$5 cold mitt

[Dragon]

After buying $5 worth of vinyl fabric and sewing for few hours, this is the prototype.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/...c4b417f9ac.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/...5ed9da77e0.jpg

Yes, this is a knockoff of the famous Hippo Hands (tm). A knockoff mitt for a knockoff bike. Perfect.

[IronFist]

I got my electric vest very cheap. Knowing how good it works, if it fails, I would buy another fast.

8O Look at your grass! 8O

I've shoveled at least 4 feet of snow so far :oops:

[Dragon]

Don't let the grass fool you. This morning was a bit nippy, around 50-degree F.

I need to add fleece liners to the mitt, for those occasional 30-degree mornings.

[katoranger]

Great. I found that the plastic hand guards really helped with the cold. Those over the guards would be perfect.

Allen

[Cal25]

Yep yer gonna need somethin to cover up those toes on them sandals too
If you added all the snow here for the last 20 years , You would most likely still have me beat with the snow you have on the ground up there.

Nice work on the mits Dragon. Should keep those hands nice and warm/dry.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by Dragon

After buying $5 worth of vinyl fabric and sewing for few hours, this is the prototype.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/...c4b417f9ac.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/...5ed9da77e0.jpg

Yes, this is a knockoff of the famous Hippo Hands (tm). A knockoff mitt for a knockoff bike. Perfect.

I thought about doing the same thing... did you add any support inside to hold them open and out of the controls? I had visions of the mitts interfering with the controls.. before I really put much thought into making a set I got a pair of Areostitch over gloves. They rock! I've been riding in temps as low as 15F and not had cold hands(not too bad anyway!).

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by knothead

... did you add any support inside to hold them open and out of the controls? I had visions of the mitts interfering with the controls...

My 'Bird came with plastic hand guards; it provides plenty of support to hold up the mitt and keep away from the levers and switches. I also made the mitt extra large, to make sure the switches are accessible. The mitt takes some getting used to. I try not to take my hands out of it when the bike is moving because I struggle putting my hands back.

I was pretty much forced into either making this mitt or shell out big dough for genuine ones. I just couldn't find any winter gloves that fit well and provide reasonable dexterity. I really like the fact that my mitt is so cheap and if someone steals it off the bike, I would not lose sleep over it.

p.s. The temperature was 32-degree F this morning. I did my 7-mile commute on the highway with summer gloves; and my hands feel cold but bearable. Not bad for a liner-less mitt.