DIY hand shields for winter riding

[spinningmagnets]

I've seen professional units called "brush guards" on motorcycle off-road product sites. These aren't too crazy looking. Made from one-gallon jugs of tea.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bike-Wind-Guards-For-Your-Hands/

 

[Racer_X]

Those one-gallon jugs should really help with the windchill factor.
To test the concept, I used a pair of one of my kids old ski pants. Worked incredibly well.
Before this I could not keep my hands warm once the weather was -5c or colder. Now it does not matter how cold it gets.
The best part was it was cheap/free. I have tried and spent money on all kinds of supposed warm gloves and this beats anything I have tried hands down.
You can see that I used the legs of the ski pants and the rest of the ski pants I put on the snow pile.

 

[amberwolf]

Also used have been 2-liter (3 would have worked better) soda bottles, on my Delta Tripper trike last year:
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22720&p=722881

As of a few weeks ago (or less) I added some of coroplast on CrazyBike2. They are just quick and dirty versions, and will be replaced with better-shaped and designed ones as soon as the need arises. Nice thing about these is that they also keep much of the drizzly rain off my hands, too, so I don't get my light knit gloves soaked even in 10 miles of that (which takes about an hour due to traffic lights, etc., evne with a cruising speed of 18-19MPH).
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12500&start=925#p832126

AFAICR, Li-ghtcycle (I coudl be misremembering, if so, sorry!) made some out of carpet, but I couldnt' find them in a quick search.

 

[friendly1uk]

Been on my shopping list since march. The list I chucked just last week. What was I thinking? lol I really must get some ordered. As an added bonus they give a bit more road presence too

 

[heavymetalthunder]

Good ideas. Haven't had a need for hand shields yet as the weather here in Southern Calif. is in the mid to high 70's. I expect the weather will change soon. Currently, I just use cheap cotton gloves. When it gets colder I wil switch to my leather gloves.

 

[Kingfish]

Some good ideas there.

The winter glove upgrade this fall arrested futher DIY considerations. The traditional mounting method wouldn't work in my case because I'm out of room on the handlebar. :|

Although a modest faring redesign would allow my hands to be protected from both elements. I'll have to add that to the wish list. I know it's possible - I just need to coordinate with my other planned mods.

With kid gloves, KF

 

[The fingers]

Thanks for the great idea! I might try the three liter soda bottle size if the two liter is too small to mount for adequate protection. A couple of zip ties ought not to take up too much space on the handle bars.
I might even try a couple of cut up empties bungeed over my shoes. I usually look like I just climbed out of a dumpster anyway. :lol:
With a medical mask which provides some limited face protection, I'll be good to go tomorrow night.

 

[dogman dan]

I'm not knocking hand shields at all, I loved winter riding a large motorcycle with a great windjammer fairing on it. Keeping the wind off is great.

But this is where I remind you all, that if you hands are that cold with good ski gloves on, you didn't put enough coat on. A hot torso pumps hot blood into your arms. A cold torso pumps cold blood to your arms.

Climbers and Skiers have known this for centuries. Cold hands? , put on a hat, put on the wind pants, put on another layer. I learned this to be so true, when I skied the back country and lived in igloos and snow caves. I am a desert dog, but I did real winter stuff too in the rockies.

 

[trevc2]

I'm not knocking hand shields at all, I loved winter riding a large motorcycle with a great windjammer fairing on it. Keeping the wind off is great.

But this is where I remind you all, that if you hands are that cold with good ski gloves on, you didn't put enough coat on. A hot torso pumps hot blood into your arms. A cold torso pumps cold blood to your arms.

Climbers and Skiers have known this for centuries. Cold hands? , put on a hat, put on the wind pants, put on another layer. I learned this to be so true, when I skied the back country and lived in igloos and snow caves. I am a desert dog, but I did real winter stuff too in the rockies.

Originally from Winnipeg, Canada. I can confirm this man knows exactly what he's talking about. If your core and head are warm enough, you won't need more than a wind blocking barrier and reasonable gloves.

 

[Ykick]

I'm not knocking hand shields at all, I loved winter riding a large motorcycle with a great windjammer fairing on it. Keeping the wind off is great.

But this is where I remind you all, that if you hands are that cold with good ski gloves on, you didn't put enough coat on. A hot torso pumps hot blood into your arms. A cold torso pumps cold blood to your arms.

Climbers and Skiers have known this for centuries. Cold hands? , put on a hat, put on the wind pants, put on another layer. I learned this to be so true, when I skied the back country and lived in igloos and snow caves. I am a desert dog, but I did real winter stuff too in the rockies.

Or, as I often suggest - use a heated vest.

These shields are usually called "brush guards" for a reason. Sturdy ones are great for off road in heavy brush. Sure, they can help with cold hands but extra warm blood will work from the inside-out.

 

[dogman dan]

You can never have too good gloves though. My all time favorites for motorcycle riding were some giant goose down mittens. Super warm. Decent ski gloves cost a bit, you want the ones with gore tex or similar wind fabric in them.

I cannot make my own body heat anymore with the post viral fatigue, so I'm really eyeballing those heated vests. No money for one though, since I'm too sick to work. Soon as it hits 50 degrees outside, I'm out the door riding.

 

[amberwolf]

Climbers and Skiers have known this for centuries. Cold hands? , put on a hat, put on the wind pants, put on another layer.

I do that, to the point where I'm sweating as soon as I stop, and while stopped I have to lift the faceshield of the FF helmet cuz it is fogging quickly at a stop, but my hands will still get cold to the point of pain without something to break the wind from chilling them.

But with the hand-windshields I haven't had the problem yet even with just minimal light knit gloves (actually fur-wiping grooming gloves from clearance at work, but they give a better grip than regular knit gloves cuz the little rubber bumps on them).

 

[MadRhino]

Come on you pussies, I see palm trees in your pictures :lol:
It is -15 here today and I did ride with my leather jacket open and regular riding gloves.

 

[YoSamES]

https://www.denniskirk.com/parts-unlimited/snow-paws.p391777.prd/391777.sku

I've used these but not on a bike. They are very warm. Obvious compromises, but thought I'd mention the item.

 

[Ykick]

Climbers and Skiers have known this for centuries. Cold hands? , put on a hat, put on the wind pants, put on another layer.

I do that, to the point where I'm sweating as soon as I stop, and while stopped I have to lift the faceshield of the FF helmet cuz it is fogging quickly at a stop, but my hands will still get cold to the point of pain without something to break the wind from chilling them.

But with the hand-windshields I haven't had the problem yet even with just minimal light knit gloves (actually fur-wiping grooming gloves from clearance at work, but they give a better grip than regular knit gloves cuz the little rubber bumps on them).

Once again, beauty of a heated Vest is that you can regulate heat under mild clothing. Other than a Balacalava and heavier gaunlet gloves I wear pretty much the same light weight outerwear I use during Spring/Fall. No bulk, no sweating, warm blood flowing to the extremities. Estimate about 50W from battery.

 

[Harold in CR]

I see guys down here using cut up milk jugs. They scrape the cars and trucks sometimes, squeezing through to be first to jump the light.

 

[dogman dan]

Sounds like you got some artery/ circulation problems to go with your arthritis then AW, if you had good gloves on. We know you aren't in great shape, can't pedal yourself to less clogged arteries like most of us can. I'm not knocking using the shields when all else fails, you see them on every snowmobile. Many just don't know about the cold torso. Real climbers do, it's life or death up there.

I can't make much heat now, but if I do, It does get to my fingertips. My health problem is not clogged arteries.

If you need better gloves, I can send you some old but still warm ski gloves. I just got some new ones.

Gonna be 55F today, sun is shining hard, no wind. Definitely planning on some dirt riding, with just a hoodie and light gloves. nah nah nah.