I got off work early yesterday and the ride home was at -9F. I stopped and took a picture.
The ride in today was colder and the same sign said -12F but I was running late and couldn't stop for a picture.
The ride home was a little uncomfortable for the pinky on both hands. I stuck some chemical hand warmers in my gloves but they were a few years old and I don't think they did much. Had the Oxford grip heaters as high as they would go.
This morning I couldn't find more chemical hand warmers and I didn't have my electric heat liners but decided I could just stop half way for a Mc Muffin if I really needed to warm up a bit. Turns out I shouldn't bad mouth the Oxford heaters anymore. Having them cranked with my Klim snowmobile mitts kept things warm enough. For the ride in I added another layer (thermal undershirt, sweat shirt, thick turtle-neck, Klim snowmobile jacket) up top. Keeping the core warmer helped with the hands. Didn't even get an ache in the left pinky on the ride in. Looks like I have a -10F setup that works without needing to be plugged into the bike.
Still loving the Klim gear. Feet and toes are perfectly comfortable in the boots. Bibs and long johns are more then enough for the legs. My only problem in the past have been the fingers and I guess that's good now with the Oxford heaters.
That is, down to -12F at least. I don't think I'll have a chance to test them at a lower temp this season. Maybe next year.
Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota