Bar Mitts: Fred-Look vs. Effectiveness
 

This is the Fred-est thing I've ever done, but everyone who has used Bar Mitts swears their toasty fingers were worth the goofy look. Any thoughts or user experiences?

I'm using Pearl Izumi winter gloves with a really good merino wool liner, and my fingers are still cold after 60 minutes of road riding in temperatures less than 40 degree Fahrenheit.

My other option is to hop down to the Rapha Boutique and spend $200+ on Deep Winter Glove System.

Be happy, be a Fred and save yourself the better part of $200. Those things work in an IA winter and that's saying something.

But take this for what it's worth. I'm a Fred when it comes to winter riding on snow; practicality uber alles.

I didn't realize this was a "Fred thing." I have Raynaud's and wouldn't be riding in winter without them after going through months of trying gloves and riding in serious pain. If your hands are cold, get the Bar Mitts. They're way cheaper than buying expensive fancy gloves that probably won't work, which seems a lot more Fred-like to me.

Better "Fred" than dead...... especially for winter and night riding.

Impossible to ride in the winter and not look like a fred.

I just completed my first ride with Bar Mitts. My hands always seem to be cold while cycling in the winter. With the mitts my hands were fine. They only look goofy if you are cycling with them in summer temperatures.

:winter2:

I just got a set. Wish I had bought them a long time ago.

I don't believe any rider is a Fred. We're all just riders, period.

How do the brake and shifters respond with the bar mitts? Have wondered and since we have a few people with them, what say you?

that's something Freds say.

Don't care how they look. They work. They work really, really well. I've ridden in single digit temps and my hands were just fine with those things.

They look like they work well, though unclear whether they make any model for Campy shifters with external cables.?

I wish there was a solution that didn't limit protected hand positions to just one.

Which shifters are those? I thought all the Brifters used cables that route along the bars. Do you mean the non-aero pre-brifter brake levers??

In my short use of them, I've found that holding the bars just behind the mitts gives decent protection too, so you can at least get a couple positions.

You're just saying that so people won't think YOU'RE a Fred. :-p Nyah.



;-)

If it's well above freezing, then I agree. Unless it's actually snowing or sleet is falling; then you are not a Fred, you are a badass. :)

glad you realized I wasn't serious!

Love this. Anytime temps fall below 45, they are on my bike and just use PI Thermal light gloves. Sure beats those thick winter gloves that still freezes and numbs my hands no matter what.

I had a set that I used a few times and my hands were still cold. I believe this is due to some circulation issues. I also did not like that it limited my hand positions. This year I invested in heated glove liners, which have worked quite well.

this...

Race bike. Ride what you want. Fred is dead.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=496499

Are you saying that my flat bar hybrid with Bar Mitts, full fenders, studded 32mm tires, ski helmet and goggles, windbreaker over an insulated hoodie, and insulated hiking boots make me look like a Fred? . . . Damn

:notamused:

Embrace the dark side of the F.... Frediness http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-sw018.gif

My flat bar winter hybrid has an old school square taper dura ace crank; I think that makes it a fred excellent machine, ;)

Here's the build thread, http://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...ter-build.html

I'm running MKS Lambda platform pedals on the dura ace crank which feels kind of, well, fredly studly when riding in the winter with my insulated hiking boots.

Yes but a fredly badass, as rule # 9 of the velominati tells us.

Can you borrow a set to see if they work for you?

They do restrict your position to the hoods and ramps (the part of the bar just behind the hoods).

I know people who like them. They are a bit hard to carry if you don't want to use them (when it gets too warm).