Skiing in bike gear?

[earthmover]

My two pence worth...
February half term, Switzerland. Glorious sun for three days, snowing like feck for two. Minus 14 one night, me and my two kids.
We all had new ski jackets, which were pricey, but far lighter and more flexible (ie comfortable) than yer average bike textile jacket, and kept us warm and dry in all but the worst conditions.
The kids had hand me down trousers off their cousins, I had a 15 year old pair of salopettes, and my Sinialo enduro jeans. The jeans were waterproof, and have a liner that fits into your boots, so no problem there, but nowhere near as warm as the salopettes on the cold days.
Kids had new ski gloves, I had my old Sinisalo enduro gloves, none of us had any problems with cold hands.
Thermalite hats kept the head warm, MX goggles with double glazed reactolite lenses were far better (IMHO) than branded "fashionable" ski goggles, and half the price!
Thermal vests do a far better job than old t-shirts, and are cheap at M&S. Long johns make you feel like a berk, until the first cold day that you aren't wearing them!

So in conclusion, yes you can use bike gear, but it isn't going to do some things as well as pukka ski gear. Then again, most of the ski gear will be no use at all on a bike!
HTH
Mark

 

[Iain Hogg]

Word to the wise. If you are going high up in Europe in Feb in some shite from TK Max, you are going to have a bloody miserable time.

Depending on where you are on the hill - nursery slopes/board 1/2 pipe or top of the mountain, you might have -30+ windchill on a dull day. And depending on how good you are, you may or may not be doing a lot of walking. In those conditions, I'd wear my Rukka AND my heated waistcoat.

I've taught in places where they give you huge duvets on the lifts it's so shagging cold - don't assume it will be all sunglasses and sunblock - especially in Feb.

Bigtwin? You're just a big jessie

For the beginner wanting to try skiing without taking out a second mortgage, teh TK Max gear, plus suitable layering will keep you warm in all but the most extreme conditions.

And in those extreme conditions, all but the most determined will be inside drinking vin chaude

 

[Greg Masters]

And in those extreme conditions, all but the most determined will be inside drinking vin chaude

.... and you called Bigtwin a jessie?

Click thumbnail:


SWIMBO and the sprog:





Greg

 

[Gas'd Off]

It is quite common in most ski resorts to find shops that, would you believe it, sell ski gear! Just thought I'd mention that Lots of people saying "buy new gear", which is great if you're loaded, but after flights, lodging, kit hire etc etc it can mount up a bit in the wallet dept
Skiing is great, did I mention that?

 

[Bigtwin]

Bigtwin? You're just a big jessie

Fair point. I forgot to mention that - I keep forgetting that not everyone here actually knows me, so I tend to assume that it's common knowledge.

 

[Bigtwin]

.... and you called Bigtwin a jessie?

Click thumbnail:


SWIMBO and the sprog:





Greg

Courcheval?

 

[Greg Masters]

Courcheval?

Belle Plagne, February 2006



Greg

 

[Bigtwin]

Belle Plagne, February 2006



Greg

- thought I recognised the snow. Must look similar in both places.

 

[The Slow Granger]

See last years threads - HG Daylight

Used on 2 trips now - wouldnt use anything else from now on (and yes I do ski quite frequently).
Fantastic sympatex waterproofing for wet days, insert lining for cold days back bum bag fitted or pack when sun out). Enough room and arm length and shape for poling.
Shoulder, elbow and back brace fitted already. Smacked into a friend on an iced red - broke his ribs with the old 'roller ball elbow' and bounced quite a distance on the padding without any damage to me or the coat .
Long back (biker shaped) reduces water and cold ingress and the waist cuff can be closed or open depending on temp.
Storm cuff and removable storm neck (essential for high lifts).
Day glow yellow colour was really cool ( honest) and ski pals never lost sight of me although I lost them frequently, also everyone assumes you are some sort of mountain cop and keep clear of you - good for boarders! ( until you actually ski and show yourself up that is).
Pockets galore.
Cordura material that takes a hell of a beating.

Weight never caused me a problem.... but then I am 'massiiiiive' (and only ski downhill and get a ride back up!)

For a couple of hundred quid you show me a ski label that does that lot - and you can use on a bike.
Trousers may be worth investing in - (imho)

You might also check my posts on safety sunglasess as I use these on bike / ski - 3-4 quid cant be bad for uv wrap arounds which are impact resistant

Dogs do-da's as far as I am concerned

 

[Fanum]

Decathlon are doing ski kit now....seemed very well priced as well.......

Thurrock was buzzing today

 

[The Slow Granger]

oh yes....

Take your gloves as well - or if you have expensive ones buy some waterprof winter textile bike gloves - much cheaper, better made and use them afterwards not once a year! I was looking at the BMW ones just for skiing!

Enjoy - but keep it a secret or it will become a fashion and then I'll be trendy.

Steve

 

[cookie]

Take your gloves as well - or if you have expensive ones buy some waterprof winter textile bike gloves - much cheaper, better made and use them afterwards not once a year! I was looking at the BMW ones just for skiing!

Enjoy - but keep it a secret or it will become a fashion and then I'll be trendy.

Steve

i've got some new bmw pro winter gloves i'm considering using on the snow 'cos they're bloody horrible on a bike. like wearing flimsy boxing gloves

 

[Pukmeister]

Whatever you wear, wherever you go and no matter how much/little you spend, have a great holiday. I used to love my annual skiing pilgrimage especially before the snowboarding explosion (though I'm no ski snob and believe in respecting each other on the mountain) but a change of career means I don't have the holiday time anymore. I tried boarding but ended up with broken ribs and a bruised coxycx and stuck to what I know.

God how I miss ripping it up on a pair of skis, especially when it gets tough and technical or steep and deep

I may take a weeks unpaid holiday and grab a last minute bargain, I feel very tempted.

Anyone up for a GS'ers trip to the alps with snowchains ???

 

[cookie]

Anyone up for a GS'ers trip to the alps with snowchains ???

eurostar is my transport of choice these days

 

[camel_landy]

Me... I just jump into the Landy.

I'd be up for a trip.

As for what to wear, I've been known to go out in jeans or even shorts. However... You don't really want to be falling over while wearing that!

Good idea about the gloves...

M

 

[Chisurz]

Personally, I have separate ski gear from the bike stuff. Bulk and weight being the main points for comparison. TKMaxx et al are all worth looking in. The funniest people on the slopes have often been the ones that invested in the latest fashion...

Now, all that said, my winter motorbike jacket is made by Uvex, who I'm much more used to seeing making ski gear...

So work that one out...