[canadianstrom]

once my hands get cold , they don't warm back up. I hate thick gloves. I do use muffs but I think I get a bigger effect from the little chemical warmers i put on the back of my hands , in the gloves. I wear the mechanix type gloves and I never notice the size of the warmers once I'm riding. I have also thrown a warmer into each muff trying to warm up the levers; my fingers could immediately feel the cold and I think they helped.
Muffs are dangerous if you get pitched forwards.
Using layers with a jacket that gives some ventilation when needed is the best program I've found. I just have to remember not to over dress so much it leads to being drenched in sweat. My favourite warm layer is a smart wool sweater.