Well winter is on it's way ... Not that we had much of what you would call a summer this year.

As many know I suffer in the winter and cold because of my bad circulation but thanks to various things I have managed most years to only miss the worst (snow and ice) and ride most of the year.

It did get me thinking tho about how much trial and error went into my winter riding equipment and after reading some of the other posts thought I would ask the Q ....

What is the 1 item you would not be without in winter on the bike, and why?

For me A few years ago when I started riding I discovered a heated fleece waistcoat which has a little battery pack that on full lasts 5 hours, on mid setting (it has 9 heat settings) lasts 8 hours, it has 2 panels on either side of your chest and a 3rd across your kidneys ... Was £50 with a couple of spare batteries, the batteries are rechargeable ones not AA etc it was well worth the pennies, especially as it fits under my jacket on a cold days riding

Spesh would say his heated grips - not just for winter either!                                                                                                                                                                             

Heated grips for me,,,First time ive had them on my beemer and any future bike will defo have them fitted...                                                                                                                                                                             

A bike!!!                                                                                                                                                                             

You know Stella & Craig ,  although I have heated grips ... I have never yet used them lol                                                                                                                                                                              

for riding in winter, The Car leave the bike in the garage                                                                                                                                                                              

"A bike"

lol - beat me to it!!                                                                                                                                                                             

That's twice today Geoff....am I in your good books now??                                                                                                                                                                              

A full tank of fuel, full fairing and heated grips, I sit in my own little micro climate.                                                                                                                                                                              

i sit in my micro climate to totally happy totally warm
                                                                                                                                                                             

Handlebar muffs - u can't beat a good muff                                                                                                                                                                             

"That's twice today Geoff....am I in your good books now??"

Of course BL!  I'm a pleasant, friendly, happy go-lucky kind of guy!  And I get on with everyone.

Well ... nearly everyone lol!!                                                                                                                                                                             

But u orta hear wot Roachy says 'bout him;    'Big, fat, ugly bastard, wiv frogs legs...'   and that's just the polite version!                                                                                                                                                                             

It's only funny cos it's true lol!                                                                                                                                                                             

Cheers Geoff   Them heat pack jel thingies that slide inside ya gloves and anywhere elses you want to put them.                                                                                                                                                                             

oversuit in its own bag neck warmer winter gloves   wonder if auto socks would work on a motorbike? hmmm                                                                                                                                                                             

Guys (and gals), will heated grips keep the finger tips warm, too?

Some winters the ol' digits suffer badly from 'Raynauds disease' (painful.. finger tips turn white/red etc). Handlebar muffs won't solve the problem, hoping the htd grips might(?) [*That's if the bl**dy bike runs again! lol]

Hav u tried keeping yr hands in yr pockets?                                                                                                                                                                             

heh, the bike would be back on the road sooner if I did ;)

                                                                                                                                                                             

Junction I also suffer from this & have found that hand hotties down the back of your gloves help ... they are small sachets & once shook to get warm will stay that way for hours, a lot longer than gell, 

I find that the cold from the air I am riding into causes hell to the top of my hand, so push them down to my knuckles in my gloves & find the heat radiating out keeps my fingers warm, I also have the foot ones for inside your boots for toes. 

Failing that if you really suffer you can (as I do) take tablets in the winter months which will help speed up your circulation. See your Dr about that