Freezing hands......advice please.

[k turner]

I have found the last week extremely cold with my horse riding gloves which are leather, but unfortunately have airholes.

I bought a pair of Washing up gloves larger size to go on top to stop the rain and cold getting in.

I have Raynauds symptoms in winter. (Numb fingers and toes, which go completely white with no blood flow for up to an hour before the blood comes back). Cold makes it more frequent.

I really dont have £30 to spend on bike gloves. Are they really all that good or is there a cheaper option. My mum said thermal gloves and Marigolds on top for waterproofing may be better than the leather ones.

I have to cycle to the pony everyday, twice, sold the car so dont have the option of not using the bike.

Any suggestions?

By the way when my legs get numb I cant feel the pain, better than an icepack anytime. Top half stays warm, or overheat if I wear too much.

 

[Danny]

Cycling gloves will be much better than gloves that have air holes. If you can afford it I would recommend that you get a pair of Altura Night Vision gloves which are currently on sale at Leisure Lake Bikes for £14 + £3pp. They are very warm, windproof, and waterproof. There are other cheaper cycling gloves on the market but they won't be as warm.

Alternatively you can probably pick up a reasonable pair of ski gloves for much less than £30.

Whatever gloves you get go for a big size, and if necessary get some thin gloves to wear underneath. You can get glove liners at outdoor stores or thin gloves for running in at running shops that would work.

 

[k turner]

The gloves on special sound reasonable. Thanks for the advice. Will I still need the washingup gloves then? Sounds like no.

 

[Steve Austin]

ski gloves. ok they don't have the flexibility of cycling gloves, they don't cost loads, they don't have a snot wipe. BUT they do keep your hands warm

something like these will be perfect. and cheap too!

 

[longers]

Whatever gloves you get (one of my pairs is from Aldi, another from a garage for £2.99) try and have them somewhere warm before you put them on - a radiator or airing cupboard. It stops cold gloves sucking the heat out of your fingers straight away.

Thin liner gloves seem to help too.

If you've still got cold fingers then put them in your mouth one at a time and blow warm air through the fabric onto your fingers - works for me for a mile or two before I need to do it again.

 

[k turner]

thanks longers, but I cant ride with one hand yet. will warm them before putting on

Steve Austin will get round the ski shops and have a look too.

 

[swee'pea99]

I'd agree with ski gloves - I had a pair for three years and they were fine. If you go to ebay and search 'used' you'll find quite a lot from people who've been on one skiing holiday for a week: £30 gloves for a fiver, including p&p.

 

[domtyler]

You need to get a nice fluffy woolly pair of gloves and then wind proof using, say a carrier bag. Shouldn't cost anything but be as effective as the most expensive.

 

[k turner]

domtyler - hence the marigolds

 

[Crackle]

On a slightly different slant to the gloves but have you considered something like this to keep your hands warm when you get a Raynauds attack. I used to use one all the time outdoors but I seem to suffer less with it now.

 

[k turner]

do you mean they stay warm all the time? they are not described. I have some little square gel things to heat up, but can only use them in pockets not in gloves they are too big.

 

[Crackle]

do you mean they stay warm all the time? they are not described. I have some little square gel things to heat up, but can only use them in pockets not in gloves they are too big.

Yes they stay warm, in fact hot for several hours, far better than gel sachets but slightly smelly as they are charcoal.

Not for cycling, I just meant in general for when you have raynauld hands, this handwarmer is the best I've used.

 

[on the road]

Don't forget to give your hands a good shake, or swing them backwards and forwards while on the bike, it helps to get the blood circulating. It works better if you do it while on the move.

I've have no advice for your feet because I haven't found an answer yet.

 

[k turner]

I have beanbags that I microwave for my back and neck and put them on my feet and hands. Cheaper than putting the heating on. I really should cut it open and then go and buy the same beans so I can make more, then I could try and design something to ride with.

I get cramps in my hands from arthritis as well, which has been very problematic recently.

Wish I could ride with no hands and keep them in my pockets

 

[k turner]

My feet are fine, loads of socks and wellies with gel inside for riding the pony.

I move my fingers and thumbs in a grabbing motion in time with my pedals, does help but then they cramp.