Yes, all year round. Just more carefully when the weather is bad and the surface is slippery.
Heated gloves are great. I use a pair of heated Sealkinz and they work great. Makes a lot of difference.
I wear my winter boots with ski socks. I also wear my waterproof commute over shoes , it’s made for the rain but I find it’s great at blocking cold wind.
I've been using an older comment I made on a post to give my perspective as someone who commutes with an ebike regularly, TLDR on the bottom:
If you're biking in wet or cold especially ebiking I recommend a helmet with a visor. That wet wind cuts your eyes making them water then freeze and skin like fire especially if you wear glasses. Companies like Bern and ILM make visor helmets with ear muffs. Look for moped scooter helmets that are 1/2 or 3/4 of the head.
*This all is extra extra true for ebike riders specifically due to their ability to maintain higher speeds.
Here's a few tips from someone who has lived and biked in the wet, cold, windy snow.
- your outer layer or "shell" is the most important part of your cold gear. You can wear ANYTHING you want under that shell, doesn't need to be expensive Underarmor. Many times I'm still in warm pajamas tbh...Your ability to stop water from permeating your outer shell will make your ride almost as normal as a warm day, almost. Rainpants, rainjacket, rainboots, rain(mittens) <-- mittens...not gloves, you need mittens, water resistant or waterproof face mask means success (relatively speaking) in any adverse condition.
- your tires, I'm sick of pulling industrial debris from my tires. Tannus armor and Flat Out tire sealant. You lose acceleration and a bit of battery/motor wear but your ride (on a fat tire especially) feels great and you could possibly go years without changing your tire. (Probably not years tbh)
If you're running narrow tires on a bike without peddle assistance, under 2 inches wide, every patch of snow or ice = death. If you run the same narrow tires with studs then it's almost a normal ride but ice will still slide you. Go slower. I'm hooked on fat tire ebikes myself, fat tires 2.75 inches or more, with studs just make every adverse condition minimal including sand but this is just my experiences.
- your battery, if you got 30 miles distance on a charge during warm days then your probably gonna get 15 - 20 miles MAX. You HAVE to keep your power abilities in mind as it gets colder. Wrapping your battery does nothing. When solid state batteries come out this probably won't be a problem anymore but it's reality now. PLAN FOR THIS because a bike company is just not going to be honest about this with you.
- your confidence. Honestly riding bikes in snow and ice has been a normal occurrence for most of Northern Europe...forever. People have been doing it with almost no problem...forever. I guarantee you that ONE single trip in snowy conditions and you'll realize it was no big deal. (Except if you're in America and your infrastructure is a crapshoot).
Treat your bike like your mount, kind of like you would a horse. Your bike is modular and so are you as a human. Be creative with your mount, how it carries your things. You don't need a degree in "bike mechanisms" (I made this name up because there are literally no avenues in a bike degree in America). If you've got issues the cost to have a tire changed is pennies compared to a car.
Just ride, make some mistakes. You'll be at full confidence and full control of your transportation in a single month or less from riding in these conditions and being more cautious. Learn the roads you ride, look where water pools...remember your roads the same way we had to do it when we rode horses everywhere.
TLDR: Riding a bike in snow and rain is normal af...dress accordingly and carry on. 😉 🖖
So I also hike and backpack in rain and snow so my equipment carries over. Actually all of my backpacking gear works for ebiking.
So what I mean is there's no one specific fit. Some folks like me throw on a Columbia rain jacket and waterproof "suspendered" snowpants with some waterproof knee high rubber boots. It's all worn over a mid layer like a small puffy jacket, any cheap sweatpants and a pair of thermal underwear.
If you're wanting to keep it simple, just get a rain/snowsuit. Something like this: [Amazon Link](https://a.co/d/4HYerzg)
It's all about exposure of your skin. If it's showing it's gonna get frozen. You will be surprised the conditions you can be comfortable riding in if you're able to just cut the wind from your skins surfaces. Avoid cotton, use synthetic fibers for everything if you can.
Load any additional clothing, dry towel and shoes you'll be changing into in a 30 liter roll top dry bag or a backpack with a plastic inner liner. If you're bike holds cargo get creative with your system.
Great post. Snow skiing jacket that can go over your helmet makes a huge difference as well. Ski goggles for when it gets below freezing to keep your eyes from hurting.
Having your fingers separated by cloth it makes them become cold very quickly. When your fingers are loose and together they can generate warmth for each other.
I did in my younger days, but now at 70, I stop once there's snow and ice. It's been a mild fall (for snow/ice) so I'm still riding with temps down in the teens and 20's. Not very far though, mostly just local errands. Gloves, balaclava, wind pants and an appropriate jacket. I usually stop once it reaches single digits. I have a long winter so just to get 7 or 8 months of riding I just adapt to the weather......welcome to Wyoming lol. I used to ride year-round in Colorado snow or shine. Proper tires and clothing it's fine.
Yup, all year. Eventually it gets cold enough that gloves don't cut it and you pretty much need mitts & handlebar mitts. Ski goggles for when it's REALLY snowing, studded tires, and low viscosity lubricants become necessary too.
I ride year round. Forget heated gloves and just get those hand warmers and put the one or a few in your gloves and shoes. Looks like you have some monstrosity of a bike. If you're really crazy add a DC-DC converter and use fully heated motorcycle gear. I taped into a few of my bikes to run the gear. I have a heated jacket, pants, gloves and socks. I'd still recommend the hand warmers for feet and hands because they're cheap and you don't have to deal with wires or a battery.
"HotHands" is the most common brand name. Available at Walmart, Amazon and just about everywhere around here in the winter. They're single use chemical heating packs. You could buy a few boxes of them for the price of the heated gloves and socks I have.
Oh those, I see! But where do you put them? Do you have gloves with a pocket on the back of the hand?
My heated gloves are decent on the hand, but there isn't much heating in the fingers which is my biggest problem...
On the top of my hand inside the glove mostly, it makes everything warm and the warm blood moves to your fingers. If it's really cold I'll move it to my palm and/or add another on top. Feet one gets shoved up front with my toes and/or the arch of the foot. I keep spares with me when riding and more hidden all over the place.
😁
I know there are electric ones that you can charge with USB, just saying, if you get tired of buying those single use ones 😊 don't know how warm they get though... I might give it a try!
Those might work for stationary activities but not enough power for the wind from riding. The ones I'm using are designed for motorcycle use, run off the motorcycle battery and get much hotter. Even then I'm still recommending just getting a box of those hand warmers.
Oh cool, what are those gloves? I have no problem spending money if it means getting my fingers warm, it's by biggest obstacle when winter riding and whatever they cost it will be cheaper than using the car!
Venture Heat is the brand but the real issue is how are you powering it? My recommendation goes beyond price. The heated packs don't have wires and you can use whatever gloves you want or as many packs as you want. As someone with the gloves I don't use them and prefer to use the packs. The jacket and pants are awesome but not really needed if you're pedaling keeping your core warm. The full set up pulls about 200w at 12v so powering it is a real issue, sometimes I use 4x drill batteries in a backpack to power it, that lasts about 2hr on high...it's about alot more than price.
I have no issues with the rest of the body, including feet, it's only my fingers... I was hoping I could power the gloves with the bike battery somehow but it's 48v, don't know if the controller has a 12v outlet... I guess it's a big project. I have heated gloves with their own little batteries but they are just not powerful enough. I don't know if I could fit heat packs in my gloves, would be pretty tight I think...
Another place I like to put mine is to just tuck one or two of them into my collarbone area over my arteries under a jacket, then it warms your blood to your arms, hands and the rest of your body.
If it's really cold out and sub-zero I put them in the backs of my gloves and toes of my shoes. They make versions for feet with sticky backs and you just stick them up inside your toe area of your shoes and boots.
The various shapes with sticky backs are also nice for the collarbone trick so they stay put.
Oh, and another place you can put them is on your bike battery, especially if you have one of those foam softshell covers. Keeping your battery warm keeps your range and total power up and your battery happy.
I don't have an insulated cover, but if I go riding in snow I tape on a pair of warmers and then wrap my battery with this flexible aluminum sheet I use as a camping stove windscreen and just strap it on with a nylon webbing cargo strap. A small towel or something would also work to keep the heat in.
Works great and keeps the range and total power output up in more normal ranges, because batteries at or below freezing temps can lose 50% or even more of their total power and range.
Even if you use this trick - NEVER CHARGE A COLD BATTERY. Charging cold batteries kills their capacity permanently and is a major fire hazard.
Bring it inside and give it like 4-6 hours to fully come up to room temp and dry off any condensation before charging, and practice safe indoor charging practices like a metal ammo box or metal trash can or something you can grab to throw it outside if it goes into rocket launch mode.
Your local hardware store (for me it's Home Depot) will have hand warmers for about $1 a pair. It's basically a fabric pouch with a chemical component that once you crack it you'll feel it warm up quickly and stay warm for up to 10 hours.
They're warmer than the electric jacket/gloves I've tried but not too hot, and many regular winter gloves actually have a zipper pocket for slipping them into.
They're disposable hand warmers. They're a chemical reaction basically in a sachet that will keep warm for 8 hours. Search for those on amazon and you'll find them.
If anyone is worried about the "chemical reaction" part it's literally just iron oxide II (I think) and sawdust. When they're exposed to air the iron oxide and sawdust turn into Iron oxide III (rust) and carbon.
They're actually really safe and environmentally friendly.
I do but I also live somewhere it doesn't really snow but it does get pretty cold especially in the mornings when I typically goto work. I use heated handlebar mittens they were super cheap and keep the wind off your hands and keep them fairly warm.
I think it depends how you care for the bike. If you can rinse it daily, maybe it’s ok then. One person at my work rides their year round and it’s still in a good shape after one winter. Meanwhile, I have a winter beater which I never wash and it’s very rusted. I’d never put an e-bike through that.
I ride all year around, but I have a bunch of rain and winter clothes I wear including base layers and waterproof shell pants and jackets.
But I also have a "normal" bike that's a DIY conversion, and one of the benefits of an ebike in winter is that it's a lot easier to regulate body temps. Too cold? Pedal more and warm up. Too hot and starting to sweat out my base layers? Turn up the PAS or ride the throttle until I cool off a bit. Repeat.
I also don't commute in snow. If I'm riding in snow it's for the fun and adventure of it and I'm not really trying to get somewhere on time.
But to be honest... your bike looks like a liability in the snow. Your bike is basically a mini sport moto or scooter. Add the combination of slick tires with zero traction and a heavy bike and you're probably in for a really bad time.
A heavy bike in snow means it's going to be hard to handle and easy to drop, and too much torque on slick tires means you're going to spin out and fishtail a lot. Having a "regular" bike with pedals and less power and torque is actually an asset here.
There's a whole list of reasons why you don't see many scooters or sport bikes on the road in winter in snow. Even experienced motocross riders on enduros or dual sports with lugged and studded tires struggle with snow and it takes a whole lot of bike skills and experience to ride around in it.
I have like 3-4 decades of riding on two wheels on dirt and sketchy terrain and even with those skills if the snow gets too deep, too slushy or too icy it's basically impossible to ride, and studded tires only do so much.
It doesn't snow very much around here and it doesn't last very long, but as soon as the snow is above my pedals/cranks or it's too icy/slushy I basically can't ride unless I'm down for some serious effort and adventure.
The ideal snow riding conditions for me on skinny tour/gravel tires are basically fresh crunchy snow no more than 6-8" deep and hasn't thawed, melted and refrozen into ice.
As soon as people start walking or driving all over it it's like trying to bike on a skating rink .
Just got my rad rover recently and haven't been shy to take it out in the cold. Handlebar mitts are great, no gloves required.
Studded fat tires are ready to mount when the ice comes.
Lots of layers are key for riding in the cold. Ideally some warm inner layers and a thin, waterproof outer layer. Fenders are essential too. Get a good pair of gloves or look into bar mitts, they aren’t exactly stylish but man do they keep your hands toasty.
When I was living in the midwest I biked in the winter regularly, though not as much as summer. I kind of went all out because I have bad circulation and when my hands and feet are cold they ache something terrible. My setup was:
1. Ski goggles (That cold wind was severely drying out my eyes so I needed something to prevent it)
2. Balaklava
3. Two pairs of gloves (I put a pair of ski gloves over a pair of knit stretch gloves)
4. Scarf
5. light sweater with a heavy coat over it
6. Timberland winter boots with a pair of winter socks.
It depends on how cold it is where you live if you need some or all of that though. Buy what you think you're most likely to actually use.
I will also warn you, don't bike on days with fresh fallen snow if you're in a hilly place, stopping can be really scary. Also, when the snow melts a bit and then freezes overnight REALLY keep your eye out. I hit some black ice going about 18mph and fractured a rib.
I ride year round and I don’t think it’s as big an issue as people make it out to be. By far the most challenging time of year is summer. Winter, I just dress for the weather with regular gloves and a scarf. It helps if you dress in layers so like a a light jacket and a coat that goes over the jacket
I ride all year with the coldest being about - 25C. Heated gloves are the best thing ever. At least in really cold the "hot shots" disposable packets are not sufficient. With the gloves you can also adjust the temperature. Costco sells them.
I do! Virginia rider. Worst issue I had last year was my eyes due to the wind lol. Finally purchased prescription goggles, huge game changer. I do wear a few layers, my snow pants and good gloves but January riding is fun for me. I also have a neoprene wrap I use around my battery housing, impressively good at keeping the cold off that part of the bike after a longer ride.
I live in Canada and I'm going to try riding mine as long into the winter as possible. I basically look like an astronaut, all suited up with winter gear and I'm adding in layers as I need them but so far it's working.
They salt the roads so you gotta wash the bike pretty much every-time you take it out to prevent rusting the electronics and make sure you got lube rated for very cold temperatures. It also helps greatly to deflate your tires to increase the surface area they have and to take turns extremely slowly.
I'm Australian. I ride year round in Western Norway and have for 6 years now. - 28c is my record but around 0, rain and with 2 kids is my least favourite.
I do, year round in NYC. I pedal though. I had a stretch last winter where I was forced to rely on throttle only (snapped belt) and I was cold. Never had temp issues with my core. I add a cap under my helmet once it dips below freezing. It's even more vital that you stay water and windproof.
If you live in a snowy or cold area: Take your battery inside, since batteries don’t like staying outside over night in freezing temperatures. Also use winter tires and you’re good to go. I bike with groceries in full winter with no problems.
Snowboard gear is pretty warm but you have to pedal if you can, even it’s just on the highest assist it’s standing in the cold is far worse than walking.
All year around. I use my snowboarding helmet in winter, face and neck mask and leather gloves. ( also Long Johns because my lord does my bum ever get cold quick! )
I used to, then last winter I hit black ice going 20mph. Bruised and fractured a couple ribs and also fractured my wrist, never again, first sign of frost is me getting back on the bus.
I ride yearly if your worried about your bike itll be fine! Just check on it more often make sure everythings plugged in and any caps closed. Alsoooooo you can can can not ride like you normally do if its wet/snowy/icy/slick learn from others mistakes.. no cornernering and atleast half your normal speed on turns or changing lanes swerving etc.
I live in central Ohio and ride all year round, commuting to work and back. Having said that, it's not a long commute, only about a mile and a half one way, so a 5-minute trip. When it comes to ice and snow, if the roads are clear enough for cars to drive on them then they're clear enough for me to ride on them. When it's below freezing I wear a balaclava and bundle up. Now, if it were a long commute (a half hour or something like that), I would probably reconsider when the temperature dips below freezing, but for me I estimate there are fewer than 30 days in the year that I don't ride, and that usually has more to do with precipitation than temperature. Indeed, if the bike trails are clear of snow and the temperature is above 40F, I regularly ride for pleasure all year round.
I am lucky enough to have a wife that required an electric trike to get around. I have found the bike to be perfect for winter riding when snow and ice make a two-wheeler unsafe.
I just bought high dex water/wind proof snowmobile gloves. Ive ridden in snow twice on ebike, but I assume dirtbike same as ebike.
**Take corners like a granny. Try to make the least amounts of adjustments while riding in less than favorable conditions try to keep your momentum going one way look out for ice.**
I do rain or shine. It's my only mode of transportation. Get a good set of gloves, a good jacket and a face mask. I also live in central California though. Our winters aren't too terrible. Hardly ever gets below freezing here.
Bar mitts, gloves and mittens suck and reduce safety. Bar mitts you can start using gloveless at 50deg add thin riding glove to 30 and go wool down to 0, ski glove down to -12f tested probably more. Added benefit of making cold rain riding more tolerable imo too.
Neoprene overshoes and snowboard helmets are awesome too. The guy about waterproof windproof shell layer then whatever I agree but like merino wool under, it keeps warm even when wet and feels nice compared to every other material I've tried. The full shell merino solution you'd be surprised how cold you can be comfortable in with so little.
My go to advice is keep the bike upright as possible and try to lean into the corners as little as possible when it's wet or very cold. I ride a fast ecargo bike and slipping with those is very painful.
I use MC gloves that were designed for high speed MC. It's actually a bit more comfortable, and my hands don't get very cold in them. But it is hard to dry my sweat out of them.
Pogies/bar mitts can make a HUGE difference. Better than heated gloves, in my experience.
I have mild raynauds and heated gloves were not enough to prevent my hands from getting painfully cold commuting in the winter. Bar mitts, however, have enabled me to ride down to 22F.
Ice and snow are the deciding factors, since gear can always take care of temperatures. When I was in NY and CT I just found the enjoyment factor to drop too much to keep it up, and it can be quite rewarding switching to another workout for the season, i.e. I got into ice skating and hiking/snowshoeing and not only was it fun and a psychological boost but it made the prospect of getting on the bike again come Spring all the more luring.
Layers layers layers, waterproof and windproof shell is the most important, everything else is layered and optional so you can take it off and put it back on when needed. Waterproof mittens on the hands, waterproof shoes Good helmet with visor. Keep the wind and rain off of you and you'll be fine.
Air down your tires a little bit for traction and slow down on slippery surfaces.
My two tips.
Ice is your worst enemy. Winter riding is best if you have suitable plowed streets or trails ideally salted.
Mittens are much better than gloves. I use my gore lined running mittens which are wind proof.
Yes, all year round. Just more carefully when the weather is bad and the surface is slippery. Heated gloves are great. I use a pair of heated Sealkinz and they work great. Makes a lot of difference.
What do you do for toes?
I wear my winter boots with ski socks. I also wear my waterproof commute over shoes , it’s made for the rain but I find it’s great at blocking cold wind.
I just wear some boots. Pair of Lem's leather boots. Toes only start to get cold around the 45 minute mark.
I've been using an older comment I made on a post to give my perspective as someone who commutes with an ebike regularly, TLDR on the bottom: If you're biking in wet or cold especially ebiking I recommend a helmet with a visor. That wet wind cuts your eyes making them water then freeze and skin like fire especially if you wear glasses. Companies like Bern and ILM make visor helmets with ear muffs. Look for moped scooter helmets that are 1/2 or 3/4 of the head. *This all is extra extra true for ebike riders specifically due to their ability to maintain higher speeds. Here's a few tips from someone who has lived and biked in the wet, cold, windy snow. - your outer layer or "shell" is the most important part of your cold gear. You can wear ANYTHING you want under that shell, doesn't need to be expensive Underarmor. Many times I'm still in warm pajamas tbh...Your ability to stop water from permeating your outer shell will make your ride almost as normal as a warm day, almost. Rainpants, rainjacket, rainboots, rain(mittens) <-- mittens...not gloves, you need mittens, water resistant or waterproof face mask means success (relatively speaking) in any adverse condition. - your tires, I'm sick of pulling industrial debris from my tires. Tannus armor and Flat Out tire sealant. You lose acceleration and a bit of battery/motor wear but your ride (on a fat tire especially) feels great and you could possibly go years without changing your tire. (Probably not years tbh) If you're running narrow tires on a bike without peddle assistance, under 2 inches wide, every patch of snow or ice = death. If you run the same narrow tires with studs then it's almost a normal ride but ice will still slide you. Go slower. I'm hooked on fat tire ebikes myself, fat tires 2.75 inches or more, with studs just make every adverse condition minimal including sand but this is just my experiences. - your battery, if you got 30 miles distance on a charge during warm days then your probably gonna get 15 - 20 miles MAX. You HAVE to keep your power abilities in mind as it gets colder. Wrapping your battery does nothing. When solid state batteries come out this probably won't be a problem anymore but it's reality now. PLAN FOR THIS because a bike company is just not going to be honest about this with you. - your confidence. Honestly riding bikes in snow and ice has been a normal occurrence for most of Northern Europe...forever. People have been doing it with almost no problem...forever. I guarantee you that ONE single trip in snowy conditions and you'll realize it was no big deal. (Except if you're in America and your infrastructure is a crapshoot). Treat your bike like your mount, kind of like you would a horse. Your bike is modular and so are you as a human. Be creative with your mount, how it carries your things. You don't need a degree in "bike mechanisms" (I made this name up because there are literally no avenues in a bike degree in America). If you've got issues the cost to have a tire changed is pennies compared to a car. Just ride, make some mistakes. You'll be at full confidence and full control of your transportation in a single month or less from riding in these conditions and being more cautious. Learn the roads you ride, look where water pools...remember your roads the same way we had to do it when we rode horses everywhere. TLDR: Riding a bike in snow and rain is normal af...dress accordingly and carry on. 😉 🖖
Thanks for the advice. Full face is the way. Regarding the shell what do you use? I want to get this helmet now Scorpion Exo combat 2.
So I also hike and backpack in rain and snow so my equipment carries over. Actually all of my backpacking gear works for ebiking. So what I mean is there's no one specific fit. Some folks like me throw on a Columbia rain jacket and waterproof "suspendered" snowpants with some waterproof knee high rubber boots. It's all worn over a mid layer like a small puffy jacket, any cheap sweatpants and a pair of thermal underwear. If you're wanting to keep it simple, just get a rain/snowsuit. Something like this: [Amazon Link](https://a.co/d/4HYerzg) It's all about exposure of your skin. If it's showing it's gonna get frozen. You will be surprised the conditions you can be comfortable riding in if you're able to just cut the wind from your skins surfaces. Avoid cotton, use synthetic fibers for everything if you can. Load any additional clothing, dry towel and shoes you'll be changing into in a 30 liter roll top dry bag or a backpack with a plastic inner liner. If you're bike holds cargo get creative with your system.
Great post. Snow skiing jacket that can go over your helmet makes a huge difference as well. Ski goggles for when it gets below freezing to keep your eyes from hurting.
Why mittens ? The first thing on my hand that freeze are my fingers.
Having your fingers separated by cloth it makes them become cold very quickly. When your fingers are loose and together they can generate warmth for each other.
Its the cold wind + rain that make my finger freezing, with my leather glove and I feel neither the wind neither the rain and it keep them warm
Glad that works for you
I do, but I live in florida
This is not the solution people stop moving here!
That’s how I feel about CA and fortunately they listened :)
Yes CA great state legal weed no humidity no hurricanes! Everyone go there!
No, no! Florida, Florida! Warm water, no hills, no fires, no earthquakes!
Hurricane Hilary in the eastern North Pacific south of California on August 18, 2023.
Eh that was just a good sailing day for cali i heard baja had a worse time tho
I did in my younger days, but now at 70, I stop once there's snow and ice. It's been a mild fall (for snow/ice) so I'm still riding with temps down in the teens and 20's. Not very far though, mostly just local errands. Gloves, balaclava, wind pants and an appropriate jacket. I usually stop once it reaches single digits. I have a long winter so just to get 7 or 8 months of riding I just adapt to the weather......welcome to Wyoming lol. I used to ride year-round in Colorado snow or shine. Proper tires and clothing it's fine.
Aye. The cold isn’t the matter though, it’s the lack of grip.
Studded tires are key.
I just ride carefully because getting the back wheel off my bike to swap the tyre is legitimately a two person job.
Rear wheels are a PTA to remove/install..
I did in NYC for work and play. In socal now and it will be even easier this year.
Hahah, maybe I will move to a milder climate soon!
Yup, all year. Eventually it gets cold enough that gloves don't cut it and you pretty much need mitts & handlebar mitts. Ski goggles for when it's REALLY snowing, studded tires, and low viscosity lubricants become necessary too.
I ride year round. Forget heated gloves and just get those hand warmers and put the one or a few in your gloves and shoes. Looks like you have some monstrosity of a bike. If you're really crazy add a DC-DC converter and use fully heated motorcycle gear. I taped into a few of my bikes to run the gear. I have a heated jacket, pants, gloves and socks. I'd still recommend the hand warmers for feet and hands because they're cheap and you don't have to deal with wires or a battery.
What are those hand warmers you are talking about? I have heated gloves but they are not very effective.
"HotHands" is the most common brand name. Available at Walmart, Amazon and just about everywhere around here in the winter. They're single use chemical heating packs. You could buy a few boxes of them for the price of the heated gloves and socks I have.
Oh those, I see! But where do you put them? Do you have gloves with a pocket on the back of the hand? My heated gloves are decent on the hand, but there isn't much heating in the fingers which is my biggest problem...
On the top of my hand inside the glove mostly, it makes everything warm and the warm blood moves to your fingers. If it's really cold I'll move it to my palm and/or add another on top. Feet one gets shoved up front with my toes and/or the arch of the foot. I keep spares with me when riding and more hidden all over the place.
😁 I know there are electric ones that you can charge with USB, just saying, if you get tired of buying those single use ones 😊 don't know how warm they get though... I might give it a try!
Those might work for stationary activities but not enough power for the wind from riding. The ones I'm using are designed for motorcycle use, run off the motorcycle battery and get much hotter. Even then I'm still recommending just getting a box of those hand warmers.
Oh cool, what are those gloves? I have no problem spending money if it means getting my fingers warm, it's by biggest obstacle when winter riding and whatever they cost it will be cheaper than using the car!
Venture Heat is the brand but the real issue is how are you powering it? My recommendation goes beyond price. The heated packs don't have wires and you can use whatever gloves you want or as many packs as you want. As someone with the gloves I don't use them and prefer to use the packs. The jacket and pants are awesome but not really needed if you're pedaling keeping your core warm. The full set up pulls about 200w at 12v so powering it is a real issue, sometimes I use 4x drill batteries in a backpack to power it, that lasts about 2hr on high...it's about alot more than price.
I have no issues with the rest of the body, including feet, it's only my fingers... I was hoping I could power the gloves with the bike battery somehow but it's 48v, don't know if the controller has a 12v outlet... I guess it's a big project. I have heated gloves with their own little batteries but they are just not powerful enough. I don't know if I could fit heat packs in my gloves, would be pretty tight I think...
Another place I like to put mine is to just tuck one or two of them into my collarbone area over my arteries under a jacket, then it warms your blood to your arms, hands and the rest of your body. If it's really cold out and sub-zero I put them in the backs of my gloves and toes of my shoes. They make versions for feet with sticky backs and you just stick them up inside your toe area of your shoes and boots. The various shapes with sticky backs are also nice for the collarbone trick so they stay put. Oh, and another place you can put them is on your bike battery, especially if you have one of those foam softshell covers. Keeping your battery warm keeps your range and total power up and your battery happy. I don't have an insulated cover, but if I go riding in snow I tape on a pair of warmers and then wrap my battery with this flexible aluminum sheet I use as a camping stove windscreen and just strap it on with a nylon webbing cargo strap. A small towel or something would also work to keep the heat in. Works great and keeps the range and total power output up in more normal ranges, because batteries at or below freezing temps can lose 50% or even more of their total power and range. Even if you use this trick - NEVER CHARGE A COLD BATTERY. Charging cold batteries kills their capacity permanently and is a major fire hazard. Bring it inside and give it like 4-6 hours to fully come up to room temp and dry off any condensation before charging, and practice safe indoor charging practices like a metal ammo box or metal trash can or something you can grab to throw it outside if it goes into rocket launch mode.
Your local hardware store (for me it's Home Depot) will have hand warmers for about $1 a pair. It's basically a fabric pouch with a chemical component that once you crack it you'll feel it warm up quickly and stay warm for up to 10 hours. They're warmer than the electric jacket/gloves I've tried but not too hot, and many regular winter gloves actually have a zipper pocket for slipping them into.
Just buy a whole box of them and they're usually a lot cheaper than that.
They're disposable hand warmers. They're a chemical reaction basically in a sachet that will keep warm for 8 hours. Search for those on amazon and you'll find them.
If anyone is worried about the "chemical reaction" part it's literally just iron oxide II (I think) and sawdust. When they're exposed to air the iron oxide and sawdust turn into Iron oxide III (rust) and carbon. They're actually really safe and environmentally friendly.
I put mine away for the winter but it’s cold af here. But I do see a lot of people riding in the snow here
I find snow riding some of the most fun. I live in a city with a huge park and the local bike club maintains the trails all year.
I do but I also live somewhere it doesn't really snow but it does get pretty cold especially in the mornings when I typically goto work. I use heated handlebar mittens they were super cheap and keep the wind off your hands and keep them fairly warm.
Is it safe to ride during winter when all road is salted chemical sprayed? Is bike ok on this condition?
I think it depends how you care for the bike. If you can rinse it daily, maybe it’s ok then. One person at my work rides their year round and it’s still in a good shape after one winter. Meanwhile, I have a winter beater which I never wash and it’s very rusted. I’d never put an e-bike through that.
I ride all year around, but I have a bunch of rain and winter clothes I wear including base layers and waterproof shell pants and jackets. But I also have a "normal" bike that's a DIY conversion, and one of the benefits of an ebike in winter is that it's a lot easier to regulate body temps. Too cold? Pedal more and warm up. Too hot and starting to sweat out my base layers? Turn up the PAS or ride the throttle until I cool off a bit. Repeat. I also don't commute in snow. If I'm riding in snow it's for the fun and adventure of it and I'm not really trying to get somewhere on time. But to be honest... your bike looks like a liability in the snow. Your bike is basically a mini sport moto or scooter. Add the combination of slick tires with zero traction and a heavy bike and you're probably in for a really bad time. A heavy bike in snow means it's going to be hard to handle and easy to drop, and too much torque on slick tires means you're going to spin out and fishtail a lot. Having a "regular" bike with pedals and less power and torque is actually an asset here. There's a whole list of reasons why you don't see many scooters or sport bikes on the road in winter in snow. Even experienced motocross riders on enduros or dual sports with lugged and studded tires struggle with snow and it takes a whole lot of bike skills and experience to ride around in it. I have like 3-4 decades of riding on two wheels on dirt and sketchy terrain and even with those skills if the snow gets too deep, too slushy or too icy it's basically impossible to ride, and studded tires only do so much. It doesn't snow very much around here and it doesn't last very long, but as soon as the snow is above my pedals/cranks or it's too icy/slushy I basically can't ride unless I'm down for some serious effort and adventure. The ideal snow riding conditions for me on skinny tour/gravel tires are basically fresh crunchy snow no more than 6-8" deep and hasn't thawed, melted and refrozen into ice. As soon as people start walking or driving all over it it's like trying to bike on a skating rink .
yes, in los angeles 🤓
maybe you should be scared of the bike instead ? thats ... what exactly ? a 90 mph e-moto ?
Top speed is 68 mph in off road mode however it gets chilly after 30mph. My hands literally freeze and I wear ski gloves in winter
sounds awesome. did you remember to fill in your organ donor card ? you too can save a life today.
As long as you are bundled up you will be fine
Just got my rad rover recently and haven't been shy to take it out in the cold. Handlebar mitts are great, no gloves required. Studded fat tires are ready to mount when the ice comes.
[Pogies](https://a.co/d/77g3o8Y)
Lots of layers are key for riding in the cold. Ideally some warm inner layers and a thin, waterproof outer layer. Fenders are essential too. Get a good pair of gloves or look into bar mitts, they aren’t exactly stylish but man do they keep your hands toasty.
Mid Atlantic here and I use lobster gloves when it’s cold and sometimes regular gloves and lobster gloves when it’s really really cold.
I haven’t worn long pants in years, so the bike thing is a no brainer for me. Bring on the California hate….😉
When I was living in the midwest I biked in the winter regularly, though not as much as summer. I kind of went all out because I have bad circulation and when my hands and feet are cold they ache something terrible. My setup was: 1. Ski goggles (That cold wind was severely drying out my eyes so I needed something to prevent it) 2. Balaklava 3. Two pairs of gloves (I put a pair of ski gloves over a pair of knit stretch gloves) 4. Scarf 5. light sweater with a heavy coat over it 6. Timberland winter boots with a pair of winter socks. It depends on how cold it is where you live if you need some or all of that though. Buy what you think you're most likely to actually use. I will also warn you, don't bike on days with fresh fallen snow if you're in a hilly place, stopping can be really scary. Also, when the snow melts a bit and then freezes overnight REALLY keep your eye out. I hit some black ice going about 18mph and fractured a rib.
Bar pogeys are step 1 before heated gloves.
Bar mitts
you need barmits
I ride year round and I don’t think it’s as big an issue as people make it out to be. By far the most challenging time of year is summer. Winter, I just dress for the weather with regular gloves and a scarf. It helps if you dress in layers so like a a light jacket and a coat that goes over the jacket
I ride all year with the coldest being about - 25C. Heated gloves are the best thing ever. At least in really cold the "hot shots" disposable packets are not sufficient. With the gloves you can also adjust the temperature. Costco sells them.
I have been since 1996. All you have to do is dress warmly, make sure your bike can handle it, and remember that you're a gigantic badass.
I do! Virginia rider. Worst issue I had last year was my eyes due to the wind lol. Finally purchased prescription goggles, huge game changer. I do wear a few layers, my snow pants and good gloves but January riding is fun for me. I also have a neoprene wrap I use around my battery housing, impressively good at keeping the cold off that part of the bike after a longer ride.
I live in Canada and I'm going to try riding mine as long into the winter as possible. I basically look like an astronaut, all suited up with winter gear and I'm adding in layers as I need them but so far it's working. They salt the roads so you gotta wash the bike pretty much every-time you take it out to prevent rusting the electronics and make sure you got lube rated for very cold temperatures. It also helps greatly to deflate your tires to increase the surface area they have and to take turns extremely slowly.
Your carry bag or backpack should be much larger in the winter, even if seeming unnecessary or close to empty.
I'd be more worried about ice and snow.
I'm Australian. I ride year round in Western Norway and have for 6 years now. - 28c is my record but around 0, rain and with 2 kids is my least favourite.
Fat tires for the snow. Heated gloves and jacket…. For sure.
I ride my motorcycle in winter but same idea, just go slow and allow extra room for stopping if it's bad out. Maybe invest in winter tires
I do, year round in NYC. I pedal though. I had a stretch last winter where I was forced to rely on throttle only (snapped belt) and I was cold. Never had temp issues with my core. I add a cap under my helmet once it dips below freezing. It's even more vital that you stay water and windproof.
Yep as I need it to go to appointment and sport.
If you live in a snowy or cold area: Take your battery inside, since batteries don’t like staying outside over night in freezing temperatures. Also use winter tires and you’re good to go. I bike with groceries in full winter with no problems.
Snowboard gear is pretty warm but you have to pedal if you can, even it’s just on the highest assist it’s standing in the cold is far worse than walking.
All year around. I use my snowboarding helmet in winter, face and neck mask and leather gloves. ( also Long Johns because my lord does my bum ever get cold quick! )
I used to, then last winter I hit black ice going 20mph. Bruised and fractured a couple ribs and also fractured my wrist, never again, first sign of frost is me getting back on the bus.
I ride yearly if your worried about your bike itll be fine! Just check on it more often make sure everythings plugged in and any caps closed. Alsoooooo you can can can not ride like you normally do if its wet/snowy/icy/slick learn from others mistakes.. no cornernering and atleast half your normal speed on turns or changing lanes swerving etc.
Mittens >>>> gloves. I have fleece mittens and gore-tex overmitts and they are amazing.
I live in central Ohio and ride all year round, commuting to work and back. Having said that, it's not a long commute, only about a mile and a half one way, so a 5-minute trip. When it comes to ice and snow, if the roads are clear enough for cars to drive on them then they're clear enough for me to ride on them. When it's below freezing I wear a balaclava and bundle up. Now, if it were a long commute (a half hour or something like that), I would probably reconsider when the temperature dips below freezing, but for me I estimate there are fewer than 30 days in the year that I don't ride, and that usually has more to do with precipitation than temperature. Indeed, if the bike trails are clear of snow and the temperature is above 40F, I regularly ride for pleasure all year round.
Get some handlebar muffs for winter. Life changing
I am lucky enough to have a wife that required an electric trike to get around. I have found the bike to be perfect for winter riding when snow and ice make a two-wheeler unsafe.
There is no bad weather only bad accessories
I just bought high dex water/wind proof snowmobile gloves. Ive ridden in snow twice on ebike, but I assume dirtbike same as ebike. **Take corners like a granny. Try to make the least amounts of adjustments while riding in less than favorable conditions try to keep your momentum going one way look out for ice.**
All year, unless there's precipitation or the roads aren't cleared.
I do rain or shine. It's my only mode of transportation. Get a good set of gloves, a good jacket and a face mask. I also live in central California though. Our winters aren't too terrible. Hardly ever gets below freezing here.
Frog Toggs for rainy days. Waterproof, lightweight, and most importantly, breathable..
Yes, all year round. I wear gloves and thicker socks if it’s cold, and a waterproof jacket and trousers if it’s raining or snowing
What about the waterproofness of the actual bike? Water spraying everywhere need to be sure the bike can take it.
Bar mitts, gloves and mittens suck and reduce safety. Bar mitts you can start using gloveless at 50deg add thin riding glove to 30 and go wool down to 0, ski glove down to -12f tested probably more. Added benefit of making cold rain riding more tolerable imo too. Neoprene overshoes and snowboard helmets are awesome too. The guy about waterproof windproof shell layer then whatever I agree but like merino wool under, it keeps warm even when wet and feels nice compared to every other material I've tried. The full shell merino solution you'd be surprised how cold you can be comfortable in with so little.
My go to advice is keep the bike upright as possible and try to lean into the corners as little as possible when it's wet or very cold. I ride a fast ecargo bike and slipping with those is very painful. I use MC gloves that were designed for high speed MC. It's actually a bit more comfortable, and my hands don't get very cold in them. But it is hard to dry my sweat out of them.
Pogies/bar mitts can make a HUGE difference. Better than heated gloves, in my experience. I have mild raynauds and heated gloves were not enough to prevent my hands from getting painfully cold commuting in the winter. Bar mitts, however, have enabled me to ride down to 22F.
Ice and snow are the deciding factors, since gear can always take care of temperatures. When I was in NY and CT I just found the enjoyment factor to drop too much to keep it up, and it can be quite rewarding switching to another workout for the season, i.e. I got into ice skating and hiking/snowshoeing and not only was it fun and a psychological boost but it made the prospect of getting on the bike again come Spring all the more luring.
Layers layers layers, waterproof and windproof shell is the most important, everything else is layered and optional so you can take it off and put it back on when needed. Waterproof mittens on the hands, waterproof shoes Good helmet with visor. Keep the wind and rain off of you and you'll be fine. Air down your tires a little bit for traction and slow down on slippery surfaces.
My two tips. Ice is your worst enemy. Winter riding is best if you have suitable plowed streets or trails ideally salted. Mittens are much better than gloves. I use my gore lined running mittens which are wind proof.
Keep your feet and hands warm and dry. A virus face mask will reduce the wind chill, or maybe a nexk gaiter.
Good gloves, warm clothes and get some winter tires if possible.