Temp drops fast when the sun goes down this time of year

[bigsheep_imp]

Just got back from a ride. A chance meeting of family in an out of town coffee shop had me heading home a fair bit later than planned. The delay meant a ride home in 3 deg C or 37 F. I really missed the heated grips I installed on the CTX. My gloves had finger vents and my hands were getting numb. I stopped at a gas station and bought a set of deerskin gloves and a hand warmer. I still had 45 minutes to get home and my fingertips were ice cold. The gas station had cheaper gloves but the deerskin fit so nice and was the only pair that I felt I could operate the controls properly in.

So far I have had the CB1100 for about 4 weeks, and I have 2600 km (1600 miles)in the saddle. I'm really enjoying the bike, getting more used to the weight, higher CG and and standard riding position.

[Cormanus]

You're getting about bigsheep. Glad you're enjoying the bike.

I guess the moral is that, when you're riding in places where the temperature can vary considerably, it's worth taking the right gear just in case.

[the Ferret]

too bad your bike doesn't have hand guards

(inside joke... I just bought the handguards that were on this bike when Norm bought it)

[Rocky_imp]

Just got back from a ride. A chance meeting of family in an out of town coffee shop had me heading home a fair bit later than planned. The delay meant a ride home in 3 deg C or 37 F. I really missed the heated grips I installed on the CTX. My gloves had finger vents and my hands were getting numb. I stopped at a gas station and bought a set of deerskin gloves and a hand warmer. I still had 45 minutes to get home and my fingertips were ice cold. The gas station had cheaper gloves but the deerskin fit so nice and was the only pair that I felt I could operate the controls properly in.

So far I have had the CB1100 for about 4 weeks, and I have 2600 km (1600 miles)in the saddle. I'm really enjoying the bike, getting more used to the weight, higher CG and and standard riding position.

Very common this time of year and in the fall.
A good pair of warm, well fitting gloves are a must - and take them with you

[bigsheep_imp]

I'm normally ok with those gloves to 6 deg, but the drop to three made it a bit unbearable. But I made it home, saw some family and still have the tips of my fingers so all is well. And I got some nice deer skin gloves out of the deal!

[Nortoon_imp]

I find deerskin gloves warmer than leather gloves. I buy the suede insulated ones at Marks (CTC) and the uninsulated ones at Home Depot. Marks use to have good uninsulated ones, but now they are kind of waxy feeling. Home Depot still has the soft ones in the work glove department and they are $5 cheaper.

One of the best things I bought on sale at Marks was a Columbia Frost Fighter Jacket. It really is an insulated long sleeve vest. I bought it snug so it would fit under my leather jacket. It is very soft and comfortable and keeps the cold air out and the body heat in. The round collar is taller than the collar on my jacket, so it keeps my neck warm. The vest is also longer in the back than my jacket, so it keeps the small of my back warm when sitting on the bike. I bought a black one so it was less obvious. It is kind of puffy, but it folds down tight enough to stuff in my tail bag when not needed.

Cabela's sell flannel lined relaxed fit jeans which are great for cold weather riding and are not uncomfortable on warm spring or autumn afternoons. I bought them with an inseam that is 2 inches longer than I normally wear. That keeps the wind off my shins when I sit on the bike. Oddly enough you can buy them in Florida and California, but not in Canada. So I bought two pair on-line. They sell out quickly, so you have to check the American website in the early fall.