This almost oughta be a new thread...
I originally bought gloves and a jacket liner because a) I had just bought a Termoscud Leg Warmer (product review coming as soon as I find time) and b) I thought my much-beloved riding jacket was fairly waterproof. However, the leg warmer has not worked out for me for a variety of reasons (though I think it might be a damned good product for other people) and yesterday I found out that my jacket isn't very waterproof at all by being caught 50 miles from home by a totally unpredicted soaker.
A very _cold_ soaker, I might add. When I got home, I wrung out my shirt...
Anyway, this has caused me to totally re-evaluate my riding gear plans, and I'm not at all sure what I'm going to do. I originally bought the Burgman for long trips, so I _need_ good foul weather gear. On the same token, I also need stuff that won't take up too much space when not in use. Also, since I often ride to work (in a factory, where I will be hot and have to bend and twist and get covered with nasty clothes-eating oil) I need something that I can wear easily over my work clothes and take off in a few seconds at most. (I hate arriving at work any earlier than I absolutely have to.)
Ideally, I'd like an everyday riding jacket that is also waterproof and suitable for use with my liner. And, I'd like some kind of waterproof and windproof outer pants, as well. But I wear a size 4XL in most things; for example, I just bought a pair of the biggest riding chaps on the market, and they are a bit too small.
I don't seek to ride below about 40 degrees, so electric pants are overkill. However, I keep finding myself looking at Gerbing's Ultimate Suit and wondering if it's the best answer. On the one hand, I plan to do most of my travelling in summer, when (here in the South) it's hard enough just to force one's self to keep the jacket on, much less wear armored pants. Where would I store these big, bulky armored pants on trips in the summer? And, I also ask myself, just how waterproof are these things, anyhow? Can they _truly_ serve as a replacement for a rainsuit?
What if I drop nearly a grand, and then find out they _can't_?
Right now, I'm considering going ahead and buying the Ultimate pants (or perhaps the lesser Union Ridge model) and wearing them with my current jacket for one more summer, accepting that I'm going to get very wet in the rain, and then buying an Ultimate jacket when there's money available in the Fall. Again, though, this feels like overkill. And, it's one heck of a lot of money. Or, I could buy a rainsuit-- I found one by Frog Togs that I _think_ will fit me, so long as I take my regular jacket off and ride without it-- and wear the rainpants when things are chilly to break the wind. As I said, I'll be satisfied if I can simply be truly comfortable down to forty degrees.
Any thoughts?
And, while I'm on the subject...
My regular riding gloves are Aerostitch Ropers; plain, uninsulated elkskin. They are also not waterproof. I like these gloves a lot, so much that I hate to give them up. Yet, clearly, I either need to find something more waterproof, or else find big, neoprene dish-type gloves to wear over the Ropers when it's wet out. (I am using the Gerbing's gloves for foul weather now, without plugging them in. However, they will be too hot in summer.)
And, yes, I have a variable heat controller on back-order. Gerbing's is currently out of stock, they tell me. So, for the nonce I'm using an on/off switch they gave me for free. (In my opinion, said on/off switch is worth only very slightly more than I paid.)
Thanks for any suggestions!