Riding in cold weather, HELP!

[RH77]

First: Wear a decent hat/cap. Most heat is lost through the top of your head.

Layers, layers, layers. Get warm first, and head out. Don't sweat while heating-up: evaporative cooling could occur.

Extreme example: Make your own heated seat with a $10 inverter plugged into the cig-lighter and a heating pad.

My hands get cold first (history of frostbite). I make a fist inside gloves with fingers to let the palms heat the fingers...or sit on my hands and steer with the knees. Whatever it takes to keep them warm.

Note: most of this was done in -10F Weather lately.

The hardest part: not turning the temp knob to the warmer setting until the coolant is up to the proper temp...

RH77

[boxchain]

You might try a tyvek suit. <$10 at big box hardware stores. They don't breathe, so they'll probably make you sweat. I did some demo work in one when it was 40F out (here when we say freezing we are referring to the freezing point of chocolate) and I thought it was much warmer.

[budgenator]

cold! 30 isn't cold, at least not after you get in shape! Seriously I used to do what you are talking about and after a couple weeks to a month, you'll be taking clothes off after the first mile to stop sweating when it's 30 out.

so My advice is to
1. wear reasonably light inner layer and a wind-proof outer layer,
2. keep your ear well covered and insulated,
3. keep you fingers warm.

[Peakster]

First off, what parts of your body were unpleasantly cold for you? When I ride my bike, my ears, feet, hands and my entire face get the coldest. Wear mittens instead of gloves, make sure your ears are covered with a toque and headband.

But if you're really serious (5 miles of biking is a lot in that weather!) do all my tips on my "Dressing for Success" video, except ditch the toque and headband and wear a full-blown snowmobile helmet. Not even joking. It works wonders.

EDIT: omg! I didn't realize that 22*F is only -5.5*C! All you need then is just a warm coat, mitts, a toque, and a scarf. I'd kill for weather like that right now (it's 6.8*F without the wind-chill here, in March)!

[NoCO2]

Haha, yea for you canadialanders the weather here is pretty mild, but I'm not used to this kind of stuff...I moved down to Georgia for a reason...this was not that reason (I moved from New Jersey).

The weather is warming up though, thankfully. Today we got some snow flurries but it's only about 36*F out right now so it's not too bad.

Peakster, to answer your question. The part that gets cold the fastest is my face. I have my ears covered and my hands covered and my torso covered and my legs don't get cold so they don't bother me with just jeans on. But I have to say that my face just hurts and my eyes get all teary because of the wind when it's cold. If I could find a way to not look stupid as all get out (wearing my goggles) and cover my face and get my feet to stay warmer it would actually be very pleasant.

[Otto]

Electric jacket and pants liners, socks, gloves, etc.. Warm as toast, cruising in subfreezing weather at 80.

Google for Gerbings, or go on Adventure Rider.com and do a search for heated clothing. One Canadian guy has an archived post of an excellent and inexpensive homemade version.

[DifferentPointofView]

I say wear warm stuff, then cover it with air-proof stuff. If you have it, leather or syn leather (vinyl) works amazingly. No air gets through that. If not, then try what some said with the plastics. you'll be nice and toasty.