  If you need the liner and not the extra heat, just dont plug it in.  

Yankee Dog



 

[Hickey]

I've pretty much decided on a perforated leather jacket, moto pants, rain gear, heated jacket liner, and non-heated gloves.  I'll also have a mix of t-shirts and long sleeved t-shirts.  This ought to give me enough mix-and-match options to be comfortable in the range of temperatures and conditions I'm likely to encounter.

[black hills]

My heated vest lives in my top case.

+1

Well, taml bag for me, but I never leave home without it.

[basco]

This conversation was already started in blackbuell's Eureka Springs weather thread...but what the hell, I thought we could have a separate thread for it.

I'm still sorta mulling this one over as this time of year, we could be seeing extremes. It might be 60s in the morning and 80s at 3pm in Arkansas...but we're riding all the way down the Blue Ridge Parkway, meaning altitude, meaning it could get COLD. (Temps in the 40s wouldn't be unusual at all.)

My biggest decisions (as are many others I'm sure) are:
a) mesh or textile jacket?
b) heated liner or not?

I'm leaning now toward my mesh jacket with both windproof/waterproof liner and quilted liner. But then again, my Gerbing jacket liner isn't any bulkier than the quilted liner...so...

Obviously I don't want to be lugging along more warm stuff than I'll actually use...but sure enough, if I don't bring it, I'll need it!

Scott

I don't think you have to worry about it. Bring mesh unless you want to sweat like a mf. Don't worry about the liners, it is summer (at least in that part of the world.)

[basco]

Another thing you might want to concider. Mesh with an overlaying rain suit or gear acts like an insulator. That is what I am doing, bring perforated mesh with a rain jacket over it. This does keep you warm even at 40F.