Handguards + pogies = great success

I’ve been curious about these mtb hardguards like revgrips but too tight to actually buy any… Spotted some cheaper ones on aliexpress and decided to have a flutter, mostly to see if they help with cold hands!

And, well, I’ve not actually tested that yet. But I trial fitted them and while basking in their comedy ugliness and extreme #enduroness, I thought “would my Hotpogs fit over these”. And the answer is, just barely and it works great.

I’ve always hated how pogies can move around as you ride, especially on rougher/harder stuff, I’m not sure it makes a practical difference but I find it seriously distracting and offputting and has stopped me from ever being comfortable with them for more challenging riding. Tried a few fixes before but this is by far the best. The plastic of the handguard stands the pogies off nicely from the levers and basically keeps them in a nearly perfect position. It even makes fitting the pogies easier (it’s slightly more faff to pull them on but I don’t need to think as much about getting them in the perfect location) Only possible downside is I think it may be slightly less warm, just because it opens them out more and reduces contact between gloves and pogies- my hands are more in a void rather than surrounded if you see what I mean? But since I usually ride in summer gloves in the pogies that’s probably not going to be a problem.

Very pleased and would recommend it to anyone that likes pogies, or that would like to like pogies but struggles with the movement. Not entirely sure I’d use them without the pogies, if nothing else it makes it a bollocks to fit the big bike into the car but I’ll definitely be leaving them on the fatbike for all of winter.

(Oh, I didn’t really think enough when I was buying the handguards- I got what I’m pretty sure are a straight copy of the Sendhit Nock V2. I thought this was just a “cheap from the factory” sort of deal and I don’t feel any guilt about just cutting out a rebrander, but now I look into it more apparently Sendhit make their product inhouse France and I wouldn’t normally buy a straight knockoff like that. So I won’t recommend this exact product, or maybe more I should recommend the genuine Sendhits. I’m sure other products will also work well)

I’ve been using hand guards for years.

Straight out of my door I have a 30mph Road descent before I do any pedalling, they make a massive difference to the windchill. Also there’s a lot of gorse where I ride.

I originally had huge guards fitted off my moto enduro bike but I’ve switched to some smaller MTB specific ones my son bought me. Still make a difference.

Another vote for pogies

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/deals/bar-mitts-have-been-a-complete-game-changer-for-my-winter-riding-ad-theyre-on-sale-for-cyber-monday

Though it’s the liberal application of road salt when there has been a hard frost or icy here, that I try to avoid.

Interesting experiment/combination of ideas. Some of the more expensive pogies (like Revelate / 45NRTH) are more rigid than the HotPogs so achieve the same benefits.

Been doing that on my trail bike for 30 years or more. Note not the modern version of trail bike but the older one. With a petrol engine.

A cheap version is a pair of gallon tubs that may have contained oil,  vinegar or cleaning fluid. A bit square looking but strong cheap and effective.

scotroutes
Full Member

Interesting experiment/combination of ideas. Some of the more expensive pogies (like Revelate / 45NRTH) are more rigid than the HotPogs so achieve the same benefits.

Yeah I thought that might be the case, the hotpogs are just really floppy. I’d experimented with some other stuff to try and stabilise them before- best result was some rubber bar end plugs then just whacking a screw through the end of the pogies into teh plug- but this works better.

Slightly inevitably it’s got warmer so they’re back off but I do want to try them on the big bike with the pogies and see if it stabilisies it enough. I think maybe the feeling of being enclosed and a bit “trapped” might still be a problem but we’ll see.

(also I broke both my hands in a crash earlier this year so who knows, maybe bashy guards might have helped with that too!)

I’ve suffered with cold hands/numb fingers for years, and had a ‘sod this’ moment a few years ago and bought a set of the Revelate Williwaw pogies. If you can handle looking a little uncool they are utterly brilliant at keeping your hands (and snacks!) toasty warm when the temperature dips. Have never had a moment when I couldn’t get out of them quickly (and I have binned it a few times with them on).

Worthwhile investment for me to keep me on the bike through the coldest evenings.