It's been a while since I last posted any think on here, as I met a girl (jess) 2 and a half years ago and my aspirations for a year long road trip from the uk to auz soon started to become a dream.

the problem was not that she hated bikes, (far from it she loves being on the back) but she couldn't stay warm on the back. she's not one for moaning, so half the time when we stop, she says she's not cold and trying not to shiver, and the rest of the time she's shivering and telling me shes not cold. I always tell her to tap me on the shoulder when she feels cold, but I usually don't realize how cold I am until we stop.

the solution we have found so far is to stick a hot water bottle in her jacket, but i would like to take her for a 2 week tour of Europe this summer, but i don't think its all that practical to stick with the hot water bottle.

has anyone got any ideas?? I know on one of the DVD's (I think "on the road") mentions about heated underwear, but which ones? I've heard some of them are a waste of money?

Get a heated vest. Place that just over the shirt, that will be under the jumper, jacket etc - you want it as close to the skin as possible .. but with say one layer between it and the skin. That way the heat is close to the skin, and has lots of insulation between it and the cold.

Get a heat controller for it... you'll need that to get the right heating.

Brands? The one I have is out of production, and was made in OZ. So no help there. Still works.

Once you have one for her, you'll want one for yourself.

The obvious solution is as follows: I will contract to warm your girlfriend on demand, night or day, anyplace within 400 miles of my home. Just call.

This being impractical, electrics are probably the answer. I assume you've already tried clothing her appropriately--that means lots of layers, functional water-and-windproofing, etc. Some pillions (and riders) are so attached to looking streamlined that they fail to take advantage of the undeniable advantages to the Michelin Man look. This is best viewed as a choice freely made: "I'd rather look sleek and thin than be warm." Electrics manage to sidestep the issue nicely.

Electrics do fail a lot. I've never bothered with them in part because whenever I ride with people who rely on electrics they've always got some sort of issue with them, usually involving connectors: "I'd be really warm right now except that the connectors on my heated clothing got fried last month and I'm waiting for replacements; do you mind if we stop at this pub for a couple of hours so I can warm up?"

Electrics also require a bike with sufficient stator output. If riding a bike which is marginal in this respect, think it through carefully.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

I'm afraid the hot water bottle just will not work. I know from experience, once the water gets cold it stays cold and so will she.
Don't bother with cotton shirts they don't work either. On the basis you kit up and warm up and sweat/perspire and then it gets cold,(cotton holds the moisture) and so will you and she.
worry not there are answers, and in the end only you can decide which is the best for you and she.
A one piece waterproof will stop the wind getting through and help keep body tempreture up.
Merino wool works both ways = cooler and/or warmer, dependent on the weather at the time.

Electrical gear also works. I use Kies stuff and am happy with that stuff, as I'm an all year motorcyclist. Kies do an independent battery so you don't have to rely on the bike for power, and she can stay warm off the bike also.

Good food in the stomach is well and far best to keep the energy/heat levels up.
Porridge for breakfast goes a long way. Stuff like energy drinks and chocolate, although they sound ideal, are not.
Spring is almost here, so you might start at the cheaper end, Liddle are doing some half decent underwear right now.

Stay warm. stay happy.

Socks

Oh yeh, don't know why but It appears to me womens feet get cold a lot easier than mens, and no matter the tempreture you might feel one can almost always find she thinks it s 3 degrees colder.

I had a problem like this some time ago. To solve it I brought a one piece rain suit. If it keep's the rain out it will keep the wind out. And that's what keep's you cold or stop's you warming up. Cotton inner glove's go a long way to keep her hand's warm. The one thing that was a problem where her feet. Besides some over size boot's and a couple of layer's of sock's, Plastic bag's can help. There is a skill in keeping warm, something you have to learn. Or ride where the sun shine's. That work's for me.
John933

__________________
To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.

Thanks for the advice Guys, I think its going to help

So would some think like a thermal base layer do, or just a wicking type of base layer like one used for hot weather?

Thanks for the offer, but I don't think I can get 3 on a bike :P

originally when she first started going on the back I gave her my gear (it was way to big for her but offered better protection of my spare smaller gear) and although she would have 2 warm jumpers a coat 2 long sleeved t shirts on she was still cold. I think the problem was wind proofing!!

she has got some second hand leathers but they are probably a bit to sleek.

I think I will defiantly look into the drain that it will cause on the bike (if i get plug in ones)

thanks socks so I'm taking it that energy drinks don't make you warm due to the fast releasing sugars in them right?

the keis stuff looks good, I will give it a thought. what kind of things do you use, the fleece, body warmer? the glove inserts look like a good idea. The heated grips on my bike lasted 1 winter before they broke (I figured if they where oxford they would last longer)

That is true, my mother use to always complain the house was cold, but yet me and my dad would be sat sweating in shorts... strange

I think that's sound advice, plus a rain suites are cheap so don't think it will do any harm giving it a go. plus we should invest in some, went to go watch BSB in oulton park in 2011, both got home to empty our boots of water. that was her first taste of camping on the bike.


I think from the advice so far a rain suite will be on the shopping list as well as some new touring gear. will be looking into Keis as well. Does any one recommend a make or model of female touring gear? at the moment I'd rather her have some think with good protection, over any think else. I usually go for textiles as there so comphy I could live in them. any one know of any good touring gear leather or textiles?

Come to Africa. You can ride in some areas i.e Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, etc in winter in 30 degrees Celsius. :-)
Northern Cape 40 degrees plus.

If you get a heated seat this is one item that goes a long way to helping keep a person warm. Consider the area that is being heated and the about of blood flow through that area.

That contributes to keeping the core warm.

A heated vest/jacket is the nest step up from this in effective heating of the body.

Windproofing the gear is also the first step in reducing heat loss.

Basically the first step is reducing heat loss, next is to augment heat produced. Final is heat retention (insulation).

Good luck.

I don't know which country you are in, but uk, Maplin sell heated vests and heated footbeds that run on batteries. If you are touring and staying in hotels/b&bs, then you can take a pocket battery recharger..

__________________
https://fernsforays.wordpress.com/

A simple heated vest works extremely well at keeping you warm. You want to keep the core warm and your heart will pump warm blood out the extremities.
I just use a heated bib from Aerostitch in the USA, I like it because it's small and can pack it with me all the time.
But there's a good company in the UK who makes top of the line heated vest, google heated motorcycle gear.

I'm a male, living and riding in Australia on a fully faired bike, and supposedly I shouldn't get cold - but I do.

My solution, the complete head to toe Gerbings set up - jacket (not just a vest, arms get cold too), gloves, pants liner and socks powered by a dual heat controller.

I bought all these second hand off eBay US around 4 years ago at a very good price... and right now is the best time to purchase them as the US summer is now here, and many riders have forgotten the cold and are selling off their winter gear very cheaply.

Honestly, it is the best investment I have made in riding gear. I find heated gloves are so much better than grip heaters (which only heat the palms of your hands - totally useless when it is the tips of your fingers that are freezing).

__________________
Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

As others have said, good modern cordura gear (forget leathers), technical layers like merino and micro fleece and an electric vest will do the trick. That way you can easily adapt- my wife swears by her Keis vest and modern gear allows you to zip in or zip out layers in your jacket and strides as required.

__________________
Our FB page: https://en-gb.facebook.com/Africa2Up/

I feel the cold too
lots of great advice here - I'm a fan of merino wool but it is expensive (Aldi or Lidl do a great one for about £15!)
In the main, if you can eliminate the wind, you remove most of the chill factor.
There's some great technical materials on the market - EDZ do a jacket that feels a bit like a bin liner but it's meant to be 100% windproof. Also search cycle & "proper" outdoor shops. Heated vests are good but sweating can make you cold again

as Tiff said, pillions are fairly stationary, so stop lots for hot drinks, warm food & a bit of a walk

__________________
Elaine

Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way